THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE 2000 ANNIVERSARY OF CHRISTIANITY FOR THE ORTHODOX CHURCH LIFE IN TOGLIATTI

DOI: 10.47026/2712-9454-2023-4-1-39-50

УДК 281.9(470.43)

ББК 63.3(2)64-22

Vadim N. YAKUNIN

Key words

temples, cathedrals, churches, monasteries, clergy, bishops, charity, religious communities, temple building, church income

Abstract

The article examines the religious situation and activities of religious organizations of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the change in state-church relations in 1998–2001 in the city of Togliatti. The study covers 1998–2001, since during this period it is possible to analyze how local church policy changed after the adoption of the new federal law “On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations” on September 26, 1997. The correlation of official religious policy with specific its implementation on the ground.

The purpose of the study is to identify the nature and evaluate the results of state-church relations in Togliatti on the eve and after the celebration of the 2000^th anniversary of Christianity.

Methods and materials. The implementation of the study was achieved based on the use of materials from the municipal state institution “Togliatti Archive”, data from periodicals, memoirs of contemporaries, materials from the current archive of the Samara diocesan administration, materials from the author’s personal archive. In order to resolve the issue of the reliability and representativeness of the sources introduced into circulation, the history of the origin and fate of these sources were studied using meaningful and correlation analysis. The sources were analyzed to identify patterns in the ongoing changes in religious life and trends in its formation. The methodology of the study includes the method of document analysis; in the work with materials of the periodical press, the method of synchronous comparison with documentary material was used. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the disclosure of the forms and methods of work of the Russian Orthodox Church with the city authorities and believers on the eve of the celebration of the 2000^th anniversary of Christianity.

Research results. It is proved that during the celebration of the 2000^th anniversary of Christianity, the Orthodox religious organizations of Togliatti managed to strengthen their position in society, establish a dialogue with business and government and gain advantages in all matters of their life compared to other religious organizations (direct funding from the budget and allocation of land plots in the best areas of the city). Despite the separation of religious organizations from the state, the Russian Orthodox Church was given preferences in the form of direct budgetary financing of church construction, attraction of sponsors’ funds for the same temple construction with the help of state institutions, creation of charitable funds with the participation of state and municipal structures together with the Russian Orthodox Church.

Conclusions. The celebration of the 2000^th anniversary of Christianity at the state level had far-reaching consequences for the Russian Orthodox Church and became one of the grounds for signing agreements on cooperation between the authorities and the structures of the Russian Orthodox Church both in the center and in the regions, i.e. e. relations between local authorities and the Russian Orthodox Church were officially documented. And this, in turn, placed the Russian Orthodox Church in the rank of, if not a “state”, then a “state-forming” religion. Interaction with the authorities, participation in joint working groups and commissions allowed the church to formalize its relations with government, industry and business. The church increased its influence, received funding from various structures for its projects, mainly for the construction of temples.

References

1. Agisheva L., Mikhailina Yu. Budushchee dolzhno byt’ za Rossiei [The future must be for Russia]. Volzhskii avtostroitel’, 1999, no. 193, Oct. 16.

