Russian Bishop in Gilded Age America

The article deals with the American period in the life of Bishop Nickolay (Ziorov) when he was the head of the Aleutian and Alaska dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church (1891-1898). Based on little known documents of the Holy Synod (Russian State Historical Archive) and Russian diplomatic missions...

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Main Authors: V. V. Pechatnov, V. O. Pechatnov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MGIMO University Press 2021-03-01
Series:Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/2660
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author V. V. Pechatnov
V. O. Pechatnov
author_facet V. V. Pechatnov
V. O. Pechatnov
author_sort V. V. Pechatnov
collection DOAJ
description The article deals with the American period in the life of Bishop Nickolay (Ziorov) when he was the head of the Aleutian and Alaska dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church (1891-1898). Based on little known documents of the Holy Synod (Russian State Historical Archive) and Russian diplomatic missions in the USA (Archive of Foreign Police of the Russian Empire) the authors survey his activities to build-up the stagnant diocese and to expand Eastern Orthodoxy in the United States which prepared the ground for its renewal under his successor Bishop Tikhon (Belavin). Special attention is being paid to how American realities of the Gilded Age were perceived by a well-educated Russian priest as reflected in his diaries and travel notes that until now have avoided historians’ attention. Of special interest are Nickolay’s travel notes made during his trips around the country including his long visit to the Chicago World Fair of 1893. The Bishop’s literary talent and lively curiosity lend special flavor to these impressions creating a sense of presence. It is demonstrated that his perception was shaped both by his clergy experience and a more general framework of Russian culture. Hence an admiration of American economic and technological progress went hand in hand with a total rejection of American materialism, individualism and political values. Bishop Nickolay’s impressions of the United States constitute a revealing case study in how image of America as a constituent “the other”, the juxtaposition of the “Russian Idea” and the “American Dream” fitted into the Russian mentality.
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spelling doaj-art-3a109afb4665485189aaf646f77d5cd32025-01-30T12:15:54ZengMGIMO University PressVestnik MGIMO-Universiteta2071-81602541-90992021-03-0114173010.24833/2071-8160-2021-1-76-7-302197Russian Bishop in Gilded Age AmericaV. V. Pechatnov0V. O. Pechatnov1Moscow State Institute of international Relation (university)Moscow State Institute of international Relation (university)The article deals with the American period in the life of Bishop Nickolay (Ziorov) when he was the head of the Aleutian and Alaska dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church (1891-1898). Based on little known documents of the Holy Synod (Russian State Historical Archive) and Russian diplomatic missions in the USA (Archive of Foreign Police of the Russian Empire) the authors survey his activities to build-up the stagnant diocese and to expand Eastern Orthodoxy in the United States which prepared the ground for its renewal under his successor Bishop Tikhon (Belavin). Special attention is being paid to how American realities of the Gilded Age were perceived by a well-educated Russian priest as reflected in his diaries and travel notes that until now have avoided historians’ attention. Of special interest are Nickolay’s travel notes made during his trips around the country including his long visit to the Chicago World Fair of 1893. The Bishop’s literary talent and lively curiosity lend special flavor to these impressions creating a sense of presence. It is demonstrated that his perception was shaped both by his clergy experience and a more general framework of Russian culture. Hence an admiration of American economic and technological progress went hand in hand with a total rejection of American materialism, individualism and political values. Bishop Nickolay’s impressions of the United States constitute a revealing case study in how image of America as a constituent “the other”, the juxtaposition of the “Russian Idea” and the “American Dream” fitted into the Russian mentality.https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/2660russian orthodox churchthe aleutian and alaskan diocesebishop nickolay (ziorov)the holy synodchicago world fair of 1893
spellingShingle V. V. Pechatnov
V. O. Pechatnov
Russian Bishop in Gilded Age America
Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta
russian orthodox church
the aleutian and alaskan diocese
bishop nickolay (ziorov)
the holy synod
chicago world fair of 1893
title Russian Bishop in Gilded Age America
title_full Russian Bishop in Gilded Age America
title_fullStr Russian Bishop in Gilded Age America
title_full_unstemmed Russian Bishop in Gilded Age America
title_short Russian Bishop in Gilded Age America
title_sort russian bishop in gilded age america
topic russian orthodox church
the aleutian and alaskan diocese
bishop nickolay (ziorov)
the holy synod
chicago world fair of 1893
url https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/2660
work_keys_str_mv AT vvpechatnov russianbishopingildedageamerica
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