OLD BELIEVERS of the FAR EAST In China

1917-1958

Since 50th of XIX century at support of the government of Russian empire the Far East grounds have begun intensively zaselyalyatsya immigrants among whom the significant part was made by Old Believers various soglasy including t. n. popovtsy belokrinitskoj hierarchies. [1] migratory processes of Old Believers as most capable colonists of the new grounds, were encouraged with the government of Russia.

            Owing to efforts of Advice(Council) of the All-Russia Congress of Old Believers (Moscow) during with 1907 for 1912 quantity(amount) of Christians Drevlepravoslavnoj of Church Khristovoj (the initial self-name of Russian Orthodox Old believe Church – and.) has sharply increased due to lipovan – the Russian Old Believers, wished to return to Russia from Austria and compactly lodged in the Amur region [2]

Formation of an old believe generality in the Far East has not managed, possibly, and without « old believe prozelitizma ». It is known, that in with. Red YAr the community of Old Believers, priemlyushchikh svyashchenstvo, has appeared as a result of split of the big community of Old Believers chasovennogo sense. Under whose initiative there was a split in with. Red YAr - it is not known. Whether there was this initiative from Old Believers of Vladivostok, or a part krasnoyarovskikh chasovennykh Old Believers have doubted of the validity of the belief. « Two years ago (t. e. In 1910, t. To. The letter datirovano 1912) 10 families from ours, having ranked themselves to the Austrian sense, having invited to themselves of the priest and now start construction of the church ». [3] Despite of persistent resistance from a greater part bespopovskogo the population with. Red YAr, the temple nevertheless has been built in the shortest terms. The invited priest, verotnee everything, became about. Peter Maslennikov. This surname name both popovtsy, and bespopovtsy, lived at that time in Red YAre. « My Great-grandfather Pantelej Nikolaev and its(his) children... Lived all over again all in Red YAre, then at them split has occured(happened). There has arrived whence not that Maslov, not that Maslennikov. It(he) all collected in belokrinitskuyu belief. Mum told, grandfather Pantelej so cried, did not wish to go to this Austria, but nevertheless has gone. Both uncle Artemy, and aunt Anisya, and uncle Timothy has gone and even the priest in Vladivostok became... », - so one of descendants bortnikovykh-¡¿¬«½áÑóÙÕ which has remained bespopovtsami recollected this event Solomoniya Leontevna Gumennaya. [4] On memoirs of the former inhabitant with. Red Yar Annas Ivanovny Spiridonovoj, priest Peter Maslennikov was the attendant in old believe church approximately up to 1912 [5] Probably, later 1912 about. Peter Maslennikov has moved to Vladivostok as its(his) name meets down to 1919 in records of the metric book Vladivostok city upravy Seaside area.

            In 1910 took place I Congress of the Amur Old Believers on which the decision on annual carrying out of Congresses of Old Believers on the Far East grounds of Russia was accepted. [6] during I-th eparchial congress also it has been decided  to place episcopal faculty in der. Bardagon the Amur area in case of establishment of a diocese. [7]

            In 1911 in der. Bardagon, the Amur area II East-Amur congress took place. At this Congress the clergy and laymen of the Far East have made a decision to address to Consecrated Cathedral Drevlepravoslavnoj of Church Khristovoj (Russian Orthodox Old believe Church) with the request for creation in Far East territory of independent episcopal faculty. By this time only in the Amur area it was totaled more than 20 belokrinitskikh arrivals in which 10 priests served that allowed Far East Old Believers to contain own bishop adequately.

