N. Novak V.

CHURCH DEANS’ ANNUAL REPORTS AS A SOURCE FOR REGIONAL HISTORY OF RUSSIAN IN THE 2ND HALF OF 19TH – EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Authors

N. Novak V.

Keywords:

Spiritual consistories, deaneries, reports, regional history, religiosity of the population in Russia

Abstract

The author of this article analyzes one of the main functions of the deans (incl. rural deans) during the Synodal period – working out the reports on the condition in parish churches of the territories entrusted to these deans. The author examines both the regulations of making these reports as well as the text themselves, focusing on the period of the 19th to the beginning of the 20th centuries. Despite the clear rules for writing of these repots, the texts were composed in a free form and depended on the efforts of their authors and local tradition. Over the time they turned out to be more and more detailed. They reflect both the specifics of the church life of the region (for example, attitudes towards the Synodal Church of different ethnic groups, traditionally adhering to other religions), and the life of the population as a whole. They pointed out the main factors that reduced the level of religiosity and piety (revolutionary ideas, migrations). The author connects the hope for expanding scientific knowledge about this type of sources with further study of the funds of local spiritual consistories, where these reports have been kept.

CHURCH DEANS’ ANNUAL REPORTS AS A SOURCE FOR REGIONAL HISTORY OF RUSSIAN IN THE 2ND HALF OF 19TH – EARLY 20TH CENTURY