THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INCULTURATION OF CHRISTIANITY FOR THE MISSIONARY ACTIVITY OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, REVEALED IN THE EPISTLES OF THE ROMAN PONTIFFS OF THE POST-CONCILIAR PERIOD

The theme of the inculturation of Christianity is gaining increasing interest and relevance not only among church disciplines, but also a number of religious and social research areas. In particular, this topic is widely discussed in the field of interreligious and intercultural interaction. According to the position of the Roman Curia, expressed in the pontifical documents of the post-conciliar period, the task of inculturation is seen in the preaching of Christianity from the position of transformation and insight into existing cultures with the Gospel, taking into account the openness to one's own transformation. With the emergence of the concept of inculturation of Christianity in Catholic terminology, its aspects, methods and forms began to develop and received theological substantiation in the works of the pontiffs of the RCC. In the article, the author attempts to analyze the pontifical documents of Pope John Paul II, as well as those of his successors - the retired prelate Benedict XVI and now the head of the Holy See, Pope Francis.