Orthodox Mission Research Articles

New Embassy in New China: On the 65th Anniversary of the Construction of the USSR Embassy Campus in Beijing

The article examines the problems associated with the relocation of the USSR Embassy in China in the 1950s from its old location on Dongjiaominxiang (Nan’guan) Street in Beijing and the construction of a new embassy campus on the territory of the former Russian Orthodox Mission (ROM) in the Beiguan district. The article substantiates the idea that, although the decision to move the address of the construction of the new Soviet embassy appeared spontaneously during the design work, it was dictated by the objective need to ensure favorable conditions for the activities and development of the embassy in the context of growing cooperation with the PRC. Moreover, the relocation of the Soviet embassy to another location was linked to the general plan of the Chinese government to move foreign diplomatic missions from the Legation Quarter of Beijing in order to “end the half-century shame” of China’s semi-colonial past. The article, based on archival data, provides a comparative analysis of the areas and volumes of office and residential buildings and other objects on the old and new embassy grounds, and describes the volume and nature of construction work and improvements, the implementation of which required significant costs and time (1954–1959). The article pays attention to the fact of destruction during construction of church buildings of the ROM. At the same time, the author points out that in recent years, some historical shrines have been restored on the embassy territory. Particularly important was the revival of the Dormition Church in 2009. Such an approach to some extent compensates for the losses incurred during the construction of the new embassy in the 1950s. The article concludes that the construction of the USSR embassy in a new location turned out to be correct and providential, since the land acquired by the first Russian people in Beijing — the Albazinians and the ROM, remained with our country Russia.

Проблема перехода иноверцев Российской империи в православие во второй половине XIX века по публицистическим источникам на примере М. К. Кабановой и Е. В. Мелковой

The article is devoted to the problem of the conversion of non-believers of the Russian Empire to the Orthodox faith in the second half of the XIX century. These gentiles had to resist their society in particular, their families, or break social ties. Based on journalistic sources, the author reconstructs the activities of Maria Kosminichna Kabanova and Ekaterina Vasilyevna Melkova, who show examples of individual missionary service of women carried out in the 1870s-1890s in the Orenburg and Samara dioceses, respectively. The article highlights the ways in which missionaries carried out their activities and examines the features of their interaction with the structure of the Orthodox Missionary Society. Basing on the example of the missionaries’ service it is noted how important it was for the Russian Orthodox Church to organize shelters for the newly converted orthodox people so that they could safely establish in their faith. Because of this, the emphasis is put on the fact that the shelters created by the missionaries were not an artificial phenomenon, but arose in response to an existing need. M. K. Kabanova and E. V. Melkova indicated with the help of their service, which occurred at the same time, certain changes which took place in the society because of the Great Reforms. It is seen both through the tendency of the people to acquire the desire to serve the Church and the mission and through the newly opened possibility to change their social status of women.

Миссионерская деятельность Тобольско-Тюменской епархии на севере Западной Сибири в 1990–2010 гг.

The article examines the main directions, forms and methods of missionary activity of the Tobolsk-Tyumen diocese among the indigenous population of the North of Western Siberia in 1990 – 2010. The research was based on publications in the diocesan periodical press, the works of the Tobolsk Theological Seminary, field materials of the authors. The article examines the state of Orthodoxy among the indigenous population by the early 1990s, the specifics of the organization and implementation of the diocesan mission in the territories of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (KhMAO) and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YANAO). It is shown that in the post-Soviet period, in the conditions of changing relations between the state and the Russian Orthodox Church, the restoration of its missionary activity and the expansion of the Orthodox space in the historically nurtured territories gradually took place. It is concluded that educational, apologetic, informational forms of work were the most common in the missionary activity of the Tobolsk–Tyumen diocese in the North of Western Siberia in 1990 - 2010. The fulfillment of socially significant functions by the diocese contributed to the expansion of the Orthodox presence in the territory. In the 1990s, the missionary activity of the diocese among the indigenous population of the North was limited due to insufficient material and financial situation, lack of personnel and premises for religious rites, parish work. In the 2000s, in the context of establishing stable ties with government administrations of various levels, missionary activity acquired a large-scale character. The article notes that the practice of the Orthodox mission has led to the development of recommendations for the organization of missionary work among the indigenous population, and the specifics of the activities associated with the remoteness and inaccessibility of the northern territories – to the emergence of new forms of missionary expedition.

