Реформы Иосифа Вельямина Рутского как фактор укрепления униатской церкви на белорусско-украинских землях в первой половине ХVII в.

Abstract

Introduction. This article discusses the impact of the reforms of Joseph Velyamin Rutsky, who headed the Kyiv Uniate Metropolis in 1613-1637, on the further development of the Uniate Church in the Belarusian-Ukrainian lands.Materials and methods. The article was prepared on the basis of a critical analysis of the historiography of the history of the Uniate Church and published historical sources, including the works of Joseph Velyamin Rutsky. The principles of objectivity and historicism served as the methodological basis. The author of the article used general scientific (analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization) and special historical research methods (comparative historical, historical genetic).Results. The main achievements of Metropolitan Rut-sky were the monastic reform and the formation of the congregation of the Holy Trinity, the creation of a network of Uniate schools, raising the educational level of the clergy, and reforming the administrative-territorial structure of the Kyiv Uniate Metropolis. He defended the interests of the Uniates at meetings of the diets, opposed the proselytism of the Latin clergy and the conversion of believers to the Latin rite. On this path, he was accompanied by both successes and failures.Conclusion. The activities of Joseph Velyamin Rutsky contributed to the exit from the crisis state of the Uniate Church, its internal strengthening and the formation of sufficiently strong foundations for its further existence. At the same time, this became a serious challenge for the Orthodox, complicating their position in the Commonwealth.