The research is aimed at an adequate reflection of the confessional evolution of the Russian society in the recent period of history. Its purpose is to study the confessional dynamics of the Orthodox communities of central Russia in the conditions of modernization processes of the XX century. The study involves large-scale archival and field work, the results of which should be:
- an extensive set of information reflecting the extent and forms of involvement of representatives of different professional and age groups in traditional confessional practices in the late Russian Empire – USSR;
- data on the specifics of the perception of Orthodox traditions by representatives of the same social groups of Soviet citizens during the period under review;
- a scientific picture of the deformation of Orthodox practices presented in the daily life of the population of central Russia (festive traditions, church attendance, the sacrament of baptism, etc.), which changed under the influence of standards of behavior formed by the state and Soviet party bodies;
- analytics reflecting the impact of urbanization, mass media and the education system, as well as other socio-cultural factors of modernization on the attitude of Russian subjects and Soviet citizens to Orthodox traditions.

Coordinator of the research – Dr of Historical Sciences, prof. Aleksandr Apanasenok