Matthew Lee Miller - Böcker

In The American YMCA and Russian Culture, Matthew Lee Miller explores the impact of the philanthropic activities of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) on Russians during the late imperial and early Soviet periods. The YMCA, the largest American service organization, initiated its intense engagement with Russians in 1900. During the First World War, the Association organized assistance for prisoners of war, and after the emigration of many Russians to central and western Europe, founded the YMCA Press and supported the St. Sergius Theological Academy in Paris. Miller demonstrates that the YMCA contributed to the preservation, expansion, and enrichment of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It therefore played a major role in preserving an important part of pre-revolutionary Russian culture in Western Europe during the Soviet period until the repatriation of this culture following the collapse of the USSR. The research is based on the YMCA’s archival records, Moscow and Paris archives, and memoirs of both Russian and American participants. This is the first comprehensive discussion of an extraordinary period of interaction between American and Russian cultures. It also presents a rare example of fruitful interconfessional cooperation by Protestant and Orthodox Christians.

In The American YMCA and Russian Culture, Matthew Lee Miller explores the impact of the philanthropic activities of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) on Russians during the late imperial and early Soviet periods. The YMCA, the largest American service organization, initiated its intense engagement with Russians in 1900. During the First World War, the Association organized assistance for prisoners of war, and after the emigration of many Russians to central and western Europe, founded the YMCA Press and supported the St. Sergius Theological Academy in Paris. Miller demonstrates that the YMCA contributed to the preservation, expansion, and enrichment of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It therefore played a major role in preserving an important part of pre-revolutionary Russian culture in Western Europe during the Soviet period until the repatriation of this culture following the collapse of the USSR. The research is based on the YMCA’s archival records, Moscow and Paris archives, and memoirs of both Russian and American participants. This is the first comprehensive discussion of an extraordinary period of interaction between American and Russian cultures. It also presents a rare example of fruitful interconfessional cooperation by Protestant and Orthodox Christians.

John R. Mott’s Recent Experiences and Impressions in Russia presents a collection of public addresses and letters created during his participation in a United States diplomatic mission to Russia—sent by President Woodrow Wilson and led by Elihu Root—from May to August 1917. These historical documents (printed in 1917 but never published) describe this Root Mission and offer perspectives on several momentous events and leaders of the era: World War I, the February Revolution, officials of the Provisional Government, and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church. Mott, a key leader of global outreach for the Young Men’s Christian Association of the US, stands out as an influential Protestant leader of this era. In 1946, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his life-long effort to promote cooperative ministry around the world. The documents in this volume include Mott’s proposal for the YMCA to carry out a program of social, educational, and spiritual assistance among Russia’s military, as well as relevant chapters from Service with Fighting Men: An Account of the Work of the American Young Men’s Christian Associations in the World War (published in 1924), which outlines and evaluates the activities carried out in Russia in response to Mott’s plans. Together, these writings illustrate the variety of assumptions, convictions, and relationships that contributed to a very significant episode of Russian–American interaction.

John R. Mott’s Recent Experiences and Impressions in Russia presents a collection of public addresses and letters created during his participation in a United States diplomatic mission to Russia—sent by President Woodrow Wilson and led by Elihu Root—from May to August 1917. These historical documents (printed in 1917 but never published) describe this Root Mission and offer perspectives on several momentous events and leaders of the era: World War I, the February Revolution, officials of the Provisional Government, and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church. Mott, a key leader of global outreach for the Young Men’s Christian Association of the US, stands out as an influential Protestant leader of this era. In 1946, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his life-long effort to promote cooperative ministry around the world. The documents in this volume include Mott’s proposal for the YMCA to carry out a program of social, educational, and spiritual assistance among Russia’s military, as well as relevant chapters from Service with Fighting Men: An Account of the Work of the American Young Men’s Christian Associations in the World War (published in 1924), which outlines and evaluates the activities carried out in Russia in response to Mott’s plans. Together, these writings illustrate the variety of assumptions, convictions, and relationships that contributed to a very significant episode of Russian–American interaction.

В своей книге Мэттью Ли Миллер исследует влияние деятельности Христианского союза молодых людей (YMCA, ХСМЛ) на жителей России и русских эмигрантов в позднеимперский и раннесоветский периоды. ХСМЛ, крупнейшая американская благотворительная организация, начала свою активную деятельность в России в 1900 году. Во время Первой мировой войны она обеспечивала помощь военнопленным, а после эмиграции многих россиян в Центральную и Западную Европу основала издательство «ИМКА-Пресс» и поддерживала Православный богословский институт. Таким образом организация сыграла важную роль в сохранении наследия дореволюционной русской культуры в эмиграции. Исследование основано на архивных документах ХСМЛ, московских и парижских архивах, а также на воспоминаниях как российских, так и американских участников.