CHAPTER III

Church split in Shanghai

A course of a church life in China upon termination of the second
world war, its internal collisions and peripetias also are until now
poorly known.  

In the Message from August, 2, 1946 prelate John Shanhajsky wrote to
orthodox flock: " In view of a break of messages with other countries
we at that time within several years have been torn off the Maximum
Church Management of Abroad and from time to time on significant
intervals have been cut off from the eparchial center, compelled then
independently to supervise over a local church life, but accepting all
opportunities to restoration of the relations. 

During war attempt to create church Management of East Asia under
domination of metropolitan Meletija has been made. Then authorities in
Harbin rather insisted on that it has been stopped pominovenie
metropolitan Anastas whom they counted the ill-wisher. However, having
proved many references to canons, Far East hierarches have opposed
that and continued to count metropolitan Anastas glavoju Foreign
Church. After route of Germany about destiny of the Foreign Synod
there were no messages and on that different hearings went. At the end
of July of the last year we have received news, that harbinskie
hierarches have decided to ask the Most holy Patriarch Moscow about
their acceptance in the conducting. We have immediately written to
archbishop Victor, that, not having data on destiny of the Foreign
Synod and not being have the right to remain outside of submission of
the maximum Church authority, we should enter also the relations with
the Most holy Patriarch Moscow and at absence of obstacles to obey it
" [46]. 

Since 1941 the orthodox Church in China appeared in isolation from all
orthodox world: communication with the Foreign Synod has been
interrupted as a result of military actions in Europe and Asia and
emancipating struggle of China against Japan. The representative of
the Foreign Synod in China was Vysokopreosvjashchennejshy metropolitan
Melety living in Harbin. The title of bishop Beijing and Chinese
belonged to archbishop Victor, the Chief of 20-th Mission. Harbinskaja
the diocese was quite independent in the management. Besides after
creation of the puppet state Manchzhou by Japan go with capital in
Xinjiang this diocese as taking place outside the Chinese Republic
hardly could confer on questions of a church life with the Chief of
Spiritual Mission in Beijing. Orthodox tested persecution - the
Japanese administration demanded oto all citizens of symbolical
worship goddess Amaterasu - rodonachalnitse an imperial house of
Japan. Priests Alexander Zhuch and Feodor Bogolyubov, ieromonah Paul
have been killed, some clerics have been under compulsion transferred
from Harbinskoj to a diocese to Beijing. 

In the official report from March, 24, 1945 of the priest
Bogorodsko-Kazan Tabynskoj a female monastery in Kakagashi near
Dajrena (Distant) prot. John Petelina from Harbin addressed to the
Patriarch Moscow and all Russia Alex I there is a following
description of the situation developed in China: " ? the Japanese
administration of edge paralyses all economic life of emigration, are
deformed and more than Russian schools are half destroyed.., some of
priests have undergone to heavy reprisals, beatings and even
death. Available hierarches, namely Vysokopreosvjashchennejshy
metropolitan Melety, Vysokopreosvjashchennejshy archbishop Nestor,
Vysokopreosvjashchennejshy archbishop Victor,
Vysokopreosvjashchennejshy archbishop Dimitry, Preosvjashchennejshy
bishop John and Preosvjashchennejshy bishop Juvenaly are not among
themselves in the friendly consent ? " [47]. Prot. John further
informs and that Episcopal Meeting Harbinskoj of the Diocese at will
of metropolitan Meletija has erected Preosvjashchennogo Dimitrija in a
dignity of archbishop is an obvious sign on an autonomy of a diocese,
more truly, its isolations from the church center - the Foreign
Synod. Further in this official report it is spoken about readiness of
many emigrants to accept jurisdiction of the Moscow
Patriarch. Prot. John addresses to the Patriarch with the offer to
direct to Harbin to Far East bishops the appeal about connection to
Mother of Church and about submission of the Patriarchal authority. 

In July, 1945 the Episcopal Meeting has taken place in Harbin
concerning acceptance of new jurisdiction. Has been solved to ask
Patriarch Alex about transition in the Moscow Patriarchy. 

