Between Russian Reality and Chinese Dream: The Jesuit Mission in Siberia, 1812–1820

Abstract

The Jesuit mission in Siberia, which lasted only eight years, is a littleknown but interesting episode in history of Catholic Church and Society of Jesus in Russia.' In spite of its peripheral location, far from political and cultural centers, mission reflected central tendencies of stormy period of Napoleonic wars and post-- Congress of Vienna changes in Russian internal policy. Its history proved that Jesuits were pawns in political struggle, used by autocratic system to exclusively serve its own goals.' Caught between interests of state authorities, Orthodox Church, and hierarchy of Catholic Church in efforts of Society of Jesus were destined to fail. The establishment and activities of Jesuit mission in Siberia reflected two different goals. The Russian government maintained a growing interest in economic development and expanding settlement. The Christian religious services were intended to encourage European newcomers to permanently settle in Siberia and to unify new Siberian provinces with theOld Russia, as well as to maintain and stabilize Russian power over areas close to Russia's neighbor, China. The Jesuits, on other hand, were interested in restoring their own missions in China. The establishment of a forward position in Irkutsk, Russian city situated close to border, seemed to have a promising perspective for future. The history of mission showed how Jesuits' Chinese dream was challenged by Russian political and religious reality. The Siberian mission was established during period of suppression of Society of Jesus and just a few years before its restoration in 1814. This was possible because in spite of suppression, Society continued to survive in Russian Empire. Pope Clement XIV's brief Dominus ac Redemptor dissolved Society, but Russian Empress Catherine Great (1762-1796) ruled that Pope's decision could not have power and authority in Russia.3 So, Jesuits from Belorusia and Lithuania, territories of Polish Commonwealth annexed by Russia in 1772, continued to carry out their pastoral activity in various parts of Russian Empire. During period of 1773-1820 this surviving fragment of Society of Jesus had its headquarters in Belorusian town of Polock.4 With support of tsars Paul 1 (1796-- 1801) and Alexander 1 (1801-1825), Jesuits were able to work in Russian capital, St. Petersburg, and establish new parishes and schools in Russia and in new territories adjoining Empire.5 But it was not until March 7, 1801, when pope, Pius VII, in his bull Catholicae Fidei partially approved Jesuit activity and thus allowed Russian group to expand by permitting Jesuits in other countries to join them as branches of Russian province. After bull the great surge of missionary zeal moved through Jesuits in Russia:'6 This revived one of favorite, never-forgotten dreams of Society, to restore missions in China, although superiors of Society were conscious of anti-Christian policy of Ch'ing Emperors, and of contemporary Emperor Chia Ch'ing.7 The Jesuit generals Gabriel Gruber (1802-- 1805) and Thaddeus (Tadeusz) Brzozowski (1805-1820) looked for well-educated candidates of kind still welcomed in China, especially scientists and mathematicians, who could replace old generation of missionaries-courtiers. In 1805 three Jesuit Fathers unsuccessfully tried to arrange a trip, with permission from church authorities, from Polotsk, through St. Petersburg, then to Lisbon, and by sea to China, as part of Russian embassy staffs One year later a new and unexpected possibility appeared. Establishing Siberian Mission Tsar Alexander I, trying to reorganize and modernize his huge Empire, was concerned with finding a more effective way of joining peripheral areas of Siberia to Russia. …