Донская епархия

I. Historical sketch. The Don diocese was established on April 5, 1829 with a see in Novocherkassk. Until this time, it was first part of the Sarai (Krutitsk) dioceses, part of the Ryazan dioceses, and then of the patriarchal region; on behalf of the patriarch, immediate management of diocesan affairs was given to the bishops of Tambov and Voronezh; in 1718, according to the sovereign's decree on March 3, the entire Don region was included in the Voronezh diocese. By the highest command on the opening of the diocese, the Black Sea Army and the Caucasus region were included in its composition, the bishop was given the title of Novocherkassk and St. George. In the newly established diocese there were 186 churches in the Don army, 58 in the Caucasus region and 29 houses of worship, in the Black Sea region - 45 churches and 10 houses of prayer. In 1842, on July 17, a personal decree ordered the opening of the Caucasian and Black Sea diocese from the southern parts of the Novocherkassk diocese; on January 1, 1842, the Caucasian diocese was established and from that time the Novocherkassk bishops received the title of Don and Novocherkassk. At the initial establishment of the diocese, it was proposed by the sovereign to give the title to the bishop - “Don and Caucasian”, but in view of the report of the Synod that in the ecclesiastical order the bishops are called bishops of God-saved cities, the sovereign changed the name of the diocese - by city (Donsk. E.V., 1902, No. 34). The first bishop of the Don was - 1) Afanasy (Alexander Iv. Telyatev or Telyatinsky), born in 1772, the son of a priest from the village. Telyatinsky, in 1792 he was called to St. Petersburg to the Alexander Nevsky Seminary, after completing a course there he was a teacher at the Tambov seminary, got married in Tambov, was ordained a priest and rose to the rank of archpriest; Having become a widower, in 1809 he moved to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where in 1810 he became a monk and was appointed rector of the Pskov Spiritual Church. seminary with abbot in the Pskov Eleazar Monastery. After 1819, he was rector of the Resurrection Stavropegic Monastery (New Jerusalem); On January 17, 1821, he was consecrated Bishop of Dmitrov, vicar of the Moscow diocese, in 1824 he was appointed bishop of Tambov, from where, with the establishment of the Don Diocese, he moved to Novocherkassk. In 1830 he was elevated to archbishop. Having completely lost his sight, in 1842, on October 17, he retired to the Tambov Tregulyaevsky Monastery, where he died in 1847 on May 7. By his character he was a “man of the heart”: kind and quick-tempered; was very active and “enjoyed the special love of all the Don residents” (“Donsk. E.V.” 1877, 9–10). 2) Ignatius (Matvey Afan. Semenov), was master of the St. Petersburg Academy from 1821, elevated to archimandrite in 1822, and appointed rector of the Novgorod Spiritual School in 1823. seminaries; On October 17, 1842, he was appointed to the Don diocese; on January 13, 1847, he was transferred to Voronezh (see Voronezh diocese). At the Don See, the Right Reverend was distinguished by his concerns for the education of the Old Believers, as before at the Olonets See, and for the organization of church schools; under him, up to 2 1/2 thousand children studied at the churches of the diocese. His works: “The History of Schisms in the Russian Church”, St. Petersburg. 1862; “Conversation between an Orthodox Christian and an Old Believer about the sign of the cross”; "About the icon of St. Sofia in the Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral", St. Petersburg, 1857; “On the sacraments of the one holy catholic and apostolic church,” St. Petersburg. 1849; “Conversations about the imaginary Old Believers”, St. Petersburg. 1844 and 1847 (two books); “Church words about faith”, St. Petersburg. 1845; "The truth of St. Solovetsky Monastery", St. Petersburg. 1844, etc. (“Donsk. E.V.” 1877, No. 10, “Brotherly Word” 1896, No. 1–6 and a separate print “Ignatius, Archbishop of Olonets and Petrozavodsk, and his essay on the formation of the sign of the cross” by K. Plotnikova, M. 1896). 