However the Beijing diocese should solve this question
independently. Prelate John, bishop Shanghai, - the lawyer by
formation, the canoniste and the legal adviser of Mission - has
convinced archbishop Victor, the ruling bishop, to accept new
jurisdiction. On July, 31, 1945 it wrote to the Chief of Mission: " ?
After decision Harbinskoj of a diocese and in view of absence of data
on the Foreign Synod for a number of years, other decision of our
diocese would make its completely independent, avtokefalnoj a
diocese. Initial conditions for such independence is not present, as
doubts in legality ? the recognized Patriarch are not
present. Attitudes with that (Moscow. - Avt.) By church authority also
are done possible so the Decree from November, 7, 1920 is
inapplicable. Now while there are no bases to remain on position of a
self-managing diocese, we should act as Harbinskaja a
diocese. Voznoshenie a name of Chairman of the Foreign Synod while
should be kept, as on 14 rights. Double Pomestnogo the Cathedral it is
impossible to stop autocratically pominovenie the
metropolitan. Voznoshenie ? it is necessary for name of the Patriarch
to enter your Decree urgently in all diocese " [48]. This absolutely
precise and faultless position from the initial point of view has been
divided by archbishop Victor who in August, 1945 the telegram asked
Patriarch Alex to accept it and vl. John in the
jurisdiction. Mladshchaja the sister vl. Victor, O.V.Keping,
recollected: " At the end of 1944, even during the Japanese
occupation, archbishop Victor has sent in the Soviet embassy in
Beijing the relative, the husband of sister Boris Mihajlovicha Kepinga
who has attributed there the official official report addressed to the
Patriarch Moscow and all Russia with the request for reunion with the
Patriarchal Church. The answer was not " [49]. 

On October, 1, 1945 delegations in structure of bishop Rostov and
Taganrog Elevferija and priest Grigory Razumovsky have been given the
mandate ? 1263 signed by the Patriarch with the assignment to visit
Harbin and " to reunite taking place in split " in territory of
Manchuria of bishops. It was simple to make it for the empire
Manchzhou-Go appeared by this time it is occupied by the Soviet
armies. Actually China to visit it was not possible in connection with
military conditions. All hierarches and almost all clergy in territory
of Manchuria with pleasure have accepted jurisdiction of the Moscow
Patriarch, however this circumstance began to be used by the Soviet
authorities for compulsion to accept and the Soviet citizenship (from
among outstanding church figures the son of archbishop Dimitrija
Hajlarskogo - archimandrite Filaret has not accepted jurisdiction of
the Patriarch. It subsequently has headed the Foreign Synod). 

On December, 7, 1945. The patriarch has sent the following telegram to
Harbin to metropolitan Meletiju: " our delegation has safely returned
to Moscow. With fatherlike pleasure and ljuboviju we accept returning
in a bosom of Mother-church arhipastyrej, clergy and laymen
Harbinskoj, the Kamchatsko-Peter and Paul and Kitajsko-Beijing
dioceses ? " [50]. On December, 27, 1945. The synod had been issued
the Decree ? 39 about connection of Far East dioceses. 

The regular post and cable message inside China has been complicated
owing to military actions, therefore the telegram of the Patriarch
sent on January, 11, 1946 about acceptance under omofor of the Beijing
diocese, has not been received in Beijing, accordingly, and in
Shanghai did not know anything about the decision of the
Patriarch. The question on submission of lawful church authority in
Shanghai, and in Beijing remained open, however lord John even before
reception of news from Moscow itself started to remember the
Patriarch. As has acted also lord Victor in Beijing. In the meantime,
on September, 28, 1945 Preosvjashchennyj John Shanhajsky has received
the telegram from Geneva from metropolitan Anastas - Pervoierarha
Foreign Church - with the notice that the Foreign Synod operates (the
telegram it would be impossible to send vl. To Victor to Beijing from
Geneva therefore she also has been directed it vikariju to
Shanghai). From Shanghai on September, 29, 1945 vl. John has
transferred to Beijing the cable message on inquiry of metropolitan
Anastas - probably, this telegram and is not cunning. And the most
reasonable in such situation the decision accepted vl was
natural. John - understanding necessity of submission of the maximum
church authority, bishop John has renewed the former attitudes with
the Foreign Synod, receiving from him separate orders and carrying out
them. 

