Specific features of revival of Tashkent and Cental Asian post-war dioceses in the light of activity of revd. Guriy (Egorov)

2020

Vestnik Pravoslavnogo Svâto-Tihonovskogo Gumanitarnogo Universiteta: Seriâ II. Istoriâ, Istoriâ Russkoj Pravoslavnoj Cerkvi, Vol 93, Iss 93, Pp 117-135 (2020)

This article examines church life in Tashkent and Central Asian diocese during the period of its post-war revival, when the diocese was led by Revd. Guriy (Egorov). It studies several aspects of church life, i.e. the opening of churches, return of former church buildings to communities and construction of new ones, establishment of parish life, organisation of supply of parishes with candles, service books and church utensils. The role of the authorised representatives of the Council for the Russian Orthodox Church in the process of restoring church life is also analysed. It is shown that in the period 1944?1948 the authorised representatives in one way or another contributed to the opening of churches in the republics of Central Asia. The article reveals unique features of Tashkent and Central Asian diocese and the associated diffi culties. Revd. Guriy, despite various diffi culties, actively visited the diocese parishes (many of which for decades or never at all saw the ruling bishop), consecrated newly opened churches, paid attention to parish issues, pointed out defi ciencies and helped to overcome them. Under Revd. Guriy, the number of parishes in the diocese reached its maximum of 67 (he visited 61 parishes in person). When there came a cooling in church-state relations, Revd. Guriy actively defended low-income parishes from closure, and also changed tactics, turning his eff orts to industrial centres in Central Asian republics.

article

Russian

St. Tikhon's Orthodox University, 2020.

russian orthodox church, state-church relations, central asia, diocese of tashkent and central asia, church life revival, petitions of believers, church openings, authorised representative of council for russian orthodox church, bishop guriy (egorov), русская православная церковь, государственно-церковные отношения, средняя азия, ташкентская и среднеазиатская епархия, возрождение церковной жизни, ходатайства верующих, открытие храмов, уполномоченный совета по делам рпц, епископ гурий (егоров), History of Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics, DK1-4735, History and principles of religions, BL660-2680