English Machine Translation of http://www.kepping.net/proshloje-2.htm LAST CHIEF OF THE RUSSIAN SPIRITUAL MISSION IN CHINA - ARCHBISHOP VICTOR This report is written by the younger sister of Archbishop Victor, Olga Viktorovnoj Keping, specially for the scientific session devoted to the Russian Spiritual Mission in China which has been lead on February, 26-27, 1991 by the Leningrad University together with the Leningrad Spiritual Academy. Because of O.V.Keping's old age itself could not be present at session, and the report has been read to me. In March, 1991 the text of the report has been handed over in predpolagavshijsja for the publication the collection of reports of session. At the end of 1991, being in business trip in Netherlands, in library Lejdenskogo of University I have found out the book ' the Poem without a subject ' Valery Pereleshina living in Brazil of the Russian poet who became known in Russia in 1989 after the publication of his verses in magazine ' Spark '. ' The poem without a subject ' - autobiographical product (it is published in the USA in. Hilkok in 1989a.) . V.Pereleshin long time of veins in Beijing in the Russian spiritual mission and well knew archbishop Victor. In a poem many good words are told about archbishop Victor to whom the author concerns with undisguised sympathy. And I have undertaken boldness to add the text of the report of mother to three endurances from Valery Pereleshina's poem. In a full kind the report is published in the collection ' Orthodoxy on the Far East: the 275-anniversary Russian spiritual missiiv China '. (SPb., 1993). Xenia Keping Metropolitan Victor (in the world Leonid Viktorovich Svjatin) was born on August, 2 (an item of style) 1893 in village Karagajskoj of district Verhneuralskogo of the Orenburg province. His father - Victor Evgrafovich Svjatin, the teacher, subsequently the priest of the Piously-Nikolaev cathedral of. Verhneuralska. Mother - Maria Petrovna, was the daughter of ataman Karagajskoj of a village, army foremen Peter Stepanovicha Zhukov. Mother Leonid Viktorovicha has died early, having left five children. Children were brought up by the grandmother, Maria Fedorovna Svjatina (mother of father). Seminarist Leonid Svjatin - the student of the Kazan spiritual academy, 1915-1916. Seminarist Leonid Svjatin - the student of the Kazan spiritual academy, 1915-1916 In 1915 Leonid Viktorovich has with distinction ended the Orenburg theological seminary and has acted in the Kazan spiritual academy, but from the second rate of academy it has been mobilized and directed to 1916 in Tiflis in Mihajlovskoe military school. Revolution however began and it has come back home in Verhneuralsk where has been again mobilized and directed to a staff of general Belova in Beloretsk where it and has served before deviation. [1] With a staff of general Belova it receded up to border with China. Position of Russian army on border was heavy - hungry, undressed, razutye people among which epidemic of a typhus began. Was ill a typhus and Leonid Viktorovich. As is known, the army on border has been dismissed also interested persons have come back home. Wanted to come back home and Leonid Viktorovich, but the case has sharply changed his life. Here on his border, the patient with a typhus, the uncle, the native brother of his mother - general Zhukov, Gervasy Petrovich which with family went further to China has found. It has suggested Leonid Viktorovichu to go with it to China. And Leonid Viktorovich together with Zhukov's family goes in Hankow - city in the south of China. Tens thousand Russian, thrown out by revolution to China (according to some information them was two hundred thousand person), [2] Began a life in unfamiliar conditions of China - another's speech, not clear culture. At this time the Russian orthodox church having two hundred year's roots in China, appeared that center which united everything, rendering in process of forces and opportunities the various help in arrangement of a life in the new country. Leonid Viktorovich since childhood aspired to a monastic life and asked father of blessing to take this way, still studying in spiritual academy, however father has not given it blessing, having advised to check up and to make this step at more mature age. Having learned that in Beijing there is a Russian spiritual mission and at it there is a monastery, it leaves Hankow and in the beginning of 1921 becomes novice Uspenskogo of a monastery in Beijing. That it has seen on teroritorii the Russian spiritual mission, so-called Bejguane (on - kitajski it ' northern