The formation of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad and the religious life of Russian emigrants in Yugoslavia

The present article considers the historical perspective of the formation of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad after the revolutionary events in Russia in 1917. In addition, the description of cultural and religious life of Russian emigrants in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) is presented. It is this country, which became a place of the creation of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, the governing bodies of which — the Synod of Bishops and Synodal Office — were situated in Yugoslavia until 1944. The flourishing of Russian Church emigration in the country took place during the interwar period, which the present article is devoted to. In Yugoslavia of the time dozens of Russian communities were created, five churches and chapels were built, Russian fraternities, Church publishing houses, and even the Ecclesiastical Mission were active. Emigrants from Russia made a vital contribution to the spiritual education, monastic life, Church art and culture of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The author pays attention to such issues as consolidation and subsequent disorder in Church government abroad, the policy of hierarchs, relations with the Moscow Patriarchate during the period of canonical contradictions, etc.