Management of the expanded diocese during the period of persecution of the church based on the example of archbishop Philip (Stavitsky) of Astrakhan and Saratov in 1943-1953

In an article on the material of the archive of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church for the period 1943-1953. the features of the management of a huge diocese formed from several regions during the persecution of the Church are considered. The study of this issue is substantiated on the example of the Astrakhan diocese, which covered almost the entire Lower Volga region in a given period. The causes and stages of enlargement of the Astrakhan diocese in 1944 and 1949 are shown. The problems associated with the management of this diocese and the reasons for their occurrence are investigated. The methods and means of solving the problems that arose as a result of the enlargement of the diocese before the ruling bishop are considered. The role of the archbishop, Philip (Stavitsky), in the management of the Astrakhan, Stalingrad and Saratov dioceses is studied. Examples of the interaction of a bishop with the state through the structures of the Council for the Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church and with the Church through conciliar structures are given. Options for solving problems at the diocesan level in the field of personnel policy, repair and construction of churches are shown.