farmstead ' means), has struck it. It was old Russia with tserkvami, monasteries, novices in skufejkah, monks in klobukah, but the main thing after all perezhitogo - rest, silence which were broken only by a peal during church services. The chapter of mission bishop Innokenty (Figurovsky), the person uncommon at this time was - it has restored Mission after she has been burnt completely during boxing revolt. On June, 20, 1921 Leonid Viktorovich has been cut in monks in Beijing Uspenskom a monastery with a name Victor (this name of his father). On June, 24 it has been imposed in a dignity ierodiakona and on June, 27 - in a dignity ieromonaha. Was to it then 27 years and since then never and under any conditions it did not remove a monastic cassock. [3] It was always true to a monastic vow nestjazhanija: never having property, it distributed all requiring. Last years lives, already in the USSR, it has refused half of salary, having counted his too high, and everything, that received, sent to various cities of Soviet Union to those for whom his help was necessary. It helped and the wife of general Zhukov, Paraskove Mihajlovne which, having returned in 1947 from China in the USSR, last years has lead lives in Vologda (has died far for 90). Bishop Innokenty, at once having understood the sincere device of the young monk, saw in it of the successor in the rank of the chief of Mission - in fact in conditions of that time it was impossible to expect for arrival of the following Mission from Russia - and prepared for it for this. It has sent monk Victor to Vladivostok for study in East Institute - for work in Mission the knowledge of the Chinese language was necessary. However and this time father Victor could not finish the doctrine. Political events on the Far East have forced it to return to China and in the spring of 1922 it has been appointed by prior Pokrovskoj of church in Tianjin, the city located on distance of two hours of driving by train from Beijing; here it has served ten years. Being in the heaviest for Russian emigration time - initial years of its life in China - the prior of a temple " (while only thing in Tianjin later, will be open eshe a little), it could show completely the vicarial aspirations and remarkable organizing abilities. As well as in other countries of Russian dispersion, the church was that center which collected around of itself all Russian, and the priest became, as though we have now told, ' the informal leader '. Authorities varied, and church-, familiar and native, remained constant. So happened and in China. At father Victor the chapel on a communal grave of Russian soldiers was transformed to the big Temple of Cover Presvjatoj of the Virgin. [4] At it Russian school, Russian hospital has opened, Russian cemetery has been well-equiped. To it went not only orthodox, noj concerning to other faiths, for him was not ' neither ellina, nor iudeja ' and for everyone it found words of a consolation. In Tianjin it used extraordinary love and respect not only the parishioners, but also representatives of other creeds many-sided Tjantszina. It borrowed here an apartment from three rooms in a semibasement premise which Russian have nicknamed ' hotel Victor ': in two rooms constantly there lived officers - it gave all free-of-charge krov and bread (his cook, Russian soldier Misha prepared on all). The some people lived here long, others - up to the device for work. But such way of life was not on means - at him debts have appeared. In result bishop Innokenty has ceased to pay to it the salary (it went on payment of duties) and gave out only money for livelihood. In 1929 it erect in a dignity of archimandrite. In 1931 bishop Innokenty becoming by this time already metropolitan dies, and the chief of Mission becomes archbishop Simon (Vinogradov) who sends archimandrite Victor to Yugoslavia where on October, 21, 1932 it has been accomplished hirotonija it in bishop Shanghai. Archimandrite Victor has been recalled to Yugoslavia because the Russian Spiritual Mission in China at this time submitted to the Most holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox church abroad. However also archbishop Simon and the chief of Mission, the twentieth under the account in the early spring of 1933 dies, there is bishop Victor, proformer on this post 23 years down to closing Mission in 1956 Archbishop Victor (Svjatin), The son of deacon, the cossack idle time, Was modest, tender and pleasant, And that it shined by kindness, Which does not wait otplaty. Having noticed shy patches On an elbow torn mine Under top - as if - rags, In rest it left adjacent, In shkapu dug platjanom Also came back with a cloth Or a shirt snow-white also spoke: ' And it to you, nenoshenyj madapolam '. V.Pereleshin. A poem without a subject (With. 169). By this time - i.e. by 1933 - Mission has already met that crisis in which has got in 1917: ' From the moment of Russian revolution Mission has lost inflow of means from Russia and, given to itself, has gone through the heavy financial crisis which has caused of full reorganization of its facilities and its translation into the beginnings of self-support. Charges of Mission, despite of economy and reduction of activity, nevertheless were huge, for with support of Mission some families albazintsev and orthodox Chinese contained... The Financial position of Mission was strengthened (by 1935 - About. E.) in connection with improvement of position of Russian emigration on the Far East '. [5] Therefore bishop Victor, being the chief of Mission, had an opportunity to develop wide the missionary kuju activity. In 1937 of bishop Victor erect in a dignity of archbishop. However it is very fast (in 1937) China has been seized by Japanese, and the life Russian in conditions of occupation became much heavier. The situation has become complicated after an attack of Germany to the USSR. War with Germany has caused patriotic rise among Russian and many, those who participated in the first world war, tested a complex of fault from impossibility to help the Native land at difficult o'clock for it. Lord Victor in park Bejguanja Lord Victor in park Bejguanja Melancholy on the left Native land, an idea on returning to Russia did not leave it never. I remember meshochek with the Russian ground, stored at him in the safe in his apartments in Bejguane - besides in the safe at him was nothing. It was confident, that Russian people sooner or later will return to Russia. Still it wrote to 1935: ' they (Russian - O.K.) have been compelled to depart abroad, carrying away with themselves from the Native land only heavy grief about lost and a fair Russian name yes great treasure - sacred orthodox belief... ' [6] - And further: ' When exiles, children and their grandsons will return to the revived fatherland and again nachnut to build greatness it, they will recollect friendship of Great China and will manage to answer it with true Russian friendship '. [7] Political position in China was very unstable: there was a civil war. Russian emigration was divided into two parts - one were going to return home (within 1947 some repatriations from various cities of China have been carried out), others leaved for Australia, America, Brazil, Argentina and other countries. In Russian orthodox church also there was a split. I could not escape on a joint The irreconcilable two beginnings... Reshenja the grown-up of the Lord Nobody has protested: Both barichi and raznochintsy, And Russian and albazintsy, All have signed the report, And further began split, The trouble valiant has appeared suddenly. It would seem, not the contriver, And John, Is suddenly appointed Archbishop of Shanghai, And Victor and his rights? They are recognized by one Moscow. Which of them the traitor: The colonel or the general? But, those events the contemporary, I have selected Victor's heart... V.Pereleshin. A poem without a subject (with 287-288). On October, 9, 1946 on a dawn in the apartments in Shanghai archbishop Victor has been arrested. The magazine of the Russian Spiritual Mission in China ' Chinese Blagovestnik ' wrote: ' the Message about this event has stirred up all multinational Shanghai, let alone the Russian colony sharply experiencing an imprisonment of the spiritual Chapter... Letters began to be published In newspapers with expression of sympathy to orthodox Christians and itself Arhipastyrju '. [8] In five days only after intervention of representatives of the Soviet consulate Lord Victor has been released. However despite of brief term of the conclusion, as a result of a shock it has transferred a microinsult - for some time at him speech has been broken. Subject PAKu [9], poluplennym Archbishop lived, And it those days the criminal the militarian In newspapers has been proclaimed. Many spots, Were found on it And with perepugu Victor (Svjatin) Has returned to citizenship of Moscow (and you have as though acted?). In Shanghai it has been arrested, Among dirty souls and bodies Three days unfortunate has stayed Also has left, it is broken and despised, And from prison it has exhausted Soviet - Stalin - the ambassador. V.Pereleshin. A poem without a subject, (With 