3) John (Mikhail Step. Dobrozrakov), son of a priest of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese, received his higher education in the St. Petersburg spirit. Academy, which he graduated in 1817 with a master's degree; began service in Chernigov - as a seminary professor and head of the district and parish school, in 1891 he transferred as a bachelor to the St. Petersburg Academy, where in the same year he became a monk, in 1821 he was appointed inspector of the academy and elevated to archimandrite, in 1824 he was appointed rector of the St. Petersburg Spirituality. seminary in 1825, for an essay on hermeneutics in Latin, he received the degree of Doctor of Theology, in 1826 he was appointed rector of the St. Petersburg Academy; On August 5, 1830 he was consecrated Bishop of Penza, in 1835 he was transferred to Nizhny Novgorod, on January 13, 1847 he was appointed Archbishop of Don, on March 6, 1867 he retired to the Kremen Ascension Monastery, where he died on June 23, 1872 at the 82nd year of his life; he was buried there. According to the review by the Rev. Nikanor in his funeral speech, he was “a man-monk, a learned theologian, a philosopher; in close circles he was the soul and meaning of society; a sharp, well-aimed word flowed like a fountain from his rich, inexhaustible mind, his inexhaustible gaiety joyfully excited the most gloomy, and his loving heart attracted, encouraged, and consoled everyone; He had no sadness either for himself or for others; they came to him with sadness and left with joy; he was a source of joy and edification, a spiritual man, a lover of the poor to the point of self-forgetfulness; if he did not have it himself, he borrowed and gave to those in need. He was a gentle and compliant administrator” (“Donsk. E.V. 1872 No. 22, 1777 No. 11). 4) Plato (Nikolai Iv. Gorodetsky), later Metropolitan of Kiev (see Kiev diocese). In 1850 he was elevated to archbishop, and on March 9, 1867 he was appointed Donskoy. Don diocese to the board of Rev. P. owes its improvement (“Donsk. E.V. 1887, Nos. 5–14, 18–20): an increase in the number of churches, the correct distribution of parishes, limiting the self-will of church elders, the conversion of schismatics, the establishment of a seminary, streamlining the activities of the consistory, etc. On April 25, 1877, he was transferred to the Kherson see. He died on October 1, 1891 in the rank of Metropolitan of Kyiv (“Donsk. E.V.” 1891, No. 20, 21, 23). More will be said about it later. 5) Alexander (Andrey Vas. Dobrynin), son of a priest of the Yaroslavl diocese, was born in 1820, after completing the course of the St. Petersburg spirit. Academy in 1846 with a master's degree, he was a teacher at the Novgorod Seminary, in 1846 he accepted monasticism and ordination, in 1851 he was elevated to archimandrite and appointed rector of the Lithuanian spirit. seminary, on November 21, 1860 in Vilna, he was consecrated Bishop of Kovno, vicar of the Lithuanian diocese, and from then on, due to the illness of Metropolitan Joseph Semashka, he began to take a very significant part in the management of the Lithuanian diocese: in 1868 he was appointed Bishop of Minsk, in 1877 he was elevated to archbishop, April 25, 1877 transferred to the Don department, on May 23, 1879 transferred to the Lithuanian department. The bishop died in Vilna on April 28, 1885 (“Donsk. E.V.” 1879, Nos. 13 and 14; 1880, 12; 1885, Nos. 10 and 11). 6) Mitrofan (Mark Alekseevich Vitsinsky), son of a sexton of the Voronezh diocese, graduated from the Voronezh seminary in 1829, and was ordained a priest in 1831; Having been widowed, he entered the Kyiv spirit. Academy, where in 1836 he became a monk, in 1839 he graduated from the academy with a master's degree, then he was an inspector of the seminary in Poltava, a professor at the Oryol seminary, an inspector at the Chisinau seminary, where in 1851 he became rector and was elevated to archimandrite. On May 28, 1862, he was consecrated Bishop of Yekaterinburg, vicar of the Perm diocese, in 1866 he was appointed to the Orenburg bishopric, on May 1, 1879 he was elevated to archbishop, and on May 23 he was moved to the Don, where he died at the age of 81, on May 19, 1887 (“Donsk. E. V. "1879 No. 14; 1881 No. 18, 23, 24; 1887 No. 12, 23, 24). The Bishop was distinguished by condescension, meekness and fatherly love in his relations with his subordinates; in the Don diocese he cared a lot about missionary work, religious educational institutions, church schools, and opened a brotherhood. He was buried in a crypt under the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God, which is attached to the suburban bishop's church. According to his will, he left up to 15,000 rubles in favor of diocesan institutions. 