John Sirotov’s anti-Muslim activities in the early 20th century (based on the Astrakhan Diocesan gazette)
https://doi.org/10.53315/2782-3377-2025-5-3-9-20
Abstract
The article is devoted to the analysis of the missionary activity of Priest John Sirotov in the Astrakhan diocese at the beginning of the 20th century against the background of the confessional policy of the Russian Empire. Special attention is paid to the materials of the Astrakhan Diocesan Gazette, which serve as a valuable source for studying the ideological and practical aspects of the Orthodox mission among Muslims. The periodical served not only an informative, but also a propaganda function, forming the image of an “alien” Muslim environment and justifying the need for its Christianization. Through Sirotov’s publications, a system of arguments against Islam, calls for the creation of schools, mission stations, as well as rhetoric of the superiority of Orthodoxy can be traced. The texts record the facts of baptism, descriptions of the difficulties of the mission, measures to disseminate religious literature and the organization of educational initiatives. The materials of the diocesan press make it possible to reconstruct not only the activities of a particular missionary, but also the official strategy of the church for the integration of «foreigners» into the imperial Orthodox model. The analysis of these publications reveals not only the rhetoric of missionary work, but also the role of the printed word as an instrument of ideological influence and cultural integration in the multinational space of the Russian Empire at the beginning of the 20th century.
About the Author
V. V. Batyrov
Kalmyk State University named after B.B. Gorodovikov
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Valery V. Batyrov, Candidate of Historical Sciences
Elista
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Review
For citations:
Batyrov V.V. John Sirotov’s anti-Muslim activities in the early 20th century (based on the Astrakhan Diocesan gazette). Nomadic civilization: historical research. 2025;5(3):9-20. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.53315/2782-3377-2025-5-3-9-20
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