The state of russian society in the second half of the 19th — early 20th centuries in the assessment of bishop Gurias (Burtasovsky)
Abstract
This article attempts to identify the civic stance and views of the famous priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, Bishop Guriy (Burtasovsky) concerning the state of the Russian society during the period of changes in political and public life caused by modernisation. The article contains a brief analysis of the secular worldview, the role of the church and the clergy in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It establishes a link between class restructuring and the emergence and development of Russian parliamentarism. It discusses reports, decisions and notes by Bishop Guriy kept at state archives, his thoughts about the situation with other denominations, with convicts, requirements for clergymen, women’s education, the woman’s role in the family during the crisis of this social institution. The article also provides evaluation of these ideas that are based on historical and sociological studies. In the fi nal section, the article draws conclusions about the general relevance of the bishop’s understanding of the current historical situation and about his progressive egalitarian missionary views which did not contradict conservative political views.
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