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→From Albazin to Beijing (1651-1715): 1242; 1270; 1584; 1587; 1613; 1632; 1652
The activities and achievements of the Orthodox Church, especially since the 17th century, have been understated in many historical studies of Christianity in China. By 1955, on the eve of its establishment as an independent entity, the Orthodox Church in China reached its greatest numbers. There were more than 100,000 communicants in former Russian territory in [[w:Northeast China|Manchuria]], with 200 priests and 60 parishes, as well as monasteries and a seminary. Elsewhere, in China, there were another 200,000 Orthodox Christians and 150 parishes. These conservative figures mean that at that time, around 6% of Chinese Christians were adherents of the Orthodox Church.<ref>Dr. Kevin Baker. [http://www.mellenpress.com/mellenpress.cfm?bookid=6574&pc=9 A History of the Orthodox Church in China, Korea and Japan]. The Edwin Mellen Press, 2006. (Description)</ref>
== The First Orthodox Christians in China (1242-1650)==
*1242 Greek Orthodox Russians in the Western Army of the Mongols entered China; they are said to have established a small church in the far western region, site now unknown.
*1270 The Mongol Emperor of China imported a group of Russian goldsmiths.
*1584 Russian army defeats the [[w:Khanate of Sibir|Khanate of Siberia]], opening up the overland way to the east; initial development of Russian settlements in the area to the south and east of Lake Baikal ([[w:Transbaikal|Transbaikal]]) begins, with Cossacks and others under service contract to the state (''sluzhilye liudi'') exploring new trading routes to China.<ref>William C. Brumfield. ''[http://www.cultinfo.ru/brumfield/articles/GVIR_20_4_04hires.pdf Photographic Documentation of Architectural Monuments in the Siberian Republic of Buriatiia].'' '''Visual Resources'''. Vol. XX, No. 4, December 2004, pp. 315-364.</ref>
*1587 Russians found [[w:Tobolsk|Tobolsk]], the historic capital of [[w:Siberia|Siberia]].
*1613 [[w:House of Romanov|Romanov Dynasty]] is founded in Russia (1613-1917).
*1632 Russians establish [[w:Yakutsk|Yakutsk]]; from this settlement they explored the more fertile lands to the southeast, along the Amur River.
*1644 Qing conquest of Beijing; [[w:Qing Dynasty|Qing (Manchu) Dynasty]] is establised (1644-1912), the last ruling dynasty of China.
==From Albazin to Beijing (1651-1715)==
*1651 Russian Cossack [[w:Yerofey Khabarov|Erofey (Geoffery) Khabarov]] founded the fort-town of [[w:Albazin|Albazin]] on the Amur River.
*1652 [[w:Irkutsk|Irkutsk]] is founded by Lake Baikal.
*1665 The earliest known Orthodox Church, the ''Church of the Resurrection'', and a monastery is founded in the Russian fort-town of Albazin (Yakela) in Northeast China.
*1670 [[w:Kangxi Emperor|Emperor Kangxi]] (1661-1722) issued the ''[http://books.google.ca/books?id=VQJEAAAAIAAJ&printsec=titlepage Sacred Edict]'', consisting of 16 moral maxims based on Confucian teachings.