The East-Amur congress of Old Believers in der. Bardagon volosts Amursko-Zejskoj of the Amur area. August, 1911.
 Members of congress: 1) chairman of advice(council) of congress staroobr. svyashch. Iulian Tyukalov, der. Bardogon; 2) comrade chairman svyashch. Ioakim CHernousov; 3) secretary Konstantin Tyukalov; 4) 2-nd secretary about. Paul Butkovsky. Members of the editorial commission: 5) Kuzma Bulatov; 6) Andrey Makushin. Members of a revision committee: 7) Larion Korobelnikov; 8) Daniel Ivanov; 9) ustavshchik Feodor Tyukalov. The others - members of congress. [Church., N44, on October, 30th, 1911, with. 1066]

            Consecrated Cathedral DTSKH (RPSTS) 1911 has complied the request of Christians of the Far East and has founded a diocese á¼ÒÓ߬«-Irkutsk and all Far East (in different years and in different sources there are its(her) various names - a diocese of Eastern Siberia; [8] a diocese Irkutsk and vseya Vostochnyya Siberia, [9] ¿Ó¬ÒÔ߬«-Amur [10], etc.) which structure included arrivals of the Amur, Seaside, Transbaikalian and Yakut areas, Irkutsk province. On the Consecrated Cathedral the decision about rukopolozhenii in a dignity of bishop svyashchennoinoka Joseph Antipin also was accepted .  [11]

Bishop á¼ÒÓ߬«-Irkutsk and all Far East Joseph (in the world Iakov Isakovich Antipin or antipov), was born in 1853 in der. Hooks of district Kungurskogo of the Perm province also occured(happened) from family Ural bespopovtsev.

BISHOP IOSIFA

Per 1863 with parents who belonged to Old Believers chasovennogo the consent, has moved in der. Pavlovsk district Achinskogo of the Yenisei province. In 1869 at will of parents married. In 1878 it(him) have taken on military service. Having returned from service, it(he) with even greater(big) diligence was accepted to studying of belief. In 1895 has been selected(elected) by the spiritual instructor. After a while Iyakovu was two visions. For the first time the cemetery with decaying corpses (it(he) felt a stench as natural) was presented it(him). Was starets has told to it(him), that the way which it(he) went till now, conducts to death. In second time it(he) as sacred apostles Peter and Paul were in the prayful house where it(he) prayed and worked has seen, and have told: « The church and svyashchenstvo here also will be ». This vision was represented Iakovu up to three times. Having started to search svyashchenstva, it(he) has gradually got acquainted with belokrinitskoj hierarchy, and in 1896 in the Tomsk old believe monastery together with the wife has joined to Drevlepravoslavnoj Churches Khristovoj. The same year, having made sure of virtue of its(his) life, nachitannosti and judiciousness, bishop Perm Antony has imposed it(him) in ierei in der. Pavlovsk, district Achinskogo, the Yenisei province. Here about. Iakov has served five years, having attached nearby 200 chasovennykh Old Believers. Then it(he) has been translated(transferred) in with. Secret also it is appointed(nominated) decent. Its(his) arrival razrossya almost up to 1000 person. Hard been ill, about. Iakov has allowed a vow to accept inochesky postrig. Having recovered, it(he) has bought(purchased) a site of the ground in 55 versts at small river Tarboyak in natural boundary Blacken Tomsk province and from blessing bishop Tomsk Ioasafa per 1904-1909 has arranged a monastery where have started to lodge inoki. On August, 25th, 1911 It(He) has accepted postrizhenie with narecheniem a name Joseph and has soon been caused to Moscow on the Consecrated Cathedral where on December, 14th has been selected(elected) by bishop, and on December, 18th, 1911 in temple Rozhestva KHristova on Rogozhskom a cemetery khirotonisan in bishop Irkutsk by archbishop Moscow John (Kartushinym) and bishop Ryazan and temporarily Petrograd Alexander (Bogatenko). [12]

Bishop Joseph on a regular basis made multimonthly detours of the diocese, overcoming in a saddle of hundred versts that was hard even for the skilled traveller expedition(dispatch) on wild bezdorozhnomu to edge(territory). Nearby 1913 oн has selected(elected) the constant residence with. Bardagon the Amur region where has shown special care of statement of church singing by means of ustavshchika Vasily Trifonovicha Antonova and archpriest John Shadrin translated(transferred) in 1914 under the request of the lord from the Barnaul district.

