Sakhalin island orthodox clergy missionary activities among the convicts (mid XIX - early XX centuries)

In this article the author tries to make sense of the main aspects of Sakhalin Island Orthodox clergy service in prisons. This study covers the most difficult period in the life of the island. In the mid XIX century Sakhalin becomes the penal colony of the Russian Empire. The convicts and exiles delivery to the island was started. It was necessary to think about the expansion of the existing settlements, construction of roads, and establishment of school education. It should be mentioned that the voluntary settlements on the island territories contributed to the process of the islanders quantity increase. Peasants of Central part of the Russian Empire had an opportunity to move to the island, and at that, to achieve greater success the Government introduced incentives and encouragements. The authorities faced the tasks solving which the representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church were also involved in. The author focuses on consideration of the hard labor living conditions and the moral standards of people. The hard labor living conditions hindered the service in Sakhalin prisons. The article shows how severe the life of the prisoners was; and prison administration’s indifference and cruelty had no bounds. It is worth noting some remoteness of the convicts from the religious life. They had almost no interest in this. As noted by the contemporaries, mostly free people were praying in the island churches where there was no place for the convicts. The work was additionally complicated by the fact that there were no chapels or the premises in the existing prison where the divine services could be administered.