Pilgrimage Activities of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society in 1905-1914

The article is devoted to the problematic aspects and main trends of the pilgrimage activities of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS) in 1905–1914. The relevance of the study is due to the modern transformation of international relations and the intensification of the confrontation between Russia and the collective West, which dictates the need to draw historical parallels that are useful in the context of ensuring Russian national interests. The authors are the first to identify and clearly define the main forms and methods of the IOPS activities in the field of organizing pilgrimages during the brewing period of the First World War, taking into account the influence of external and internal factors. The following materials are used: fundamental documents defining and regulating the work of the Society; analytical works of contemporaries of the events studied; reporting and statistical works; a guide to the Holy Places published by the IOPS. A review of the literature on the topic of the study has been conducted. Issues requiring additional study have been identified. The international political conditions of the pilgrimage activities of the Society on the eve of the First World War have been analyzed. The specifics of the work of the IOPS in the sphere of organizing pilgrimages in the period under review have been characterized. The social composition of the pilgrimage movement and the results of the Society’s activities in this sphere at the beginning of the 20th century have been considered.