The “secretary report” as a source for the history of the Imperial Orthodox Society for Palestine studies in 1905-1909

The publication of the text of the first official report of A. A. Dmitrievski (1856- 1929) dated the 10th October 1908 is accompanied by a short introduction and commentaries. The text of the report may be divided in two parts. A. A. Dmitrievski gives first of all a detailed description of financial problems of Imperial Orthodox Society, which were at the autumn of 1908 very serious. In the second part of his report A. A. Dmitrievski speaks about the necessity to finish the school activities of the Society in Syria thanks to financial problems. This idea never was realized due to the negative attitude of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as of the Russian emperor Nicolas II. The document is interesting as a source which gives the possibility to understand more the opinions of A. A. Dmitrievski, a famous liturgist and Secretary of the Council of Russian Imperial Orthodox Society for Palestine Studies. The “Secretary report” is also interesting as a valuable source for the history of Russian activities in the Middle East in the beginning of the 20th century