The Russian Orthodox Church and Russian Emigration as Documented in the Archives of the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia

Slavic and East European Information Resources. 2020. Vol. 21. No. 1-2. P. 94–102.

Natalia I. Ermakova

The article explores the archives of the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), highlighting their rich historical value in documenting Russian emigration and church life throughout the 20th century. The archives include over 2,000 documents and photos covering figures like St. John Maximovich and Archbishop Tikhon Troitskii, and records from the Russian spiritual mission in China. These materials span global locations such as pre-revolutionary Russia, China, the Philippines, Europe, Australia, and the U.S. The collections provide insights into the church’s role in supporting Russian emigrants, preserving their faith and culture. It emphasizes the archival potential for historical and linguistic research and discusses ongoing efforts to preserve and digitize these materials for wider accessibility, reinforcing the ROCOR’s role in maintaining religious and cultural identity among Russian emigrants.

Keywords: русская эмиграция, церковная история, history of russian emigration, history of Russian Church, русская эмиграция в США, архивы русской эмиграции