Contribution of the Tambov Diocese to the collection of donations for the needs of the Russian army during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905

Abstract

The article examines certain aspects of the patriotic activities of the clergy of the Tambov Diocese during the war years of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. It should be noted that in Russian and Soviet historical science, the events of the war at the beginning of the 20th century were studied mainly only as a military-political phenomenon. Their impact on the life of society was taken into account, most often, in terms of the public's attitude to the beginning and conduct of a specific war (patriotic sentiments in different strata of society, volunteerism, people's militias) or through the prism of mobilizing funds for the conduct of the war (the size of the draft, the size of the army, the state of military production and weapons, the mobilization of material resources on an all-Russian scale). The problem of the impact of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 on the life of the Tambov diocese has hardly been considered in previous scientific studies. Meanwhile, the study of the patriotic activities of the Tambov clergy allows us to identify the features of the socio-cultural and ethno-confessional development of the region, and requires deep and multidimensional study. The experience of the patriotic activities of the Tambov diocese during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 allows us to assess the overall contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has always, including in the most difficult years, not only been close to the people and the country, but also was an organizing, consolidating force. Summing up the results of their research, the authors of the article come to the conclusion that the Tambov diocese used a full range of measures aimed at collecting donations for the needs of the army and navy operating in the Far East. Officials and official institutions of the diocese used various methods for this: administrative regulation, persuasion, personal example, conversation, encouragement. The established centuries-old administrative-hierarchical structure of the Russian Orthodox Church, what is called "from the Synod to the parish", respectful attitude towards archpastors, the status and activities of the parish priest allowed officials and institutions of the Tambov diocese to organize, regulate and coordinate, and the clergy to develop and direct the sacrificial activity of Orthodox believers and the rest of the population of the province for the benefit of their neighbors and their Fatherland.