''Sorok'' (russian: cорóк) was a historical subdivision of
Moscow in terms of
parishes, used during 17-19th centuries. In the Russian language the word may beconfused with "cóрок" (with the first syllable
stressed), which means "forty".
By a decision of the
Stoglavy Sobor The Stoglav Synod (russian: Стоглавый Собор; also translated as ''Hundred Chapter Synod'' or ''Council of a Hundred Chapters'') was a church council (''sobor'') held in Moscow in 1551, with the participation of Tsar Ivan IV, Metro ...
of 1551, Moscow was subdivided into 6 ''soroks'':
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Nikitsky SorokНикитский сорок
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Sretensky Sorok, Сретенский сорок (named after
Sretenka)
*
Prechistensky SorokПречистенский сорок(after
Prechistenka)
*
Ivanovsky Sorok, Ивановский сорок
*
Zamoskvoretsky Sorok, Замоскворецкий сорок (after
Zamoskvorechye)
*
Kitaisky Sorok, Китайский сорок (after
Kitai-gorod)
On average, at these times each ''sorok'' encompassed 45
parochial church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...
es.
The term gave rise to a Russian
saying (recorded e.g., by
Vladimir Dahl in his ''Sayings and Bywords of Russian People'') "There are ''sorok sorokov'' of churches in Moscow" (meaning "multitudes of churches in Moscow"). It is sometimes mistakenly interpreted as 40 times 40, i.e., 1600 churches in Moscow, which is an exaggeration: in 1917 there were "only" 441 parochial churches and slightly over 200
home church
A house church or home church is a label used to describe a group of Christians who regularly gather for worship in private homes. The group may be part of a larger Christian body, such as a parish, but some have been independent groups that see ...
es in Moscow.
At present, the Russian Orthodox realm is subdivided into
eparchies, further subdivided into ''
blagochiniyes'' (''blagochinny okrugs'', благочиние, благочинный округ).
{{Slavic terms for country subdivisions
History of Moscow
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Types of administrative division