In October vl. Victor could inform to Shanghai, that he makes the
application to the Most holy Patriarch about submission of the Moscow
Patriarchy. The exact maintenance of the application vl. Victor
informed vl. To John personally after arrival to Shanghai in January,
1946. In the official report to the Most holy Patriarch from July, 21,
1946 vl. Victor writes, that has arrived to Shanghai in February,
1946, already having the answer from the Patriarch from
Moscow. However it is known, that the first telegram of the Patriarch
and has not been received vl. Victor, therefore it could not know
about the decision of the Patriarch by time of arrival to Shanghai. In
Shanghai vl. John has declared the Chief of Mission as the message
with Foreign church authority is restored, to proceed in conducting
other church authority it is possible only under the order of
metropolitan Anastas, differently it would be initial infringement,
especially if to take into account, that the episcopal faculty in
Shanghai, and in Beijing has been founded by the Foreign Synod. The
chief of Mission, essentially did not object to it as there was a
decision of the representative of the Synod - metropolitan Meletija -
about transition in submission of the Moscow Patriarchy. However there
was a hope that will be possible to solve the problem without
infringement of canons. All hoped for the positive decision on the
part of metropolitan Anastas, besides in the winter of 1946 the
decision of the Patriarch on the Beijing diocese was not known yet -
the repeated telegram has been received only in April, on Great
Saturday 1946. In the reference quoted above to flock of Shanghai
bishop John wrote: " Foreign church management has recognized useful
to Church to continue and to have further about us spiritual care on
what has informed us, and we about that had been put in popularity
Vysokopreosvjashchennyj the Chief of Mission. By virtue of that we do
not consider possible to make any decisions on semu to a question
without the instruction and approval of Russian Foreign church
authority. On the Cathedral of 1938 in which w e took part, was
postanovleno, that when nastanet hour of homecoming, hierarches of
Abroad should not operate is isolated, and all Foreign Church should
present the All-Russia Cathedral the acts accomplished during
compelled separation ? of the Message on unobstructed restoration of
kanonicheski-prayful dialogue with the Moscow Patriarchy, received by
archbishop Victor to Great Saturday in reply to his reference to the
Most holy Patriarch Alex in August of the last 1945., iskrenno us has
pleased, for in that we have beheld the beginning of mutual
understanding between two parts of Russian Church divided by border,
and an opportunity of mutual support of two uniting Russian people of
the centers, inside and outside of our Fatherland. Aspiring to a
uniform overall aim and operating separately depending on conditions
in which each of them is, Churches inside Russia and abroad, as the
general, and the special problems available at each them, yet nastanet
an opportunity of their full association more successfully can
reach. Now the Church inside Russia should heal the wounds put to it
militant godlessness and to be released from uz, interfering internal
and external completeness of its activity. A problem of Foreign Church
is protection from dispersion a smoke of Orthodox Russian Church and
preservation of the cultural wealth brought by them from the Native
land, and also distribution of Orthodoxy in the countries in which
they live. To semu have been directed also the act of the Cathedral of
the Foreign hierarches which were taken place in anniversary of defeat
of Germany in the city of Munich borrowed with allies " [51]. However
already by this time the division led later to split was outlined. 

On May, 31, 1946 from Beijing to Shanghai by the American plane on
affairs of Mission there has arrived the Chief of Mission, archbishop
Beijing and Chinese Victor. It was accompanied with archpriest
Valentine Sinaisky and hegumen Nikodim. About arrival vl. Victor it
has been beforehand printed in Russian newspapers. Lord John and the
Shanghai clergy it has been informed on arrival vl. Victor. Lawyer
Penkotsi through which news about arrival vl has been
received. Victor, on May, 30 was at vl. John and long talked
personally to it about forthcoming visit of the Chief of
Mission. Having received this news, bishop John has called all clergy
and at meeting has told, that will not meet vl. Victor. Protopresviter
Ilija Ven recollected subsequently: " On arrival from Beijing to
Shanghai, archbishop Victor accompanied by eight komsomoltsev was
directed to the Cathedral " [52] In 6 one o'clock in the evening
vl. Victor has arrived to the Cathedral where it was waited with
members of Advice of Mission. In the Cathedral the lord has met with
over. The Cross the Dean protopresviter Michael Rogozhin. The most
part of clergy led by vl. John has not come on a meeting. Since time
of arrival to Shanghai vl. Victor moved accompanied by protection -
groups of employees from Genkonsulstva the USSR in Shanghai. 

On Saturday on June, 1, before nightlong vigil vl. John has visited
vl. Victor: it was necessary to solve the problem on joint
service. The problem was that vl. John has blessed to serve forbidden
vl. Victor of priests. A night service Michael Rogozhin served
protopresviter, both bishops prayed in an altar. In Sunday on June, 2,
an early liturgy in the Cathedral with the forbidden priests served
vl. John, late - vl. Victor. 

Before the Trinity, on June, 8, in the Cathedral bishops made a night
service in common. After polieleja archpriest Ilija Ven, threatening
with a fist in an altar to lord Victor and, naming his deceiver,
reproached that it humiliates the Chinese clergy. It has supported
protodiakon Elisej CHzhao. A late liturgy for the Trinity both lords
also served together. On June, 11 vl. Victor with employees
Genkonsulstva the USSR in Shanghai has gone to Nanking for
representation to commanding persons of the Chinese government. 

During stay vl. Victor in Nanking bishop John has promulgated the
telegram of the Foreign Synod about his erection in a dignity of
archbishop and granting to it of the rights of independent bishop (the
Decree ? 108 from June, 9, 1946). On June, 10 vl. John has issued the
Decree ? 109 in which called Bozhie blessing on clergy and flock of
the diocese. These Decrees the beginning was necessary to life of an
independent Shanghai diocese - on time before, other decisions in
Moscow have been rather than accepted. On a question protopresvitera
Michael Rogozhina about, whether submits vl. John Nachalniku Missii
and to the Patriarch, it has answered, that does not submit legally,
but recognizes the Patriarch. On June, 14 vl. John in conversation
with arrived from Nanking vl. Victor has emphasized, that it
independent bishop of the Shanghai diocese. 

