Palestinian Readings as a Form of Cultural and Educational Work of Diocesan Departments of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society in the Middle of the 1890s–1917

The article deals with the main directions of cultural and educational activities of diocesan departments of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society in the mid-1890s – 1917, which consisted of the organization of readings about the Holy Land and Russian pilgrimage. Four stages are distinguished in the organization of the Palestinian readings: 1) 1894–1896; 2) 1897–1905; 3) 1906 – the first half of 1914; 4) mid-1914 – early 1917. It is noted that this work reached its greatest scale in the first years of the twentieth century. The gradual evolution of the themes of religious and moral readings for the people is shown, in which subjects devoted to the Holy Land are inclu­ded as one of the organic elements. The problems and shortcomings encountered in the preparation of the readings are outlined: growing competition from other educational, socio-political and other organizations, lack of topics, lack of coordination in the spread of the most effective methods of educational work. It is concluded that the Palestinian Readings contributed to the spread of spiritual enlightenment, the growth of pilgrimage to the Holy Land.