Charitable Activities Research Articles

ІСТОРИЧНИЙ І МОВНО-КУЛЬТУРНИЙ ВИМІРИ НОБЕЛЬСЬКОГО ЄВАНГЕЛІЯ 1520 РОКУ

A manuscript from the beginning of the 16th century from Noble (Pinsk County, which is now in Rivne oblast, Ukraine) was studied, representing the religious writing of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in historical and language-cultural aspects. The afterword to the Nobel Gospel was analyzed, and the historical figures named in it were identified (Prince Fedor Ivanovich Yaroslavich, Bishop Jonah). Information about them was collected based on historical sources and scientific literature. The ‘Ruthenian’ edition of the Church Slavonic language, manifestations of the second South Slavic influence in the text, is characterized. The monument’s history information, now represented in the Library of the Vrublevsky Academy of Sciences of Lithuania (Lithuania), was systematized. The Nobel Gospel, which has not been the subject of scientific study until now, was analyzed during an interdisciplinary study. The historical context of the monument’s creation based on the afterword is analyzed. Its temporal and spatial localization, the possible sphere of operation, ancient storage of the rarity, scribes (Chivs), and historians were established. Prince Fedor Ivanovich Yaroslavich carried out charitable activities. He founded and supported churches and monasteries in the Pinsk District. The bishops of Pinsk and Turov, Vasian, and later Jonah, mentioned in the afterword, appealed to the king and received a “salary” letter stating that it should be their will and approval for the construction of churches and monasteries. The analyzed manuscript from Polissia was proved to reveal the book traditions of the 16th century and the eccentricity of the centers of rewriting texts of religious writing. The main manifestations of the second South Slavic influence in the orthography of the manuscript are characterized. Different orthographic and phonetic features of the ‘Ruthenian’ edition of the Church Slavonic language have been analyzed. Since the 60s of the 19th century, the manuscript from Polissia was transported to the Vilnius Public Library. The Manuscript Department was founded here, and the first descriptions of the monument were compiled.

Social responsibility at a university - students' perspectives

This paper explores social responsibility training as part of university educational programmes. The authors compare French and Bulgarian students’ perceptions of various elements of social responsibility and how social responsibility is approached in universities’ curricula. Bulgarian students see social responsibility more often in terms of volunteer work, charitable activities and career opportunities, while French students associate it with environmental aspects. The only statistically significant gender difference in Bulgaria emerged in linking improving working conditions with social responsibility. French students placed stronger emphasis on business and the possible practical applications of social responsibility training offered by universities.

PETRO KALNYSHEVSKY - A SYMBOL OF THE NATION'S INVINCIBILITY

220 years ago, the last kish otaman of the Zaporozhian Sich, Petro Kalnyshevsky, passed away. Modern society is increasingly in need of spiritual leaders who would serve as examples of high sincerity, honesty, justice, and love. The righteous life of P. Kalnyshevsky can become a spiritual authority for the moral improvement of society. Proof of this is the Orthodox Church of Ukraine's canonization of the Cossack otaman in July 2008. The capture and destruction of the Zaporozhian Sich has much in common with Russia's annexation of Crimea, the war in eastern Ukraine, and the large-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022. The article will help to better understand the policy of the Russian regimes towards Ukraine, the origins of the war, and dispel ideological myths. Studying and taking into account the experience of the past (positive and negative), drawing lessons from it, is considered an important task of scholars, the successful solution of which is impossible without extensive historiographical research. The article reveals the most important milestones in the life of the last kish otaman of the Zaporozhian Sich, Petro Kalnyshevsky (1691-1803). Attention is focused on his state, economic, military and charitable activities. P. Kalnyshevsky consistently defended the land interests and borders of the Zaporozhian Sich, actively settled the southern Ukrainian steppes, and contributed to the establishment of new settlements. He cared about the development of agriculture, crafts, and trade. Countering Russian expansion, P. Kalnyshevsky managed to implement a new progressive system of management that included the development of farms, the creation of Cossack winter quarters, and the rise of crafts, foreign and domestic trade. This, in turn, served as one of the main reasons for the liquidation of the Zaporozhian Sich, which hindered Russian economic interests in southern Ukraine. The military activities and military talent of the Cossack otaman, his participation in the Russian-Turkish wars of the eighteenth century are being revealed. Also, Kalnyshevsky's charity and his valuable gifts to spiritual shrines are being described. The Gospel, made at the expense of the otaman and presented to the church monastery, is described separately. Attention is drawn to P. Kalnyshevsky's solovetsky imprisonment, the terrible conditions of detention.