In the meantime on June, 11, 1946 the Most holy Patriarch Alex I has
issued the Decree ? 665 which has decided to transform the East-Asian
district Mitropolichy in East-Asian Ekzarhat the Moscow
Patriarchy. Ekzarhom has been appointed vysokopreosvjashchennyj Nestor
with assignment of a title of metropolitan Harbinskogo and Manchurian
(in a kind of death of metropolitan Meletija). The same decree
vikariem Harbinskoj dioceses is determined to be on postrizhenii in
monashestvo to archpriest Leonid Viktorovu with a title of Bishop
Tsitsikarskogo. 

On June, 15 vl. Victor has declared the decree clearing vl. John from
management vikariatstvom and purpose vikariem vl. JUvenalija -
vl. Victor 2 more June has sent about that the request to the
Patriarch to Moscow. On June, 16 vl. John after lecture on a late
Liturgy has declared praying, that it has received the decree about
clearing of management Shanghai vikariatstvom, but to this decree it
will not be subordinated: " I shall obey to this decree, only in the
event that to me will prove the Holy Writ and the law of any country,
that kljatvoprestuplenie there is a virtue, and fidelity to an oath
there is a heavy sin " [53]. 

On June, 20 vl. John has declared the Decree from June, 19, 1946 where
it is spoken, that with the radiogramm from Arhierejskogo the Foreign
Synod which has gathered on May, 20, 1946 in Munich is solved to
allocate the Shanghai district into an independent diocese led by
vl. John, and archbishop Victor to resolve from management of the
Shanghai diocese. It is important to notice, that the Foreign Synod in
territory of the Beijing diocese without the consent and it is
conducted the ruling bishop has opened independent Shanghai faculty in
infringement of church canons. Since this moment joint service of two
bishops became impossible. The question on the Shanghai diocese was
not essentially new question. In 1938 archbishop Nestorom had been
submitted to the Foreign Synod the detailed project of distribution of
dioceses on the Far East - in it borders of the Shanghai diocese were
defined. Lord John, at that time the representative of the Chief of
Mission in the Synod, did not consider possible to agree to this
project, and it has been sent on a response vl. Victor and
vl. Meletija, soon personally arrived on the Cathedral. Cable news
from Munich, announcing Shanghai vikariatstvo an independent diocese,
was unexpectedness for vl. John, but it has apprehended the purpose
for this faculty as church obedience and has not refused him. 

On July, 7, in day of the 25-anniversary of service vl. Victor,
vl. John has originally agreed to, that vl. Victor served in a
cathedral. Having learned, however, that on divine service 10 000
Soviet citizens, living in Shanghai (they have already accepted the
Soviet citizenship), from fear of possible disorders and excitements
in flock vl will come. John at support of mayor of Shanghai has
refused the consent. Vl. Victor had to serve both a liturgy, and
thankful moleben in the Piously-Nikolaev temple, instead of in a
cathedral, than has been offended. On June, 20 vl. John has issued the
decree about clearing of duties of the prior Piously - Bogoroditskogo
the Cathedral of Shanghai protopresvitera Michael Rogozhina and about
purpose of the time acting as prior of archpriest Ilii
Venja. O.Michael informed about this decree vl. To Victor also has
declared, that does not submit to it as serves in the Beijing diocese,
and the decision discharged from management vikarnogo has no bishop of
force. On June, 22 archpriest Ilija Ven and protodiakon Elisej CHzhao
have not admitted protopresvitera Michael to service of Nightlong
vigil in the Cathedral. On June, 29 under the order vl. John church
head Bogomolovym and archpriest Ilieju had been withdrew cash
department of the Cathedral. The decree ? 715 from June, 28, 1946
vl. John protopresviteru to Michael Rogozhinu charged to head Advice
on eparchial affairs, the Decree ? 727 from August, 2 it was offered
to it to present the reasons under the decree ? 715. O.Michael in any
way did not answer these decrees, consequence of that became the
Decree ? 728 from August, 2 about clearing about. Michael " from all
his duties across Shanghai " with the offer to transfer all affairs,
documents and property to archpriest Ilie Venju. On all these decrees
about. Michael has declared, that cannot obey decrees discharged from
management vikariatstvom vl. John. 

In July vl. John has accepted the Chinese citizenship (the passport ?
91). 

On August, 16 vl. John has addressed to Minister of Internal Affairs
of the Chinese Republic with the request to ratify it in a post of the
Chief of orthodox churches of Shanghai, on what authorities gave the
consent. 

On August, 18, 1946 at the request of orthodox inhabitants Vejsajda
(zarechnyj area of Shanghai) in rented for a name vl. Victor a premise
the temple has been consecrated in honour of Kazan icon Bozhiej of
Mother where served subsequently vl. Victor and the clergy who has not
obeyed vl. To John. On blessing vl. Victor at this temple vicarial
rates were open. They were ended subsequently six person from which
two have been imposed in priests, by two in diakony and two in
ipodiakony. Vl. John and true to it clergy served in Piously -
Bogoroditskom cathedral, four house temples at establishments of
Mission, namely: churches at a refuge for aged women, church in a
building of commercial school and a temple in a building of a shelter
him. svt. Tihona Zadonskogo and churches in a female grammar
school. In structure of a new Shanghai diocese have come voluntary
farmstead Harbinskoj of a female monastery in Shanghai with a temple
and a part of arrival on Vejsajde (last three temples were in hired
premises). 

