Missionary Brotherhood of the Holy Cross in Nizhny Novgorod Diocese in 1875-1916

Abstract

The history of the formation and development of the missionary brotherhood of the Holy cross in Nizhny Novgorod is presented. Attention is paid to the issues of organization, formation of the budget of the brotherhood and its branches, problems of organization and work of these institutions. In the analysis it was found out that for more than forty-year term functioning the brotherhood of the Holy cross had significantly expanded the scope of its activities, covering all the deanery districts of the diocese with its branches, attracting new forces to its ranks. It is noted that by 1913 the budget of the brotherhood had increased 10 times. It is reported that the brotherly library had increased. The author emphasizes that for a quarter of a century the process of drawing up the uniform rules of the organization of the branches of the brotherhood had been delayed; among them there were those that functioned at the expense of the enthusiasm of individual priests or secular zealots of the faith. It is concluded that the appearance in 1902 of the General Charter of the branches brought order, uniformity in their organization and created the basis for providing them with funds. It is shown that the main missionary load lay on the clergy, but in the work of the brotherhood the secular persons of the peasants also showed activity. The lack of finance had not allowed to implement some ideas: to open a charitable institution, to issue regular missionary magazine, etc.