Archpriest Evgraf Kovalevsky in Ecclesiological Discussions of Early 1950s

The article presents analysis of the interpretation of the 34th Apostolic Canon proposed by Archpriest Evgraf Kovalevsky (later Bishop John- Nectarius) with regard to the ecclesiological discussions in the diaspora in the early 1950s. In these discussions, Archpriest Evgraf holds a position close to that of V. N. Lossky and Hieromonk Sophrony (Sakharov). At the same time, his attempt to reveal the dogmatic content of the 34th Canon by directly linking it with the Trinitarian doxology at the end of the rule can be considered quite original. Although the interpretation he proposed is clearly not indisputable, especially in that part where archpriest Evgraf seeks to give the grounds for the unity of the “ecclesiastical hypostasis” through the unity of the people, nevertheless it retains its significance and should be taken into account, including cases discussing ecclesiological issues of our time, for which the problem of correlating the dogmatic and canonical principles remains still relevant, though being acutely posed as early as at the beginning of the 20th century during pre-conciliar discussions.