The missionary path of Petro Mazanov (1840?–1911) in the context of historical and religious studies

Abstract

This article aims to explore the missionary path of Archpriest Petro Mazanov within the framework of the social and spiritual development of the Poltava Diocese during the second half of the 19th and the early 20th centuries. The religious studies analysis focuses on his service in the Saviour, Dormition, and Transfiguration churches in the city of Poltava, his organisation of parish life, initiatives for reforming ecclesiastical governance, efforts to address the socio-domestic challenges of the clergy, and active involvement in charitable societies. Particular attention is given to his work as a city dean and a member of the Poltava Ecclesiastical Guardianship. Research methodology. The study is grounded in the principles of historicism, objectivity, system-based analysis, comprehensiveness, multifactoriality, worldview pluralism, and confessional neutrality. These were implemented through the use of a range of general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, comparison) and specialised approaches from the fields of history and religious studies. These include descriptive, chronological, logical, analytical-synthetic, statistical, historical-genetic, socio-confessional, ecclesiastical-profile, biographical, problem-chronological, comparative-historical, retrospective, and generalising methods. The research adopts an interdisciplinary approach that combines methodological tools from church historiography, social history, and the history of everyday life, enabling the missionary activity of P. Mazanov to be examined within a broader socio-cultural context. Scholarly novelty lies in the reconstruction of the largely unexplored life and pastoral activity of Petro Mazanov, providing fresh insights into the position of Orthodox clergy during the specified period. For the first time, lesser-known facts concerning P. Mazanov’s ecclesiastical, public, and socio-confessional involvement have been systematised and introduced into scholarly discourse. Conclusions. The research establishes that Archpriest Petro Mazanov was a proactive initiator of parish renewal, an administrator, and a benefactor. In his ministry, he combined traditional pastoral service with active participation in the socio-ecclesiastical life of the Poltava Diocese in the latter half of the 19th and the early 20th centuries. As dean, Mazanov provided pastoral care to parishioners, took part in charitable associations, introduced innovative approaches to clergy-laity relations, and contributed to the development of the region’s church infrastructure.