7) Macarius (Nikolai Kirillovich Mirolyubov), son of a priest of the Ryazan diocese, was born in 1817, after completing a course in the Moscow spirit. academy in 1842 with a master's degree, he was a professor at the Nizhny Novgorod Seminary, in 1846 he became a monk, in 1854 he was elevated to archimandrite, in 1858 he was appointed rector of the Ryazan Seminary, on July 17, 1866 he was consecrated Bishop of Balakhninsky, vicar of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese, in 1867 he was appointed to Orel, in 1877 to Arkhangelsk, in 1879 to Nizhny, in 1885 to Vyatka, December 5, 1887 to the Don. Although Vladyka arrived at the Don See already in old age, his stay on the Don left a noticeable mark on diocesan life through the improvement of religious educational institutions and parish life. On April 30, 1894, having lost his sight and almost losing his legs, he retired and spent the rest of his life in the Annunciation Monastery in Nizhny Novgorod, where he died on December 24, 1894; buried in the Alekseevsky Monastery Cathedral. According to biographers, everywhere he enjoyed the favor of his subordinates and flock, he had complacency, accessibility, and a cordial and fatherly simplicity in his manner. The Bishop left a noticeable mark in spiritual literature. In his early years, he wrote “The Legend of the Life and Miracles of Macarius, the Zheltovodsk and Unzhensk Wonderworker,” M. 1850 (Vyatka 1887), and an akathist to St. Macarius (his patron). And then, under the influence of the Right Reverend Jacob (Vecherkov) of Nizhny Novgorod, he devoted himself to historical and archaeological research. He published his articles on subjects of this kind in Nizhegor. Lip. Ved.,” in “Notes of St. Petersburg. Archaeological Society”, in “Izvestia of Russian Geographical. Society”, etc., and then published a separate book “Monuments of Church Antiquities of the Nizhny Novgorod Province”, St. Petersburg. 1857. In addition, he published: “Description of the Mother of God of Oran Monastery”, M. 1851; “Reverend. Pitirim, Archbishop of Nizhny Novgorod", 1851 (Novocherkassk, 1889); “Life of Rev. Jacob, Archbishop of Nizhny Novgorod", M. 185Z. On the basis of scientific studies, he became close to the writers P.I. Melnikov and V.I. Dahl, who were then serving in Nizhny Novgorod, and through their mediation he was elected a member of the Geographical and Archaeological Societies and the Society of History and Antiquities. While in Perm, he published “Instructive Words”, St. Petersburg. 1855, “The Legend of the Life and Works of St. Stefan of Perm", St. Petersburg. 1856; "The Story of the Life and Miracles of St. Simeon of Verkhotursky", St. Petersburg. 1857; “The Legend of the Life and Works of Rev. Gabriel, Met. St. Petersburg", St. Petersburg. 1857; published his articles, in addition to previous magazines, in “Moskvityanin”, “Vremennik of the Society of History and Antiquities”, “Journal of the Ministry of Public Education”, “Pedagogical Bulletin”, “Bulletin of the Geographical Society”, “Collection of statistical information about Russia”, “Readings in the Society of History and Antiquities”, “Spiritual Conversation”, “Nizhny Novgorod Eparchs. Vedomosti". At the same time, he was sent by the Holy Synod (from 1853) to inspect some of the most important repositories of church antiquities in the dioceses of Vologda, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Vladimir, Novgorod and was appointed a member of the committee established under the Synod to compile archaeological descriptions of church antiquities in monasteries and churches. The result of the business trips was, in addition to several journal articles, the following separate publications: “A brief review of ancient churches in Novgorod, built before 1478”, “Inventory of the Novgorod Spasokhutyn Monastery 1642”, St. Petersburg. 