The article reveals scientific studies of A.V. Kirillov. For Modern Far Eastern historians, geographers and representatives of other fields, A.V. Kirillov is well known as an encyclopedic scholar, teacher, local historian, ethnographer, missionary, public figure, honorary justice of the peace, city deputy, and mayor. However, his contributions to religious studies remains poorly understood. This work reveals the personality traits of the scholar's personality, which harmoniously combine his affiliation with Russian Orthodoxy, multifaceted research on various aspects of life in the Russian Far East, and active social and government work. A.V. Kirillov was witness to the migration and demographic changes that occurred in the Amur region during the second half of the 19th century. Before his eyes, the foundations of the unique border mentality of the Far East was being laid. The article analyzes key topics related to A.V. Kirillov’s research in the field of religious studies: history and missionary activities of the Kamchatka diocese; religious characteristics of Russian settlers in the Amur region, and customs, lifestyle, and religious traditions of indigenous peoples. The author concludes that the scientific interests and directions of religious studies of A.V. Kirillov were largely determined by the living conditions in the Russian Far East and the intense interaction between bearers of different cultures and religions in that area. A.V. Kirillov is considered one of the most prominent figures in the history of Russian religious studies and has made significant contributions to various fields related to religion, such as history, geography, anthropology, sociology, and psychology of religion.
Key words: A.V. Kirillov, Far Eastern frontier, religious studies, Russian Orthodoxy, Kamchatka Diocesan News, religions of the Far Eastern peoples
DOI: 10.22250/20728662_2024_2_35
About the author
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Olga V. Pelevina – Cand. Sci. (Philosophy), Dean of the Faculty of International Relations, research engineer at the Laboratory of Frontier Studies, Amur State University, 21 Ignatievskoe shosse, Blagoveshchensk, 675027, Russia; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |