THE CONCEPT OF “NEW MONASTICISM” IN THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF THE ABBESS OF THE LESNINSKY HOLY MOTHER OF GOD MONASTERY (E. B. YEFIMOVSKAYA 1850-1925)
The article presents biographical insights into and analysis of the church and public activities of abbess Ekaterina, in the world - countess Efimovskaya Evgenia Borisovna. The article focuses on the detailed analysis of her activities in the Lesninsky Holy Mother of God Monastery in the Kholmsky region the abbess of which she was for more than 20 years. The most significant concepts of abbess Ekaterina (Efimovskaya), namely public service of monasteries (“new monasticism”), the revival of the institution of deaconesses and these concepts practical implementation in the activities of the Lesninsky monastery are studied. The innovative practices of the pedagogical, educational and social activities of the monastery community that were carried out in the conditions of the growing social and state crisis of the Russian Empire of the 19th - early 20th century are described.