ДОКУМЕНТАЛЬНЫЕ СВИДЕТЕЛЬСТВА ПО ИСТОРИИ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИХ ВЗАИМООТНОШЕНИЙ БЕЛОМОРСКИХ МОНАСТЫРЕЙ И КРЕСТЬЯНСКОГО МИРА НА РУБЕЖЕ XIX–XX В.

Abstract

The article examines the history of economic relationships between Orthodox monasteries on the White Sea coast and peasant communities at the turn of the 19th/20th century. The White Sea monasteries are combined into a single group by researchers due to their geographic location and development of particular historical trends and activities as a result. The study is based on documents from regional archives related to records management, economic and administrative activities, as well as oral historical sources. The attempt is made to explore characteristics of the White Sea monasteries’ economic impact on the Pomor settlements historically linked to them. The research methodology is based on the historical and anthropological concept. Its problematic field highlights the process of interaction between the White Sea monasteries and peasant communities over the period in question, facilitating the identification of positive mutual influence and problems arising in the course of bilateral activities. Critical and comparative analysis of sources as well as source studies synthesis are applied as methods to analyze documents in a comprehensive way. The research novelty is attributable to previous insufficient information about economic interaction between the White Sea monasteries and Pomor communities over the period in question. Joint economic activities of the monasteries and peasant communities were useful for local population and contributed to resolution to certain social and economic matters. The Pomors developed trades, demanded by the needs of monasteries’ economic activity, such as carrier services, pearling, spinning, seasonal work. Joint activities led to the emerging of effective arrangements, qualified personnel, that served as a social stabilizer and united economic efforts of the Church as represented by the White Sea monasteries and the state as represented by peasant communities.