1856; "Description of the Novgorod Bishop's House", St. Petersburg. 1857; “Description of the Novgorod Yuryev Monastery”, ed. 2nd, St. Petersburg. 1862. While in Ryazan, he wrote “The Life of St. Vasily, Bishop of Ryazan", M. 1861, "Collection of historical statistics. information about the Ryazan diocese" - in "Readings General. East. and Ancient." 1863, “Historical-statistician. description of the Ryazan seminary and spirit. schools", Novgorod 1864. Then, he owns "Archaeological description of church antiquities in Novgorod and its environs", 2 parts, M. 1860, "Guide to Novgorod", St. Petersburg. 1862 (Novocherkassk 1892); “Church-historical and statistical description of Staraya Russa”, N. 1866, “Catechetical teachings”, St. Petersburg. 1869, “Explanation of the message of St. ap. Paul to the Philippians”, Orel 1869, – to the Colossians, Orel 1870, “Brief teachings on imitation of Jesus Christ”, O. 1870, “Collected words, teachings and speeches”, O. 1870, “Words and speeches to the Oryol flock”, O. 1873, M. 1879, M. 1886, St. Petersburg. 1881 and Vyatka 1886; “Biography of the maiden Melania, recluse of the Yeletsky Znamensky Monastery,” St. Petersburg. 1871; “Examples of piety among temptations or the behavior of ancient Christians in relation to pagans,” St. Petersburg. 1858 (Vyatka 1886); “Conversations and teachings for the days of Lenten”, “Nizhny Novgorod Church Department”, St. Petersburg. 1879; “Words and speeches to the Vyatka flock” (issues 7 and 8), Vyatka 1886 and Novocherkassk 1888; “Description of the Krasnogorsk Bogoroditsky Monastery, Arkhangelsk Province,” St. Petersburg. 1895; “Words and speeches to the Don flock” (issues 9 and 10), Novocherkassk 1880 and 1890 (“Fiftieth anniversary of the church-social and scientific-literary activity of the eminent Makari, Archbishop of Don and Novocherkassk”, Novocherkassk 1893; “Donsk. E.V.” 1888 Nos. 2 and 3; 1891 No. 15; 1894 No. 11; 1895 No. 1 and 12; 8) Donat (Nikolai Ilyich Babinsky), the son of a priest of the Smolensk diocese, was born in 1828, after graduating from the seminary in 1852 he was a priest of the Vyazemsky Arkadievsky convent, after 2 years he was widowed and then entered the St. Petersburg monastery. Academy, where in 1855 he became a monk; in 1857, after completing the academic course, he served as a teacher at the Arkhangelsk Seminary, inspector and rector. He received his candidate's degree in 1858, and his master's degree in 1860. In 1879, on May 27, he was consecrated Bishop of Brest, second vicar of the Lithuanian diocese, in 1881 appointed Bishop of Kovno, first vicar. At this time, he gained universal fame for his eloquent speech regarding the atrocity of March 1. In 1882 he was appointed bishop of Riga, in 1887 - of Podolsk, in 1890 - archbishop of Lithuania, on April 30, 1894 he was moved to the Don, on November 12 of the same year he was retired due to illness. He died on April 16, 1896. His Grodno teachings were published in 4 issues. (2nd issue “The Shepherd’s Voice on Contemporary Events in the Fatherland”, Grodno 1882, with a speech on the atrocity of March 1, 1881; other teachings do not stand out in any way). (“Donsk. E.V.” 1894, No. 11, 12, 14). Nowadays the Right Reverend is serving as hierarch on the Don 9) Afanasy (Vasily Mikh. Parkhomovich); he is the son of a priest of the Poltava diocese, born in 1827, after graduating from the Kyiv spirit in 1853. Academy served in Chisinau as an inspector and caretaker of the spirit. schools, the law teacher of the gymnasium, and from 1875 and the rector of the seminary, and everywhere he left the best memories of his teaching activities; from 1858 he was in the priesthood, in 1871 he was elevated to archpriest. In 1880 he was widowed, on March 9, 1885 he took monastic vows, and on June 9 of the same year he was consecrated bishop of Novgorod-Seversk, vicar of the Chernigov diocese, in 1889 he was appointed bishop of Sarapul, vicar of the Vyatka