Interaction experience of party "Union of October 17" and the Moscow "Commission on Church and Religious Issues”

Abstract

This article deals with the issue of the relationship between the party "Union of October 17" and the Moscow "Commission on Church and Religious Issues” in 1905-1907. The research is based on various sources: official documents, secular and church periodicals, writings of “Commission’s” members and the Octobrists. The author throws light upon the events of the conflict between liberal-minded members of the Society of Worshipers of Spiritual Enlightenment and the Moscow church hierarchy. The article touches on the reasons for establishing of the "Commission", as well as the circumstances that led to its rapprochement with the party "October 17 Union". On the one hand, the “Commission” sought to find material assistance from the party, and on the other hand, the Octobrists needed to develop an ecclesiastic issue with their program using the knowledge and experience of the Orthodox clergy. The author gives a vivid description of institutional changes of the "Commission" that related to the Octobrists’ influence. Besides, the collection of the articles of the "Commission" is published with the financial support of the party. The "Commission" under impact of the party expanded its program. The author gives an insight into the reasons for the decline of the activities of the "Commission" under the "Union of October 17". They consisted in the postponement of a church council, as well as in a reorganization of "Union of October 17». The article shows how the experience of interaction between the "Commission" and the "Union of October 17" influenced the subsequent work of the Octobrists on an ecclesiastic issue in the II and III State Dumas.