The Russian Orthodox Mission in Beijing (XVIII–XX Centuries): Historiography, Missionary Role, and Contemporary Assessment

This historiographical study examines the Russian Orthodox Mission in Beijing from 1715 to 1956, revealing its historical impact on Christianity in China and Sino–Russian cultural exchanges. The research explores how the Mission functioned not only as a religious entity but also influenced diplomatic ties and scholarly pursuits, as documented in both Chinese and Russian historiographies. This study utilizes contemporary sources, exploring Chinese narratives to re-evaluate historical perspectives, and portrays the Mission as a critical mediator in Sino–Russian relations. An examination of the historical context shows that the Mission has undergone a transformation over time. It has evolved from an influential ecclesiastical presence to a cultural and diplomatic agency unobtrusively entered into Chinese society. From the mid-18th to the early 20th century, the Mission adapted to the local environment by combining the transmission of religious doctrine with engagement in China’s political and cultural contexts. The article proposes a holistic interpretation of the Mission’s function, encompassing not only evangelism but also diplomatic engagements, and adding to the multifaceted discourse within Chinese cultural heritage. In summary, the article recommends exploring the enduring impact and historical complexities of the Russian Orthodox Mission as it is grounded in a broader framework of global movements. The research suggests that it may be beneficial to broaden the scope of historiographic narratives to encompass a diverse range of interdisciplinary studies that reflect the complexity of the Mission’s enduring impact and its role in shaping a shared global history.

Assimilation and Acculturation: A Comparison of the Evangelical Strategies of Russian Orthodox and Presbyterian missionaries in Alaska.

Beginning in 1877, Presbyterian missionaries led by Sheldon Jackson contended with an already established Russian Orthodox mission in Tlingit Southeastern Alaska. Both groups sought to convert the Tlingit to their respective denominations, however, they employed strikingly different strategies informed by their experiences in the American Southwest and Great Plains, and in Siberia respectively. By contrasting the Presbyterian and Russian Orthodox strategies, we see that Presbyterians valued Native assimilation more than the Russian Orthodox missionaries did. Ultimately, the Russian Orthodox missionaries' willingness to accommodate Native Alaskan cultural practices led many Native Alaskans to convert to Russian Orthodoxy and remain Orthodox despite institutional pressure by the American colonial government and Presbyterian missionaries to become Presbyterian and adopt American cultural practices. This conclusion is based on contrasting Presbyterian missionary documents with Orthodox missionary documents—including instructions by missionary leaders, reports on missionary ventures, personal journals, and correspondences. Though the subject of Presbyterian and Russian Orthodox missions has been covered extensively by scholars such as Sergei Kan, such examinations have largely been anthropological in nature and emphasized the perspectives of Native Alaskans to push back against settler-centric narratives in historical and anthropological study. The intention of this paper is not to push back against the advancements made by Kan in this field, rather, it seeks to build off the work of Kan and revisit the perspectives of the missionaries while considering Kan’s scholarship.

The collection and translation of Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) in Russia

One of the most important classical books of Chinese antiquity, Records of the Grand Historian (史記 Shiji) was transmitted into Russia in the eighteenth century; in the nineteenth century, the Russian Orthodox Mission in Beijing brought back a large collection of Chinese books, diversifying the Russian collection of Records of the Grand Historian; and in the twentieth century, during both the Russian and Soviet eras, books were purchased from China on a large scale, further enriching the Russian collection of Records of the Grand Historian. Beginning in the nineteenth century, Russian Sinologists produced abridged translations of Records of the Grand Historian, and in the twentieth century, a grand project for a complete annotated translation of Records of the Grand Historian into Russian was launched starting in 1972, with the world’s only complete annotated translation of Records of the Grand Historian in a European language being released in 2010. The process of the collection and translation of Records of the Grand Historian in Russia is a reflection of the historical process whereby Chinese culture was disseminated in Russia.