Eparchial church construction proceeded in the Far East of only 9 years. Civil war came nearer. During this period in a diocese it has been constructed more than 10 temples: in the cities of Vladivostoks, Irkutsk, Magadan; in Transbaikalia – in villages Tarbagataj, Dono, Kujtun; in Priamure – villages Klimoutsy, Nylga, Pokrovka, Semenovka, Markovka. Communities opened, prayful houses were consecrated. [13]

 In the beginning of 20th years evidence of arrival of the Soviet authority to the Far East became inevitable. Intensive emigration of Old Believers to China together with the rests of White army has begun. In territory of China - in a Harbin and in trekhreche old believe communities were formed some.

In 1917 cтарообрядцы, living in a Harbin, were united in arrival, having formed in « the most Russian Chinese city » a community in honour of sacred pervoverkhovnykh apostles Peter and Paul. The same year they have addressed to old believe bishop á¼ÒÓ߬«-Irkutsk and all Far East to Joseph (Antipin) with the request to direct to them prikhodskogo the priest. Going towards to the request manchzhurskikh Old Believers, bishop has ordered to priest Nikolo-Aleksandrovskogo of arrival with. Red YAr Surazhevskogo a subdistrict of the Amur area (the temple in Vladivostok yet was not) about. Artemiyu Solovevu to execute spiritual treby both in a Harbin, and on all Manchzhurii. [14]

From archival documents, in particular from correspondence of military chiefs of the Amur and Kazan provinces « In occasion of exception Artemiya Evstafevicha Soloveva of spare persons(faces) in connection with purpose(assignment,destination) as its(his) old believe priest », it is known, that Artemy Evstafevich Nightingales in 1898 has been called on urgent service, served private soldiers in 38-th dragoon Vladimir a shelf in the Kazan province. In 1907 it(he) has handed over the discharge ticket during carrying out of testing gathering. From documents it is possible to understand also, that after the termination(ending) of military service the further destiny Artemy of Nightingales has connected with service to the God. In 1910 on blessing kazansko-ónÔ߬«ú« of old believe bishop Ioasafa and the decision of Advice(Council) of congress of Old Believers from a of Moscow « old believe priest Belokrinitskoj of hierarchy Artemy Evstafevich of Nightingales has been appointed(nominated) on pereselenchesky a site in Surazhevsky a subdistrict of the Amur region for religous rite among immigrants-Old Believers ». [15]

In the same business there is a document dated also 1910 Under the decision of Christians-Old Believers Nikolo-Александровского of arrival (with. Nikolo-Алескандровское, Khabarovsk, d. Pokrovka, d. Prince-ó«½Õ«¡ß¬án) to father Artemiyu Efstafevichu Solovevu it was given « under an apartment... With all outdoor constructions and manor, and also we should deliver the public house for heating fire wood, how many it is required, and also flours(torments) annually not less than 75 poods and a fish salty not less than 50 poods... ». [16] Decision of parishioners has been read through and recognized true, signed and sealed old believe bishop Ioasafa Tomsk and is temporary vseya Siberia and the Cupid on November, 22nd, 1910 In metric book Nikolskoj of an old believe community  the name of priest Artemiya Soloveva meets with 1916 for 1923 some breaks. In connection with crossing(moving) about. Artemiya Soloveva to China about its(his) further destiny we, unfortunately, do not know.

Events 1919-20 developed(unwrapped) on the Cupid, have forced bishop Joseph to leave(abandon) with. Bardagon. In the middle 1919 it(he) has left in a Khabarovsk, and later – in Primorski Krai: to Vladivostok, then in Nikolsk-Уссурийский.

In connection with revolutionary events, together with a wave of refugees to Vladivostok there arrives bishop Vyatsky and Kazan Philaret. By records in the metric book, it(he) served in a temple of Vladivostok with 1920 on 1922 With its(his) arrival there was possible(probable) a resettlement of bishop Joseph to Harbin. [17]

In the beginning 1921 lord Joseph with group of laymen has emigrated in a Harbin (China); there the faculty of bishop of á¼ÒÓ߬«-Irkutsk and all Far East has been transferred(carried) also.

