Report and record sources on the activity history of the Jesuit order in Eastern-Slavic region in the last third of the 16th - the first half of the 17th century

Abstract

The article considers the informative value of report and record sources on the activity history of the Jesuit order in Eastern-Slavic region in the last third of the 16th-the first half of the 17th century. It is determined that the aforementioned sources appear to be quite unbiased and carries informative value. They shed light on the relations Jesuits had with officials, states and certain individuals.The documents make it possible to comprehend the religious politics of kings in the region as well as to become aware of financial support and privileges of Jesuits. In certain manner, they facilitate comprehension of the ways the Society of Jesus influenced the kings of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.The records on the order received from Tsardom of Moscow government provide insight only into particular activities held within the state and epoch of interest. Though they serve as significant sources for establishment of a comprehensive vision on activities of the order in Moscow and throughout Eastern-Slavic region.Records of government entities and authorities as well as those of public officials provide for more than few facts on the order as well. These documents in certain way unveil details on how the Jesuits influenced public officials, achieved their goals. They also bring to light the property of the Society of Jesus.It is necessary to highlight the documents of the Zaporizhian Host, Acts of Bohdan Khmelnitsky in particular. These documents play a significant role in understanding of religious politics of the Zaporizhian Host concerning the Catholic Church, the Jesuit Order as well as consequences of this politics the order had to face.Record documents, judicial sources as well as those of economic and financial purpose make up a separate group. They comprise complaints filed against the Jesuits, members of Orthodox Church, for one, wills, deposits, foundations and gifts presented to the Order on the part of clergy, landowners and kings.Complaints against the Jesuits and their alumni wereprimarily filed by the orthodox population. Numerous documents provide an opportunity to research stance of Jesuit educational establishments and the methods of the Society of Jesus. It is possible to unravel relations the Jesuits had with the local population. The majority of records of property and financial nature are represented by various endowments. These documents both display the amount and kinds of property of the Jesuits in the region as well as cover financial support acquisition methods of houses of the Order.Hence, report and record sources make it possible to analyze ways the Jesuits resorted to for achieving their goals though other people. They highlight means of financial support of houses of the Society of Jesus as well as missionary work actions. Owing to these sources, we have an opportunity to study up on ways and methods of dissemination of the Jesuits in the region as well as on how they managed to influence the society. The records provide information on results of execution of orders concerning the Order issued by the governments and authorities. The aforementioned documents also contain numerous details of significant events in the history of the Society of Jesus in the region.