diocese, in 1891 he was appointed bishop of Yekaterinburg, 12 November 1894 – Archbishop of Don (“Donsk. E.V.” 1895 No. 1, 6; 1900 17). A detailed biography of the Bishop is published in “Donskikh E.V.” from No. 22 for 1903. September 29, 1903 marked the 50th anniversary of the service of the venerable archpastor, which was solemnly celebrated by the diocese. Under the D. diocese there is a vicariate of Aksai, established on May 25, 1871. The first bishop of Aksai was the Right Reverend 1) Nikanor (Brovkovich), later Archbishop of Kherson, a famous spiritual writer (see especially about him); He was vicar of Aksai from July 4, 1871 (consecrated) to December 25, 1876, when he was appointed to the Ufa See. He was followed by: 2) Nestor (Alexey Sergeevich Metaniev), son of a priest of the Saratov diocese, after graduating from the Kazan spirit in 1854. academy with a master's degree, he was an assistant to the rector of the Caucasian Seminary, in 1862 he became a monk, in 1863 he was approved as inspector of the Tiflis Seminary, in 1866 he was appointed rector of Smolensk, on April 17, 1877 he was consecrated Bishop of Aksai, on September 8, 1880 he was appointed Bishop of Vyborg, Vicar of S. Petersburg diocese, currently a member of the Moscow Synodal Office and manager of the Moscow Novospassky Monastery. 3) Flavian, now Metropolitan of Kiev (about him, see under his own name and Kiev Diocese). 4) Seraphim (Semyon Ivanovich Zhemchuzhnikov), son of a priest of the Tambov diocese, after completing the Kyiv spirit course. Academy in 1869 he was a teacher of the Mogilev spirit. seminary, then Tambov; in December 1870 he was appointed teacher of the law at the Tambov Catherine Teachers' Institute, and on October 1, 1872 he was ordained a priest, in 1881 he was elevated to archpriest and appointed rector of the cathedral in Kozlov, in 1883, after the death of his wife and child, he accepted monasticism and was appointed archimandrite of the Kozlov Trinity Monastery, On July 21, 1885, he was consecrated Bishop of Aksai (“Don. E.V.” 1885 No. 15, 17; 1887 No. 22:24), on October 17, 1887 he retired due to illness, and died the same year on December 4 in the Kozlovsky Trinity Monastery. 5) Augustine (Andrey Feodorovich Gulyanitsky), son of a priest of the Poltava diocese, after completing the Kyiv spirit course in 1862. Academy with a master's degree, remained at the academy as a bachelor, in 1864 he became a monk, in 1869 he was elevated to archimandrite, and from 1870 he was the rector of the Lithuanian spirit. seminary, August 23, 1881, consecrated Bishop of Mikhailovsky, vicar of the Ryazan diocese, the following year appointed Bishop of Akkerman, vicar of the Kishinev diocese, September 30, 1887 - Bishop of Aksai (“Donsk. E.V.” 1887 No. 22; 1892 No. 24; 1893 No. 2; 1894 No. 16), on December 24, 1888 he was appointed Bishop of Kostroma, at the end of 1891 he was moved to Yekaterinoslav, where he died on November 30, 1892. According to biographers, the bishop was always distinguished by simplicity in life, straightforwardness of views and love of truth, strength of character and zeal for a true Christian life. his flock. In educational literature he is known for his Guide to Basic Theology. At one time, a “Collection of words, teachings, speeches and short pious reflections” was published, Vilna 1893; “Orthodox Stories about Catholicism”, Vilna 1894. 6) John (Stephen Mitropolsky), son of the priest of the Kaluga diocese, received his higher education in the Moscow Spiritual School. academy, where he was tonsured in 1861, graduated from the academy in 1862 with a master's degree and was left as a bachelor at the academy, in 1868 he was elevated to archimandrite, on June 5, 1870 he was consecrated Bishop of the Aleutian, in 1877 he was appointed a member of the Moscow Synodal Office, in 1881 - rector Simonov Monastery, August 12, 1889 - Bishop of Aksai, in which rank he still holds. Among the shrines of the Don diocese, the first place is occupied by the Aksai revealed icon of the Mother of God; it was found, according to a vision in a dream, by one woman in an empty house in the village of Aksai during the cholera of 1830; after the religious procession with this icon, the cholera in the village stopped; until 1847, the icon was placed in the cathedral, and this year, during the re-emergence of cholera, it was returned to the village (“Donsk. E.V.” 1877, No. 9. 