The activity of the Russian Orthodox Mission in Japan plays a special role in the cultural and spiritual ties between the two countries and marks the culminating period of contacts in the era of the New Age, important events in the history of the formation of missionary, literary, artistic, and educational contacts. The publication of such magazines as Seikyo shimpo (Orthodox news), Seikyo yova (Orthodox talks), Uranishike (Modesty), Shinkai (Spiritual Sea), Niva (Garden), Niroku shimbun (24-hour newspaper), Shimei (Destiny) is associated with the Orthodox Mission. . Many educational institutions were opened by the mission: an Orthodox seminary, a catechism school, a women's school, a school for clerks, and a school for children in Hakodate. The works of A. Pushkin, L. Tolstoy were first published on the pages of magazines. N. Nekrasova.
The activity of the Russian Mission at the end of the 19th century was so multifaceted that it is difficult to analyze in its entirety. The most striking example is the architectural practice in Japan, which is of great importance for both descendants and contemporaries.
The construction of the first Orthodox church in Japan coincided with the flourishing of missionary work: Christianity, which was establishing itself on the Japanese islands, needed a temple where Orthodox Japanese could perform the sacraments and rituals and find spiritual peace. In addition to its religious significance, the construction of the temple played a huge role in the development of cultural ties between the two countries.
The idea of creating an Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ on the Japanese Islands belonged to St. Nicholas of Japan, whose name is associated with the formation and flourishing of the Russian Spiritual Mission in a distant eastern country.
In 1880, Father Nikolai traveled to Russia, where he actively raised funds for the construction of a temple in Tokyo - the allocated state funds were clearly not enough. The archimandrite applied for donations and today the names of some donors are known. This is F.N. Samoilov, Yu.S. Nechaev-Maltsev, daughter of Admiral O.E. Putyatin.
In St. Petersburg, Archimandrite Nikolai was looking for an architect capable of realizing a large-scale plan. It was the architect, the author of a number of churches in St. Petersburg, Professor M.A. Shchurupov. In his diaries, the archimandrite repeatedly mentions meetings and negotiations with him regarding the project of the temple. In St. Petersburg, Shchurupov had an active architectural practice, he was known primarily as the creator of a number of churches built in the Russian and Byzantine styles. The most successful works of Shchurupov include the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at the corner of Bolshaya Posadskaya and Malaya Monetnaya streets and the Church of the Smolensk Mother of God in the village of Smolenskoye along the Shlisselburg tract. The latter was spoken of as the most remarkable in the system of temples located along the tract. Unfortunately, now these churches are destroyed. The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, built in Japan by Shchurupov, is thus almost the only surviving architectural monument of the master.
In Japan, about Nikolai bought a piece of land on top of the Suruga-dai hill in the Kanda area (in the center of Tokyo). There, during the Middle Ages, a fire tower towered, which at the same time served as a kind of beacon for ships entering the port of Edo. The place was extremely spectacular and in many respects corresponded to the traditions of ancient Russian architecture: the temple in Russia was usually located on a hill, being an architectural dominant.
The project of the temple, designed for one and a half thousand parishioners, was grandiose. In the entire Far East there was no cathedral equal in splendor and scale to the Resurrection Cathedral.
The idea of the Russian architect was embodied in stone and metal by the English architect Joshua Conder, widely known in Japan (from 1878 to 1907, he built more than 50 buildings in Tokyo). It was he who owned the projects of the buildings of the Tokyo Imperial Museum (1881), the Rokumeikan Palace (1883), the building of the Naval Ministry (1895). Construction work continued for seven years, and in 1891 Conder handed over the keys to the cathedral to Archbishop Nikolai.
The brick temple struck with grandiosity: its dome covered with copper sheets rose 35 meters above the ground, the bell tower 5 meters higher. The area of internal space is 805 sq.m.
The opening of the cathedral was given special significance. The visit to Japan of the heir to the Russian throne, Tsarevich Nicholas, was timed to coincide with the event. But he never showed up in Tokyo. In the city of Otsu, the fanatic policeman Tsuda Sanzo, who believed that the Russians had aggressive plans against Japan, attacked the crown prince. The policeman struck the crown prince with a sword on the head, but, fortunately, he was not injured (a metal helmet with a dent from a saber weapon is still kept in the Hermitage). This unpleasant incident changed Nicholas' travel plans, the temple was consecrated without him on February 24, 1891, with the participation of 16 priests and 4,000 believers who arrived from different parts of Japan.
In its original form, the temple did not last long. In 1923, Tokyo was hit by a devastating earthquake that severely damaged it. Restoration work began in the late 1920s. They were led by the Japanese master Shinichiro Okada. He strove to follow Shchurupov's plan for sure, however, he made some adjustments to the project - he somewhat changed the dome, the bell tower and part of the interior. Everything else remained unchanged.