287). Farewell photo of archbishop Victor with clergy and workers of a dairy farm. Beijing. Bej-guan. 1956. A farewell photo of archbishop Victor with clergy and workers of a dairy farm. Beijing. Bej-guan. 1956 Lord Victor clearly realized necessity of the new Mission sent from Russia: Russian youth leaved from China, clerics were old men and it with alarm thought that waits Mission ahead. In second half 1940th it sends a lot of official reports to Patriarch Alex in which persistently asks to send new, twenty first mission. I love Mission, I know its value for St.. Orthodox Russian Church and the Native land and hotly I believe in its light future. Listening to messages of radio of Soviet Union and getting acquainted on newspapers and books with statement of a facilities in the Soviet Russia, I have strong realized, that the Soviet person will shift all life of our dear Russian Spiritual Mission in China from a dead point, will deduce her a condition of painful prostration on saving ways of revival and blossoming and will give it that position with which she should borrow among others Inoslovnyh Missions on advantage of St.. Orthodox Russian Church and our Great Russian People. All will depend on driving alive force - the staff of Mission. This question the most business, most serious question. Here among the local Russian population few suitable people for the big organizational work. Tired and patients sincerely, these people will not give due burning and odushevlenija to business, and arrived from the Native land will be more authoritative and for the local Chinese population. That is why I wrote earlier and asked and now again pochtitelnejshe I confirm, that it is necessary to send to China from Soviet Union new 21 Russian Spiritual Mission <... > During three-five years Mission economically should rise on own legs and return Patriarchies everything, that was and will be spent. Potential opportunities at Mission are huge, but at present, valid only historical circumstances and events, the economic situation of Mission is pitiable. The ground areas and other real estate of Mission it is not used properly, the enterprises do not justify themselves, buildings for lack of major overhaul collapse, the small number of people serving Mission, lives in misery. There are no material means, there are no hands, there is no due economic management. Heroic efforts are necessary on the part of the Mission, the care and the help of the Native land is necessary. [10] But Moscow in Beijing has not sent the twenty first Mission. Archbishop Victor has received the order of the Patriarchy to abolish Mission and in 1956 has returned home where has received purpose in the Krasnodar diocese. Here it has lived equally ten years. In 1961 has been erected in a dignity of metropolitan. In his August, 1966 did not become. The official conclusion about death - a heart attack easy. [1] L.V.Svjatin was not the officer of a field army in the first world war as it affirms in biobioliograficheskom the dictionary ' Russian orthodox hierarches of the period with 1893 on 1965 (inclusive) '. (Sost. Metropolitan Manuil (Lemeshevsky). Kuibyshev, 1966. T. 2, With. 173. [2] Svanberg I., The Russians in China Multiethnic studies in Uppsala. Uppsala, 1988. P. 10. [3] This circumstance is especially important for noting for the period of his life in Soviet Union - practically here it did not leave a house as within his life in the USSR to appear in the street in a monastic attire was unsafe. [4] Tjantszinsky the orthodox Temple-monument, vozdvignutyj the Russian government on the Communal grave of Russian soldiers, pogibshihv 1900, was the first orthodox temple in Tianjin. In a communal grave were pogrebeny 109 Russian soldiers. The communal grave and the Temple-monument have been converted in the Temple of Cover Presvjatoj of the Virgin later. [5] The Russian Spiritual Mission in China: 1685-1935. A. m... With 7. [6] Bishop Victor. On the occasion of 250-years anniversary of the Russian spiritual mission in China. Chinese blagovestnik. 1935. With 9. [7] In the same place. [8] Arrest of the Chief of the Russian Spiritual Mission in China. // Chinese Blagovestnik. 1947. January. With 9. [9] PAK - the Beijing anticommunistic committee. [10] The official report to Ego Svjatejshestvu Most holy Alex Patriarhu Moskovskomu and all Russia the Patriarchal Ekzarha in East Asia and the Chief of the Russian spiritual mission in China for? 266 from November, 20, 1949. O.V.Keping The text and a photo are published under the book " Xenia Keping. Last works and documents ". SPb. 2003.