Соціальна відповідальність як ключова компетенція забезпечення сталого розвитку підприємств

The purpose of the article is to substantiate the relevance of forming an effective partnership between business and public organizations to ensure sustainable development, using the concept of social responsibility (CSR) as a key competence. The competencies of modern companies allow shaping the strategic development of an enterprise as an open system, taking into account the impact of environmental, social and economic factors in compliance with the concept of social responsibility, which positively affects consumer loyalty, corporate reputation, satisfaction and trust of business partners, ensures the implementation of a sustainable development strategy. The study used general scientific and special methods of system-structural analysis and synthesis to determine the relationship between sustainable development, sustainable development strategy, social responsibility and CSR; method of comparison – to determine the motives of business in CSR and the factors that contribute to the attractiveness of public organizations (POs) in relation to business expectations; and systematization method – to determine the benefits that business receives from cooperation with POs. Based on the results of the literature review, the author distinguishes the levels of social responsibility (personal, enterprise, public, national, global); goals and objectives of corporate social responsibility and its relationship with the sustainable development strategy. It is found that the highest level of CSR is charitable activity. The research has shown the feasibility and necessity of partnership between business and public organizations. When selecting partners for cooperation in the implementation of socially important initiatives, it is advisable to rely on the research of the ESG transparency index of Ukrainian companies and choose partners with a higher level of information disclosure according to the criteria of «CSR Policy» and «Integration of Sustainable Development Goals into the CSR strategy/company goals (commitments)». Partnership cooperation between business and public organizations helps to speed up the decision-making process and gives more confidence that their support will be used properly. Prospects for further research include assessing the effectiveness of the implementation of the enterprise’s CSR strategy and adapting the use of ecological, social and governance (ESG) sustainability assessment indicators to the conditions of Ukraine.

АНТИКРИЗОВИЙ МЕНЕДЖМЕНТ В ЗАКЛАДАХ РЕСТОРАННОГО ГОСПОДАРСТВА В УМОВАХ РОСІЙСЬКО-УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ ВІЙНИ

The Ukrainian restaurant industry is currently operating in a challenging environment. Many restaurants have found themselves in the war zone and occupation, logistics have been disrupted, and the volume of potential markets has changed due to mass migration and im-poverishment. Many establishments in the war zones were physically destroyed, staff was re-duced, and operating hours changed due to curfews and air raids. The main purpose of this article is to summarise the experience of restaurant business practitioners and to develop our own ideas on anti-crisis measures that can be applied in the restaurant business in wartime.Achieving energy independence has become a priority for catering establishments. In the context of emergency and planned power outages, the demand for generators has increased, the use of thermal equipment has become more relevant, and technological processes, raw materials and menus are being revised. The anti-crisis measures also include optimising the staff structure and reviewing their job responsibilities and the incentive system. Today's times call for a simplification of the restaurant format. These challenges began during the pandemic, and the restaurant industry responded by increasing the number of cof-fee shops, fast food outlets, bakeries, food trucks, street food and other casual dining estab-lishments. This is still relevant today. Thus, competition in these niches is increasing.Against the backdrop of rising prices for imported products, higher transportation costs, lower consumer incomes, and increased demand for simple, home-cooked food, it is worth simplifying the menu.Finally, the service in restaurants, which in the current environment operate as catering establishments, coworking spaces, and shops, should be improved.Despite the difficulties, restaurant businesses continue to perform their functions related to providing food and comfort to their guests, helping the defenders of Ukraine, and participat-ing in volunteer and charitable activities. This is perhaps the only positive aspect for strategic development, as it helps to build a positive image and goodwill, although it involves significant costs.Thus, we see that current anti-crisis solutions are aimed at ensuring the basic survival of the restaurant business. Moreover, the problems need to be addressed comprehensively. Many of these steps, which are justified in the current reality, may turn into problems in the future, and we need to be aware of this now.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ АНАЛИЗА ПРОЕКТОВ СОЦИАЛЬНОЙ ОТВЕТСТВЕННОСТИ БИЗНЕСА

The article highlights the problems of analyzing the social responsibility of business, which do not allow to compare and analyze both the elements of the social strategy of organizations in the same industry among themselves, and one company over a number of years. An analysis was made of the areas of social responsibility of PJSC Gazprom and PJSC Lukoil groups according to the Report on the sustainable development of corporations. The results obtained can be used to develop areas for analyzing the social responsibility of business. It is concluded that the analytical grouping of social expenses distorts the possibilities for their comparison, it is necessary to unify the grouping of expenses in such areas as charitable activities, environmental protection, industrial safety expenses, personnel development expenses. From the standpoint of checking the adequacy of the grouping of expenses by categories, it seems appropriate to develop approaches to the audit of non-financial reporting.

