Irkutsk

Irkutsk (????????), the chief town of the Irkutsk Oblast, is one of the most important places in Siberia, being not only the principal commercial depot north of Tashkent, but also a fortified military post, an archbishopric of the Russian Orthodox Church and the seat of several learned societies. It is situated in {{coor dm|52|17|N|104|16|E|}}, 5185 km by rail from Moscow. Pop. (1875) 32,512, (1900) 49,106, (1975) 500,000, (2002) 593,400.

History

Irkutsk grew out of the winter-quarters established (1652) by Ivan Pokhabov for the collection of the fur tax from the Buryats. Its existence as a town dates from 1686.

Related Topics:
1652 - Ivan Pokhabov - Buryats - 1686

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The most significant person in the religious life of Irkutsk is Saint Innocent of Irkutsk (1797–1879, born Ivan Veniaminov) who was born near to Irkutsk, later in Orthodox priesthood. He did missionary travels with his family to the Aleutians. He learned local languages and translated the gospels and the hymns. Later, after his wife died, Veniaminov became a monk, Innocent. He was raised as a bishop, and then the archbishop of Irkutsk (till 1867 when he was appointed to the metropolitan Moscow). His title as a saint is "Miracleworker Innocent of Irkutsk".

Related Topics:
Saint Innocent - 1797 - 1879 - 1867 - Saint

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the early nineteenth century, many Russian artists, officers and nobles were sent into exile to Siberia for their part in the Decembrist revolt against Tsar Nicholas I. Irkutsk became the major center of intellectual and social life for these exiles, and much of the city's cultural heritage comes from them; also, many of their wooden houses, adorned with ornate, hand-carved decorations, survive today in stark contrast with the standard Soviet apartment blocks that surround them.

Related Topics:
Decembrist revolt - Tsar - Soviet

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the civil war that broke out after the Bolshevik Revolution, Irkutsk became the site of many furious, bloody clashes between the "Whites" and the "Reds". In 1920, Kolchak, the once-feared commander of the largest contingent of anti-Bolshevik forces, was executed there, effectively destroying the anti-Bolshevik resistance.

Related Topics:
Civil war - Bolshevik Revolution - Whites - Reds - 1920 - Kolchak

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~