A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF ORTHODOX MISSIONARIES' PRE-REVOLUTIONARY EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE SAHA (YAKUT) REGION

Authors : Yusuf Kiliçaslan

Pages : 60-71

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Publication Date : 2023-12-26

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This study examines the educational activities and their impacts conducted by Russian Orthodox missionaries in the Saha (Yakut) region. The subject has been evaluated based on the reports kept by the Yakut Statistical Commission and the missionaries. Missionaries have been using the city of Yakutsk as their central location in Far Eastern Siberia since the 1620s. However, in the XVII century, it was quite challenging to mention any official institutions or organizations in terms of education and culture. According to Russian historians, there are two reasons for this. Firstly, Russian Orthodox missionaries did not have sufficient material as well as human resources, and knowledge to implement a conscious education policy for this period. The second reason is that due to the recent annexation of the region to the Russian state, conflicts between the Yakuts and the Russians hindered the implementation of this process. However, in our opinion, the first reason is realistic and directly proportional to the development of the educational and cultural life of Russian history. Especially from the second half of the XIX century, cultural developments began to manifest themselves in Yakut, and as a result of translation activities, education, and teaching became significant for the Russians. Before translation activities in the Yakut language were carried out, the missionaries\' lack of proficiency in the Yakut language and the Yakuts\' lack of knowledge of the Russian language rendered all efforts inconclusive.
Keywords : Sahalar, Ruslar, Misyonerlik, Misyon, Eğitim