The Diocese of Smolensk in 12th — 14th Centuries: Sources of the Income of the Diocese

Abstract

The well-being of the diocese directly depended on the financial capabilities of the prince, his relationship with the local ruler, the number of christianized population in this territory, the presence of large cathedrals and monasteries subject to the bishopric. These considerations are important, because in Russia, unlike the Byzantine and Western European realities, an original system of relations between the supreme power and the church has developed, which has also affected economic relations. The main sources of the maintenance of the bishopric were tithes received from princely incomes, court and trade duties, special fees (pogorod'e and pochest'e), the availability of movable and immovable property, funds from parishes, payment for making demands, contributions of rich people in the form of books, icons, utensils. In this article, using the example of the Diocese of Smolensk, we will consider the evolution of the sources of the diocese's maintenance during the 12th — 14th centuries, revealing both general patterns and the uniqueness of the position of the bishopric among other Russian bishops of the Middle Ages.