Metropolitan Sergius as a Publisher and Author of the “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” in 1931–1935

After the end of the civil war, the Moscow Patriarchate could publish only desk calendars that came out before 1925. Therefore, Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) of Nizhny Novgorod, who assumed the duties of Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens on December 14, 1925, set the publication of the official periodical organ of the Patriarchate among the priority tasks for establishing church life. One of the main achievements of Metropolitan Sergius at this time was the permission of the authorities to publish the “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate”, which was published from 1931 to 1935. It was small in size (from 8 to 14 pages) and was published once every 2–4 months. Its publisher was Metropolitan Sergius himself. Most of the materials published in the Moscow Patriarchate Journal in the 1930s are related to the activities of the Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens and the Temporary Patriarchal Holy Synod. The materials published in the journal make it possible to identify and study the main areas of activity and mechanisms of functioning of the highest church authority in the late 1920s and first half of the 1930s. An analysis of these materials convincingly shows that, firstly, the work of the Temporary Patriarchal Synod was led by Metropolitan Sergius, who submitted important issues of church life to the Supreme Church Administration for consideration. Secondly, despite all the oppression, church life continued and the Patriarchate, represented by the Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan Sergius and members of the Temporary Patriarchal Holy Synod under him, remaining the only legalized organ of church governance, did everything possible in those incredibly difficult conditions to maintain proper order and discipline in the Church on canonical grounds and not allow it to fall apart.