Шляхта в середовищі парафіяльного духовенства Волинського воєводства: досвід соціальних комунікацій в Україні литовсько-польської доби

Abstract

The article deals with the problems of social interaction of Ukrainian parish clergy of Volhynia with the representatives of the nobility in the late 16th – the first half of the 17th century. The status of parish priests in the social realities of Ukrainian society of the Polish-Lithuanian period is considered. The author concludes that the clergy of the parish level can be considered in two models. The first is a social group consisting of representatives of hereditary elders. The second is a professional corporation, which unites not only hereditary priests but also people from other social groups, including burghers and nobles, who accepted the spiritual rank and became secular priests for various reasons. It is concluded that there could be two motivations for the nobility to make such a decision. The first was the material support that a priest received when he became the rector of a church with a rich foundation. The second involved a desire to dedicate one’s life to pastoral ministry, education, and research without career advancement. For example, the author analyzed the way of life and activity of two prominent representatives of the parish clergy of noble origin from Volhynia – Stefan Smotrytskyi and Fedor Meleshko. The connection of Stefan Smotrytskyi’s activity with the traditions of the scientific and educational center in Ostroh and the merits of Volodymyr deacon Fedor Meleshko in the development of schooling in Volhynia are emphasized. It is concluded that role of social interaction of the parish clergy with the nobility in cultural and national movement in Ukraine in the second half of the 16th – mid-17th century was important.