The Orthodox Community in Hankou (1860–1910)

The article examines the history of Orthodoxy in China using the example of the Russian Orthodox community in the Chinese city of Hankou. Initially, this community consisted of tea merchants and employees of tea companies. By expanding their commercial activities and donating their funds for the construction and maintenance of churches, they helped to strengthen the faith among the Russian population. In 1884, in Hankou, at the expense of the Russian merchants, the church of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky was built, which became the center of Orthodoxy in the province of Hubei. While on a trip to the Far East, the Heir to the Throne, Grand Duke Nikolai Romanov, visited Hankou in 1891. Visiting the church of Saint Alexander Nevsky every day, the Heir highly appreciated not only the commercial, but also the spiritual activities of the local Orthodox community. The territory obtained as a result of the Heir’s negotiations with the Chinese authorities for the formation of the Russian concession in Hankou contributed to the growth of the number of Russian subjects, among whom there were representatives of various professions. The spiritual activities of the Hankou Orthodox community influenced the spread of Orthodoxy among the local population. A special role in this was played by missionary priests who visited remote places in the province of Hubei and preached Christianity among ordinary Chinese. The history of the Orthodox community in Hankou is a worthy example of the spiritual activity of the Russian people who were separated from their homeland in distant China.