Metropolitan Sergius and the “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” in 1931–1935

Abstract

After the end of the civil war, the Moscow Patriarchate could only publish annual calendars, which were published until 1925. This was the only and very limited opportunity for the highest church authorities to publish some of their decrees and orders. Therefore, Metropolitan of Nizhny Novgorod Sergius (Stragorodsky), who assumed the duties of Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens on December 14, 1925, regarded the publication of the official periodical of the Patriarchate as one of the top priorities in organizing church life. One of Metropolitan Sergei’s main achievements during this time was obtaining permission from the authorities to publish the “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate”, which was published from 1931 to 1935. It was small in volume — from 8 to 14 pages including calendar materials and was published in a small edition — only three thousand copies. In reality, the journal was published once every 2–4 months. Metropolitan Sergius himself acted as the publisher. A large part of the materials published in the “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” in the 1930s are related to the activities of the Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens and the Temporary Patriarchal Holy Synod under his guidance. An important place in the journal was rightfully occupied by the sermons, letters, and resolutions of Metropolitan Sergius on various issues of church life. The materials published in the journal allow us to identify and study the main directions of the activitie and mechanisms of functioning of the highest church authority in the late 1920s to the first half of the 1930s. The analysis of these materials convincingly shows that, firstly, Metropolitan Sergei, who presented important issues of church life for consideration by the Supreme Church Administration, led the work of the Temporary Patriarchal Synod. Secondly, despite all the pressures, church life continued. The Patriarchate, represented by the Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan Sergius and members of the Temporary Patriarchal Holy Synod, remained the only legalized body of church administration, doing everything possible in those incredibly difficult conditions to maintain some order and discipline in the Church on canonical grounds and prevent it from falling apart.