The Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society and the Russian Pilgrimage Movement in 1914–1918

The article considers the features of the activities of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS) in the field of organizing pilgrimages in 1914–1918. It is shown that Russia during the First World War sought to expand and strengthen its international positions. At the same time, the increase in military and economic problems, aggravated by the exacerbation of internal social conflicts, as well as the opposition of London and Paris, which feared the strengthening of geopolitical influence of St. Petersburg, made the implementation of the Russian plans unlikely. By 1914 the vast majority of the population of the Russian Empire professed Orthodoxy. The Russian Orthodox Church was a component of the state administrative apparatus and occupied a special place. In 1914–1917 the IOPS continued its work on organizing pilgrimages, charity, education, and scientific research. The established system of pilgrimage activities of the Society functioned in its usual form until the outbreak of hostilities in 1914. Then, under the influence of external and internal factors, pilgrimages to the Holy Land through the Society practically ceased. However, until the revolutionary events of 1917, the IOPS promoted Orthodox pilgrimage, continuing, as far as possible. After the February Revolution of 1917, changes occurred in the leadership, name and content of the Society’s work, which was forced to focus on the scientific direction.