Hаучно-исторический аспект деятельности православного духовенства Бессарабии (конец ХІХ – начало ХХ вв.)
Scientific and Historical Aspects of the Activity of the Orthodox Clergy of Bessarabia (The End of XIX-th Century – The Beginning of the XX-th)

Summary/Abstract: The clergy of Bessarabia took part in the work of the scientific historical organizations and societies, among which an important role was played by the “the Scientific Commission of the Archives of Bessarabia”. It was founded in Kishinev, on August 23, 1898, in the presence of the bishop of Kishinev and Hotinsky, Iakov (Pyatnitsky). Among the members of the Commission, there were representatives of the Orthodox clergy: the bishop of Kishinev and Hotinsky, Iakov (Pyatnitsky), the bishop Akkermansky Arcady (Filonov), the archpriest F. P. Zlatov, the priests A. І. Baltsatesko, E. E. Mikhalevich, K. E. Popovic, N. A. Rashinsky, I. I. Sofronovich, M. G. Chekan and others. In fact, 68% of the members of the Commission were from among the clergy, the remaining 38% being from the local intellectuals. The primary activity of the Commission consisted in the creation of the historical archives. At the same time, the members of the Commission were engaged in researches, in the description and the preservation of the antiquities, including the church antiquities to be found in their areas. The clerk members of the Commission also made donations for the development of the activities of the Commission. Some representatives of the clergy gave to the museum and to the libraries the inventory of the church antiquities and other valuable scientific materials. In 1900, the Commission started the publication of the “Works of the Scientific Commission of the Archives of Bessarabia” containing archive materials and other scientific papers. During the following seven years, three volumes of “Works”, including official documents of the Commission (protocols of meetings), and 23 scientific publications were printed. Directly responsible for these achievements was the inspector of Kishinev Theology Seminary, I.M. Halippa, who held the function of chairman. Some publications concerned the church history of Bessarabia. However, shortly after, the activity of the Commission started to decrease considerably. The creation, in Kishinev, in 1904, of the “Historical and Archaeological Church Society of Bessarabia” was one of the major reasons for its decline. The Bishop Iakov (Pyatnitsky) was the initiator of this society and he suggested to I.M. Hallipa to write the draft of the Charter of the Society. The members of the Commission became members of the Society. According to its charter, the prior activities of the Society were: research, preservation and publication of the written sources which could be helpful for a church history of the diocese. At the meetings of the Society, the project of a work entitled “The History of the Kishinev Diocese, in Connection with the History of Christianity on the Territories of Bessarabia since the Oldest Times” was considered. Shortage of money became a barrier in the way of the scientific activity of the Society. Therefore, its members concentrated mainly on church history. Between 1909 and 1914, 9 volumes of the “Historical and Archaeological Church Society of Bessarabia” were published. In spite of the short period of existence of the scientific institutions of Bessarabia, in which the local clergy largely cooperated, they brought a noticeable contribution to history researches.

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