Today, the Orthodox Cathedral in Tokyo has become part of the architectural image of the city. At the end of the 20th century, it was surrounded by modern high-rise buildings, but the place, wisely chosen by St. Nicholas, allows the Temple to dominate the surrounding areas. The Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ rightly belongs to the most interesting sights of the city. It is marked in all maps, guidebooks, not a single local guide will miss the opportunity to draw the attention of guests to it. Evidence of the exclusivity of the cathedral is its popular name among the inhabitants of the Japanese capital Nikolay-do, literally the Temple of Nicholas...
Text nature.web.ru
Archpriest Nikolai Katsiuban, Rector of the Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church in Japan, answers the questions of the CV correspondent.
- In our memory, the name and missionary work of St. Nicholas (Kasatkin) are firmly connected with Japan. What is the current position of the Russian Orthodox Church in Japan?
The successor to the missionary labors of St. Nicholas and his successor, Metropolitan Sergius (Tikhomirov) for the spiritual enlightenment of Japan is the autonomous Japanese Orthodox Church. Today, the mission of the representation of the Russian Orthodox Church in Japan is to spiritually nourish our compatriots who, by the will of fate, found themselves in Japan, and those Orthodox from different countries who are parishioners of the metochion. Our farmstead is engaged in educational activities only on the territory of the farmstead itself and its branches, which include the monastery of St. Sophia in the village of Matsuo, Chiba Prefecture, the chapel in honor of St. Nicholas Equal to the Apostles at the Russian cemetery in Nagasaki and the parish in
City of Hitachi. In addition, the functions of the Metochion include information mediation between the Russian Orthodox Church and other Churches, religious communities, public organizations of Japan, as well as organizing the pilgrimage of Japanese believers to Russia.
Tell us about the history of the church where you serve.
The history of the St. Nicholas Church of the Compound is as follows. Archbishop Nicholas' successor, Metropolitan Sergius (Tikhomirov) was sent to Japan in 1908. The fate of Metropolitan Sergius was filled with sorrows: in 1940, after the adoption in Japan of the "Law on Religious Organizations", according to which foreigners could not be at the head of a religious organization, he was removed from the post of Primate of the Japanese Orthodox Church, and a few months before his death , which followed on August 10, 1945, Metropolitan Sergius, without any reason, was accused by the Japanese authorities of espionage and spent about a month in prison.
In November 1946, the Moscow Patriarchate sent two bishops to Japan, but the headquarters of the occupying troops under the command of General MacArthur did not want to let them into Japan and invited a bishop from the American Metropolis.
A group of clergy and laity who disagreed with this separated from the group of followers of Archbishop Nicholas and created a separate "True Orthodox Church", headed by Bishop Nicholas Ono and Archpriest Anthony Takai. There were very few believers in this small Church, but her pride was that she still considered the Russian Orthodox Church to be her Mother Church and kept intact the Rules of the Church and the Holy Tradition.
On September 30, 1957, the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church at its meeting officially recognized this Church as the true Japanese Orthodox Church. It was also decided that it was she who was the successor of the Japanese Orthodox Church, founded by Archbishop Nicholas. Archpriest Anthony Takai became the head of the Church. In 1965, he died at an advanced age, and his successor was Archbishop (at that time a priest) Nikolai Sayama, who on December 10, 1967 in Leningrad was ordained Bishop of Tokyo and Japan and declared the third Primate of the Japanese Orthodox Church.
In 1970, a complete reconciliation took place between the two groups of Orthodox in Japan and the Autonomous Japanese Orthodox Church was formed. In this regard, by the decision of the Holy Synod, from April 10, 1970, a new stage of activity began for the Japanese Orthodox Church, ruled by Bishop Nikolai Sayama, now as a metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church. Bishop Nikolai Sayama was relieved of his duties as the Primate of the Japanese Orthodox Church and the head of the Japanese Mission and was appointed rector of the metochion. Unfortunately, the farmstead still does not have its own permanent temple and rents for this purpose the territory and premises belonging to the Russian Embassy in Japan. May 22, 1979, the day of the Transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Metochion was registered as a religious legal entity with a name change from the "Japanese Orthodox Church" to the "Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Japan". Currently, the rector of the metochion maintains close contacts with the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church, once a month he concelebrates with the head of the Japanese Church, Metropolitan Daniel, and takes an active part in various events held by the Japanese Church.
- Who carries out the pastoral service with you? Who are your parishioners and how does the community live today?
