Вестник Свято-Филаретовского института (May 2020)
Russia Abroad and its Ecclesiastical and Historical Significance
Abstract
The article is devoted to the analysis of the ecclesiastical and historical significance of Russia Abroad. It shows a conceptual difference between Russia Abroad and the Russians oversees, the concepts which are often mistakenly used as synonyms. Russia Abroad was a unique phenomenon in the World History of the 20th century. The activities of the Russian Council of Ambassadors, which did not recognize the power of the Bolsheviks assigned to Paris, the main center of the intellectual forces of Russian exiles, the role of the capital of Russia Abroad. The article shows the role the League of Nations and especially the role of F. Nansen and K. N. Gulkevich in solving the problems of Russian refugees, exiles and emigrants. Official representation in the League of Nations of the Council of ambassadors and other Russian public organizations and the acquisition of their internationally recognized Nansen passport meant de facto recognition of Russia Abroad by the States of the League of Nations. Being a temporary State organization without its own territory, Russia Abroad had its own (Nansen’s) passport and its own anthem, memorable dates and holidays. Only in Russia Abroad did the Russian culture of the Silver age continue to develop. Special attention in the article is given to the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia Abroad and to the relations between its leaders abroad, – Metropolitan Evlogy (Georgievsky) and Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky). Exiled Russian philosophers connected their main hope for spiritual overcoming of the political split between Russians outside and inside Russia with the Russian Orthodox Church abroad. Despite its positive role, the Russian Orthodox Church abroad, unfortunately, could not become the main connecting and organizing force of Russia Abroad, largely due to the rivalry of hierarchs. Russia Abroad was unable to overcome its internal political disunity and create a unified will. The second and third waves, as well as the new generations of the first wave, could not breathe strength into fading away Russia Abroad that was fading away. Russia Abroad disappeared along with the collapse of the Communist system, which was facilitated by its opposition and struggle. So far, only the tip of the huge iceberg of Russia Abroad has been explored. Historians are still only on the way to this world-historical phenomenon and the development of its religious and philosophical, literary, scientific, technical, artistic and architectural heritage. Special attention is paid to the scientific and practical value, significance and usefulness of the research of scientific problems of Russia Abroad in order to solve the problems of migrants in modern Russia.
Keywords