Linguistic thought of Russian Orthodox missionaries in the 19th century

Linguistic thought of Russian Orthodox missionaries in the 19th century

Basic concepts of missionary service in the perception of the modern priesthood of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Asian regions of Russia

The status of the missionary activity of the modern Russian Orthodox Church, its condition is characterized by ambiguous assessments even within the Orthodox priesthood itself. The identification of mission and social service, the denial of the effectiveness and even the very existence of an Orthodox mission, diametrically opposed assessments regarding the planning and control of the mission — all these discrepancies affect the strategies of modern missionary activity. The purpose of the study is to analyze the understanding of the basic concepts of missionary activity, tasks and principles of mission realization by the modern priesthood in the Asian regions of Russia. The geographical focus of the study, the regions of Inner Asia, predetermined the priority choice of such regions as: Altai, Irkutsk region, Buryatia, Tyva, Khakassia; outside Russia — Mongolia. The main method of forming an empirical base was an expert survey in the form of a series of semi-standardized interviews with Orthodox priests of Asian regions. of Russia. The experts also included participants of missionary expeditions and teachers of missiology from non-Asian dioceses. As a result of the expert survey, the understanding of the status of missionary activity in modern society, the relationship between mission and social service became clearer, and the attention of the priesthood to the distinction between mission and catechism was reflected. The priority of the internal mission has been highlighted. The principles of missionary service are considered.

Гросс-Гессенское викариатство РПЦЗ при архиепископе Филофее (Нарко) 1946–1949 гг.

The article studies the creation and development of the Gross-Hessen Diocese of Vicar of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCOR) in the years of 1946-1949. It is noted that at the end of the 2nd World War on the territory of Western zones of occupation in Germany, thousands of Orthodox refugees were in need of pastoral and spiritual care and guidance. Synod of ROCOR decided to form a set of vicar’s dioceses, so that in the region of Gross-Hessen, the one was established and was headed by the bishop of the Belarusian Autonomous Orthodox Church by Archbishop Philofei (Narko). Contrary to financial and other social difficulties, the Vicar managed to organize regular liturgical life and largely unite different Orthodox parishes of the Displaced Persons. Some organizational decisions made by Archbishop Philofei are analyzed. In particular, the decision was made to hold regular meetings of the clergy, to form an advisory body under the Vicar Bishop (Vicarian Council in Wiesbaden). The Archbishop organized with success distribution of food assistance to parishes of his diocese in the economically difficult 1949.Based on original documents preserved in the Archives of the German Diocese of the ROCOR, the author provides statistics on the number of parishes, specific names of the clergy who developed parishes in Wiesbaden, where the residence and the Cathedral of Vicar was established, in Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Menhegoff, Furstenwald, Gudensberg and in other places were discovered. The problems that prevented a successful development of the liturgical and out-service life of the Vicar’s diocese are studied, namely: lack of clergy after mass departure of priests and parishioners from Germany to countries of the Western Hemisphere in 1947-1949; conflict over activities of the Orthodox Missionary Group of Hessen-Nassau; problem of the development of Belarusian parishes due to desire of part of the Belarusian political emigration to strengthen the autocephalous movement. Comparative analysis of the activities of the Vicar’s bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, activities of the North German Bishop Afanasy (Martos) and the Grossen-Hessen’s Archbishop Philofei (Narko) is carried out.

