Off-duty service of the parish priest in Russia in the late XIX – early XX century (on the example of archpriest Victor Guriev)

Abstract

The article focuses on activities of the Russian parish priests in the late XIX – early XX century they did when being offduty of divine services. Archpriest Victor Guriev (1842–1912) was a remarkable person, a good priest, and it is shown (as an example), how such a significant impact a parish priest was having on society in different spheres of life: community, social and educational activities, publicistic works, upbringing of the younger generation, a family life.

On the basis of the analysis of the sources studied, the comparison of historical evidence and biographical data, the study determines the scope of interests and activities of Fr. Victor Guriev. The article reveals the positive influence that Fr. Victor Guriev had on a great number of people: his own children, parishioners, his readers, brethren-priests, as well as on subsequent generations of parish clergymen.