Towards the history of establishment of Russian old-style parishes in Finland in 1925–1927
Abstract
This article deals with the emergence of Russian old-style parishes in Viborg and Helsinki in 1925‒1927 as well as with certain subsequent circumstances. It was out of the old-style parishes that the Russian Deanery (Russ. Благочиние) of Patriarch’s Parishes emerged in Finland after World War II. The emergence of these communities was caused by the fact that in 1925 the Orthodox Church in Finland (Finnish Archdiocese of Constantinople Patriarchate) introduced in liturgical life of its parishes and monasteries not only Gregorian (new) calendar, but Gregorian Paschalion as well. Some Russians in Finland wished to preserve previous church customs. As a result, two Russian old-style communities appeared; fi rstly, community of Intercession of the Theotokos in Viborg, then community of St. Nicholas of Myra in Helsinki. Later, the Intercession community moved to Helsinki too. Surprisingly, both communities received offi cial state registration and permission to choose any jurisdiction, whereas the old-stylers from Valaam were not allowed to do the same. This article for the fi rst time attempts to explain reasons for this and cites a newly-discovered letter of hegumen Khariton (Dunaev) of Valaam, one of the participants of the events, to archbishop Herman (Aav) of Finland.
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