The New Sources on Russian-Korean Contacts in the First Quarter of the 19th Century

The article is devoted to the study of new manuscript materials from the collection of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts of the Russian Academy of Sciences on the relations between members of the Korean diplomatic mission and the Russian Orthodox Mission in Beijing. The letters, written in the first 20 years of the 19th century, contain correspondence between the members of the two countries' missions, which cannot be found in contemporary historical sources. This article is devoted to studying the addressee of the members of the Korean diplomatic mission, putting all the letters in order, and clarifying their historical value in the study of Sino-Russian-Korean relations on the eve of the modern time. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that these manuscripts, closely related to the activities of the great Russian sinologist N. Ya. Bichurin, have not been studied before. According to the content of these letters, Bichurin communicated with the Koreans on the model of educated Chinese people, and one of the purposes of communication between the envoys of the two countries was the acquisition of different information. The relevance of the study is caused by the growing scientific interest of scholars in new manuscript materials about the history of Russian sinology and Russian-Korean relations.

Obdorskaya orthodox mission of 1832-1833: unsuccessful experience of preaching christianity among the inhabitants of the tundra

The Obdorskaya mission of 1832-1833 made it into the Christianization of Trans-Ural tundra aborigines history as one of the most unsuccessful. Among the reasons, the researchers name some such as the transport disorder of the region, the aboriginal elders' resilience, as well as secular authorities', who feared the indignation of the aborigines. To this we must add the not very successful choice of the mission head, Hieromonk Makarii, who did not show the needed will and dedication in missionary service. It also turns out that at that time the traditional economy and the social structure of the aborigines were in a state of crisis as a result of climate warming. In these conditions, traditional religious beliefs were actualized, which led to a sharp rejection of the evangelical preaching by the tundra inhabitants and, as a consequence, the failure of the mission.

Внутренняя колонизация России и формирование нации: в контексте земельных взаимоотношений русских с калмыками в конце XIX – начале XX в.

The article is dedicated to the relations between Russian peasants and Kalmyks at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. “Life of the Kalmyks of the Stavropol province before the publication of the law on March 15, 1892” by the Orthodox missionary and ethnographer Ya.P. Dubrova [5] is the basis of the work. The analysis was carried out on the method­ological basis of decolonial theory (V. Mignolo, E. Dussel, A. Quijano, M. Tlostanova), as well as the theory of internal colonization of Russia (V. Morozov, A. Etkind). The first paragraph provides an overview of the academic research on the topic. Core provisions and approaches are identified. The problem of insufficient consideration of the aspect of ethnic differences in the theory of internal colonization of Russia is highlighted. The second paragraph examines the national policy of the Russian Empire in the 19th century. The mechanisms for constructing colonial hierarchies between the higher and lower classes, as well as ethnic Russians and foreigners are shown. The theory of na­tionalism by the British sociologist B. Anderson provided the way to classify social phe­nomena as signs of official and civil-republican nationalism. Fragments of Dubrova’s book are presented and analyzed, demonstrating the problems of relations between Rus­sian peasants and Kalmyks in the Russian Empire. The third paragraph presents an analy­sis of Soviet-era nationality policies. Within the framework of the concept of Soviet modernity by M. David-Fox, the preservation of the subaltern position of Russians is shown. At the same time, the status of ethnic Russians as a “savior people” is demon­strated – the most important plot of the Soviet colonial matrix. Finally, conclusions are presented.

Russo-Japanese War 1904–1905 and Orthodoxy in East Asia

Since the 18th century, the Russian Empire sent Orthodox Ecclesiastical missions to three countries in East Asia: Russian missionaries were active in China, Japan, and Korea. The Russo- Japanese War of 1904-1905 affected the development of missions and Orthodoxy in East Asia. The article analyzes the common features of Orthodox missions in East Asia in the context of the development of Russian Ecclesiastical missions in the three East Asian countries during the Russo- Japanese War and the impact of the war on Orthodox Christianity in East Asia. The article examines and compares three Russian missions and identifies similarities and connections between them.

