Гуманитарный вектор (Dec 2020)
Christianization and Execution of Orthodox Rites on the Eastern Outskirts of the Empire (the Second Half of the XVIII Century)
Abstract
The article deals with the process of Christianization and the issues of performing Orthodox rites on the Eastern outskirts of the Empire in the second half of the XVIII century, reconstructed on the basis of historical sources that were first introduced into scientific circulation. The working hypothesis of the research includes the thesis about the Christianization of Eastern Siberia as one of the means of state policy for the purpose of economic and administrative development of the region and ethno-cultural transfer, when the government created conditions for attracting non-believers to the state religion and offered an administrative and exacting regulatory framework in case of non-fulfillment of their Christian duties. The study suggests that in the second half of the XVIII century there was an increase in the Christianization of the peoples of Eastern Siberia and the establishment of separate administrative and ecclesiastical administrative units on the Eastern borders of the Empire indicate the continued integration of these territories into the state. The Christianization of local ethnic groups took place in accordance with the decrees and orders of the civil authorities, which explains its slow pace in the national suburbs. The non-violent method of attracting people to Orthodoxy, which is linked to the fiscal interests of the Russian administration and ensures the loyalty of the local population, has become an element of state policy. In addition, a system of benefits and gifts for the non-Russian population was used, creating favorable conditions for joining Orthodoxy, when the formality of baptism suited both the secular and Church authorities. The introduction of historical sources into scientific circulation provided opportunities to identify new facts about the history of Eastern Siberia’s Orthodoxy, namely, to establish the number of churches and the number of clergy of the Yakut order, the location of the customer, and to confirm the thesis of multiple baptisms in order to obtain tax benefits.
Keywords
