| Popis: |
The article describes main areas and results of the educational and charitable activities of Rector of the Narym Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Dean of the Narym district of the Tomsk diocese Archpriest Nikolai Nikolaevich Nikolsky (1868–1937). The author notes the difficulties that N. N. Nikolsky had faced in the north of Tomsk diocese, for more than 20 years of his service (1894–1915): remoteness and scattered villages, a significant proportion of “aliens” and political exiles among the parishioners. The parish journal of the Narym Cathedral (1897–1910) has been used as the most important source; on its pages the clergy members recorded many events significant for the parish, including reports on holding liturgies, extra-liturgical interviews, and processions, as well as cooperation between the clergy and Narym merchants, organization of church and secular holidays, etc. The article stated contribution of this Dean to the formation and development of the system of primary church schools, his role in organizing and conducting extra-liturgical activities, and first of all, Palestinian Readings, and charitable events also. It is concluded that the systematic work of Archpriest N. N. Nikolsky made it possible to make the Palestinian Readings an important part of the spiritual life of population of the Narym city and the Deanery, to fit them intothe context of liturgical practice associated with Great Lent and the Easter holiday. The article describes work of the Narym parish guardianship organized by N. N. Nikolsky, which took care of the maintenance of the poor parishioners. The author provides statistical data that indicate a fairly high level of religiosity of the inhabitants of the Narym territory during the period under review. The literary activity of N. N. Nikolsky consisted in the publication of separate brochures or articles on the pages of Tomsk Diocesan Gazette, with the materials aimed at solving specific problems of the current life of the region, is also considered. The author has indicated that the merits of the Narym Bishop’s Assistant were marked by a great number of awards from both ecclesiastic and secular departments. |
