Russian Orthodoxy under the Old Regime - Scholarly

In this review of Russian Orthodoxy under the Old Regime, the reviewer finds a focused, scholarly collection ideal for students and researchers of imperial Russian religion and society. First published in 1978 and now reissued unchanged by Minnesota Archive Editions, this volume gathers eleven essays that probe the Orthodox church's cultural role and its political relationship with the tsarist state. The single biggest reason to buy is its depth of archival-based analysis presented in a format suitable for course use, making it a reliable historical resource rather than a popular overview.

Key Features

• Scholarly essays: Eleven contributors offer detailed, research-driven perspectives that illuminate different facets of Orthodoxy in the two centuries before the revolution.
• Two-part structure: The book is organized into sections on social and cultural life and on church-state relations, which helps readers approach the topic thematically.
• Course-ready format: The clear arrangement and academic tone make it suitable for undergraduate or graduate seminars on Russian history or religion.
• Historical fidelity: This Minnesota Archive Editions reissue reproduces the original University of Minnesota Press text unaltered, preserving the work as it appeared in 1978.
• Accessible reprint: Digital reproduction brings a long-unavailable title back into circulation for libraries and individual scholars.

Who It's For

This book is best for history students, academics, and readers already comfortable with scholarly prose and primary-source analysis who want concentrated studies of the Orthodox church's role in imperial Russia. Instructors will find it useful as a complementary reader for courses on Russian social history, religious institutions, or modern European church-state relations.

Readers hoping for a narrative survey or an introductory popular history should look elsewhere; this volume assumes a degree of familiarity with Russian historical context and prioritizes specialized essays over broad syntheses.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Contains in-depth, archival-informed essays that shed light on institutional and cultural aspects of Orthodoxy.
• Organized into thematic sections that clarify the distinction between social practice and political relations.
• Reproduced unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press edition, preserving scholarly intent.

Cons

• Not a lightweight introduction; casual readers may find the academic tone dense and specialized.

Specifications

Title	Russian Orthodoxy under the Old Regime
Authors / Editors	Robert L. Nichols, Theofanis George Stavrou
First published	1978
Edition	Minnesota Archive Editions reissue (digital reproduction)
Publisher origin	University of Minnesota Press original edition reproduced
Content focus	Orthodox church social, cultural, and political roles in imperial Russia

Our Verdict

Russian Orthodoxy under the Old Regime is a strong academic resource for students and scholars who need concentrated essays on the Orthodox church before the Russian revolution; its faithful reissue makes a previously scarce title available again and represents good value for course collections and research libraries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a modern updated edition?
No, Minnesota Archive Editions reproduces the original 1978 University of Minnesota Press text unaltered.

Is the book appropriate for classroom use?
Yes, the book is explicitly suitable for course use and presents material in a structured, academic format.

Does it cover both cultural and political aspects of the church?
Yes, essays are divided into sections on social and cultural life and on the church's relationship to the tsarist regime.