The first period of Bishop Mikhail (Chuba)'s stay at the Tambov diocese from 1961 to 1962

Abstract

The article examines the first period of Bishop Mikhail (Chub)'s tenure at the Tambov Diocese from 1961 to 1962. By that time, the bishop had experience teaching at the Leningrad Higher Theological Schools, working as deputy chairman in the Department of External Church Relations, participating in foreign church conferences and congresses, and serving as an archpastoral minister in the Smolensk, Berlin, and Izhevsk dioceses, as well as managing the Patriarchal Parishes in Finland. But obedience at the Tambov cathedra required Bishop Mikhail to make qualitatively new decisions on the management of the diocese. Having appointed those responsible for the work of church councils, the state, in fact, completely subordinated the Church; from that moment on, the bishop was nominally considered the manager, but in fact had no levers of control. Compared to the post-war decades, 1961-1962 became the most difficult years in the life of the entire Church: it was then that mechanisms were developed that determined the future prospects of diocesan life. The authorities immediately took countermeasures to any attempt by the ruling bishop to systematize and improve the management of diocesan affairs and work with the clergy, clergy and flock, further limiting the activities of the diocesan authorities. But Bishop Mikhail continued to seek means to control the situation. He always tried to support the clergy, helped many financially, although at that time his salary was somewhat lower than the salary of the clergy. He saw his main service as a bishop, first of all, in standing before the Throne of God and witnessing about Christ. During this same period, Bishop Mikhail continued his scientific and journalistic activities, publishing his works on the study of the works of St. Methodius of Patara in the new journal "Theological Works", to the creation of which His Grace the Bishop had a direct relationship.