The relevance of the study is due to the growing role of the Russian Orthodox Church in modern Russian society and the need for an in-depth study of the historical experience of church-state relations. The purpose of the work is to analyze the stage-by-stage development of the idea of restoring patriarchal authority as the most important element of church governance, as well as to identify the circumstances of the election of Patriarch Tikhon (Bellavin) at the Local Council of 1917-1918. The author used a historiosophical approach based on identifying the underlying causes and consequences of church reforms. The work uses methods of historical analysis, comparative research and systematization of sources: archival materials, church documents and scientific research on the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. The study found that the idea of restoring the Patriarchate remained relevant throughout the Synodal period. Despite the resistance of the secular authorities, church leaders consistently defended the need to return to patriarchal governance. The author pays special attention to the study of the opinions of bishops on the issue of the revival of the Patriarchate, expressed during the preparation for the Local Council of 1917. In conclusion, it is noted that the restoration of the Patriarchate in 1917 was the result of two centuries of efforts by the church community. The election of Patriarch Tikhon marked an important stage in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, which put an end to the Synodal period and opened a new page in its development. The historical facts presented in the article and their analysis allow us to better understand the significance of the restoration of the Patriarchate for the further history and modern activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in the field of church-public interaction.
Feodosy Vasnev (Thu,) studied this question.