Formation of a Document Fund in the Languages of the Indigenous Peoples of the North, Siberia, and the Far East

The main mission of the National Library of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is the formation of the documentary heritage of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East. The document fund in the languages of the indigenous peoples of the North of the National Library of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) was formed from publications in five languages: Even, Evenki, Yukagir, Chukchi and Dolgan. The main principle by which the library fund was completed was an exhaustive collection of all published documents. The history of the book fund in the languages of the peoples of the North is divided into five chronological periods. The first period (1812—1917) is associated with the activities of the Russian Orthodox mission. The second (1918—1960) includes the creation of the Committee of the North (1924), the opening of the library (1925) and the beginning of the introduction of universal primary education in Yakutia. At that time, the People’s Commissariat of Education of the Yakut ASSR published and distributed the first ABC books for adults. The third period (1961—1990) was marked by the problem of publishing literature in the languages of the Evens, Yukagirs and Chukchi. In total, 3—5 books were published in the Even language per year, literature in other languages of the peoples of the North was not published. Languages were on the verge of extinction, there were no necessary conditions for their preservation. The fourth period (1991—2020) is associated with the completely destroyed book supply system in the early 1990s, the beginning of the commercialization of publishing. In 1990, the library was returned to the national status, which played a positive role in the formation of national and local history documents. The modern stage of the development of the book fund in the languages of the peoples of the North began in 2021, when the “Strategy for the Development of Librarianship in the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030” was adopted, which fixed the main tasks, directions and measures of state policy in the field of librarianship. In July 2022 The Government of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) has approved the “Strategy for the Development of Librarianship in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) for the period up to 2032”, which defines the main tasks for the formation of a depository storage fund for documents in the languages of all indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East. As of January 1, 2023, the document fund in the languages of the peoples of the North numbered 2,659 copies. Work continues to preserve the documentary heritage of the small peoples of the North. The electronic library of the National Library of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is being developed, and the digital project “Knigakan: about the Arctic and the indigenous peoples of the North” is being implemented as part of it. The digital library of the indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East “Knigakan” currently has 2,760 digitized documents that are in great demand among readers. The electronic publishing house of the National Library of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) plans to publish books in all languages of the small peoples of the North, including endangered languages, and preserve them for future generations. The long-term task is to create a depository storage fund for documents in the languages of all indigenous peoples of the North, Siberia and the Far East. This project should intensify efforts to preserve and ensure free access to the documentary heritage of indigenous minorities, the development of linguistic and cultural diversity of the peoples of Russia.

The State Church Policy of the Russian Empire in Alaska

This article deals with the management of missionary activity in Alaska in the late eighteenth – nineteenth centuries. The main objective is to reconstruct the management strategy of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska with reference to archival documents and published sources. The research methodology relies on analysing the regional approach, where the region is perceived both as an object and a subject of empire-building. In the eighteenth century, the management of Alaska was carried out by the Shelikhov – Golikov Company, a Russian fur trading venture. The Russian merchants fully supplied the Orthodox mission consisting of monks. Later, the Russian authorities entrusted control over the Russian overseas lands to Shelikhov’s heirs, represented by the Russian-American Company. The conflicts between the colonial administration and the missionaries called for a new strategy, i. e. sending secular clergy to Alaska. Meanwhile, the Management of the Russian-American Company returned to the plans of G. Shelikhov, who knew the region well, unlike the metropolitan authorities.

Re-Islamization of baptized Tatars during the revolutions of the early 20th century: on the example of the Apazovo village of the Kazan district

The article examines the difficult period in the history of the Apazovo village of the Kazan district of the Kazan province – 1905–1917. During the first Russian revolution baptized Tatars renewed their movement to return to Islam. We used different focuses to analyze this rural community: socio-economic ties, an Orthodox parish, an illegal Muslim community, leaders and outsiders of a religious movement. Markers of the Muslim subjectivity of the population of Apazova were different religious practices. Conflicts and conformity in the community correlated with different phases of the 1905–1907 revolution. There are the main motives that led to the change of religious attitudes. It is important that in addition to external forces (Orthodox missionaries, Muslim Tatars), the religious movement had internal resources: an active middle generation and the female factor. Fot citation: Gabdrafikova L.R. Re-Islamization of baptized Tatars during the revolutions of the early 20th century: on the example of the Apazovo village of the Kazan district. From History and Culture of Peoples of the Middle Volga Region. 2023, vol.13, no.2, pp.53–72. https://doi.org/10.22378/2410-0765.2023-13-2.53-72 (In Russian)

