OCA Archivist studies, lectures abroad
The Archivist of the Orthodox Church in America, Mr. Alexis Liberovsky, traveled recently to Moscow, Russia, where he participated as both student and lecturer in a unique 10-day training course for Church archivists focusing on archival history and methodology. While in Moscow, he also lectured on Orthodox Church history in North America, at several parishes and educational institutions.
The archival course was conducted by the Saints Cyril and Methodius Graduate and Doctoral School of the Russian Orthodox Church in collaboration with the Russian State University for the Humanities (RGGU) and the State Archives of the Russian Federation. Participants included records management and archival staff of the Patriarchal chancery and several far flung (mostly newly created) dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church. The course included presentations from a variety of prominent ecclesiastical and secular archivists and records managers, as well as scholars of archival history and methodology at the Moscow State Institute for History and Archives of RGGU. The 25 course participants also visited the State Archives of the Russian Federation and other historical repositories.
Mr. Liberovsky presented a lecture on the history of the archival holdings of the Orthodox Church in America highlighting historical material pertaining to Saint Patriarch Tikhon within its collections. Later, he also delivered brief presentations on archival methodology in America and several aspects of the history and mission of Orthodoxy in North America and Western Europe. A report on the archival course by an Orthodox television station included a brief interview with Mr. Liberovsky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSBFcyxDEPY). At the conclusion of the course, which manifested the increasing fruitful collaboration of secular and ecclesiastical educational institutions in post-Soviet Russia, each participant received certificates from both Saints Cyril and Methodius Graduate and Doctoral School and the Russian State University for the Humanities.
During his stay in Moscow, Mr. Liberovsky also delivered lectures with photo slideshows on the history and mission of the Orthodox Church in America and the vision for administrative unity of Orthodoxy in North America. These presentations were held at Saint Tikhon`s Orthodox University of the Humanities, the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, Saint Clement’s Church and Saint Catherine’s OCA Representation Church. Each presentation was followed by many questions and engaging discussion.
During the archival course, the OCA Archivist studied Russian archival history and methodology, which differs substantially from the US, and had the opportunity to establish valuable contacts with colleagues in Russia. The course also provided the OCA Archivist with a new perspective on the formation of pre-revolutionary Russian records in the OCA Archives and will enhance his ability to serve the many researchers, especially those from Russia, who regularly send historical inquiries to the OCA Archives by email or visit for onsite research.
The lectures given by the OCA Archivist in Moscow were an opportunity to witness to the rich historical and archival legacy of the Orthodox Church in America before a diversity of interested audiences.
A photo gallery can be viewed here.