Translation and Publishing Activities of Astrakhan Diocesan Committee (Orthodox Missionary Society): Analyzing Materials from the State Archive of Astrakhan Oblast

Introduction. The article introduces into scientific circulation a set of documents contained in Collection 597 — ‘Astrakhan Diocesan Committee of the Missionary Orthodox Society’ — of the State Archive of Astrakhan Oblast to examine translation and publishing activities of Orthodox missionaries in Kalmyk Steppe during the 19th – early 20th centuries. Materials and methods. The method of comparative historical analysis proves instrumental in investigating unpublished archival files from Collection 597 of Astrakhan Oblast’s Archive dealing with translation and publishing endeavors of Astrakhan Diocesan Committee during the mentioned period, namely: reports by individual missionaries, annual activity reports of the Committee, interdepartmental correspondence, correspondence of the Committee with regional branches of Orthodox Missionary Society, Kazan Theological Academy and its representatives sent to Kalmyk Steppe, Translation Commission affiliated to the Orthodox Christian Brotherhood of St. Gury, the Holy Synod, and Russian academic Mongolists K. Golstunsky and A. Pozdneev. Results. The paper introduces documents covering the main stages in translation and publishing activities of Astrakhan Diocesan Committee during the 19th – early 20th centuries. Conclusions. The study of the documents discovered in Collection 597 makes it possible to consider translation and publishing activities of the Committee members in their evolution, interregional interaction between missionary committees aimed at exchanging and clarifying Kalmyk translations of Orthodox Christian texts, identify impacts of the Holy Synod into the mentioned processes, including those made by teachers of Kazan Theological Academy, St. Petersburg University, and outstanding Russian Mongolists.

1. State Archive of Astrakhan Oblast.

2. Alekseeva P. E., Lantsanova L. Yu. (comps.) Scholarly Researchers of Kalmykia, 17th to Early 20th Centuries: A Biobibliographic Index. N. Ochirova (ed.). Elista: Kalmykia Book Publ., 2006. 251 p. (In Russ.)

3. Bayanova A. T., Sandzhiev Ch. A. Kalmyk-language Orthodox Christian editions: A traditional form of Oirat book. In: Volkov S. N. et al. (eds.) Religion – Science – Society: Problems and Prospects of Interaction. Conference proceedings (1–2 November 2012). Penza, Saratov, Semey: Sotsiosfera, 2012. Pp. 43–47. (In Russ.)

4. Belousov S. S. Kalmykia, 1900–1956: State Policy towards Christian Denominations. Elista: Kalmyk Humanities Research Institute (RAS), 2015. 236 p. (In Russ.)

5. Charter of Orthodox Missionary Society. St. Petersburg: Most Holy Synod, 1869. 16 p. (In Russ.)

6. Dorzhieva G. Sh. Buddhism and Christianity in Kalmykia, Mid-17th to Early 20th Centuries: Religious Policies of Imperial Russia’s Government Analyzed. Elista: Dzhangar, 1995. 126 p. (In Russ.)

7. Missionary Collection of Articles and Notes on Kalmyk and Kirghiz Nomads of Astrakhan Governorate. Astrakhan: Orthodox Missionary Society (Astrakhan Committee), 1910. 516 p. (In Russ.)

8. Nikolsky A. V. Orthodox Missionary Society: Activity Report, 1870–1895. Moscow: A. I. Snegireva, 1895. 145 p. (In Russ.)

9. Nikolsky A. V. Translation Commission of Orthodox Missionary Society affiliated to St. Gury’s Brotherhood in Kazan: A Historical Essay on Orthodox Christian Missionary Activity among Indigenous Peoples of Russia in the Mid-to-Late 19th Century. Moscow: A. I. Snegireva, 1901. 70 p. (In Russ.)

10. Orlova K. V. A History of Christianization among Kalmyks, Mid-17th to Early 20th Centuries. Moscow: Vostochnaya Literatura (RAS), 2006. 207 p. (In Russ.)

11. Orlova K. V. Christianization of Kalmyks, Mid-17th to 20th Centuries: Examining the Issue in the Context of Russia’s Internal and External Policies. Dr. Sc. (history) thesis. Moscow, 2007. 59 p. (In Russ.)

12. Orlova K. V. Christianization of Kalmyks, Mid-17th to Early 20th Centuries: A Perspective from Internal and External Policies of Russia. Moscow: Institute of Oriental Studies (RAS), 2018. 398 p. (In Russ.)

13. Orlova K. V. Christianization of Kalmyks. Chapter 3. In: Maksimov K. N., Ochirova N. G. (eds.) History of Kalmykia: From Earliest Times to Present Days. In 3 vols. Vol. 3. Elista: Kalmyk Humanities Research Institute (RAS), Gerel, 2009. Pp. 259–291. (In Russ.)

14. Prosyanova T. N. Parmen Andreevich Smirnov: A biographical note. In: Smirnov P. Travel Notes from Kalmyk Steppe of Astrakhan Governorate. Elista: Kalmykia Book Publ., 1999. Pp. 243–245. (In Russ.)

15. Report by Astrakhan Diocesan Committee of Orthodox Missionary Society: The Year 1911. Astrakhan: Semenov, 1912. 24 p. (In Russ.)

16. Savvinsky I. I. Astrakhan Diocesan Committee and its Christianization activity among Kalmyks and Kirghizes, 1871–1909. Astrakhanskie eparkhial’nye vedomosti. 1910. No. 16. Pp. 563–578. (In Russ.)

17. Savvinsky I. I. Astrakhan Diocesan Committee and its Christianization activity among Kalmyks and Kirghizes, 1871–1909. Astrakhanskie eparkhial’nye vedomosti. 1910. No. 17. Pp. 595–613. (In Russ.)

18. Savvinsky I. I. Astrakhan Diocesan Committee and its Christianization activity among Kalmyks and Kirghizes, 1871–1909. Astrakhanskie eparkhial’nye vedomosti. 1910. No. 18. Pp. 641–653. (In Russ.)

19. Savvinsky I. I. Diocese (Eparchy) of Astrakhan: A History of 300 Years (1602–1902). Astrakhan: V. L. Yegorov, 1903. 390 p. (In Russ.)

20. Yushtin F. M. Dissemination of Christianity among Kalmyks: A Review of the Government’s Arrangements. Astrakhan: Astrakhan Governorate Press, 1883. 64 p. (In Russ.)