Historiography of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra (1946–1970)

Abstract

The socio‑cultural characteristics of modern society and the increasing interest in religion necessitate a study of the historical experience of the Trinity‑St. Sergius Lavra, the primary monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church and a paramount national shrine. While the Lavra’s historical path holds a prominent place in Russian history, its post‑war period remains under‑researched, leaving numerous questions for scholars of this ancient monastery. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive historiographical analysis of the key milestones in the history of the Trinity‑St. Sergius Lavra from 1946 to 1970, organized by thematic and chronological principles. The research objectives are met through the analysis of materials from the State Archive of the Russian Federation, the Sergiev Posad Museum, and the records of prominent architects and restorers. Significant emphasis is also placed on memoirs and eyewitness accounts of the revival of monastic life in the Lavra. The methodological framework includes source analysis and synthesis within the Russian historiographical landscape. This article examines the source base to reveal various aspects of the monastery’s restoration and subsequent activities. This allows researchers to study in detail the formative years of monastic life within the walls of the ancient cloister, which had ceased to function as a monastery in 1919. The findings provide insight into the specific socio‑cultural and state‑church relations of the post‑war period.