The rapid processes taking place in modern sociology and religion are also reflected in studies of Orthodox communities. As practice shows, the applied methodological approaches and methods developed by European scientists are beginning to satisfy neither Russian sociologists nor clergy. The purpose of this article is to justify the use of the theological approach in sociological research. The global scientific community is concerned about the destruction of traditional Christian religions. In their research, foreign sociologists are looking for reasons and explanations for these trends. Relying on agnostic principles, they are increasingly immersed in scientific nihilism, which takes on tragic contours in its anti-religious orientation. Orthodoxy in Russia is experiencing a stage of revival. Russian society is currently emerging from the first period of emotional upsurge, which lasted from the end of the 20th century to the first decade of the 21st century, and this explains the decline in the number of believers visiting the Church. The specifics of the Orthodox religion and the history of the Russian Orthodox Church require new approaches to the study of processes occurring within the Orthodox community. The main approaches and research tools are reflected in this article.