2. Analiticheskaya spravka po situatsii v religioznykh organizatsiyakh Tol’yatti za 2003 g. Podgotovlen sotrudnikom merii Tol’yatti N.P. Kutyrevoi [Analytical report on the situation in religious organizations of Togliatti for 2003. Prepared by N. P. Kutyreva, an employee of the Togliatti City Hall]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
3. Batulova S. Blagotvoritel’nost’ za chuzhoi schet? [Charity at someone else’s expense?]. Tol’yattinskoe obozrenie, 2000, March 29.
4. Bikulova N. Patriarkh nagradil pyaterykh [The Patriarch awarded five]. Prezent, 1999, no. 156, Oct. 18.
5. Vystuplenie protoiereya Nikolaya Manikhina na zasedanii Tol’yattinskoi gorodskoi dumy 16 fevralya 2000 [Speech by Archpriest Nikolai Manikhin at a meeting of the Togliatti City Duma on February 16, 2000]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
6. Grafik i primernaya programma Krestnogo khoda «Volga-Dnepr-Zapadnaya Dvina» [Schedule and approximate program of the procession “Volga-Dnepr-Western Dvina”]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
7. Maiorova Yu. V pamyat’ zatoplennogo khrama [In memory of the flooded temple]. Ploshchad’ svobody, 2000, Aug. 23.
8. Marchenko L. Voskresenie Troitskogo khrama [Resurrection of the Trinity Church]. Ploshchad’ svobody, 2002, May 18.
9. Otchet episkopa Samarskogo i Syzranskogo Sergiya v Moskovskuyu Patriarkhiyu za 1998 [The current archive of the Samara diocesan administration. Report of the Bishop of Samara and Syzran Sergius to the Moscow Patriarchate for 1998]. In: Tekushchii arkhiv Samarskogo eparkhial’nogo upravleniya.
10. Otchet arkhiepiskopa Samarskogo i Syzranskogo Sergiya v Moskovskuyu Patriarkhiyu za 1999 [The current archive of the Samara diocesan administration. Report of the Archbishop of Samara and Syzran Sergius to the Moscow Patriarchate for 1999]. In: Tekushchii arkhiv Samarskogo eparkhial’nogo upravleniya.
11. Otchet arkhiepiskopa Samarskogo i Syzranskogo Sergiya v Moskovskuyu Patriarkhiyu za 2000 [The current archive of the Samara diocesan administration. Report of the Archbishop of Samara and Syzran Sergius to the Moscow Patriarchate for 2000]. In: Tekushchii arkhiv Samarskogo eparkhial’nogo upravleniya.
12. Pis’mo blagochinnogo Stavropol’skogo okruga protoiereya Nikolai Manikhin predsedatelyu Dumy g. Tol’yatti A.N. Drobotovu № 8 ot 20.10.2000 [Letter from the Dean of the Stavropol District, Archpriest Nikolai Manikhin, to the Chairman of the Duma of Tolyatti, A.N.]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
13. Pis’mo blagochinnogo Stavropol’skogo okruga Samarskoi eparkhii protoiereya Nikolaya Manikhina meru g. Tol’yatti S.F. Zhilkinu ot 14.05.1998 [Letter from the Dean of the Stavropol District of the Samara Diocese, Archpriest Nikolai Manikhin, to the Mayor of Togliatti, S. F. Zhilkin, dated May 14, 1998]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
14. Pis’mo direktora departamenta finansov merii g. Tol’yatti V.V. Kushnareva nachal’niku upravleniya po organizatsionnym voprosam merii Tol’yatti E.Yu. Oborinoi № 895 ot 01.10.2001 [Letter from the Director of the Department of Finance of the City Hall of Togliatti V. V. Kushnarev to the Head of the Department for Organizational Issues of the City Hall of Togliatti E. Yu. Oborina No. 895 dated 01.10.2001]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
15. Pis’mo nachal’nika finansovogo upravleniya merii V.S. Prokof’evoi № 455 ot 27.04.2000 [Letter from the head of the financial department of the city hall V. S. Prokofieva No. 455 of 27.04.2000]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
16. Pis’mo patriarkha Aleksiya II K.A. Titovu i L.I. Koval’skomu № 2308 ot 07.05.1999 [Letter from Patriarch Alexy II to K. A. Titov and L. I. Kovalsky No. 2308 of 07.05.1999]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
17. Pis’mo Yu.M. Logoido S.F. Zhilkinu 6-56/1017 ot 21.05.1999 [Letter from Yu.M. Logoido to S.F. Zhilkin 6-56/1017 dated May 21, 1999]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
18. Povestka dnya vstrechi 22 marta 2000 g. arkhiepiskopa Samarskogo i Syzranskogo Sergiya s rukovodstvom Tol’yatti, OAO «AVTOVAZ», predprinimatelyami i promyshlennikami Tol’yatti, nastoyatelyami tol’yattinskikh prikhodov [Agenda of the meeting on March 22, 2000 of Archbishop Sergius of Samara and Syzran with the leadership of Togliatti, AVTOVAZ OJSC, entrepreneurs and industrialists of Togliatti, rectors of Togliatti parishes]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
19. Polozhenie o konsul’tatsionnom obshchestvennom sovete po vzaimodeistviyu organov vlasti i religioznykh organizatsii pri upravlenii po obshchestvennym, mezhregional’nym svyazyam i informatsionno-analiticheskoi rabote merii g. Tol’yatti. Predlozheniya uchastnikov soveta. Povestka zasedaniya soveta ot 10.06.2004 [Regulations on the advisory public council for the interaction of authorities and religious organizations in the management of public, interregional relations and information and analytical work of the mayor’s office of Togliatti. Proposals of council members. Agenda of the council meeting dated 10.06.2004]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
