RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS’ REACTIONS TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

The article analyzes the response of religious organizations to the COVID-19 pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic has had a significant impact on the global confessional community. Many churches and denominations have faced direct restrictions on their activities. The author concludes that in each country these restrictions are localized and feature varying degrees of flexibility, depending on the current situation. The reaction of confessions to the corresponding restrictions and lockdowns varies as well: from understanding and collaboration with the authorities to manifesting disobedience and deliberate violation of the lockdown regulations. The spread of the pneumotropic virus prompted religious organizations to widely implement new forms of communication with their followers. A current trend is a so-called “accelerated digitalization”: communication of churches with the believers and of the latter among themselves through online technologies. This will undoubtedly make religious organizations to reconsider their established traditional forms of spiritual and cult activity going forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]