МЯГКАЯ СИЛА ИРАНА В ИНДИИ

This article analyzes the most important component of the soft power of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Republic of India - the work of the Iranian leadership with the Shiite community of India. Tehran views the Indian Shiites as its allies, sharing not only religious and ideological values, but also capable of promoting its geopolitical priorities and, to a certain extent, influencing the internal political situation in India. The author notes the intensification of Iran’s efforts in this direction since the 2000s. Both New Delhi and Tehran view Iran’s relations with Indian Shiites in the broad context of Iranian-Indian relations. New Delhi, given its partnership with Tehran and seeing Shiites as a possible counterbalance to the Sunni majority associated with Islamabad, does not prevent Iran from developing relations with its co-religionists. Tehran, for its part, is positive about the fact that, in general, the religious rights of Shiites in India are not limited and they are not discriminated against. The author identifies All India Shia Personal Law Board, Anjuman-e Haideri and All India Shia Husaini Fund as the main Shiite organizations in India with which Iran works. The most important conductor of Iranian influence is the Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust, which combines educational and charitable activities with political propaganda. The author believes that in the broad context of the development of relations between Delhi and Tehran, it is in the interests of Delhi to maintain patriotic sentiments among Indian Shiites, while preventing the strengthening of radical sentiments in their communities. For its part, Tehran is interested in further strengthening ties with the Muslim community in India and, above all, with the Shiite minority, which allows Iranian political and business circles to strengthen ties with Shiite business structures and foreign policy institutions.

ПОВСЕДНЕВНАЯ ЖИЗНЬ ОМСКА В НАЧАЛЕ ХХ ВЕКА НА СТРАНИЦАХ МЕСТНЫХ ПЕРИОДИЧЕСКИХ ИЗДАНИЙ

The article presents the characteristics of the everyday life of the city of Omsk in the early twentieth century. based on publications in local periodicals in 1907-1914. The Omsk Telegraph and Omsk Bulletin newspapers, which were popular among the population and became a kind of tool for forming public opinion, were used as a historical source in the work. The use of the problem-chronological method made it possible to identify and consider the characteristic features of everyday life through the prism of periodicals. The comparative-historical method was used to compare newspaper materials on a specific problem. As a result, the authors have identified the main directions of everyday life of citizens, which were most widely reflected in publications during the period under study. These are issues of improvement of the city, sanitary and epidemiological condition, construction of water supply, cultural and entertainment sphere, information about various incidents. The information presented in the notes, feuilletons and journalistic articles gave a comprehensive description of the reality that took place. The study based on the materials of the periodical press shows the participation of urban residents in charitable and educational activities. It is noted that most of the publications are presented in the form of notes containing brief information without any analysis of events. Nevertheless, the regional periodical press as a historical source has a great informational potential for studying everyday life. The authors note the importance of the integrated use of newspapers, official documents, memoirs and letters in order to fully immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the early twentieth century and to create a vivid image of the city with its problems and achievements in various fields.

Charitable activities of the Orthodox Church Brotherhoods in Stavropol Province in the 19th - early 20th centuries

Charitable activities of the Orthodox Church Brotherhoods in Stavropol Province in the 19th - early 20th centuries

Formation and Development of Charitable Societies in the North Caucasus at the End of the 19th and Beginning of the 20th Century

This publication covers the activities of societies in the North Caucasus in the pre-revolutionary period Political and economic changes led to social differentiation of society and set society and the state the task of social protection of the disadvantaged segments of the population. A comprehension of the historical experience of charitable activity in Russia provides an opportunity to create new forms and directions of material and spiritual assistance to the needy. The founders were representatives of the national intelligentsia, for whom activities in the societies became one of the forms of expressing civic initiative.