From 11 priests of Shanghai true vl. Victor still had protopresviter
Michael Rogozhin, archpriest Alex Filimonov (the prior of the
Piously-Nikolaev temple), archpriest Sergy Borodin and ieromonah
Herman. In a diocese of lord John have consisted in clergy of 12
priests and three protodiakona. With the announcement of a new diocese
the orthodox population of Shanghai was divided into two
jurisdictions: the Patriarchal - up to  10 000 and vl. John - up to  5
000 person. The first all have consisted in citizenship of the USSR,
the last remained emigrants. 

On August, 25 vl. John has declared, that it makes the Liturgy in the
Piously-Nikolaev temple in which till this moment served
vl. Victor. This temple has been constructed on the rented site and
term of rent by time of church distemper in Shanghai has already
expired. Under the contract the site could be redeemed, but it could
not be made within the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, and vladelitsa
a site began to demand through court transfer to it a temple. At this
time the part of members prihodskogo advice of this temple has
concluded with vladelitsej a site the new lease agreement, having
recognized, thus, its right on possession of a temple. At support of
police of Shanghai this temple has been given to supporters vl. John. 

Vl. John has issued and has promulgated in foreign newspapers of
Shanghai the decree that it is the unique lawful chief of orthodox
churches in Shanghai that is why cancels all orders of archbishop
Victor, for again issued orders will pursue it under the law. 

Finishing the official report to Patriarch Alex concerning these
events, vl. Victor wrote: " This split is anything other as aspiration
of bishop John to leave from submission ? By promises of different
advantages on service it through the Chinese clergy of city of
Shanghai began to achieve otobranija from the Beijing diocese and
Mission church and Missijskogo property. About all these illegal
actions of bishop John ? me it is informed to the General Consul of
the USSR in Shanghai and to the Extreme Ambassador in China with the
request to protect my rights, as the Chief of Mission and property of
Mission and church as property of Russian Orthodox Church in China,
consisting in charge of Russian State, i.e. The USSR ? 80 % to true me
of flock from citizens of the USSR in Shanghai and fidelity to yours
Svjatejshestvu and me as to the Chief of Mission though also not
numerous, but rather authoritative clergy, are a pledge safe izzhitija
church split. Restoration of my rights as the Chief of Mission in
China, will put an end yet to the not generated new Shanghai diocese "
[54]. 

Lord John in the same occasion with the following words addressed to
the Shanghai flock: " we shall obey those arhipastyrjam as which our
Maximum Church authority recognizes us for the blessing to subordinate
or we shall leave from all has put church if successors
rukopolagavshih us bishops will remove from us the responsibility for
local flock though and then we shall not cease to pray for what sii
years spiritually sponsored. We ask the Lord, yes it will speed up
approach of that desired and expected hour when Pervosvjatitel all
Russia, vzojdja on the Patriarchal place in pervoprestolnom Uspenskom
the Cathedral, will collect around of itself all Russian arhipastyrej,
from all Russian and the another's grounds sshedshihsja " [55]. 

The part of the Russian clergy, not desiring to go in the USSR (this
quite explainable unwillingness in 40th years) considered, that,
remaining outside Russia, she will be in jurisdiction of metropolitan
Anastas. However the reason of church distemper was not only
aspiration vl. John to keep a life of the Shanghai flock, but also
aspiration of the Soviet diplomats to convince the Chief of Mission
and the majority believing in China that in the USSR there is a full
freedom of worship. The Chinese clergy expected to borrow arrivals
released in Shanghai and to come nearer to management of a diocese,
and at an opportunity and to seize all Russian Spiritual Mission. The
Chinese clergy having access to authorities, used this
circumstance. It is known, that else at archbishop Simone all Chinese
orthodox clergy led by archpriest Sergiem the Tub at support of the
government took measures to capture of Mission in Beijing. Vl. Victor
in one of official reports wrote to the Patriarch: " On death of
Archbishop Simona I have entered a post of the Chief of Mission and I
in the first days of management had to meet extreme aggression of
orthodox Chinese clergy. Struggle for Mission has caused me many heavy
and "tart" troubles so, that legs were took away from me even and I
had to be treated in Beijing Rokfellerovskom institute. By means of
kind people I and this time have managed to protect Mission from
capture ? now orthodox Chinese and manchurians have again risen
against me " [56]. 