Pastoral obedience in the courtyard is carried out by clerics Archpriest John Nagaya, Archdeacon Vladimir Tsuji and Deacon Yakov Nagaya.
The national composition of the parishioners is very diverse - Russians, Japanese, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Greeks, Georgians, Bulgarians, Serbs.
Divine services are regularly performed in the church of the Metochion: all-night vigils on the eve of Sundays and feast days, Divine Liturgies are celebrated on Sundays, on the Twelfth Feasts and on the days of especially revered saints. Every Sunday, akathists are read, conversations are held with parishioners, and Orthodox videos are watched together.
- What are the characteristics of pastoral ministry in Japan?
The peculiarities of the pastoral ministry in Japan include the fact that Japan is basically a country in which a materialistic worldview prevails and various sects are very active. Such a difficult situation imposes a special responsibility on the pastor.
- How are your relations with the Japanese, and how do they generally relate to Orthodoxy?
Since the Japanese are very inquisitive, they naturally show interest in Orthodoxy, visit churches, are interested in the content of services, icons and the history of Orthodoxy. My personal relations with the Japanese are quite friendly. From time to time I speak at meetings held by the Japanese-Russian Friendship Society.
Prepared by Maria Vinogradova
Continuation of the topic - on page 11
JAPANESE COMPOUND OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE".
Compound of the Russian Orthodox Church in Japan.
Address: Metochy of the Moscow Patriarchate in Tokyo, 2-12-17, Hon-komagome, Bunkyō-ku, Tokyo-tō, 113-0021, JAPAN. (113-0021、東京都文京区本駒込、2-12-17.)
Tel/Fax: (81-3) 3947-9404
Official website: http://www.sam.hi-ho.ne.jp/podvorie/
The Metochion of the Moscow Patriarchate in Tokyo is the representative office of the Russian Orthodox Church in Japan. Its tasks include the spiritual guidance of Russian believers who, by the will of fate, found themselves in Japan, and those Orthodox from different countries who are parishioners of the metochion. The functions of the metochion include information mediation between the Russian Orthodox Church and other Churches, religious communities, public organizations of Japan, as well as organizing the pilgrimage of Japanese believers to Russia. At present, the rector of the metochion, Fr. Nikolai Katsiuban maintains close contacts with the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church, once a month he concelebrates with the head of the Japanese Church, Metropolitan Daniel (Nushiro), and takes an active part in various events held by the Japanese Church. The farmstead is engaged in educational activities only on the territory of the farmstead itself and its branches.
The Patriarchal Metochion in Japan traces its origins to the Japanese parishes that were under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate during the disengagement of the Japanese Orthodox flock between 1947 and 1970.
In 1940, after the adoption in Japan of the "Law on Religious Organizations", according to which foreigners could not be at the head of a religious organization, Metropolitan of Japan Sergius (Tikhomirov) was removed from the post of primate and the Japanese flock was headed by Bishop Nikolai (Ono), who was ordained bishops in Harbin Russian Church Abroad.
After the end of World War II, the Japanese Consistory at the end of March 1946 decided to reunite with the Moscow Party and the Japanese flock, headed by Bishop Nicholas, was received by Patriarch Alexy I. In November 1946, the Moscow Patriarchate sent two bishops to Japan - Bishop of Odessa and Kirovograd Sergius (Larin) and Bishop of Chernigov and Nezhinsky Boris (Vik), however, the headquarters of the occupation troops under the command of General MacArthur did not let them into Japan and invited the bishop from " American Archdiocese".
Although the majority of the Japanese Orthodox received Bishop Veniamin (Basalyga) from America in early 1947 and entered the jurisdiction of the "American Metropolis", the few remaining faithful to the Moscow Patriarchate organized the "True Orthodox Church" of Japan and were headed by Bishop Nicholas (Ono) and Archpriest Anthony Takai.
On September 30, 1957, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church officially recognized this Church as the true Japanese Orthodox Church. Archpriest Anthony Takay became the head of the Church. On January 3, 1966, he died at an advanced age, and Hieromonk Nikolai (Sayama) became his successor, who on December 10, 1967 at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra was ordained Bishop of Tokyo and Japan and declared the third Primate of the Japanese Orthodox Church.
In 1970, a complete reconciliation took place between the two groups of Orthodox in Japan and the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church was formed. In this regard, by the decision of the Holy Synod, from April 10, 1970, a new stage of activity began for the Japanese Orthodox Church, ruled by Bishop Nicholas (Sayama), now as a Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church. Bishop Nikolai was relieved of his duties as Primate of the Japanese Orthodox Church and head of the Japanese Mission and was appointed rector of the Metochion.
