Impressions of Patriarch Christopher II of Alexandria on the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1945
https://doi.org/10.15829/2686-973X-2025-219
EDN: AJKSNV
Abstract
The Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1945 was a significant event during the "New Course" period in church-state relations. It summarized the first years of the "New Course" and simultaneously demonstrated the prospects for this policy. The Council played a significant role in overcoming internal church divisions and demonstrated the potential for expanding the international activities of the Russian Church. Representatives of seven autocephalous Orthodox churches attended the Council. One of the key guests was Patriarch Christopher II (Daniilidis) of Alexandria. Upon his return to Egypt, he actively shared his impressions of his visit to the USSR. His speeches were closely watched in Moscow. The documents published below, from the archives of the Council for Russian Orthodox Church Affairs under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, reflect the nature of Patriarch Christopher’s speeches, which were quite favorable to his hosts. The documents are being published in their entirety for the first time.
About the Author
A. L. Beglov
Institute of General History of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Alexey L. Beglov - Doctor of Historical Sciences, Leading Research Fellow
Moscow
References
1. Afanasy 2012 — Afanasy (Sakharov), Bishop (2012). "What a Great Consolation Our Faith Is!..": Selected Letters. M. (In Russ.)
2. Beglov 2018 — Beglov, A. L. (2018). International Activities of the Russian Orthodox Church during the "New Course" in Church-State Relations. Key Stages and Crisis Phenomena. Contours of Global Transformations: Politics, Economics, Law, 11(4), 104- 129. (In Russ.)
3. Beglov 2022 — Beglov, A. L. (2022). Religious Life in the USSR and Its Relations with the Allies in 1943 Through the Eyes of an American Assumptionist. New and Contemporary History, 66 (5), 173-184. (In Russ.)
4. Beglov 2023а — Beglov, A. L. (2023). An Unknown Episode of Soviet-Greek Contacts in 1945. Meeting of Patriarch Alexy (Simansky) of Moscow and All Rus’ with Greek Politicians in Egypt. Electronic Scientific and Educational Journal "History", 14(11) [Electronic resource]. URL: https://history.jes.su/s207987840029182-9-1/ (accessed: 10.10.2025). (In Russ.)
5. Beglov 2023b — Beglov, A. L. (2023). Notes by G. G. Karpov on the trip of Patriarch Alexy I (Simansky) to the Middle East in May-June 1945. Russian Journal of Church History, 4(3), 116-136.
6. Belyakov 2016 — Belyakov, V. V. (2016). Russian Émigré Scholars in Egypt. Russian Scientific Abroad: People, Works, Institutions, Archives: Collection of Scientific Articles. Ed. P. A. Tribunsky. Moscow: Institute of Russian History, Russian Academy of Sciences, pp. 66-72. (In Russ.)
7. Kail 2020 — Kail, M. V. (2020). Church diplomacy and the 1945 visit of Patriarch Alexy (Simansky) to the Holy Land. Vestnik TvSU. Series "History", 4(56), 4-15. (In Russ.)
8. Nikitin 2020 — Nikitin, D. N. (2020). The Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church of 1945. Orthodox Encyclopedia. Vol. 57: Poganovskaya Icon — "Orthodox Review". Moscow: Church Research Center "Orthodox Encyclopedia", 389-398. (In Russ.)
9. On the Council of 1945 — On the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church. January 31 — February 4, 1945 (1945). Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate, (4), April, 56–58 (section "Foreign Press Review"). (In Russ.)
10. Letters of Patriarch Alexy — Letters of Patriarch Alexy I to the Council for Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church under the Council of People’s Commissars — Council of Ministers of the USSR. 1945-1970 (2009). Moscow, Vol. 1: 1945-1953. (In Russ.)
11. Soviet-Egyptian Relations — Soviet-Egyptian Relations. 1943–1955. Documents and Materials (2019). Editor-compiler: V. V. Belyakov. St. Petersburg: Aletheia. (In Russ.)
12. Chernov 2002 — Chernov, V. V. (2002). Barnes. Orthodox Encyclopedia. Vol. 4: Athanasius-Immortality. Moscow, 346-347. (In Russ.)
Review
For citations:
Beglov A.L. Impressions of Patriarch Christopher II of Alexandria on the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1945. Russian Journal of Church History. 2025;6(4):167-184. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.15829/2686-973X-2025-219. EDN: AJKSNV
Views:
16
Email this article 