B.P. Mansurov's Second Report and the Beginning of the Construction of Russian Palestine

Abstract

In the 21st century, the problem of the creation of a Russian Palestine attracts the attention of an increasing circle of researchers. In the Russian State Historical Archives (RGIA), documents were found on the first stage of the construction of Russian Palestine. They make it possible to clarify the role of B.P. Mansurov in this process. First of all, this is the second report of Mansurov written after a business trip to the East in 1858. It was first introduced into scientific circulation. The report describes everything that has been done in Palestine and proposes a broad plan for the further construction of infrastructure for the pilgrims. After Mansurov's report, Alexander II ordered the start of state funding for the construction of Russian Palestine and created the Palestinian Committee to manage this process. Another block of documents stored in the fund of the Russian Society of Shipping and Trade (ROPiT) allows us to trace the history of the preparation of Mansurov's business trip. This initiative was addressed to ROPiT by the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich, supported by the emperor. The materials show that in the first years of construction, ROPiT allocated money and financed business trips of officials to Palestine, paid for the transportation of goods. The minutes of the second meeting of the Palestinian Committee are being introduced into scientific circulation. According to the document, it can be judged that, although economic issues prevailed in the activities of the Committee, it has not yet completely abandoned its political tasks. Separate political and religious points were also in the second report of Mansurov.