The Harvest is Great and the Labourers are few (Father John Nedzelnitsky’s Report on the New York Deanery of the Aleutian and Alaskan Diocese in 1898)

Abstract

The document published here is a report on the New York Deanery of the Aleutian and Alaskan Diocese in 1898 submitted by the Dean John Nedzelnitsky to Bishop Tikhon (Bellavin). It is deposited in the Library of Congress Manuscript Division as a part of Alaskan Russian Church Archives (Cont. D 452–453, New York, N.Y. Nedzelnitsky John, 1896–1899). Father Nedzelnitsky (1866–1946) is not widely known, and this paper thus serves as a short biography. The Dean John Nedzelnitsky was a dedicated Russian Orthodox missionary whose observations are a valuable source for the study of history of the Russian Church in America. The document provides a vivid picture of the Russian Church activities in the continental United States during the period of its rapid development due to the influx of many new converts from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The report has a traditional structure and follows the instructions issued by Bishop Tikhon. It touches upon all the major aspects of managing the Diocese and talks about its activities and troubles in a frank and realistic manner. We can see from the report that the issues facing the Diocese at that time could be solved by reorganizing its management and implementing a long-term recruitment and allocation policy, with an honest and laborious person in charge of its further implementation being key. Moreover, the document gives a picture of the period as seen by two distinguished Orthodox missionaries, since it also contains interesting recommendations on church activities that were later adopted by Bishop Tikhon. Tikhon’s own commentary and notes accompanying the report are of special interest, revealing his colourful and engaging personality (in the text of the publication they are given in square brackets). The publication is unabridged and is provided with an introduction and reference information, including an estimate of the report’s significance for further research in the field.