"HONEYMOON MONTH" OF THE REVOLUTION: THE EKATERINOSLAV EPARCHY IN MARCH 1917

The article examines the reaction of the Orthodox clergy and laity of the Ekaterinoslav Diocese to the February Revolution of 1917, a period characterized in historiography as the "honeymoon month" of the revolution. Challenging the traditional Soviet-era narrative that depicted the Church as a monolithic defender of autocracy, the study demonstrates that the ecclesiastical estate in the province exhibited a rapid and enthusiastic adaptation to the new political reality. The research is based on an analysis of local periodicals, such as the Ekaterinoslav Diocesan Gazette and Ekaterinoslav Zemskaya Gazeta, as well as the minutes of the Diocesan Assembly held in March 1917. The author argues that the support for the Provisional Government by the Ekaterinoslav clergy was not merely a result of ideological conviction but was largely driven by pragmatic conformism and corporate interests. The study highlights how the local hierarchy, led by Bishop Agapit (Vishnevsky), and the white clergy sought to distance themselves from the collapsed imperial regime to ensure their survival and improve their social standing. The article details the symbolic gestures of loyalty to the revolution, including the participation of seminarians in revolutionary demonstrations, the singing of the "Marseillaise," and the condemnation of the former Tsarist administration. A significant portion of the analysis is devoted to the internal demands of the clergy during the Diocesan Assembly. The author reveals that alongside political declarations of freedom and equality, the clergy prioritized material and status-related issues: the abolition of the consistory’s bureaucratic control, the equalization of rights for deacons and psalmists, the election of bishops from among the married white clergy, and the redistribution of church incomes. These demands reflect a desire to dismantle the synodal system’s hierarchical constraints while maintaining state financial support. The study also contrasts the radical rhetoric of the clergy with the modest, moralistic demands of the lay parishioners, who focused on ethical improvements in parish life rather than structural church reform. The article concludes that the "church revolution" in Ekaterinoslav was characterized by a sharp break with monarchist traditions and an attempt to integrate Orthodox identity with revolutionary democratic ideals. However, this transformation was superficial and opportunistic. The clergy’s eagerness to adopt revolutionary phraseology and denounce the past served as a protective mechanism against potential persecution, rather than indicating a deep theological reorientation. The findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the provincial dimensions of the Russian Revolution, illustrating how local religious institutions navigated the chaotic transition of power through adaptation and self-interest. Keywords: February Revolution 1917, Ekaterinoslav Diocese, Russian Orthodox Church, clergy, Provisional Government, church-state relations, historical memory, provincial history, conformism, diocesan assembly.