Archbishop Philippe (Stavitsky): the Biography and Memory of the Orthodox Leader in the Church’s History of 20th century

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Kail’ M.V.,

Smolensk, Russian Federation

Archbishop Philippe (Stavitsky): the Biography and Memory of the Orthodox Leader in the Church’s History of 20th century

Annotation

The article is devoted to reconstruction of the biography of one of prominent representatives of orthodox hierarchy of the first half of the 20th century of Philippe (Stavitsky). Its purpose is to track interrelation scientifically established facts of the biography of the orthodox figure and images of public memory of it. Research is conducted on the basis of application of biographic and historical and genetic methods. For achievement of a goal widely were attracted anthropology capacious sources. Office work documents of the Sacred Synod and Synod educational committee of Orthodox church from the RGIA funds, characterizing appointments and movements of hierarches were studied. On materials of investigative affairs of Philippe (Stavitsky) specifics of relationship with the Soviet power and orthodox society (measures of support of the hierarch, a problem of unity of orthodox society) is investigated. Materials of investigative affairs and containing in them office and personal correspondence are estimated as independently significant source, their information potential in reconstruction of biographies of orthodox leaders is determined. Special value is represented by materials of the personal folder of the archbishop in fund of Council for affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, characterizing the relations of the secular power and orthodox hierarchy in post-war Russia. In the center of scientific consideration vital reference points, professional practicians of the hierarch of Russian Orthodox Church are put. They are analysed in a context of socially significant processes, such as the state antireligious campaigns, acceptance and application of the legislation on cults, repressions and "Big terror". The facts of the biography of the archbishop are compared in article with their modern treatments entered in a context of a special formula of memory of the hierarch. On the example of Philippe's biography (Stavitsky) the author opens a problem of scientific reconstruction of biographies of figures of Orthodoxy. Materials of research show a considerable political involvement of the status of the orthodox hierarch, describe difficult system of dependence of his professional powers from the relations with the secular power and orthodox society.

Keywords

Orthodoxy, episcopate, archbishop Philippe (Stavitsky), repressions, obnovlenchestvo, sanctity, canonization, historical memory

Article is prepared within the research project according to the Thematic plan of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation "Repressive model of the state and church relations in the Soviet Russia (on materials of the Russian province of the first half of the XX century)" and RGNF, the project No. 14-31-01249a2.

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References

1. Valerij (Pavlov), prot. Svetil'nik very [Belief lamp]. Astrahan': B/i 2002. – 226 p.

2. Destivel' Iakinf, svjashh. Pomestnyj Sobor Rossijskoj Pravoslavnoj Cerkvi 1917–1918 godov i princip sobornosti [Local Cathedral of the Russian Orthodox Church of 1917-1918 and principle of conciliarity]. M.: Izdatel'stvo Krutickogo Patriarshego podvor'ja pri Sinodal'nom otdele po delam molodezhi Moskovskogo Patriarhata, 2008. – 312 p.

3. Iosif (Mar'jan), igumen. O zhizni i roli v cerkovnoj istorii XX veka arhiepiskopa Astrahanskogo Filippa (Stavickogo) [About life and a role in church history of the 20th century of archbishop Astrakhan Philippe (Stavitsky). Zhurnal Moskovskoj Patriarhii (ZhMP) - Magazine of the Moscow Patriarchy. 2004. №5. P. 62–71. (in Russ.).

4. Kail' M.V. Vlast' i pravoslavnye verujushhie v rossijskoj provincii nachala 1920–h godov. (Golod. Izjatie cerkovnyh cennostej. Raskol. Process smolenskih cerkovnikov na Smolenshhine) [The power and orthodox believers in the Russian province of the beginning of the 1920th years. (Hunger. Withdrawal of church values. Split. Process of Smolensk churchmen in Smolensk region)]. Smolensk: SmolGU, 2008. – 252 s.

5. Filipp [Stavickij], ieromonah. Zachem vse jeto bylo? (Slovo v 40-j den' po konchine P.A. Stolypina) [Why all this was? (The word in the 40th day on P.A.Stolypin's death)]. Kiev, 1911. 14 s.

About the author

Kail’ Maksim Vladimirovich, candidate of historical sciences, associate professor of Russian history chair, Smolensk State University, Smolensk, Russian Federation, 8-481-238-77-52, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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