“Muslim Question” and “the Orthodox Answer” in the Imperial Policy of Russia in Turkestan

Abstract

Talking “a Muslim question” in an imperial policy of Russia in Turkestan it is necessary to tell some words about the attitude towards in the local orthodox diocese point of view. Corner the question in life of any “suburban” diocese was the question connected with conducting missionary activity among the indigenous not orthodox people. It was impossible to bypass this question in Turkestan also. Despite official declaring of regional administration of a ban on carrying out missionary activity within Turkestan and absence of practical and financial aid in this question from the central and regional power, the diocese nevertheless tried to carry out that work by own forces. During the period from 1907 to 1917 certain steps in this direction the diocese were carried out. Russia strongly saved on the maintenance of the Turkestan diocese. There were neither shots, nor money, neither enthusiasts devotees of missionary business, nor support from regional administration. Thus the diocese positioned itself as vanguard of an imperial policy in the region. However the being available structure of clergy wasn't rather prepared for service in specific conditions of the region. The orthodox clergy in Turkestan didn't sustain the most powerful competition to mullahs “for souls and hearts” indigenous people. How the orthodox missionary “worked” in Turkestan and whether it there was in general? We will try to understand on the annual reports of the Turkestan and Tashkent diocese to the Synod and looking to the publications of the Turkestan Diocesan Sheets magazine.