Together with bishop Joseph the part of clergy has moved to China also. From magazine « Far East Old Believer » it is known, that diakon John Starosadchev mentioned in records of the Vladivostok metric book for 1918, there has arrived Harbin, in Manchzhuriyu, from the Cupid, from with. Bardagon. Together with the chapter(head) kharbinskogo arrival by priest John Kudrin made divine service together with preosvyashchennym Joseph in day of a bookmark of a temple in Harbin on August, 18th, 1924 In a year, in 1925, they have served solemn moleben on the occasion of consecration of a temple in the name of sacred Supreme Apostles Peter and Paul. [18] at a temple the residence of bishop Амурско-Irkutsk Joseph (Antipin), and also eparchial management was placed.

The associate of bishop Joseph in the Far East was about. John Kudrin. It(he) comes, as well as preosvyashchennyj bishop Joseph, was from the Perm province and as occured(happened) from family of Old Believers chasovennogo the consent. Its(his) parents have joined Old Believers, priemlyushchim svyashchenstvo when to the boy there were 7 years. The author of clause(article) about John Kudrin in magazine « Far East Old Believer » for 1935 marks(celebrates) in it(him) first of all talent of " book wisdom », talent of the orator, talent of the missionary. From the very beginning of the service about. John became rather an outstanding public figure in Perm gub.: to it(him), still to absolutely young priest, one of the most complicated arrivals - Saraninsky a factory - the arrival consisting in basic from turned chasovennykh of the Old Believers has been entrusted. Then  to it(him) opening new arrival already in Ufa lips has dropped out. During same time it(he) has been selected(elected) in members of Eparchial Advice(Council), and then chairman of Eparchial advice(council) of the »ÑӼ߬«-Tobolsk diocese. As before, all free time it(he) continued to be engaged in self-education. During revolutionary events together with refugees it(he) has appeared in the Barrow where it(him) have selected(elected) on a high post of the Senior Priest of Army and Fleet. The military Ministry has charged to it(him) to develop « Regulations about the old believe clergy serving Army and Fleet ».

True svyashchennicheskomu and to a human duty(debt), about. John has passed(has taken place) with White army through Siberia up to Vladivostok: after falling in 1919 of Omsk, slow movement of huge White army on the East has begun. Leaving Omsk, Supreme governor Kolchak has given the order on evacuation of all civilians of the city, not wished to get under authority red. It were families of officers, the soldier, gospitali, intendantstvo. They were full of hopes for rescue from bolshevistskogo a mode and did not represent, how many tests will drop out on their share. Absolutely soon (in many respects because of treachery of allied armies) the White army has appeared on the verge of destruction. White command the echelons with hospitals, refugees in every way tried to rescue(save). « Awful position in which there were these trains, is not a subject to any description. They remained without the foodstuffs, without fuel, and it in December when the Siberian frosts reach up to 40. Even water should be extracted(obtained), kindling a snow. General epidemic of a typhus, sypnogo and returnable transformed these unfortunate echelons into cemeteries on wheels... » .  Whether [19] It is necessary to speak about the one whom to steel for these people the priests accompanied army. It is not known precisely, but with the big share of probability it is possible to assume, that about. John Kudrin, has noted been by an award « For the Great Siberian campaign », founded by the Supreme government in 1920 for rewarding all participants of a campaign. Together with the rests of White army, with miracle the survived participants of the Siberian campaign, about. John Kudrin reached Vladivostok. Here it(he) has been selected(elected) in National Assembly where continued to protect interests staroobryadchestva. With an establishment of the Soviet authority in Primorski Krai about. John has left to Harbin where in the end 1922 and has headed arrival kharbinskikh Old Believers. [20]