The Compound still does not have its own permanent temple and rents for this purpose the territory and premises belonging to the Russian Embassy in Japan. May 22, 1979, the day of the transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Compound was registered as a religious legal entity in Japan with a name change from "Japanese Orthodox Church" to "Metochion of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in Japan".
Monastery in the name of Hagia Sophia the Wisdom of God in Sanmu, pos. Matsuo
Temple in the name of St. Nicholas of Myra in Tokyo
Temple in the name of blgv. book. Alexander Nevsky in Tokyo
Chapel in the name of blgv. book. Alexander Nevsky in Yokohama
Chapel in the name of St. equal to ap. Nicholas of Japan at the cemetery of Russian soldiers in Nagasaki
arrival in Hitachi
Used materials
Official website of the Compound:
http://www.sam.hi-ho.ne.jp/podvorie/
http://tserkov.info/numbers/orthodox/?ID=1401
List of "Foreign Church Institutions of the Moscow Patriarchate":
http://www.russian-orthodox-church.org.ru/adr_ru.htm
After St. Nicholas of Japan and Met. Sergius (Tikhomirov). Ep. Nicholas (Ono), although he was under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate between 1946 and 1954, was ordained by the bishops of the Russian Church Abroad, and in 1954 passed into the jurisdiction of the American Metropolis.
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See also interpretations, synonyms, meanings of the word and what is the JAPANESE COMPOUND OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH in Russian in dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference books:
- COMPOUND in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Euphron:
residential area (household) in a city, mainly in the capital, which is usually the property of a monastery located outside the city or even abroad (P. ... - COMPOUND in the Encyclopedic Dictionary:
, -i, genus. mm. -ry, cf. 1. The same as the inn (obsolete). Stop at point 2. Hotel, advantageous. for … - JAPANESE
JAPANESE LETTER, mixed ideographic-syllabic. a letter that combines hieroglyphs and syllabic signs (the so-called kana). The hieroglyphs are borrowed from the Chinese. letters (with... - JAPANESE in the Big Russian Encyclopedic Dictionary:
JAPANESE SEA Pacific approx., between the mainland of Eurasia and Japan. o-you. Washes the coast of Russia, North Korea, Rep. Korea and Japan. Connected by straits: ... - RUSSIAN in the Big Russian Encyclopedic Dictionary:
RUSSIAN LITERATURE INSTITUTE (Pushkin House) RAS (IRLI), St. Petersburg. Main in 1905. Study of the problems of development of Rus. lit-ry 11-20 centuries. Collection of manuscripts... - COMPOUND in the Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron:
? residential area (household) in a city, mainly in the capital, which is usually the property of a monastery located outside the city or even abroad ... - COMPOUND in the Full accentuated paradigm according to Zaliznyak:
rye, rya, rya, rya, rya, rya, rya, rye, rya, rya, rya, rya, ... - COMPOUND in the Dictionary of synonyms of Abramov:
cm. … - COMPOUND in the dictionary of Synonyms of the Russian language:
hotel, … - COMPOUND in the New explanatory and derivational dictionary of the Russian language Efremova:
cf. 1) a) house with related buildings; estate. b) local Someone's yard farm, at the estate. 2) ... - COMPOUND in the Dictionary of the Russian Language Lopatin:
basement, -I, r. pl. … - COMPOUND in the Complete Spelling Dictionary of the Russian Language:
courtyard, -I, r. pl. … - COMPOUND in the Spelling Dictionary:
basement, -I, r. pl. … - COMPOUND in the Dictionary of the Russian Language Ozhegov:
Obs == inn Stop at the village Obs The type of hotel, Maxime for clergy (with a church, chapel), owned by a bishop … - COMPOUND in the Dahl Dictionary:
cf. visiting, inn, driving hut, with a bridge for horses and carts; hotel; in Moscow, many inns have preserved the old ... - COMPOUND in the Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language Ushakov:
courtyard, r. pl. courtyard, cf. (outdated). 1. A house in a city with outbuildings, owned by a person permanently residing elsewhere, ... - COMPOUND in the Explanatory Dictionary of Efremova:
courtyard cf. 1) a) house with related buildings; estate. b) local Someone's yard farm, at the estate. … - COMPOUND in the New Dictionary of the Russian Language Efremova:
- COMPOUND in the Big Modern Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language:
cf. 1. Someone's house with related buildings; estate. ott. local Yard at someone's household, at the estate. 2. outdated. … - CHARTER OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". The Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, adopted at the Jubilee Bishops' Council (Moscow, August 13-16, 2000), from ... - STATISTICS OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Statistical data on the Russian Orthodox Church. 1945 - Temples and prayer houses - 10243; bishops ... - CHARTER OF THE BELARUSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Charter of the Belarusian Orthodox Church of the Belarusian Exarchate CHARTER OF THE REPUBLICAN RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATION "BELARUSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH" "Belarusian Exarchate of Moscow … - INTER-COUNCILAL PRESENCE OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". The Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church is an advisory body that assists the highest church authority in preparing decisions regarding ... - YUVENALY (POYARKOV) in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Yuvenaly (Poyarkov) (born 1935), Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna, patriarchal vicar of the Moscow diocese, permanent ... - TOMOS ON THE AUTONOMY OF THE JAPANESE CHURCH in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Tomos on the autonomy of the Japanese Orthodox Church, signed on April 10, 1970. They were granted the autonomy of the Russian ... - RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH ABROAD in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia is a self-governing Church within the Russian Orthodox Church. Synod of Bishops: 75 ... - NIKODIM (ROTOV) in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Nikodim (Rotov) (1929 - 1978), Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod. In the world, Boris Georgievich ... - ANASTASY (GRIBANOVSKY)
- SHANGHAI COMPOUND OF KHARBIN VLADIMIR MONASTERY in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Compound of the Harbin Vladimir Monastery in the city of Shanghai (female, inactive). Convent in honor of the Vladimir Icon of God… - SERGIUS (STRAGORODSKY) in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree.