In the official report archpriest Valentine Sinaisky from Beijing
wrote to the Most holy Patriarch Alex: " ? Separate group of Chinese
in Shanghai ? the smallest, but also the most dangerous and strong for
she puts svoeju the purpose to grasp property of Mission and has an
opportunity widely to use the national court and carriers of
authority. Bishop John is necessary for them only temporarily as they
understand, that the Church without bishop is inconceivable ? Chinese
go gregariously for the priests. If Mission will be seized by Chinese
missionary business in China will quickly come by the end as old
Chinese clerics are decrepit, and young, not in condemnation by him
will be told, insufficiently proniknuty Christian spirit and look at
the service as on earnings. Mission will become their ancestral lands
and a source of the income. Changes to old clergy, and in general the
Chinese clergy are not present " [57]. 

This official report has been written concerning unprecedented
event. In the morning on October, 19, 1946 the Chief of Mission
archbishop Victor in the apartments in Arhierejskom the house in
Shanghai has been arrested by the Chinese authorities and forwarded in
prison on Vard the Sort in the general chamber with the Chinese
criminals, on his cassock has been put arestantsky number. There was
it on navetam the Chinese clergy of Shanghai. Next day about it in
detail informed all newspapers. 

Then the order of Chairman of Advice of the Russian Spiritual Mission
Taking up a place in China protopresvitera Michael Rogozhina that all
orders concerning Mission, its property and the arrivals, proceeding
not from his person, are void has been published. Thus, Mission has
found time vozglavitelja. The assistant in Beijing about. Michael has
appointed archimandrite Gabriel, and in Shanghai - archpriest
A. Filimonova. 

The Chinese authorities incriminated vl. To Victor participation in
Antikominternovskom the union of Northern China and Russian fascist
organizations, and also co-operation with the Japanese occupational
authorities. It has been showed about 15 items of charge. 

On a question on the organization vl. Victor of anticommunistic
committees in Northern China the Chief of Mission answered, that his
ways coincided with ways of anticommunistic committees and the
Japanese militarians only in questions of ideology. As to the former
imperial officer, vl. After communistic revolution of 1917, certainly,
it was hurt to Victor to see a shame of Russia at signing the Brest
world and decomposition of army. During revolution vl. Victor has lost
native and two cousins. It lived all years of emigration by memory of
vague revolutionary time. Undoubtedly, it was the anticommunist, but -
ideological as his church dignity did not allow it to participate in
actions of practical organizational character. It, certainly, was not
the chief of anticommunistic committee but only his honorary member,
that, however, delivered many efforts of Mission. Japanese and members
of anticommunistic committee wished to subordinate the Chief of
Mission and missijskih priests to themselves, to take hold of church
property. And in general they frequently operated against Church:
occupational armies of Japan had been destroyed a temple-monument in
Tianjin, Paul is killed in CHzhalajnore ieromonah, the prior of a
temple in Kalgan is tortured to death about. Alexander Zhuch. Japanese
and a part missijskogo property have grasped: in Tianjin at Church the
school, hospital, the house of mercy and library have been
selected. During occupation of Manchuria vl. Victor has been
compulsorily caused by the Japanese military authorities to Harbin
where to it under fear of the announcement the military criminal have
offered temporarily, before the termination of war, to transfer
clerics of churches and the farmsteads of Mission which are taking
place in Manchuria, under jurisdiction Harbinskoj of a diocese. The
power of attorney on management of property metropolitan Melety,
living on missijskom has received a farmstead in Harbin. Anyway the
Chief of Mission did not use neither trust, nor respect of
occupational authorities. 

Further vl. To Victor charge in formation and vozglavlenii the armed
Cossack group in a village near Tianjin has been showed. The chief of
Mission besides answered, that was only its honorary member because of
the patrimonial Cossack roots, but further honorary membership his
activity did not reach. On a question why the lord it is photographed
in many photos with the Japanese militarians, it has noticed, that as
the official borrowing certain position, has been obliged to be
present on all official celebrations, representing all Russian
colony. The lord did not suppose an opportunity that orthodox clerics
- Chinese have been officially invited to celebrations
Antikominternovskogo of committee. However it has not refused
authorship of the speech made by his subordinate during first
anniversary Antikominternovskogo of committee in Tianjin (she carried
obviously kollaboratsionistsky character), and rather regretted for
this event: As a result of this assembly prior Tjantszinskogo Piously
- Pokrovskogo a temple archimandrite Gabriel who was urgent
administratively has suffered is sent to Shanghai. 

The lord also accused and of formation of groups in Shanghai for
protection of railways in Northern China, on what it has answered: " ?
they were formed by other secular people. These people typed here have
moved on the north with the families. To them promised all blessings
of the ground and krov and when they arrived on the north, them have
inflated, have given up to them in a premise, and once have brought
weight of women and children to a gate of Mission and have left. The
administration of Mission was included in a distress unfortunate and
has placed them in buildings and under library " [58]. 

