The reason for the publication of this work was the Tsar's Decree on April 17, 1905 ‘On strengthening the principles of religious tolerance’, and the work that began after that to reform the religious legislation in order to put into practice the provisions laid down in the Decree. The author published a number of official documents of the time prepared inside the Church, for example, ‘Questions about the desirable transformations in the setting of Orthodox Church in our country’, ‘Considerations of State Secretary Pobedonostsev on issues of the desirable transformations...’, ‘Decisions of the Holy Synod’, as well as acts heard in the Cabinet of Ministers as answers to those ecclesiastic initiatives. The author paid a special attention to the issue of calling for the Local Church Council, its participants, and tasks. The entire set of upcoming ecclesiastic transformations and the public discussion around it were considered by K. in close connection with contemporary needs and requirements of Russian Orthodox Church.