20. Programma prebyvaniya ego svyateishestva svyateishego patriarkha Moskovskogo i vseya Rusi Aleksiya g. Tol’yatti i na Volzhskom Avtozavode 14 oktyabrya 1999 [The program of the stay of His Holiness, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Rus’, Togliatti and at the Volga Automobile Plant on October 14, 1999]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
21. Programma prebyvaniya Krestnogo khoda na teplokhode «Svyatoi knyaz’ Vladimir» v chest’ 2000-letiya Rozhdestva Khristova po vodam Volgi, Dnepra i Zapadnoi Dviny v Tol’yatti 15-16 iyulya 1999 [The program of the stay of the procession on the ship “Holy Prince Vladimir” in honor of the 2000^th anniversary of the Nativity of Christ along the waters of the Volga, Dnieper and Western Dvina in Tolyatti on July 15-16, 1999]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
22. Programma raboty blagotvoritel’nogo fonda “Tol’yatti-Pravoslavnyi” na 2000 god [Program of work of the charitable foundation “Togliatti-Pravoslavny” for 2000]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
23. Proekt soglasheniya o sotrudnichestve mezhdu meriei Tol’yatti i Stavropol’skim blagochiniem Samarskoi eparkhii [Draft agreement on cooperation between the mayor’s office of Togliatti and the Stavropol deanery of the Samara diocese]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
24. Protokol № 4 sobraniya Stavropol’skogo blagochiniya ot 16 dekabrya 1999 [Protocol No. 4 of the meeting of the Stavropol deanery of December 16, 1999]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
25. Protokol № 4 sobraniya Stavropol’skogo blagochiniya ot 17 sentyabrya 1999 [Protocol No. 4 of the meeting of the Stavropol deanery of September 17, 1999]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
26. Protokol vstrechi v merii Tol’yatti 16.09.1999 [Minutes of the meeting in the mayor’s office of Togliatti on September 16, 1999]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
27. Protokoly 1, 2 Soveta blagotvoritel’nogo fonda “Tol’yatti – Pravoslavnyi” [Minutes 1, 2 of the Council of the Charitable Foundation “Togliatti – Orthodox”]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
28. Protokoly 1, 2 Uchreditel’nogo sobraniya blagotvoritel’nogo fonda “Tol’yatti-Pravoslavnyi” [Minutes 1, 2 of the Constituent Assembly of the Togliatti-Pravoslavny Charitable Foundation]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
29. Svetlov Pl. Skoro – 2000 let so dnya Rozhdestva Khristova [Soon – 2000 years since the birth of Christ]. Million plyus,1998, no. 37(163), May.
30. Svidetel’stvo o gosudarstvennoi registratsii blagotvoritel’nogo fonda «Tol’yatti-Pravoslavnyi» № 73 [Certificate of state registration of the Togliatti-Pravoslavny Charitable Foundation No. 73]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
31. Tol’yattinskii arkhiv. F. R-410. Op. 2. 546 [Togliatti archive. Archives R-410. Anagraph 2. Document 546].
32. Tol’yattinskii arkhiv. F. R-410. Op. 2. 87 [Togliatti archive. Archives R-410. Anagraph 2. Document 87].
33. Tol’yattinskii arkhiv. F. R-545. Op. 2. 105 [Togliatti archive. Archives R-545. Anagraph 2. Document 105].
34. Ustav blagotvoritel’nogo fonda “Tol’yatti Pravoslavnyi” [Charter of the Togliatti Orthodox Charitable Foundation]. In: Arkhiv V.N. Yakunina [V.N. Yakunin Archive].
35. Tserkovnyi vestnik Stavropol’skogo blagochiniya, 1999, no. 6, Juny.
36. Tserkovnyi vestnik Stavropol’skogo blagochiniya, 2001, no. 10(34), Oct.
37. Yakunin V.N. Gosudarstvenno-tserkovnye otnosheniya i religioznaya situatsiya v provintsial’nom gorode v 1997–2003 (na primere goroda Tol’yatti) [State-church relations and the religious situation in a provincial town in 1997–2003 (on the example of the city of Tolyatti)]. Vestnik Volgogradskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Ser. 4. Istoriya. Regionovedenie. Mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya, 2021, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 54–65.
38. Yakunin V.N. Istoriya pravoslavnogo tserkovnogo khramostroitel’stva v Tol’yatti v 1985–2000 [History of Orthodox church building in Tolyatti in 1985–2000]. Povolzhskii vestnik nauki, 2020, no. 2(16), pp. 21–26.
39. Yakunin V.N. Istoriya pravoslavnogo tserkovnogo khramostroitel’stva v Tol’yatti v 2000–2019 [History of Orthodox church building in Tolyatti in 2000–2019]. Povolzhskii vestnik nauki, 2020, no. 3(17), pp. 20–28.

Information about the author

Vadim N. Yakunin – Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Department of Humanities and Socio-Economic Disciplines, Moscow Institute of Art and Industry, Russia, Moscow (vadyak@mail.ru, ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0464-2938).

For citations

Yakunin V.N. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE 2000 ANNIVERSARY OF CHRISTIANITY FOR THE ORTHODOX CHURCH LIFE IN TOGLIATTI. Historical Search, 2023, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 39–50. DOI: 10.47026/2712-9454-2023-4-1-39-50 (in Russian).

Download the full article