Traditional Worship in Russian-speaking Churches: Fоrmation, Features, and Internal Conflicts with a Focus on Belarus

There is an acute lack of a theology of worship in Baptist Russian-speaking contexts, with the ramifications of the Tsarist, and later Soviet, persecution limiting its development even to this day. While there is now opportunity to do so, developing a theology of worship in the local context is imperative. Filling this gap, Dr. Leonid Mikhovich considers the historical, religious, and political contexts that have influenced Russian-speaking worship. Drawing examples from the Baptist movement in Belarus, Dr. Mikhovich analyzes its various influences and explores conflict arising between local and foreign traditions within the process of adopting some Western structures for the Eastern situation. The results prompt reflection on the different expressions of worship and the underlying convictions present in respective cultural contexts, while also offering counsel for dealing with tensions between liturgical practices and authoritative voices in the Baptist tradition. As the first of its kind, worship and church history scholars will find this comprehensive study into traditional Russian-speaking worship invaluable for understanding its historical, theological, and cultural perspectives, and essential for mapping its future.