It was the first fundamental history of the Russian Church; this multi-volumed work was started in 1846, when the first part, ‘The History of Christianity in Russia up to Prince Vladimir, Equal to Apostles, as an Introduction to the History of Russian Church’ was published. The last volume was issued after the death of the author, who succeeded to write the history up to the end of the Patriarchal period – he stopped at Patriarch Joasaphus II.

The fundamental work contains enormous factual material; the author thoroughly used multiple sources. That is why the work still keeps its importance and used by researchers specialized in the history of Russian Orthodox Church. The descriptive character of the work was a reason to criticize it even in the nineteenth century, but it was explained with the author’s approach – he was sure that the ecclesiastic history was a part of the Holy History and depended on the God’s providence.

Macarius, Bishp of Vinnitsa. The History of Russian Church. Vol. 1-12. St. Petersburg: 1857-1883.

Macarius (Bulgakov). The History of Russian Church. Vol. 1–8. Moscow: Saviour Transfiguration Valaam Monastry Publishing House. 1994-1996.