The Beginning of “Spiritual Spring” or an Ascent to Calvary? (the 1917 Problems in the Periodical Press of the Department Military Clergy)
Andrey Kostryukov, Doctor of History, Ph.D. in Theology, Leading Staff Scientist, Department of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Modern History; Associate Professor, Russian Church History Department, St Tikhon’s Orthodox University (Moscow)
pp. 28–42
The article considers the problems of church life in 1917 covered in the journals of the Military Clergy department. Chaplains were the most educated and progressive part of Russian clergy. Therefore, their opinion deserves particular attention. Alongside this, Protopresbyter G. Shavelsky, the head of military clergy, allowed other authors to remark on relevant topics. Among these authors were such outstanding people as Bishop Andrey (Uhtomsky), Saint Priests and martyrs Nikolay (Dobronravov) and John Artbolevsky, philosopher B. Zenkovsky and others. The authors of the journal analysed the reasons of decline of the church’ influence on people and offered the ways of solving the arisen problems. The special attention was paid to Moscow Council and the issue of restoring the Patriarchate institution.
Keywords: Orthodox Russian Church, Holy Synod, 1917–1918 Moscow Council, Russian Provisional Government, Patriarchate institution.