Вестник Екатеринбургской духовной семинарии (Jul 2024)
THE TWO LIVES OF PRIEST MIKHAIL VINOGRADOV
Abstract
This article presents bibliographical materials from the life of M. N. Vinogradov which have never before been published. Historical documents, including meeting minutes from conferences and congresses, show that M. N. Vinogradov was an activist in the Community for “Edinoverie”. The scholarly innovation of this article is based upon the work with materials from various archives of Russia, Lithuania and Georgia, which made it possible to learn much about both the secular and spiritual activities of M. N. Vinogradov in Russia and in the emigration, thus considering his work within the context of the historical events of his time. The author has collected bibliographic materials from M. N. Vinogradov’s birth through 1941. Among his great grandfathers were found bishops from Tver and Pskov, and an Archimandrite from Vyshny Volochyok. His uncle Hieromonk Aleksii (Vinogradov) was a missionary in Beijing; yet M. N. Vinogradov’s parents were neither religious nor active in the church. The article presents information on Vinogradov’s primary, secondary and higher education. It was during his years of study at the Institute of Land Surveyance that Mikhail joined the “Edinoverie” movement. One can easily evaluate his secular career as extremely successful: he advanced from being a 10th-class surveyor in a rural town to the rank of a 4thclass surveyor for the court in Tbilisi. Of particular note are M. N. Vinogradov’s relationships and contacts with well-known activists of his era, including: P. A. Stolypin, V. R. Sabler, Metropolitan Elevfery (Bogoyavlensky), and Archbishop Andrey (Ukhtomsky). Studying Vinogradov’s activities in the Caucuses in the field of spiritual education and his participation in church and public life, the author has collected and collated materials on his participation in the World War I and the White Movement, including construction of the Batumi-Trabzon railway and his service under Denikin and Wrangel. The article also analyses M. N. Vinogradov’s spiritual path, describing his life in the Troitsko-Nikolskoe Community for “Edinoverie”, which was the primary hub of this movement. A member of the parish council, Vinogradov was in charge of publishing early-printed books and of the icon workshop. His role in national congresses for “Edinoverie” is also considered. At the Moscow congress of 1909 Vinogradov was elected the Secretary and made one of the introductory speeches, calling for the unification of all supporters of “Edinoverie”. At the First and Second Congresses (1912 and 1917, respectively), he made many speeches, particularly focussing on the question of laypeople’s participation in the church and the selection of a bishop from the “Edinoverie” community. In 1921, Vinogradov was ordained to the priesthood by Patriarch Dimitry of the Serbian Church. This article also mentions his missionary work amongst Old Believers, both in Russia before the Revolution and afterwards, in the emigration. Lastly, considered are his relations with the Moscow Patriarchate in 1941.
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