Participation of steamships of the Solovetsky monastery in the defense of the Russian North in 1914–1917

• Published in: St. Tikhons' University Review
• Main Author: Sozont Singh
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: St. Tikhon's Orthodox University 2022
• Subjects: solovetsky monastery; sea convoys; world war i; solovetsky steamships; steamship vera; monastery steamships; minesweepers in the white sea; arctic ocean flotilla; соловецкий монастырь; морские конвои; первая мировая война; соловецкие пароходы; монастырские пароходы; пароход "вера"; тральщики в белом море; флотилия северного ледовитого океана; History of Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics; DK1-4735; History and principles of religions; BL660-2680; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; Lanes; Solovetsky; White Sea; Arkhangelsk; Russian North
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.15382/sturII2022108.47-59; https://doaj.org/article/816e81b65a91458c8ef96933ab97fc99

The history of the Solovetsky Monastery is full of bright events, which are covered in detail in historiography. However, the participation of the monastery in the First World War practically did not attract the attention of researchers. The monastery, being far from the fighting on the front line, found itself in the thick of events unfolding in the Arctic Ocean. Caravans of foreign ships with military cargo went to Arkhangelsk, and the German command sought to disrupt these transportations. Since the Russian Navy in the Russian North were limited to the small vessel Bakan, the mobilization of steamships of private owners began, one of which was the Solovetsky Monastery. As a result, the attracted merchant ships managed to form the Arctic Ocean Flotilla. The Solovetsky ships Vera, Solovetsky and Mikhail Archangel and their crew were not prepared to solve military problems, but they carried out a dangerous and routine service, without which the functioning of sea lanes in such a difficult time would have been impossible. The ship Vera played a special role in the organization of convoys, as it became the flagship of the Minesweepers party of the White Sea. This article is devoted to the fate of this vessel, as well as the contribution of the monastery to the defense of the Russian North.