Iskandar Kazma in the beginning of Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society educational activity
The article is devoted to Alexander Gavrilovitch (Iskandar Jabrail) Kazma - a prominent educationalist of Syrian origin in mperial Orthodox Palestine Society (IOPS). Close attention is paid to the period of his life when he worked as IOPS agent with particular focus on his role in activities aimed at establishing first IOPS educational units. A selection of archival documents are attached to the article including letters from IOPS secretary M.P. Stepanov, assistant secretary S.D. Lermontov as well as IOPS foundation-member P.A. Vasilchickov’s letters addressed to Russian Consul General in Beirut K.D. Petkovic. All the materials are related to the initial phase of IOPS educational activities and above all they are linked with Kazma’s business travel. He was assigned a mission to collect statistical data on Palestinian Orthodox Christian population and establish first educational institutions. The correspondence mentioned above contains information on a wide range of very important issues such as establishment of first IOPS schools in Palestine; permanent interaction of IOPS senior officials, Russian Consul General in Beirut and A.G. Kazma on the school business; position of Jerusalem Clergy on IOPS educational activities; as well as position of Russian diplomats on this issue. A document of particular interest is an instruction specifically formulated / developed for A.G. Kazma to regulate his relation with Russian Consuls and Jerusalem Clergy; to carry out activities aimed at establishing schools in Palestine, organizing schooling and exercising control over the process. In addition to all those important issues the instruction contains valuable information about first educational programs developed for IOPS schools.