Orthodox education in digital space: a web-based content analysis of online provision in Russia

Online religious education has expanded rapidly across faith traditions, yet the digital educational landscape of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) remains underexamined. This study presents a systematic web-based content analysis of 102 Orthodox educational resources in Russia, collected in December 2025 and coded across 28 variables including provider type, formality, content, delivery, access, and pedagogy. The findings indicate a pluralised field in which independent Orthodox projects constitute the largest provider category (35.3%), surpassing official ROC institutions (25.5%). While formal programmes dominate (59.8%), more than half of resources show no clear Church endorsement. Access is frequently restricted: 65.7% require payment and 95.1% require registration, and no standalone mobile applications linked to providers were identified. Commercial actors dominate training for teachers of OPK within the state-mandated ORKSE curriculum. Interpreted through digital religion and mediatisation frameworks, the results highlight a combination of provider diversification and structured access limitations, raising concerns about authority, quality assurance, and educational equity in the digital Orthodox sphere.