ИЗ ИСТОРИИ СТАНОВЛЕНИЯ И РАЗВИТИЯ БЛАГОТВОРИТЕЛЬНОЙ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ В РОССИИ

This article is about the charity and patronage in Russia, its formation process and essential features. It provides a retrospective analysis of the two main stages in the formation of the patronage movement and gives examples of charity of the royal family, Russian nobility, merchants, and princes. The enormous role of patronage in the development of Russian culture and the inextricable connection with the beginning of the spiritual life of the Russian person, which is inextricably linked with the traditions of charity, is noted. The authors consider relations of the Imperial Philanthropic Society and a private charitable institution – the Poor Visitation Society, founded in 1846 in St. Petersburg. On the basis of the office materials contained in the fund of the Imperial Philanthropic Society, periodical press data and memoirs they study the reasons for the inclusion of the voluntarily founded the Poor Visitation Society into the Philanthropic one also they analyze the assigned to it powers and duties before the Council of the Imperial Philanthropic Society and the relationship that developed between the members of the two institutions. Attention is also paid to the reasons that made the Government fear the activities of private individuals in helping the poor and it had to establish control over the voluntary initiative, and the ways in which the state influenced the charitable activities carried out by private individuals, for example, the work of the Poor Visitation Society. The study of the relationship established between the members of the Poor Visitation Society and the Council of the Imperial Philanthropic Society in 1848-1855, during which the Poor Visitation Society operated in a position accountable to the Philanthropic Society, allows us to determine the general trend of state policy towards private initiative in the field of charity in the second quarter – the middle of the 19th century. The article reports on the current state and significance of patronage in the Russian Federation defining the three of the most famous charitable foundations of Russia and their contribution to modern patronage and charity

Благотворительная деятельность военных во второй половине XIX–начале XX вв. (На материалах Западной Сибири)

Based on the analysis of unpublished sources (documentation of military institutions, public organizations) and materials of the regional periodical press, the charitable activities of the military in the cities of Western Siberia in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries are characterized, which, despite the great attention of the scientific community to the phenomenon of charity, did not has become the subject of special research. From the standpoint of cultural anthropology, the main directions, forms, motives of army charity are defined and characterized. The study emphasizes that the activities of the military in the field of charity are active, diverse, it is dominated by gratuitous labor and a lot of organizational work, which drew public attention to topical social problems and the development of urban culture.

СВЯТИЙ ПРАВЕДНИЙ ПЕТРО КАЛНИШЕВСЬКИЙ

The article was devoted to righteous Petro Kalnyshevsky, son of Ukraine, the last Koshoviy Otaman of Zaporozhian Host. Highlighted on role of orthodox, which always inspired cossacks for freedom struggles – inestimable God’s gift for everyone and for each nation. Stressed that the sacral foundation of all cossacks deeds was Orthodox and Church, which was protected by cossacks from oppressions. It is a matter of including the Kish otaman Petro Kalnyshevsky into the ranks of Ukrainian saints, blessing him with the righteousness to paint an icon for worship and build churches in his honor. To date, churches in honor of Petro Kalnyshevsky have been built in Nedryhailiv, Bila Tserkva, Nikopol', Kholodnyi Yar, etc. The Monastery of the Righteous Petro Kalnyshevsky was founded in the village of Kostyantynov, Romen district. The article reveals the charitable activities of the Kotsur family in the production of icons of St. Petro Kalnyshevsky. Their consecration and stay in the combat zone to repel the armed aggression of russia are also covered. The donation of the icon to the church of Petro Kalnyshevsky in Nedryhailiv, Sumy Oblast, is also reflected.

Problems of Russian Historiography of Women’s Charitable Ministry in the Early Church

The article considers a brief review of the Russian historiography of women’s charitable ministry in the Early Church and its continuity in the XIX —early XXI century. Women’s charity in Russia and in Europe has historically devel-oped as an institutional phenomenon based on сhristian principles. The mem-bers of the ancient women’s institutes, whose functions included social activi-ties, were called deaconesses, widows, elders, virgins. Russian scholars began to be interested in this women’s orders since the XIX century, when in Russia women gradually began to actively engage in public charitable activities and there was a search for institutionalization of a new women’s Church ministry, an alternative to monastic and humanitarian. The interest of scholars often had not only a theoretical, but also a church-practical orientation, as it was associ-ated with the activation of missionary and parish activities within the Ortho-dox Church. In the article, the main scientific and journalistic works on wom-en’s ministry are considered on the problems within the chronological blocks: before 1917, in 1917—1991 and after 1991. The authors described and ana-lyzed women’s charity in ancient times, and also tried to justify for their time new institutional ministries in the Church, in particular deaconesses. However, the revival of such women’s ministry is closely connected not so much with the needs of modern society as with the needs of the Church and the church-wide consciousness.

