FORMATION OF THE INSTITUTE OF CHURCH ELDERS IN THE HIERARCHY OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (ON THE MATERIALS OF ORLOV PROVINCE XVIII - BEGINNING OF XX CENTURY)
The article is devoted to the disclosure of the peculiarities in the formation of the institution of church elders in the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church in the 18th - early 20th centuries. The authors, based on regional sources, first introduced into circulation, trace the formation of the rights and duties of church elders. The established priority position of the Russian Orthodox Church was gradually overlapping by the 18th century by the recognition of the tsar as the supreme protector, keeper of the dogmas of the ruling Church and guardian of the faith and every deanery in the church. The transformation of the clergy into a closed social class contributed to the strengthening of secular power and the strengthening of the role of the head of state. The clergy included those who carried out ministry and preaching, as well as lay people who participated in church life. With blessings, lay people could be at church teaching and management, helping church ministers sell candles and handle property as prescribed. Peter I, determining the usefulness of the Church, introduced a strict accountability of its income. For all established church property, individual officials or state bodies were assigned, exercising control at his disposal. Each parish was assigned a lay church head, who was responsible for the management and control of the property. The authors note that the formation of the rights and duties of the church elder was gradual, but the preservation of church money and property was among the priorities. The ecclesiastical authorities tried to pay careful attention to the candidacy of the headman. A necessary condition was the election by the parishioners themselves, from among the trustworthy ones, in order to obtain a more complete desired result.