“Crusade Against Socialism”: the Activities of the Priest Vladimir Vostokov and the “Brotherhood of the Holy Cross” in the White South of Russia in 1919–1920s

Abstract

The article is devoted to the socio-political activities of the priest V.I. Vostokov and the “Brotherhood of the Holy Life-Giving Cross” headed by him in the territories of the South of Russia controlled by the White movement. Using press materials that were not previously introduced into scientific circulation (including the Novocherkassk newspaper “Vechevoy Blagovest”, the only surviving copy of which is kept in the Slavic Library in Prague), Vostokov’s memoirs and a number of other sources, the author of the article clarifies some aspects of the biography of the Brotherhood leader, and also shows his attitude towards socialism. It is concluded that the denial of socialism played no less important role in Vostokov’s ideology than monarchism and anti-Semitism, and the Brotherhood created by him was conceived as an organization acting in alliance with Christians of other countries against the world socialist movement.