1883, No. 21–23). II. Statistical Review. - The space of the diocese. The diocese occupies the entire region of the Don army, with the exception of part of the Taganrog and Rostov-on-Don districts, which are included in the Ekaterinoslav diocese. The Orthodox population extends to 1,850,000 souls. In 1901, 117,455 souls were born in the Orthodox flock and 65,922 souls died; 14 souls joined from the Roman confession, from Lutherans 19, Jews 20, Tatars 7, Kalmyks 13, from the schism of the Old Believers 327, from heretical sectarianism 17. 18,994 marriages were performed. Within the diocese there live schismatic Old Believers up to 2,500 souls, Lamaites up to 25,000. According to information from 1901, there were 586 churches, including 530 parish, 23 Edinoverie, 14 cemetery, 11 monastic, 7 marching and 1 cathedral. Clergy, according to information from 1898: 27 archpriests, 704 priests, 193 deacons, 717 psalmists; in 1901 there were 785 priests. There were 4 monasteries: two male and two female. There were 47 monastics, 60 novices, 156 nuns (32 according to the state), 329 novices. Church schools in 1901. there were 923, including 6 second-grade, 6 two-grade, 2 exemplary (at the seminary and at the women's school), 544 one-grade parish schools and 377 literacy schools; 1,047 students, including 2 priests, 90 deacons, 80 psalmists, 549 teachers, 273 female teachers, 28 assistants, 25 assistants, 22 singing teachers; 41,712 students, including up to 15,500 girls (“Donsk. E.V.” 1902, Nos. 7–26). Church and parish trustees 485. Missionaries: anti-schism - 1 diocesan and 6 district and 2 assistants, anti-heretical - 1. III. Diocesan administration. – In addition to the diocesan bishop, the diocese has a vicar, the Bishop of Aksai. The spiritual consistory, opened on June 15, 1829 (“Donsk. E.V.” 1878 No. 9), consists of 4 full-time and one supernumerary (since 1898) members. There are 29 deans over churches; in deanery districts containing more than 15 churches, there are assistant deans, acting according to special instructions approved by the Holy Synod (since 1091); Each district has dean councils. Each deanery has two investigators appointed by the diocesan authorities from among experienced priests. In every deanery there are censors of sermons and confessors. Church schools are managed by the diocesan school council, which has 7 departments; For inspection there is a diocesan observer and 7 district observers, according to the number of council departments. IV. Theological educational institutions and church schools. – The theological seminary was opened through the care of Archbishop Platon (later Metropolitan of Kyiv) on October 1, 1868 (“Donsk. E.V.” 1869 No. 1; 1893 No. 20). In 1902, there were 413 students, including 185 of heterodox students; the dormitory accommodated up to 90 people. All grades, except the sixth, have parallel departments. According to the state, the seminary is supposed to teach the Kalmyk language, but in recent years the seminary has not been able to find a qualified teacher. In addition, the seminary, as optional subjects, teaches: icon painting (19 students) and bookbinding (32 students) since 1885, orchestral music since 1889 and traditional medicine since 1892. The fundamental library has over 5,300 titles - up to 12,000 books, the student library - over 1,600 titles and 3,600 books. The seminary has established folk religious and moral readings; In addition, pupils of the two senior classes attend interviews with the Old Believers of their teacher. From the very beginning of the seminary, in October 1869, it began to operate an auxiliary fund for needy students. The cash desk was established by the students themselves, with the permission of the seminary authorities. Its existence was due to the fact that, when parents did not send money to their children on time, the latter had to borrow money for urgent needs from moneylenders “on the security of