Abbots of Kyiv Friaries During the XIXth – at the Beginning of the XXth Centuries: Components of their Status

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to clarify the factors that determined the status of abbots of the biggest Kyiv friaries in the XIXth – at the beginning of the XX-th. On the basis of the analysis of archival and published sources of the history of Kyiv eparchy the author shows that the abbots of official Kyiv monasteries, which were subordinated to the Kyiv metropolitan, were vicar bishops (deputies and assistants of Kyiv metropolitan), rector of Kyiv Theological Academy and rector of the seminary. Research methodology is based on the combination of general scientific (analysis, synthesis, generalization) and special-historical (historical-typological, historical-systemic, historical-genetic) methods with the principles of historicism, systematics and scientificity. The method of historical reconstruction made it possible to formulate a holistic view of the abbots of the biggest Kyiv friaries from the scattered facts, who had clearly regulated responsibilities in the monastery and in the management of Kyiv eparchy. The scientific novelty of the work is that using modern methodology of scientific analysis the author shows the components of the high status of the abbots of official Kyiv monasteries, who at the same time performed duties in the structure of diocesan administration. New historical sources are being introduced into scientific circulation, which will supplement the source base of the history of Kyiv eparchy of the XIX – early XX centuries. Conclusions. The analysis of known and newly discovered historical sources made it possible to conclude that official Kyiv friaries, which existed in the XIX – early XX centuries, were in the subordination of metropolitan, had leaders of clergy of high social status. Their abbots, in addition to the duties of managing the monastery, held positions in the diocesan administration: they were the first, second, third, fourth vicars of Kyiv eparchy, the rector of Kyiv Theological Academy and the rector of a theological seminary. The status of abbots of Kyiv monasteries was determined by several components: a legal regulation of rights and responsibilities, clearly defined requirements for candidates for abbot positions, the class of monastery, which meant the amount of its state funding, the size of the monastery property. Sources contain information that with the high status of the position, high salary and material wealth of the monasteries subordinate to them, the abbots of the Kyiv Orthodox monasteries were a model of the ideals of monastic life.