SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF TAMBOV EPARCHY MONASTERIES IN THE LATE 18th - 19th CENTURIES

Abstract

The relevance is determined by the growing interest to the problem of the functioning of Orthodox monasteries of Tambov Eparchy in the Synodal period. In this regard one of the main tasks is to try to understand the particular aspects of the internal structure of monastic life. Such a goal can be achieved only as a result of detailed consideration and analysis of the social and quantitative composition of the monastery population. Monks were the main guardians of the way of life, culture, and history of their monasteries. The principles of the relationship of different social groups within a single community, the level of their literacy and age often determine the direction of development and the main types of both internal and external activities of monasteries. The main documents are considered in the research, the main of which are “Vedomosti about the Abbot and Monastics” for various years. In such reports, various information was provided about monastics, novices and monastic workers. They managed to extract detailed statistical and demographic information, as well as analyze the social composition of the main Orthodox monasteries of the eparchy at certain periods. It was also possible to establish the average age of entering the monastery, the period of testing, the main occupation of the population, which largely depended on their social status in the world and on the level of education.