ВЯЗНИКОВЦЫ В ДЕЛОВОЙ И ОБЩЕСТВЕННОЙ ЖИЗНИ ЕКАТЕРИНБУРГА XIX — НАЧАЛА XX вв.

The article analyzes the class and territorial affiliation of the Vyaznikovians (Vyaznikovtsy, natives of the Vladimir province), who became Ekaterinburg merchants, the time of their appearance in the Middle Urals, the time of registration in the Ekaterinburg merchant class, as well as their role in the development of the city’s commercial, industrial and social activities. The research is based on historical-genetic and statistical methods. It is concluded that Vyaznikovtsy did not belong to the leading sources of the Ekaterinburg merchant class of the 19th — early 20th centuries, as their specific weight rarely exceeded 10 %. Much attention is paid to the study of areas of entrepreneurial activity practiced by the them. It is concluded that Vyaznikovtsy preferred trade, selling groceries, haberdashery and manufactory goods, and had relatively little interest in production activities. The article notes that some of them were interested in gold mining and some industries. They mostly founded small enterprises, but in some cases, there were large enterprises well equipped technically. This was especially the case in the flour-milling industry. The article pays attention to the participation of Vyaznikovtsy in the social life of Ekaterinburg, which largely consisted in close cooperation with the local government, as well as in a variety of charitable activities.

Charitable Activities of the Spanish Mining Holding HUNOSA for the Preservation of Industrial Heritage in the Context of Decarbonization

Charitable activities of mining companies undertaken out of commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) are aimed at creating a favourable environment in the regions of operational presence. Mining companies mainly support the areas which are directly related to their core business or influence the life of local communities. The caste-based nature of mining as a profession has evolved over the centuries, as it combines hard physical labour and adverse working conditions. The mining labour union was the main social and political pillar of Asturias throughout the 20th century, while working class history largely accounted for the history of the region. The industry crisis of 1966 led the miners to submit a request to the government for nationalisation of their companies, as they sustained irreparable economic losses. As a response to their request, National Institute of Industry (INI) integrated into the coal sector, and in 1967 the mining company HUNOSA (Hulleras del Norte S. A.) was founded. After the democractic transition the mining labour movement maintained its social, political and cultural hegemony; however, industrial decline and decarbonisation undermined these foundations, no matter how deep-rooted they were. By the end of the 20th century the Asturian coal industry was faced with another phase of crisis. While the first blow came in the 1970s with the end of protectionist energy policies, the second one had to do with the inability to adapt to the conditions of the world market. In the 1990s Asturias faced a rapid population loss as well as rising unemployment. At the same time, general Western European trend of phasing out coal-fired power in line with the Paris Agreement of 2015 brought about a grave crisis of the coal industry. HUNOSA, the only monopolist on the Spanish coal market, is responsible for implementing a fair “coal transition”. The mining tradition that was passed down through generations and seemed immutable has come to an end. One of the responses of former miners to the dissolution of the industry is to become actively involved in the protection and promotion of the mining heritage. It manifests both a nostalgic yearning for the past and a willingness to preserve and pass on the memory of it to future generations.