In materials of the Consecrated Cathedral in Moscow in 1926, at session on August, 24th / on September, 6th, 1926 bishop Tomsk and Altay Tikhon (Sukhov) [21] suggested the Consecrated Cathedral to ask bishop Амурско-Irkutsk Joseph (Antipin) or to return from China on territory of the USSR, or to refuse that part of arrivals, « kotoroyu it(he) on some circumstances cannot operate », t. e. From arrivals in territory of the USSR. However bishop Joseph of such consent has not given, as division of a diocese into parts considered(counted) (even in extreme conditions of the Soviet dictatorship) to mismatching church canons. From its part it(he) asked to appoint(nominate) to it(him) as the assistant to archpriest Alexey Starkov. On the Cathedral offers that for arrivals of the á¼ÒÓ߬«-Irkutsk diocese on territory of the Soviet Russia to impose bishop have been stated, thus from a uniform diocese to create two - Irkutsk (territory of the USSR) and Amur (territory of Northern China). Bishop Geronty has made the offer « to charge to archbishop Meletiyu to be written off(be copied) in the shortest term with bishop Joseph and to ask it(him) to return to the diocese. If it(he) cannot return, that did not interfere to impose bishop with its(his) name Благовещенско-Vladivostok and if obstacles will return, to it(him) to operate this diocese in common ». [22]

The cathedral has not made of the decision on division of arrivals of a diocese, but has charged to archbishop Meletiyu « to offer bishop Joseph, pending rukopolozheniya independent bishop on the Irkutsk diocese, to make the assignment(order) to bishop Tikhonu to operate this diocese [that is a part of a diocese in territory of the USSR] and if there will be a need, rukopolagat there and clerics ». [23] Thus, the á¼ÒÓ߬«-Irkutsk diocese has been kept uniform under control of bishop Joseph (Antipin).

Harbin. Quay. The Chinese street.
From collections
Museum of Russian Culture

On January, 14th, 1927 bishop Joseph (Antipin) has died in Harbin (China) and was pogreben about the Peter and Paul church. [24]

Already after death of bishop Joseph, Old Believers with. Pokrovka through archpriest John Shadrin petitioned before bishop Иркутско-Amur Athanasius for blessing on opening of new arrival in with. Pokrovka, the China located in a northeast part on the left party(side) r. Ilgachi. The old believe community was enough big and adjoined in village with novoobryadcheskoj. The Old Believers occupying with. Pokrovka, were natives of Transbaikalia, Western Siberia and the central part of Russia. A temple in the name of Cover Presvyatoj of the Virgin have constructed in village at top of the highest hill. In 1932 has been appointed(nominated) by the prior of a temple about. John Starosadchev. [25]

After death of bishop Joseph, the Consecrated Cathedral which is passed(is taken place) from September, 4 till September, 14th (from August, 23 till August, 31st) 1927 in Moscow, at evening session on August, 30th (without laymen), passed(taken place) under presidency of bishop Gerontiya, considered(examined) a question about KHarbinskom arrival. In the report from August, 30th, 1927 the following has been written down: « item 11. Listened: about disorders in arrival of Harbin and about oo. And [oanne] Kudrin and And [oanne] Starosadcheve. Have decided: in a kind of bulkiness of business(affairs) to charge in details it(him) razsmotret to the special commission in structure of: bishop [Nizhniy Novgorod and Kostroma] Guriya [Spirin], [26] bishops [Don and Temporarily Caucasian] Gennady [Lakomkina], [27] priests It is scarlet. Zhuravlyov and priest Andrey Klimov, about results to report on the Cathedral with the conclusion ». [28]

The essence of a disputed situation consist in the following: in the beginning of 1920th to Harbin there came bishop Kazan Philaret, [29] temporarily operating Tomsk diocese, and has forbidden in service about. John Kudrin. O.John has counted this prohibition nekanonichnym as it has been caused by political reasons.  After bishop Philaret has returned from Harbin to Kazan under influence of the letter of bishop Ryazan and Egorevskogo Alexander (Bogatenko), [30] it has allowed to perform a religious rite about. To John, however then, under requests kharbintsev, supported(maintained) about. John Starosadcheva, again has forbidden about. John Kudrin.