Concerning the award - awards Antikominternovskogo of committee - the
lord has explained, that has received it right at the beginning of
activity of committee, " for official position ", instead of for
merits. The lord has rejected charges in the edition of Shanghai
proJapanese newspaper Savintseva, having told, that never was the
newspaper worker, that all is well-known. 

Archbishop Victor has answered a question on why the building former
missijskoj mills in Beijing has been leased to Japanese, that it has
been made under compulsion, and militarians have selected this
building at the civil person which rented a mill earlier. 

One of questions has touched a case with beating in territory of
Mission of children of the Chinese clerics accused Russian in larceny,
but the lord that day was in Bejdajhe, having returned, it has found
out, that victims are not guilty. To be responsible for another's
fights it, certainly, could not. 

After interrogation the public prosecutor has taken with vl. Victor a
word of the cleric which has obliged it to remain in Shanghai up to
court. Vl. Victor should leave the passport to the public prosecutor
and present the monetary guarantee of two trading establishments. 

On October, 24 at active intervention of the Soviet diplomats and the
help of the son Tub Kajshi - TSzjan TSzingo [59] vl. Victor has been
released without the passport on freedom on the security in  5 000
american dollars without the right of departure Shanghai up to
military court. The magazine of the Russian Spiritual Mission in China
informed: " On an example with arrest of Archbishop Victor all
citizens of Soviet Union had to make sure once again in vitality of
the Great Stalin Constitution - the Organic law, the Law which there
lives our Native land. Notwithstanding what the Church also is
separated from the state, but all citizens of Soviet Union,
irrespective of their position and activity, always and everywhere
have support and protection of the Government " [60]. 

After an output from prison the lord some time was in hospital (a
consequence of a microinsult), and after an output from it - under
public prosecutor's supervision. On January, 15, 1947 vl. Victor wrote
to the Patriarch: " Against us, as Russian Spiritual Mission in China
and as Soviet citizens, narrow, fanatical chauvinism of local Shanghai
Chinese orthodox clerics has risen. This chauvinism is cultivated and
strong supported by the Government of China " [61]. Only to the middle
of April, 1947 archbishop Victor has been officially notified by the
public prosecutor of the Shanghai court that investigatory bodies have
not found possible to raise action of proceeding behind absence of any
materials, able to confirm guilt of the lord in co-operation with
Japanese. For prevention of possible transition of flock of Beijing in
jurisdiction vl. John archbishop Victor in June, 1947 has arrived to
the residence in Beijing - Bejguan. 

Moscow and all Russia Alex I for ? 1424 from October, 22, 1946
archbishop Beijing and Chinese Victor has been authorized by the
decree of the Most holy Patriarch in a post of the Chief of the
Russian Spiritual Mission in China. The similar maintenance the decree
for ? 2544, charging to act as the Chief of Mission to archbishop
Shanghai John, has been issued Arhierejskim by the Synod of Russian
Orthodox Church Abroad on November, 26, 1947. The Chinese government
in Nanking has recognized as the lawful Chief of Mission vl. John. 

Vl. John openly spoke, that it as the lawful Chief of Mission
recognized as the Chinese Government thinks of capture of church
property a little: missijskoe and the eparchial property should
proceed to it by the right as his legal status is precisely determined
and authorized. The Shanghai church property vl. John already
owned. The purpose vl. John there was a preservation of church
property subsequently to take out it for limits of China. In
connection with a complex political situation in China and a coming
nearer victory of communistic revolution emigrants ran from cities of
Northern China. They a little that could take or keep with
themselves. It was possible to expect, that with arrival of atheistic
authority many church relics will be selected or simply destroyed. So
subsequently also happened. The atheistic Soviet authority tolerated
destruction of temples of Mission and plunder of its property and
library. 

Aspiring to keep church property, in August, 1948 vl. John has arrived
to resort city Tsingtao and as recognized as the Ministry of Internal
Affairs gomindanovskogo the governments the Chief of Mission has
lodged in svjashchennicheskom the house of the Piously-Sofia arrival
to Tsingtao. About half of parishioners it is a temple have refused
the Soviet citizenship and were going to leave in the near future
China, other half has decided to accept the Soviet
citizenship. Nevertheless conditions in arrival was peace in many
respects due to the sustained and peaceful character of the prior of
arrival about. Sadoka which recognized as the eparchial bishop
vl. Victor, but did not refuse in hospitality and vl. To John. Between
the parishioners rather respecting vl. John for it really selfless
works, ascetism both many others surprising and rare presently
features of spiritual shape, and priests of this temple have arisen
dispute on initial submission of the Piously-Sofia arrival. Dispute
has been solved with the help of police - keys from a temple appeared
in a police station and were given out for service vl. To John or the
new prior of a temple appointed by him about. To Cyril Zajtsevu. The
special decree archbishop John has declared dissolution of the
Piously-Sofia church brotherhood in Tsingtao and vosstanavil the old
church organization: " Russian Christian Emigrant Society in Tsingtao
". Its members did not recognize as the Chief of Mission of archbishop
Victor and submitted vl. To John. The property has been
re-registered. It has rescued subsequently property of a temple from
destruction. Divine services in the Piously-Sofia temple of Tsingtao
were made serially by the priests subordinated vl. To John and vl. To
Victor. So proceeded before departure of emigrants from Tsingtao to
Philippines in 1949. Thus the most part of property and archives of a
temple has been taken out by emigrants to America and Australia. Too
happened and with the most part of the Shanghai church property, taken
out vl. John from China. 

