In Memoriam: Elena Alekseevna Stepanova (1956–2026)

Abstract

On March 20, 2026, Elena Alekseevna Stepanova, the founding Editor-in-Chief of Changing Societies & Personalities, passed away. Among her many accomplishments, she held a Doctor of Philosophy degree and worked as a Chief Research Fellow at the Institute of Philosophy and Law of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and at the Laboratory for Comparative Studies of Tolerance and Recognition of the Ural Federal University (Yekaterinburg, Russia).
Her sudden passing came as a shock to all who knew her. We have lost not only an outstanding scholar, but also a person whose presence gave meaning to our professional and human relationships, and inspired our work. For many, she was not merely a colleague, but also a friend, a mentor, and someone to whom one could always turn for advice and support.
Her academic life stands as an example of dedicated and profound service to her chosen field. In 1978, she graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Ural State University named after A.M. Gorky, going on to pursue postgraduate studies in philosophy. In 1983, she defended her Candidate of Sciences dissertation at the Institute of Philosophy of the USSR Academy of Sciences. From 1982 to 1995, she worked as an Associate Professor at the Department of Philosophy, combining research with teaching and imparting to her students not only knowledge, but also a passion for independent thought.
In 2000, Elena Alekseevna defended her doctoral dissertation Problema very v evropeiskoi khristianskoi traditsii: Istoriko-filosofskii analiz [The problem of faith in the European Christian tradition: A historical and philosophical analysis]. This work defined the central direction of her scholarly interests, which focused on the study of religion as a complex and multidimensional sociocultural phenomenon.
Elena Alekseevna was an internationally recognized expert in religious studies and the author of more than 150 scholarly publications. Her research on religious pluralism, faith as conscious commitment, religious identity, and the nature of religious consciousness made a significant contribution to contemporary humanities scholarship.
International collaboration was always an important part of her professional life. Having fulfilled the role of visiting researcher at universities in the United States and Sweden, she actively participated in international research projects and academic exchange programs. From 2010 to 2014, she led the international seminar “Religion: Maximalism and Minimalism,” which brought together scholars from different countries and academic traditions. As a Fulbright Fellow in 2019, she conducted research at the Boston University School of Theology.
A special place in her work was held by the journal Changing Societies & Personalities, which she founded in 2016. Thanks to her persistence, professionalism, and strong sense of responsibility, the journal became a respected international platform for scholarly dialogue and was indexed in leading citation databases. For Elena Alekseevna, this was not merely a publishing project but a vocation into which she invested her energy, her principles, and her vision of honest and open science.
Yet no formal achievements can fully convey the scale of her personality. Elena Alekseevna lived and worked with deep commitment based on inner freedom. She did not shy away from responsibility, made bold decisions, and inspired others to follow her lead. She was distinguished by her openness, intellectual vitality, and genuine interest in people. She equally valued a conversation with a beginning student as with an established scholar, and was always able to listen, support, and inspire.
Her energy, optimism, and warmth created around her a unique space of trust and collaboration. Difficulties did not daunt her—on the contrary, she saw them as a natural part of the path. It was largely thanks to these qualities that she became a moral guide and an example of true dedication for so many.
Today, it is hard to accept a world without Elena Alekseevna in it. Her passing has left a void that cannot be filled. We feel that we did not have time to say enough words of gratitude, nor to return even a small part of the light she so generously shared with others.
Her bright memory will live on in her works, in the academic institutions and projects she created, and in the students and colleagues whose lives she touched.
We extend our deepest condolences to her family, loved ones, and all who knew and valued Elena Alekseevna.

Eternal gratitude. Blessed memory. Profound sorrow.

Editorial Team of Changing Societies & Personalities