Toward a history of monasticism in the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia during the 20th century

Tis article is devoted to monastic life of the Russian Orthodox emigre communities and based on archival sources - the minutes of the meetings of the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR in 1922-1936. Te Russian reader is also presented, for the first time, with excerpts from the book of the German historian Georg Seide, Verantwortung in der Diaspora: die Russische Orthodoxe Kirche im Ausland. Te author pays particular atention to the Monastery of St. Job of Pochaev, the Lesna Convent, the St. Alexander Nevsky Monastery in Yambol, and the Brotherhood of Russian Communities on Mt. Athos. In addition to the main functions of monasteries studied by the contemporary German scholar (internal prayer life, educational activities and the preparation of clergy, publication of liturgical texts, social and benevolent causes), the author studies additional aspects of monastic life: participation in regulating the problems of world Orthodoxy of the time; support of cordial relations with the local Orthodox Churches; and care not only for the spiritual, but also the material needs of the faithful