- HOLY SYNOD OF UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is the governing body of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church headed by the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine… - RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". The Russian Orthodox Church is the Local Autocephalous Church. Another official name is the Moscow Patriarchate. Official… - PIMEN (IZVEKOV) in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Pimen (Izvekov) (1910 - 1990), Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. In the world of Izvekov ... - MOSCOW COMPOUND OF SOLOVETSKY MONASTERY in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Temple in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (and in the name of Great Martyr George the Victorious) in Endov in the city of … - MOSCOW COMPOUND OF SAVINO-STOROZHEVSKOY MONASTERY in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". The Moscow Compound of the Savvino-Storozhevsky Stauropegial Monastery with a house chapel of St. Savva Storozhevsky. Address: 103009, Russia … - KEM COMPOUND OF THE SOLOVETSKY MONASTERY in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". The Kemsk Compound of the Solovetsky Monastery is located on the shore of Popov Island (the modern name is the island of the October Revolution), not far from … - GEORGIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Georgian Orthodox Church - Local Autocephalous Church. Another official name is the Georgian Patriarchate. Georgian … - UNION OF BREST in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree.
- ARKHANGELSK COMPOUND OF SOLOVETSKY MONASTERY in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Arkhangelsk Compound of the Solovetsky Monastery Address: 163061, Arkhangelsk, nab. Northern Dvina, 77/1. For letters: PO Box 129. Directions: ... - ALEXY (RIDIGER) in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Alexy II (Ridiger) (1929 - 2008), Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. In the world... - ALEXANDRIYSKY COMPOUND IN RUSSIA in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". The Alexandrian Compound in Russia is the representation of the Patriarch of Alexandria to the Russian Orthodox Church. Compound of the Alexandrian Orthodox… - ACT OF CANONICAL COMMUNICATION in the Orthodox Encyclopedia Tree:
Open Orthodox Encyclopedia "TREE". Act of Canonical Communion, a document signed on May 17, 2007 by Patriarch Alexy II and the First Hierarch of ROCOR... -
Chronicles serve as the main source of Russian history from ancient times to the middle of the 16th century (and in some cases even further). … - RUSSIA, DIV. HISTORY OF RUSSIAN LITERATURE (BIBLIOGRAPHY) in the Brief Biographical Encyclopedia:
literature. General writings. The beginnings of literary history, lists of writers. Johannis Petri Kohlii, "Introductio in historiam et rem litterariam Slavorum" (Altona, 1729); …
The Metochion of the Moscow Patriarchate in Tokyo is the representative office of the Russian Orthodox Church in Japan. Its tasks include the spiritual guidance of Russian believers who, by the will of fate, found themselves in Japan, and those Orthodox from different countries who are parishioners of the metochion. The functions of the metochion include information mediation between the Russian Orthodox Church and other Churches, religious communities, public organizations of Japan, as well as organizing the pilgrimage of Japanese believers to Russia. At present, the rector of the metochion maintains close contacts with the Japanese Autonomous Orthodox Church, once a month he concelebrates with the Metropolitan of Tokyo and takes an active part in various events held by the Japanese Church. The farmstead is engaged in educational activities only on the territory of the farmstead itself and its branches.
History
The Patriarchal Metochion in Japan originates from the Japanese parishes that were under the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate during the demarcation of the Japanese Orthodox flock between and the year.