ТЕАТРИ НАДАЗОВ’Я В РОКИ ДРУГОЇ СВІТОВОЇ ВІЙНИ

The article highlights the peculiarities of the theaters of Nadazov during the Second World War. The path of actors who became direct participants in military operations is outlined. The influence of the Mariupol Society «Prosvita» on the development of theatrical art in the region is analyzed. The repertoire, creative searches of the director and the cast during the Nazi occupation are covered. In particular, the activity of the Mariupol Music and Drama Theater named after T. Shevchenko. The repertoire of theaters, which consisted mainly of Ukrainian plays, the activities of the children's puppet theater and the holding of evenings in memory of Ukrainian writers, poets, and composers served to relieve the psychological stress of the residents of the region. If for the occupation regime the theater had a propaganda value, then for the residents of the region it served as a widespread practice of survival, was able to revive Ukrainian culture, and satisfied the basic needs of the population for information and artistic impressions. The dramatic section of the Mariupol «Prosvita» had a considerable influence on the development of theatrical art in the region. Director of the Mariupol Theater named after T. Shevchenko and Sofya Zavyalova, head of the drama section "Prosvity", actively worked on the issue of training professional drama personnel. It is emphasized that theatrical life in the liberated Northern Azov region in 1943–1945 had its own peculiarities. After the liberation of the region from the German invaders, the Mariupol Drama Theater resumed its activities, successfully holding concerts and performances for wounded soldiers, workers of the rebuilt city, and officers who went to the front. Despite the difficult conditions in which the Mariupol Drama Theater worked, the actors, thanks to their rich repertoire, contributed to the preservation of the spiritual and moral values of the audience and carried out active charitable activities for wounded soldiers and officers. The place of the theater in the cultural life of the residents of the region is defined. The scientific novelty of the article is due to the inclusion of new factual material from the history of Ukrainian theater into the scientific circulation. Key words: theater, Nadazovya, German occupation, audience, repertoire, Ukrainian culture, "Enlightenment".

ОБЩЕСТВЕННАЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТЬ КНЯГИНИ ЕЛИЗАВЕТЫ ФЁДОРОВНЫ РОМАНОВОЙ В ОРЛОВСКОЙ ГУБЕРНИИ

The purpose of the article is to study the social activities of Grand Duchess Elizaveta Fedorovna Romanova in Orel province. The author gives an assessment of her impact on various aspects of the social economic life of the region in the late 19th – early 20th century. The research methodology is based on the historical-systemic approach, in which the social reality in a certain historical period of time is understood as a set of interrelated objects in constant interaction and is an integral, systemic formation. The chronological method allows to study the social activities of Elizaveta Fedorovna in Orel province in a time sequence based on the reconstruction of events related to one of the Romanovs in the life of Orel region. Finally, the author pays special attention to the charitable activity of the Grand Duchess, her support the population in need and soldiers.

Recovery and Construction of Churches in the Ardatov Diocese in 2011–2021

Introduction. Qualitatively new changes in relations between the state and the church in Russia and Mordovia began during the period of perestroika and socio-economic transformation of the 1990s. One of the manifestations of this process is the gradual return of buildings belonging to the Church in the past and the construction of new churches. Results and Discussion. Over the decade, the Ardatov Diocese of the Mordovian Metropolitanate passed the eventful path of formation and development. Today it conducts active spiritual, social, charitable and educational activities, restores the lost and erects new churches and monasteries. At the beginning, in a significant part of the parishes, the service was carried out in churches that were not restored after many years of destruction, in equipped houses of worship, in adapted premises. The task of restoring, repairing the facades and interiors of old churches with the status of objects of cultural heritage of federal and regional significance was urgent. Many forces and resources for the implementation of this goal are applied by the clergy, clergy and parishioners of the Ardatov Diocese. In the diocese has been actively building new churches, and in small parishes – Orthodox chapels. Conclusion. The diverse socially significant activities of the Ardatov Diocese and the Russian Orthodox Church as a whole testify not only to the revival of the traditions of Orthodox spirituality itself, but also to the positive role of the Church in the processes of harmonizing social relations, in strengthening political and economic stability in the country.

Burgomasters as Representatives of the Merchant Elite of a Russian Provincial Town in the 18th Century (Based on the Materials of Vyazma)

The article explores the life of a Russian provincial town of the 18th century
 on the basis of anthropological and systemic approaches. In particular, an attempt
 is made to find out who were the people elected by the inhabitants of Russian cities
 from their community to the position of burgomasters. Based on the analysis of doc-
 uments of the 17th and 18th centuries that are stored mainly in the funds of the Rus-
 sian State Archive of Ancient Acts, the origin of the Vyazma burgomasters has been
 clarified and the entrepreneurial activity of their ancestors and themselves has been
 investigated. The focus was on the problem of upholding the interests of the town citizens by the burgomasters in various conflict situations. The work considers the
 relations of burgomasters with the township society in general and with individual merchants in particular. A certain place is occupied by the study of the burgomasters’
 personal qualities, which could affect the performance of their duties. The article has investigated accusations of their abuse by the town citizens. Our special attention is paid to the study of the conflict of the burgomaster F.T. Yudichev with residents of Vyazma. We have studied the issue of the participation of
 burgomasters and their close relatives in the construction of Vyazma temples, which makes it possible to identify this type of charitable activity as a way to increase the authority of these merchants among the urban community.