Vestnik Pravoslavnogo Svâto-Tihonovskogo Gumanitarnogo Universiteta: Seriâ II. Istoriâ, Istoriâ Russkoj Pravoslavnoj Cerkvi, Vol 93, Iss 93, Pp 139-154 (2020)

meletius typald, stolniks, venice administration, stato da mar, orthodox church, ionian islands, мелетий типальд, стольники, венецианская администрация, православная церковь, ионические острова, History of Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics, DK1-4735, History and principles of religions, BL660-2680

The previously unpublished in Russian document written by Metropolitan of Philadelphia Meletius Typald, stands on the watershed in the history of the Greek fraternity of Venice and of Orthodoxy in Italy in the Early Modern period. It came to be the last known text that Meletius wrote as an Orthodox hierarch, therefore his pathos and circle of problems are noteworthy in the context of the subsequent steps of its author. The message not only touches upon the issues related to inter-Christian relations at the turn of the 17th — 18th centuries, but also introduces the reader to the topic of state-confessional relations, which is important not only for the Orthodox, but for the Catholic Church in the Venetian Republic. The state of the Orthodox Church in the Ionian Islands is evaluated critically in the letter, through the prism of applying canonical and administrative law in the moral life of the clergy and believers. At the same time, the author does not forget his political goal in revealing the shortcomings listed by him, insisting on the desirability of transferring to him control over these dioceses. For Russian history, this document is of interest, since it was written during the stay in Venice of Moscow stolniks (palace servants) sent by Tsar Peter to teach maritime aff airs. They met with Typald and left memories about the communication with him. And if Meletius was very sincere with Russian Catholics P. Rogovsky and P. Artemyev, he presented himself to B. P. Sheremetev and the navigators as a paladin of the Orthodox faith.