O. P. Tsys Nizhnevartovsk State University, Nizhnevartovsk, Russian Federation, [email protected]
V. V. Tsys Nizhnevartovsk State University, Nizhnevartovsk, Russian Federation, Ecocenter, Megion, Russian Federation, [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Introduction: the article examines a unique case of mass christening of the Nenets people for its time. It is noted that since this case was the subject of a lengthy investigation by the spiritual and secular authorities, its study provides an opportunity to look into the inner world of the persons involved in this case, as well as to evaluate the evolution of the methods of converting pagans to Christianity by missionaries of the Tobolsk North.
Objective: based on a specific example, to identify the features of state and church policy regarding the Christianization of the indigenous population of the Tobolsk North.
Research materials: documents of church and secular institutions, concentrated in the State Archives in the city of Tobolsk and the Russian State Historical Archives.
Results and novelty of the research: the investigation into the mass christening of the Nenets, which lasted for about two years, became a clear lesson for the missionaries, which limited their ability to do similar things in the future. The described case demonstrates the relative autonomy of the Tobolsk spiritual consistory from the decisions of the diocesan bishop, which has not been previously reported in Russian historiography. The novelty of the study also lies in the emphasis on the fundamental changes in approaches to the Christianization of the pagans of the Tobolsk North. The methods used in the early 18th century by Saint Philotheus (Leshchinsky) are now condemned and considered completely unacceptable, which was a consequence of the liberalization of state and church policies towards the indigenous population of the region. Only persuasion and long-term painstaking work on education
could attract new children to the bosom of Orthodoxy. This approach contributed in part to the conservation of individual elements of paganism among the previously converted Ostyaks and Samoyeds.
Key words: Tobolsk North, Surgut mission, “foreigners”, “newly christianized”, Christian rituals, clergy, Tobolsk diocese
For citation: Tsys O. P., Tsys V. V. “To teach the foundations of the Christian faith to all these foreigners and to strengthen them in the faith...”: the case of the mass “forced” christening of the Nenets people of the Tobolsk North in the late 1860s // Vestnik ugrovedenia = Bulletin of Ugric studies. 2024; 14 (3/58): 554–565.