Morozan Vladimir

Financial situation of parish priests of St. Petersburg cathedrals in the 19th — early 20th centuries

Abstract

This article studies the improvement in the fi nancial situation of priests of St. Peterburg cathedrals during the 19th — early 20th centuries. Work at cathedrals of the capital city was regarded as prestigious and lucrative. However, not all parishes of St. Petersburg were suffi ciently supported fi nancially. The clergy of certain churches, as well as many uyezd priests of the diocese, experienced fi nancial diffi culties and suffered from bad accomodation. Despite their high level of education, the clergy of St. Petersburg cathedrals often had to look for additional income. Most often, this category of parish clergy taught religion at the city’s educational institutions, less often other subjects. Particularly vulnerable were those who due to their age and bad health were not able to continue their work full time. The article examines the fi nancial situation of the largest cathedrals of St. Petersburg, i.e. Isaakievskiy, Kazanskiy, Andreevskiy, Morskoy Bogoyavlenskiy, Troitse-Petrovskiy, and Petropavlovskiy. Each of them had its glorious history and own traditions. The financial situation was not the same and was not always good. Living conditions were also of varied levels. Sometimes the clergyrented out parts of the houses to outsiders, sometimes they had to rent apartments themselves.

Keywords

parish clergy, monetary allowances and support, housing, cathedral, clergymen

References

1. Belonogova Iu. (2007) “Sluzhba i material'noe obespechenie prikhodskogo dukhovenstva Moskovskoi eparkhii v nachale XX v.” [Work and fi nancial situation of parish clergy of Moscow diocese in the early 20th century]. Vestnik PSTGU. Ser. II: Istoriia. Istoriia Russkoi Pravoslavnoi Tserkvi, 3 (24), pp. 54–78 (in Russian).
2. Smirnov S. (2012) “Deiatel'nost' prikhodskikh popechitel'stv po uluchsheniiu material'nogo obespecheniia prikhodskogo dukhovenstva (na materialakh Kostromskoi eparkhii)” [Activity of parish committees for improvement of fi nancial situation of parish clergy (materials of Kostroma diocese)]. Vestnik KGU im. N. A. Nekrasova, 2, pp. 176–179 (in Russian).

Information about the author

Morozan Vladimir

Academic Degree: Doctor of Sciences* in History;
Place of work: St. Petersburg State University; 7‒9 Universitetskaya nab., St. Petersburg 199034, Russian Federation;
Post: Professor;
ORCID: 0000-0003-4312-0566;
Email: v_moga@mail.ru.

*According to ISCED 2011, a post-doctoral degree called Doctor of Sciences (D.Sc.) is given to reflect second advanced research qualifications or higher doctorates.