With 1927 the á¼ÒÓ߬«-Irkutsk faculty remained vacant, and the Consecrated Cathedral has transferred(transmitted) time(temporary) management of a diocese to bishop Klimentu (Loginov). [31] The same year bishop Kliment the letter directed to Harbin about. To John Kudrin, has confirmed to it(him) prohibition in religous rite.

This disputed situation became a subject of consideration at session of Consecrated Cathedral Drevlepravoslavnoj of Old believe Church Khristovoj in Moscow on September, 1st, 1927 In the decision of the Cathedral on this business is spoken: « Having heard business about position KHarbinskogo of arrival and about prohibition of priest John Kudrin, and also an explanation of bishop Philaret, bishop Klimenta (Loginov) and other persons(faces), the Consecrated Cathedral has decided: 1) To recognize priest John Kudrin resolved. 2) the Further to give on the sanction in spirit of the world and love to general meeting KHarbinskogo of a society, and the decision of a society should be approved(confirmed) by the bishop temporarily operating ñá½ý¡Ñ-east diocese. 3) To recognize expressions ep. Philaret in the letter on father John Kudrin, that it(he) « the former priest », and also its(his) letter with intervention in business(affairs) of an another's diocese tactless and unreasonable as to put it(him) on a kind ». [32] On the same Cathedral refusal of bishop Klimenta (Loginov) to operate by the á¼ÒÓ߬«-Irkutsk diocese because of disagreement of some arrivals that was accepted the Cathedral has been heard. [33]

In 1929 on the ¿Ó¬ÒÔ߬«-Amur faculty has been erected bishop Athanasius (Fedotov) with narecheniem a title á¼ÒÓ߬«-Irkutsk and all Far East. It(he) were charged all with the arrivals of a diocese, as being both in territory of the Soviet Russia, and in China.

Bishop á¼ÒÓ߬«-Irkutsk and all Far East Athanasius (in world Amvrosy Feofanovich Fedotov) was born on November, 30th, 1879 in with. Tarbagataj, district Verkhneudinskogo, Irkutsk province in country family.

After 1905 in with. Tarbagatae the wooden capacious temple in which has passed(has taken place) spiritual becoming the future prelate has been constructed.

Till 1917 the family of the future bishop was engaged in country work. In family was two more children: Ekaterina and Anna. Mother Maria has died early when daughters only have reached(achieved) majority.

In a curacy ustavshchik Tarbagatajskoj churches Amvrosy Feofanovich Fedotov have been imposed on March, 5th, 1923 in a Harbin in the age of 44 years. Three months before the Far East republic, border with Manchzhuriej has fallen was closed, agents OGPU everywhere took root. In a dignity iereya in native village about. Amvrosy has served 6 years.

KHirotoniya in a dignity of bishop svyashchennoinoka Athanasius took place on May, 6th, 1929 in a Tomsk. In Uspenskoj churches during the Divine liturgy khirotoniyu have made bishop Ô«¼ß¬«-Altay Tikhon (Sukhov) and bishop Amfilokhy (Zhuravlyov) temporarily operated the ¿Ó¬ÒÔ߬«-Amur and Far East diocese.

Harbin. Sungari in the winter.
From collections of the Museum of Russian Culture

After returning in native village bishop Athanasius actively develops(unwraps) work on blagoustroeniyu a church life in arrivals of Eastern Siberia, Transbaikalia, Primorski Krai. Despite of all complexities of time, it(he) conducts active correspondence and supervises, under the certificate of father John Kudrin, a spiritual life of old believe arrival in Harbin. vlladyka Athanasius had the residence in Transbaikalia near Verkhneudinska in the Buryat-Mongolian to autonomous republic in territory of Russia, eparchial management was in Harbin as at cathedral Petropavlovsk a cathedral of Harbin stored(kept) an eparchial press(seal), archive, an episcopal cap and a staff, power of the Persian martyrs, and also sacred mirro and antiminsy. KHarbinskie Old Believers supported(maintained) with it(him) communication(connection) concerning spiritual character and the intrachurch law and order up to 1937 Last letter from bishop Athanasius has been received in Harbin on January, 27th 1937 g.. [34]

