Orthodox military clergy: main directions and results in modern domestic research (2015–2025)

Abstract

This article presents a systematic historiographical analysis of studies devoted to the Orthodox military clergy of the Russian Empire published in Russian academic literature between 2015 and 2025. The main objective of the research is to identify key thematic directions, assess methodological developments, and evaluate the current state of scholarship in this field. The methodology is based on thematic classification, comparative analysis of sources, and identification of dominant research paradigms. The study highlights a significant shift from traditional institutionalism toward microhistorical, anthropological, and socio-cultural approaches. Major thematic areas include institutional-administrative development, everyday pastoral practice, regional and estate-specific characteristics (particularly within Cossack forces), biographical studies, legislative regulation, and the clergy’s role during World War I and the Civil War. The analysis reveals substantial achievements—such as detailed reconstructions of daily life, regional models, and administrative reforms—but also identifies persistent gaps: fragmented coverage of 19th-century everyday practices, insufficient exploration of regional variations, and near-total neglect of non-Orthodox confessions in the military clergy. These findings not only map the current historiographical landscape but also outline promising avenues for future research, especially in the context of the ongoing revival of military chaplaincy in contemporary Russia.