What has served as the reason of such division among clergy and laymen
of Shanghai, Qingdao and Tianjin? 

One of indispensable conditions of acceptance omofora the Patriarch
was necessity of that the decision of church questions did not depend
on political trends in Russia. Calling vl. Victor to obey the Moscow
Patriarchy, vl. John on July, 31, 1945 wrote: " At present the
conditions of the ideological order which has served by the reason of
our change in church management abroad are not put to us. If
unacceptable conditions again will be put, preservation of the present
order of church management becomes a problem of that church authority
which will manage to be created depending on external conditions "
[62]. Unfortunately, the Soviet authorities have tried these
conditions to create. 

Hundred thousand emigrants in China, torn off the Native land within
thirty years, at all did not represent, that there occurs. They
continued to live memory of route of Church and murder of Tsar, the
policy of authorities led to signing of the Brest world as a result of
which Russia and could not take advantage of fruits of a victory over
the first world war, atheistic ideology and much the friend that has
forced people to leave the Native land. Very few people knew something
about Stalin certain. Knew only, that Germany poverzhena, the new
grounds the Patriarchate is attached, restored, seminaries are
open. In newspapers and films which strenuously distributed the Soviet
consulates, words about happy Soviet people which has all freedom were
spoken. Emigrants were intentionally misled to decline them to
acceptance of the Soviet citizenship. Many fondly believed, that, as
well as in former Imperial Empire, the Church is protected and
protected by the state. It seemed to them natural, having obeyed the
Patriarch to accept and the Soviet citizenship. 

What destiny of those who has returned to Russia till 1956 was?
Metropolitan Nestor arrested in 1948 by the Chinese communists in
Harbin on charge in co-operation with the Japanese invaders as the
military criminal has been deported in the USSR where as his
biographers inform, 8 years was on "rest" in settlement JAvas
Mordovian ASSR. Actually it have condemned for this term, having
accused of a spelling of the book " Execution of the Moscow Kremlin ",
and also have charged with fulfilment of requiems by him in 1920 in
Harbin above bodies alapaevskih martyrs - Grand dukes of the House of
Romanovs. Others, them especially frequently became laymen, were
rasstreljany, are banished, have suffered in camps. Has been entered
into error and the Chief of Mission, vl. Victor. In one of letters it
wrote to the Patriarch to Moscow, that the Orthodox Church - not a
small community, and  220 million would be time to declare the Chinese
authorities, that. The person - it, probably, assumed, that in the
USSR all still freely go to temples ? Lord Victor has received the
Soviet passport in February, 1946 in Shanghai Genkonsulstve. The chief
of Mission after arrest in Shanghai on a question of the Chinese
public prosecutor on why it, the anticommunist, became now the citizen
of the USSR, quite sincerely answered: " the Person fair cannot
recognize two authorities, mutually excluding one another. In the USSR
orthodox dioceses now are restored, temples, monasteries, spiritual
schools open everywhere. The clergy actively participates in the
general state construction after Great Domestic war. The social order
of the USSR in any way does not contradict the doctrine of
St.. Orthodox Church. Authorities of the USSR after all horrors of war
only also think of that our Native land was great and nice " [63]. 

It was the truth. But the truth vl. Victor, perhaps, did not know. As,
probably, did not know its and many, convincing emigrants to accept
the Soviet citizenship and to come back home. The flock went for the
bishops - not knowing that, went frequently on death. But not
all. Vl. John in many respects was perspicacious - remembering the
Most holy Patriarch behind divine service (and also serving thankful
molebny about a victory of the Russian weapon over the second world
war and collecting donations for Russia), it has not been going to
accept at all the Soviet citizenship, declaring in vseuslyshane that a
similar step yet the certificate of patriotism. The Shanghai clergy
was on the party of the of the lord, laymen were divided in sights.  5
000 shanhajtsev subsequently have emigrated to America and have
remained are alive, about destiny  10 000 left in the USSR it is
possible to guess only - the some people have left alive Stalin camps
? For vl. John the Soviet citizenship was just that unacceptable
ideological condition of which it warned vl. Victor. 

Attempt of the Soviet authorities to put pressure upon hierarches, and
also not quite authentic data on a full freedom of worship in the USSR
became a principal cause of church split in Shanghai - and it happens
at intervention of secular authority in affairs church.