Feedback from the Holy Martyr Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) on the issue of church reform in the context of the preparation of the Local Council in 1905–1906

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the review of the Holy Martyr Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) on the issue of church reform, submitted by him in 1905. As part of the study, the review of mitr. Vladimir is placed in the context of the preparation of the church reform: Its main provisions are compared with the existing trends in the field of church reform at that time. As part of the reconstruction of the views of Mitr. Vladimir finds out his position on issues of higher church administration, parish management, provision of parishes, as well as problems of religious freedom. Mitr. Vladimir speaks from a conservative position, insisting on preserving the existing union in church-state relations, but the religious reform initiated by the manifesto on April 17, 1905, causes his criticism. Great expectations of mitr. Vladimir also places obligations on the state regarding the maintenance of the clergy. In the field of church administration, the reverend author of the review sees the main changes in the removal of representatives of the state apparatus from solving issues affecting the internal development of the church. In his review, he gives preference in matters of governance to clerics, who should form an extensive apparatus of church administration under a leader in the person of a bishop (the Patriarch – in the whole Church, the bishop – in a separate diocese).