Number of names in St. Tikhon’s University’s database on New Martyrs and Confessors exceeded 31 thousands

St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Humanitarian University’s database collects information about all those who suffered for Christ. At present the university website gives over 31 thousand biographies.

The database represents not only a vast collection of hagiographical and historical information but also an instrument for research and processing information. In addition, it is a powerful information system ensuring not only a quick search for various data about a particular person or but also automatic compilation of complex summaries, diagrams and charts for comparing information obtained from various sources.

According to the site, the search in archives for new names of those who suffered for Christ produced some information about the execution of Bishop Afanasiy Molchanovsky in 1939. Until recently his biography ended with the statement that ‘his further destiny is unknown’.

According to Prof. Yemelianov of the Chair of Information Science, further work in the archives of repressive bodies can produce 70 thousand more names. It is necessary to systematize the data on those who suffered for their faith and to present it in the Internet. To this end, St. Tikhon’s University has opened a Department of Information Science and Applied Mathematics called to train specialists capable of fulfilling such tasks.

The university press service has pointed to an interesting pattern: the number of acting churches in the Russian Orthodox Church is almost equal to the number of those who suffered for Christ. This equivalence has been observed for over ten years now.

DECR Communication Service