Personality of Archbishop Veniamin (Muratovsky) and His Activity in Ryazan Diocese (1920–1923)

Abstract

The subject of the Schism of renovationism has already been raised many times by various church historians, and by virtue of its vastness it still requires close attention of the researcher. In order to understand the problem on the whole, it is necessary to consider separate aspects, which can be observed in the history of specific dioceses. In the context of the study of Renovationism in the Ryazan diocese, it is important to focus attention on some of the representatives of this movement. For this reason, this article examines the life and work of Archbishop Veniamin (Muratovsky). He had been heading the Ryazan cathedra at a difficult time, when the unrest among the clergy over the election of a bishop had just subsided, when the hungry Volga region was begging for help, and the surrounding political situation demanded a choice between Orthodoxy and Renovationism. Of course, the Archbishop’s behaviour within the given situation did not have a unique meaning, and so it is rather difficult to characterise him unambiguously. Nevertheless, this article consecutively examines the life of the Archbishop before and after his ordination, his church ministry in Ryazan, his behaviour during the withdrawal of church treasures, and his assumption of leadership over Renovationism in the diocese.