By 1930 the wave of collectivization has come to Transbaikalia. In 1931 of family of both daughters of the lord have dispossessed. Before arrest bishop Athanasius lived one, it(he) already was at that time very sick. On memoirs of the relative of the lord when prelate Khristov has been arrested and was in prison it(he), being the elderly person, was exposed to various mockeries and tortures. It(him) declined to renunciation of the God. Torturers podpalivali to it(him) moustaches and a beard cigarettes, and even extinguished them on its(his) person(face). It(he) spoke izdevatelyam: « With my body you can do(make) everything, that want. And with my soul you will make nothing ». During other time it(him) persuaded to renounce the God, applying flattery. Asked to publish in the newspaper the application(statement) that belief in the God - the false doctrine. It(he) answered communists - let all over again they will publish in newspapers the application(statement) that their doctrine is false then also it(he) will think, whether to write. So courageously overcame the lord all temptations of jailers.

After arrest of bishop Athanasius arrival in Tarbagatae has been liquidated, the extensive ¿Ó¬ÒÔ߬«-Amur diocese has ceased to exist. In the end 1939-1940 the temple has been reconstructed by local authorities, and in it(him) now there is a greater(big) rural polyclinic. However outlines of a sacred altar were kept up to now. From the information(inquiry) of KGB Buryat ASSR from May, 31st, 1990 it is visible, that lord Athanasius from March, 16th, 1938 has been sentenced by the decision of People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs to the maximum(supreme) measure of punishment under clauses(articles) 58 items(points) 10-11 for counterrevolutionary propaganda and propagation. The verdict has been resulted(brought) in the performance of April, 18th, 1938. The place of a burial place is not known. In October, 1989 bishop Athanasius has been rehabilitated in view of absence of structure of a crime.

After in 1937 correspondence with bishop Athanasius has interrupted, the prior kharbinskogo the Peter and Paul temple about. John Kudrin addressed to metropolitan Belokrinitskomu Pafnutiyu, [35] and after its(his) death - to metropolitan Belokrinitskomu Siluyanu [36] with the request for acceptance kharbinskogo the Peter and Paul arrival to conducting Belokrinitskogo of metropolitan till time of falling in Russia a communistic mode (from hierarches RPSTS on freedom in 1939 remained only bishop Kaluga and Smolensk Sava [37]).

In the letter of Advice(Council) Kharbinskogo of old believe arrival of the Piously-Peter and Paul temple to metropolitan Belokrinitskomu Siluyanu from October, 10th, 1939 to be spoken: « To you, certainly, it is well-known, that we earlier had the ruling bishop Preosvyashchennogo Joseph of the ¿Ó¬ÒÔ߬«-Amur and all Far East, which pochil about the Lord on 1-st of January s.s. 1927 also is buried at ours prikhodskom a temple in a Harbin. After death ep. Joseph, we, naturally, steel in submission of its(his) lawful receiver of bishop Athanasius put in this dignity on May, 6th s.s. 1929 in a Tomsk preosvyashchennyem bishop Tomsk Tikhonom [Sukhovym] and bishop Amfilokhiem [Zhuravlyov] was(former) Ural, and living within the limits of B.M.S.S.R. [to the íÒÓnÔ«-Mongolian autonomous republic]. Now, with the termination(discontinuance) of communication(connection) with the bishop [Athanasius] about which we do not know, it(he) is alive or not, the God a message, allow your eminence to ask you to accept us - kharbinsky the Piously-Peter and Paul arrival directly under the high hand and to give us rukovodyashchiya manual and the instruction(indication), pending that time when the Lord will bless us, and will help(assist) all to us to release(exempt) together the ground Russian from tyrannical authority godless internatsionala, and not only to fasten the written relations, but also personally to behold (if only it will be alive by then) distressful from enemies and from brotherhood arkhipastyrya lord Athanasius ». [38]