Although the majority of Japanese Orthodox accepted Bishop Veniamin (Basalyga) from America at the beginning of the year and entered the jurisdiction of the "American Metropolis", the few remaining faithful to the Moscow Patriarchate organized True Orthodox Church of Japan and were led by Bishop Nicholas (Ono) and Archpriest Anthony Takay. On April 24, Vladyka Nikolai and most of the clergy also came under the jurisdiction of the American Metropolis, after which Father Anthony became the head of the remaining parishes.
As a result of the visit to Japan by Bishop Yuvenaly of Zaraisk in September-October of the year, on October 7 of that year, the decision of the Holy Synod was made to transform the deanery into Orthodox Spiritual Mission in Japan. Archpastoral care remained with Bishop Yuvenaly, but at the same time, on December 10 of that year, Father Nikolai (Sayama) was ordained Bishop of Tokyo and Japan and declared the third primate of the Japanese Orthodox Church.
abbots
- see earlier the section on the primates of the Church of Japan
- Nicholas (Sayama) (April 10, 1970 - July 29, 1986) ep. Mozhaisky
- Nikolai Dmitriev (July 29, 1986 - February 26, 1987)
- Arkady Tyschuk (February 26, 1987 - October 25, 1990)
- Nikolai Katsiuban (since July 1991) Prot.
"Orthodoxy in Japan has Russian roots", - Vicar of the Vladivostok diocese, Bishop Innokenty of Ussuri, shares his impressions of a recent trip to Japan with the readers of Primorsky Blagovest.
– The trip took place from September 26 to 30, 2014 and was connected, first of all, with the need for the presence of a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church at the celebrations dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the first imperial consul in Japan, Joseph Antonovich Goshkevich. In this regard, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia blessed me to represent the Church at these events, which were held with the direct participation of the Russian Embassy in Japan and Rossotrudnichestvo.
The main events were held on the northern island of Hokkaido in the city of Hakodate, where I arrived via Tokyo. This is not an administrative center, but a small Japanese city with a population of approximately 250 thousand people. In the 19th century, when Japan became more open to foreigners thanks to new laws, foreign diplomats were able to arrive there - including the Russian consul I.A. Goshkevich. From the middle of the XIX century. this city began to play an important role in building relations with European states. The Russian consulate was opened here, since Hakodate is located closest to the coast of Russia. At that time, Russia itself indicated its presence in the Pacific Ocean. The development of the Far East, the development of ports and territories began. It is noteworthy that Vladivostok was founded in 1860, and the consulate in Hakodate opened not much earlier - in 1858. In terms of time, all these processes are closely related and occurred approximately in the same period of time.
Joseph Goshkevich and the first temple
Iosif Antonovich was a man of outstanding abilities. Prior to the diplomatic mission in Japan, he worked for more than 10 years in Beijing at the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, where he was engaged in translations into Chinese, including Orthodox texts. The man is experienced, comprehensively developed, gifted, knew several languages. Once in Japan, the first thing he thought of was to found a Russian Orthodox church in Hakodate.
Interestingly, the first Russian Orthodox prayer room opened in Hakodate on the territory of a Buddhist temple - Buddhists are friendly in this respect. And when the land was purchased, it became possible to open their own temple. He was wooden. The priest Hieromonk Filaret arrived at the temple, then the priest Vasily Makhov, but they did not stay in Japan for a long time. And after them Ivan Kasatkin was sent to Japan - a young graduate of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, who was tonsured a monk in 1860, the future Saint Nicholas of Japan. SamI.A. Goshkevich contributed to the fact that an educated and capable priest was sent to Hakodate.
By the call of God and the blessing of the Synod, Hieromonk Nikolai (Kasatkin) arrived in Hakodate in 1861. The activities of the young priest were supported in every possible way by the work of the first Russian consul in Japan. Therefore, our participation in the celebration of the 200th anniversary of I. A. Goshkevich was quite justified and necessary. Let us also note that the beginning of the activity of St. Nicholas coincides with the founding of Vladivostok and its first church.
Japanese and Orthodoxy
The Japanese Orthodox Church, speaking of its flock, calls the figure more than 30,000 believers. Consists of three dioceses: Tokyo, Eastern and Western. The eastern diocese is headed by Archbishop Seraphim of Sendai. Central - Metropolitan Daniel, he also temporarily manages the Western diocese. Has its own seminary. In general, there are about 150 Orthodox parishes throughout Japan.
