Catholic Patrick Gordon and Russian Society in the late 17th century

The work focuses on the communications of General Patrick Gordon, who was a leader of Russian Catholics, with the Russian society in the Church and religious life in the late 17-th century. Also, this article reveals the role of the high-rank foreigner in development of interfaith relations in Russia. On the basis of General's Diary and unique archival documents the authors analyze new constructive forms of interactions between Orthodox and Western Christians that were established with Gordon's participation. The authors unconventionally solve the question about the reasons for Gordon's church actions which this study for the first time investigates in the context of General's personal religiosity.