Russian Orthodoxy in Japan, a history that has become a bridge

In Tokyo, the writings of Saint Nikolai, archbishop of Japan,between the 19th and 20th centuries. His letters reveal the seeds of orthodoxy in the Land of the Rising Sun. The Orthodox Church of Japan today has about 30 thousand faithful (0.024% of the population), organized in three dioceses (Tokyo, Kyoto and Sendajsk) and 150 parishes. A seminary for the preparation of priests is open in Tokyo, as well as a monastery dedicated to St. Nicolas.

Tokyo (AsiaNews) - A special edition in three volumes on the history of Orthodoxy in Japan was presented in Tokyo at the Embassy of the Russian Federation on December 17: "Complete works of the saint-equal-to-the-apostles Nikolai (Kasatkin), archbishop of Japan ". The collection included both the official reports of the Russian missionary in Japan and his letters between 1860 and 1911, some of which have never been published.

Nikolai, a Russian Orthodox priest, was the founder of the Orthodox Church in Japan, making it a true "daughter" of Russian orthodoxy, with whom it has always remained in contact. He wrote: “Here there is no time even for letters, but when so many problems arise that need communication with Russia, then I stop and try to get away from anxieties and things, I move with the spirit to my homeland and I begin to reccount".

Many of his letters are dedicated to the development of Russia's spiritual and diplomatic mission in Japan. But there is also a correspondence with some Russian soldiers who are in Japanese prisons following the war between the two countries of 1904-1905, when the disastrous and unexpected defeat of Russia began a season of great changes in the country, which ended only with the revolution of 1917 and the subsequent civil war.

There are also curious episodes, such as the letter to the Russian consul in Hakodate, Iosif Goshkevich: "Some sailors of a whaler, who went to a Japanese shop, under the eyes of the owner took away an entire chest full of money; a whole crowd of Japanese came together with 30 other sailors, the fight lasted a long time ... "wrote the missionary in May 1865. The collection also contains notes and communications in Japanese.

The rector of the Muscovite seminary of St. Nicholas of Ugra, the Igumen Iann (Rubin), the main author of the publication, also spoke at the presentation, recalling that the publication is linked to the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Russian Orthodox mission in Japan, in program for 2020, and also for the 50th anniversary of the canonization of Nikolaj, archbishop of all Japan. It is the only Russian mission that has generated an "autochthonous Church", which despite being part of the patriarchate of Moscow governs itself autonomously, in a territory outside the traditionally Orthodox areas. In other countries, Russians have always established jurisdictions for Russians abroad (such as the Orthodox Church in America, not recognized by other Orthodox Churches).

The Igumen Iann hoped that “this project deserves the attention of large sectors of Japanese society, as it represents a real bridge between Russia and Japan, and the spread of Nikolaj's writings is very important for the development of our mutual relationships ". The present metropolitan of Tokyo and all Japan Daniil (Ikio), his vicar Serafim (Noboru), archbishop of Sendajsk and other Russian ecclesiastical and diplomatic personalities in Japan also spoke. Metropolitan Daniil presented several testimonies on the sanctity of Nikolaj, collected among several faithful and Japanese citizens of the Meiji era (the reign of Emperor Mutsuhito, 1868-1912).

Currently the Orthodox Church of Japan has about 30 thousand faithful (0.024% of the population), organized in three dioceses (Tokyo, Kyoto and Sendajsk) and 150 parishes. A seminary for the preparation of priests is open in Tokyo, as well as a monastery dedicated to s. Nicola. The current metropolitan Daniil, eighty-one, has been in office since 2000. It also has a magazine, Seike Zikho (The Orthodox Messenger), a women's congregation engaged in charitable activities and an association of Orthodox youth is also open. The patriarchate of Moscow has its own representation at the church of St. Alexander Nevsky of Tokyo.

• russia
• japan
• orthodox church
• saint nikolaj
• writings
• history
• mission
• christians