Hakodate is part of the Eastern Diocese. Vladyka Seraphim came here for the celebrations as the ruling one, and together we took part in the events, served the liturgy together, and attended the events together. This communication had an important aspect, since our churches are two neighboring churches. The Japanese Church is autonomous, but maintains close ties with the Moscow Patriarchate, because for the Orthodox Japanese the Russian Church is the Mother Church. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill visited Japan in 2012.
The rector of the temple in the city of Hakodate is a Russian priest - Archpriest Nikolai Dmitriev, but he is a cleric of the Japanese Church, knows Japanese very well and acted as an interpreter.
The Orthodox Church in Hakodate is today one of the oldest in Japan. The existing building was built after a fire in 1916 at the historical place of service and preaching of St. Nicholas (Kasatkin). The Orthodox community consists almost entirely of Japanese. There is a wonderful choir here. The father rector's mother, baptized Svetlana, graduated from the regency class at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, she speaks Russian well. Managed to gather a group of singers. At services, they can perform some moments in Church Slavonic, which for a Russian person immediately creates a feeling of closeness of faith. Despite the fact that we are so different, on the other hand, we become close in Orthodoxy.
Saint Nicholas translated the New Testament into Japanese. So he managed to convey the good news to the hearts of the Japanese. And although Orthodoxy is not the most numerous denomination in Japan, there are more Catholics and Protestants, but, in the words of St. Nicholas of Japan, Orthodoxy for the Japanese is a faith that makes it possible to think. And the Japanese are very observant people, for them Orthodoxy is an opening into the heavenly world.
Many modern Japanese are characterized by pragmatism, religious issues are rather secondary. Orthodoxy is maintained by continuity: first of all, from those older generations that adopted the faith from St. Nicholas and passed it on to the young. There are also such cases: having visited, for example, America and having discovered Orthodoxy there, young Japanese learn about the existence of the Orthodox Church in their homeland. From Russia, the understanding of faith is often brought through mixed marriages.
In general, Orthodoxy in Japan has purely Russian roots. Before St. Nicholas of Japan, there were no Orthodox in the Land of the Rising Sun. And the attempts of other Orthodox churches to open their missions there were not successful.
Acquaintance through culture
The FEFU branch in the city of Hakodate is already twenty years old, and all this time Japanese youth have been studying Russian here. The educational building is located in the historical zone, from it to the temple - a stone's throw. Nearby is the Russian consulate. Very experienced teachers work in the branch. One of them is Fedor Derkach, originally from Irkutsk. When I offered to give a lecture on Orthodox icons, I thought that they would not understand me. But it turned out that they not only accepted this idea with pleasure, but also helped: they translated the captions to the slides into Japanese. I spoke not just about the Orthodox icon, but also about its differences from the pictorial picture. It was explained to me that in the curriculum there is an opportunity to deviate from regular language classes and get acquainted with Russian culture. This helps students to give rest for the mind, but, on the other hand, to get in closer contact with the country whose language they are learning. After all, everything is interconnected.
Hakodate, unlike Tokyo, is a quiet provincial town where it is pleasant to live and study. True, young people here do not like to linger (there is little work), they tend to move closer to the center. But on the other hand, the city authorities are betting on domestic tourism (they even compete with the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto). Here, the air is always fresh (wherever you look - the sea is everywhere), and the night view from the viewing platform has become the hallmark of Hakodate. If you look at the city from above, you can compare it with an open fan. The city has hot springs, and an hour's drive - a volcano and hot tubs right on the seashore. Many Japanese people like to come to Hakodate to eat fresh sea fish and seafood: tuna, crab, squid, red caviar, sea urchin caviar and many others. All this is caught nearby in the sea and immediately gets to the market and restaurants. How the Japanese eat can be judged by the fact that there are practically no fat people there! Favorite national soup - "miso" from seaweed with tofu cheese. The food is lean and not as spicy as in China or Korea.
Another interesting point. Being amiable, the Japanese are calm and respectful towards the clergy if they walk around in religious clothes, for example, in cassocks. In Russia, it happens that they point a finger at such a person.
"I bless you to open doors"
In the Khakodat temple, Fr. Nikolai Dmitriev is trying to apply different forms of work with people, not only liturgical ones. Many tourists in Hakodate go to the temple, walk around, are interested in architecture. When entering a church, they take off their shoes at the entrance (an exception may be made for priests). Inside there are carpets or mats everywhere. There are chairs for those who wish. For those who are interested, excursions, conversations with answers to questions are arranged. Father Nikolai said that people, having visited the Hakodat temple, then in other cities of Japan also begin to look for Orthodox churches, because they liked it there.
Around the temple there is a playground, a park is laid out. Near the house of the priest and the parish house with office space. On Sundays, classes are organized here for everyone, for example, painting Easter eggs. By the way, even non-Orthodox people come to them - the Japanese just love creative activities.