Взаимодействие иеромонаха Гурия с Астраханским епархиальным комитетом Православного миссионерского общества (по материалам Государственного архива Астраханской области)

Goals. The article aims to explore some unpublished documents relating to the interaction between Rev. Hieromonk Gury, Associate Professor of the Kazan Theological Academy, and Astrakhan Diocesan Committee of the Orthodox Missionary Society, the former contained in Collection 597 ‘Astrakhan Diocesan Committee of the Missionary Orthodox Society’ (State Archive of Astrakhan Oblast). Materials and methods. The study analyzes a set of archival documents of 1907 narrating about the cooperation between Astrakhan Diocesan Committee and Kazan Theological Academy, including ones describing scientific and teaching endeavors of Rev. Hieromonk Gury. The article employs comparative and historical-descriptive methods of historical research. Results. The paper examines and introduces into scientific circulation a number of documents dated 1907 — a petition by Associate Professor of Kazan Theological Academy hieromonk Gury to Bishop Georgy of Astrakhan, resolution of the Bishop, decision of Astrakhan Diocesan Committee, letter of Hieromonk Gury to Bishop Georgy of Astrakhan, the latter’s appeal to the Committee, and Rev. Gury’s notification confirming the delivery of publications — from Collection 597 of the State Archive of Astrakhan Oblast. The documents are an important historical source on missionary activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in Kalmyk Steppe, interaction between Astrakhan Diocesan Committee and Kazan Theological Academy, and are most instrumental in discovering additional data pertaining to the biography of the prominent Mongolist Rev. Hieromonk Gury.

Historical milestones of the Orthodox mission in the far northeast

Historical milestones of the Orthodox mission in the far northeast

Mutual Influences in Orthodox Missions among the Nanai People in the Russian Far East

Abstract Among the Nanai in the Russian Far-East, the Russian Orthodox Church has been conducting missions in two villages since 2011. In this article, I analyze the usage of Nanai iconography in the printed Gospel of Luke and of oral myths to tell the Nanai version of the Christian message. A specific Nanai Christianity is thus perceptible, rooted within shamanism, that is, the emic perception of powerful forces at play in the world, with whom humans are in constant negotiations. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the Amur region, this analysis will highlight the Indigenous agency in the appropriation of the Christian doctrine.

Переводческая и издательская деятельность Астраханского епархиального комитета Православного миссионерского общества (по материалам Государственного архива Астраханской области)

Introduction. The article introduces into scientific circulation a set of documents contained in Collection 597 — ‘Astrakhan Diocesan Committee of the Missionary Orthodox Society’ — of the State Archive of Astrakhan Oblast to examine translation and publishing activities of Orthodox missionaries in Kalmyk Steppe during the 19th – early 20th centuries. Materials and methods. The method of comparative historical analysis proves instrumental in investigating unpublished archival files from Collection 597 of Astrakhan Oblast’s Archive dealing with translation and publishing endeavors of Astrakhan Diocesan Committee during the mentioned period, namely: reports by individual missionaries, annual activity reports of the Committee, interdepartmental correspondence, correspondence of the Committee with regional branches of Orthodox Missionary Society, Kazan Theological Academy and its representatives sent to Kalmyk Steppe, Translation Commission affiliated to the Orthodox Christian Brotherhood of St. Gury, the Holy Synod, and Russian academic Mongolists K. Golstunsky and A. Pozdneev. Results. The paper introduces documents covering the main stages in translation and publishing activities of Astrakhan Diocesan Committee during the 19th – early 20th centuries. Conclusions. The study of the documents discovered in Collection 597 makes it possible to consider translation and publishing activities of the Committee members in their evolution, interregional interaction between missionary committees aimed at exchanging and clarifying Kalmyk translations of Orthodox Christian texts, identify impacts of the Holy Synod into the mentioned processes, including those made by teachers of Kazan Theological Academy, St. Petersburg University, and outstanding Russian Mongolists.