Source: Hartford Institute for Religion Research

Hartford, CT — A new report examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Orthodox Christian churches in the United States reveals a unique approach to crisis management, characterized by adherence to traditional practices and resistance to change. The study, which draws on data from the Faith Communities Today (FACT) survey and two Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (EPIC) surveys, offers insights into how Orthodox churches fared compared to other U.S. religious congregations.

Key findings include:

1. Orthodox churches were more likely to maintain regular activities, particularly in-person services, despite pandemic restrictions.
2. These churches showed greater reluctance to adopt online worship services compared to the national average.
3. Orthodox churches experienced higher success in gaining new members and returning to pre-pandemic in-person worship attendance levels.
4. However, they faced challenges in maintaining total participation and regular volunteer percentages.

“This report demonstrates that — due to their resistance to change — Orthodox Christian churches navigated through the pandemic by displaying some clearly distinct approaches as compared to the general profile of U.S. congregations,” said Alexei Krindatch, lead author of the study. “Their way of handling the pandemic yielded both positive and negative outcomes, creating what we describe as a ‘mixed bag’ of results.”

The research focused on various aspects of congregational life, including views on the pandemic, implementation of online services, changes in worship attendance and overall church participation, finances, new member acquisition and congregational identity.

As the religious landscape continues to evolve in the wake of the pandemic, upcoming EPIC and FACT national surveys will further explore the lasting effects of COVID-19 on congregational life in America.

The full report can be viewed online here. For more information please contact Alexei Krindatch at Akrindatch@aol.com.

Orthodox Christianity: Navigating the Pandemic with Tradition

Orthodox Christian churches are defined by their steadfast adherence to ancient religious practices and strong resistance to change. This unwavering commitment to preserving the teachings, rituals and traditions of ancient Christianity posed unique challenges for Orthodox parishes when faced with the disruptions and forced adaptations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report, “Stubborn or Persistent: How American Orthodox Christians Dealt With And Recovered From The Pandemic” draws on data from parishes representing all the major Orthodox jurisdictions in the United States to explore two key questions:

1. Compared to the overall picture of US congregations, what was distinctive about how Orthodox Christian parishes responded to the COVID-19 crisis?
2. How has the pandemic affected the Orthodox Church?

Despite — or perhaps because of — their resistance to change, the data suggests that Orthodox Christian churches managed to navigate the pandemic quite successfully.

The findings reveal that Orthodox parishes stood apart from the national sample of U.S religious congregations in two notable ways:

1. They were much more likely to maintain their regular in-person activities and “ignore” pandemic restrictions.
2. They were more reluctant to adopt and use online worship services, even as they embraced other modern technologies more than the national average.

The outcomes of this approach were a “mixed bag.” On some measures, Orthodox parishes outperformed other congregations, such as gaining more new members and restoring in-person attendance to pre-pandemic levels. However, they also faced greater declines in overall participation and the percentage of regular volunteers.

As the nation enters a post-pandemic reality, future surveys will continue to monitor these dynamics and shed light on the lasting effects of COVID-19 on congregational life.