Vladyka Seraphim, in his sermon after the Sunday Liturgy, said to the parishioners: “Why are the doors of the church closed? See how many people walk around the temple! We continue the work of St. Nicholas and must be open to them! I bless the doors to the temple to keep open!”
Church - an oasis among the metropolis
Tokyo. Probably everyone who comes here for the first time is surprised by the orderly traffic and cleanliness. And for a multi-million city - the almost perfect cleanliness of the streets. Climbing the Tokyo Tower, you can see with your own eyes that in this metropolis, among the many high-rise buildings made of glass and concrete, there are still islands of that old Tokyo that saw St. Nicholas. The church of Nikolai-Do, the Cathedral of the Resurrection Church, which is peculiar in architecture, is also surrounded on all sides by twin houses. If you look at it, a comparison with another world arises, different from the one in which a person travels, walks, fusses, taking care of many things. While it is important for a person to choose a good part, which will never be “taken away” from him.
On the territory of the cathedral is the residence of the Archbishop of Tokyo Daniel, Metropolitan of all Japan. Among the shrines in the cathedral is a large particle of the relics of Equal-to-the-Apostles Nicholas (Kasatkin). It is on the right, near the salt. For the Japanese, this is a great spiritual relic. Of course, for pilgrims to touch the holy relics of St. Nicholas of Japan is a great spiritual consolation.
A famous place in Tokyo is the Yanaka Cemetery, where the burial place of St. Nicholas is located. Those who come there try to make a prayer there to the great educator of Japan.
Guests from Russia in Tokyo are often met by the rector of the Patriarchal Metochion, Archpriest Nikolai Katsiuban. This priest has been in Japan for twenty years.
The Compound of the Russian Church consists of three spiritual centers. There is a small home church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (an old church). A new one was also erected - in honor of the holy prince Alexander Nevsky, the construction of which was carried out with the assistance of the former Metropolitan, and now Patriarch Kirill; Most of the services are held in this church.
In addition, in the prefecture of Chiba (Chiba) there is another farmstead belonging to the Russian Church. His history is like this. One of the oldest Japanese bishops, Vladyka Nikolay (Sayama), shortly before his death, in his will left this property as a gift to the Russian Church - and thanks to this, the nuns of the Mother of God-Nativity South Ussuri Monastery - Xenia and Magdalena - are constantly there.
The place where the monastery is located is typically rural, peasant. Around the field with quite interesting plants. No guards or fences! The sisters say: "When we leave, we just close the doors, and that's it." So accepted. Perhaps due to the fact that it is very difficult for attackers to hide in the country.
The sisters take care of the churches: St. Sophia and St. Nicholas. In Nikolskoye, reconstruction is now being completed: the iconostasis is being updated. The monastery in Chibo is one of the favorite places of Orthodox Russian people who live in Tokyo and get tired of the busy city rhythm. And here - an hour's drive and you - both in the temple and in nature. They come with families, with children. Mother Magdalena organized a Sunday school for children and conducts interesting classes both on spiritual topics and developing the cultural horizons of the child. There are funny cases: they tell how one day the children went to explore the area around the monastery, approached the poultry house, and one girl said to her mother, seeing the chickens: “Look, what big parrots!” ... The monastery, by the way, is located near Narita International Airport, where they fly planes from Vladivostok.
Not just neighbors...
The flight from Primorye to Tokyo takes only about two hours. It's amazing that two different civilizations coexist so closely, but Orthodoxy unites them! There are temples, there are Orthodox Japanese who pray in exactly the same way to God, but in their own language. This is related.
Religious Japanese are drawn to the Russian church tradition, they want to learn more about the spiritual life. Even on the example of Japan, you are convinced that with God's help, even one person (like St. Nicholas of Japan) is able to carry out the work of a holy mission! Lay the foundation for moving forward. Acquaintance with the fruits of the labors of the saint and his disciples makes one think: the Spirit of the Lord gives life and guides the Church to the very ends of the earth, both in distant apostolic centuries and in our time.
Addresses of Russian Orthodox churches in Japan:
1) Compound in Tokyo:
2-12-17, Hon-komagome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113, Japan Tel/Fax: 03-3947-9404;
from Russia dial +81-3-3947-9404
2) New Alexander Nevsky Temple in Tokyo: 6-2-2, Simo-Meguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-6362-2031; from Russia dial +81-3-6362-2031
3) Compound in Chiba Prefecture (Chiba): 372, Kowa, Matsuo-cho, Sanmu-shi, Chiba-ken, 289-1504, Japan
Tel/Fax: +81-479-86-2765