In 1940 metropolitan Belokrinitsky Siluyan has answered about. To John Kudrin that accepts « the Piously-Peter and Paul arrival to conducting Belokrinitskoj Mitropolii to which it(he) otsele and will belong, but I accept not directly in the conducting, and I charge to its(his) Kishinev bishop Innokentiyu ». [39]

On August, 4th, 1940, in connection with capture White Krinitsy Red army, in Slavskom a monastery in Romania has passed(has taken place) assembly of clergymen on which, among other questions, the decision to impose on Manchzhurskuyu a diocese ovdovevshego Tita Deevicha Kachalkina which on postrizhenii in inochestvo with name Tikhona has been consistently erected in all sacred degrees was accepted and it is imposed in bishops. [40] to China bishop Tikhon could not leave and has remained in Romania where in 1943 has been selected(elected) by new metropolitan Belokrinitskim. [41]

After an establishment in China in 1949 of authority of the communistic government, carrying out of land reform and the beginning of political reprisals, Old Believers in the end of 1950th have started to leave(abandon) the whole communities territory of China, moving all over again to Hong Kong was under the British control, and already therefrom - to South America, Australia and New Zealand.

Harbin. Sungari.
"Push-push".
From collections
Museum of Russian Culture

The prior of a cathedral Peter and Paul cathedral in Harbin archpriest John Kudrin in the end 1957 also has left all over again to Hong Kong, and in the beginning 1958 - to Sydney. The Sydney old believe priest about. Cyril Ivanov testified: « when it was necessary to leave Kudrin to Australia the Chinese authorities did not allow to take out church property. Then parishioners have gone(send) on cunning: have told to authorities, that parishioners have offered all this to priest Kudrin that it(he) free of charge prayed at them some years, and authorities have allowed to take out this church property ». [42] On a way to Australia by a steamship has died the spouse about. John also it has been buried in the sea. [43]

The press(seal) of the ¿Ó¬ÒÔ߬«-Amur (Far East) diocese, documents of eparchial management was stored(kept) in the old believe arrival formed in Sydney KHristorozhdestvenskom to current of several decades, sacred mirro, consecrated still bishop Joseph (Antipin), antiminsy, also consecrated by it(him), and other church property of a former Far East diocese of Russian Orthodox Old believe Church. The senior son about. John Kudrin - Konstantin Kudrin later has got the house in Oburne, suburb of Sydney in which court yard the church in the name of apostles Peter and Paul with taken out of Harbin antiminsom has been arranged, the consecrated bishop Joseph. [44]

In 1998 in Sydney grandsons of archpriest John Kudrin - Sergey Konstantinovichem and Sofia Konstantinovnoj Kudrinymi - okormlyayushchemu Far East diocese RPSTS to bishop Siluyanu Novosibirsk and vseya to Siberia had been returned property of a former á¼ÒÓ߬«-Irkutsk diocese: a press(seal) of bishop Joseph (Antipin), its(his) episcopal cap and a staff, two antiminsa and sacred mirro.

Prikhodskie churches of Old Believers belokrinitskoj iererkhii in honour of over ap. Peter and Paul in Harbin, and also in honour of Cover Presvyatoj of the Virgin in a Pokrovsk on r. Ilgachi in northeast of China, have shared sad fate the majority of orthodox temples in territory of China and have been destroyed during a cultural revolution.

Except for Old Believers belokrinitskoj iererkhii in China lived also a significant amount of Old Believers-беcпоповцев pomorskogo the consent, communities had some(a little bit) both in Harbin, and in other places of China. The Most part pomortsev has moved in the end of 1950th in the USA where together with Old Believers-immigrants from Turkey have based(founded,established) some settlements, one of which is the settlement under the name Bethlehem located near Vudburn in state of Oregon. The new church in honour of cвятителя Nikoly CHudotvortsa constructed in the street Frolov (Frolov) has received a prorank "kharbinskoj", but it already a theme of separate research.