clothes and other property,” and sometimes it was impossible to get money at all. The first fund was 25 rubles collected between the students. By the end of 1902, the company's capital was 5,500 rubles. There are two theological schools in the diocese. Of these: 1) Novocherkassk Theological School was opened in 1821; (“Donsk. E.V.” 1897 No. 3); in 1900 new buildings were built (“Donsk. E.V.” 1900 No. 14); in 1902 there were 290 students in the school, including 89 of heterodox ones; all 4 classes have parallel sections. There are more than 1,500 titles in the fundamental library of books, and over 600 in the student library (established in 1873). There is no dormitory. Since 1880, an auxiliary loan fund was established at the school to provide benefits to insufficient students, the main fund of which was formed from annual mandatory contributions of fifty dollars from each clergy of the school district for five years (“Donsk. E.V.” 1902, Nos. 21 and 30). Over 44,000 rubles were spent on maintaining the school in 1902. 2) The Ust-Medveditsky Theological School in 1902 had 139 students (“Donsk. E.V.” 1902, No. 22), including 42 of heterodox ones. The fundamental library contains over 1200 titles, in the student's library. – over 700. There are no dormitories. The diocesan women's school was opened on October 15, 1889 (“Donsk. E.V.” 1889 No. 21; 1891 No. 20). In 1901 there were 317 pupils, 17 of them were of heterodox origin; 283 are placed in a dormitory (“Donsk. E.V.” 1903” Nos. 8–9), the maintenance of the school cost 61,500 rubles. Over 310,000 rubles were spent on the maintenance of church public schools in 1901. There is one missionary school in the diocese (in Novocherkassk), in which 12 persons at least 22 years of age study missionary subjects to prepare themselves for missionary work. Students live in rented apartments and receive scholarships of 12 rubles. per month from diocesan funds. V. Educational, charitable and mutually auxiliary diocesan institutions. 1) The Aksai-Virgin Brotherhood was opened on November 21, 1886 on the initiative of Rev. Mitrofan; the charter was drawn up in the consistory. The goal of the brotherhood is to promote church education through schools, extra-liturgical interviews, the spread of schools and the improvement of singing in churches (“Donsk. E.V.” 1886, Nos. 21, 24). In 1887, a book warehouse was opened at the brotherhood (1887 No. 18). In 1902, the activities of the brotherhood were expressed in the provision of benefits to church schools (up to 900 rubles), the establishment of 5 anti-schism libraries (20 rubles each) and the publication of one anti-schism brochure, the distribution, through sale, of religious and moral books worth up to 5000 rubles. and the organization of religious and moral readings in Novocherkassk; the brotherhood's income was determined to be 13,000 rubles, expenses were also up to 13,000 rubles, and the residual capital was over 7,500 rubles. (“Donsk. E.V.” 1903, No. 11–21). In 1901 there were 350 members. In addition to this general diocesan brotherhood, there are local brotherhoods. 2) Pyatiizbyansk Nikolaev Church Anti-Schismatic Brotherhood was opened on January 20, 1897; its purpose is interviews of members with schismatics (“Donsk. E.V.” 1887, Nos. 1 and 8–9). It should be noted with particular sympathy that it appeared in 1902 3) the school Dimitrievsky Brotherhood at the cemetery parish school in Novocherkassk. The Brotherhood aims to maintain and develop public education in parishes in the spirit of the Orthodox Church. For the 350 rubles collected in the first year of existence. The brotherhood, by the way, acquired a magic lantern for the school, set up a garden at the school - in a word, the brotherhood contributed to the revival of that close family connection between school and family, study and life, the loss of which has become so much and rightly mourned in our days (Donsk. E.V., 1903, No. 7). In the diocese there are temperance societies, as in the Krutinsky farm, Krasnoe Selo, etc. (“Donsk. E.V.” 1903, No. 11–12; rules and charter). The Diocesan Committee of the Orthodox Missionary Society was opened on November 21, 1871 (“Donsk. E.V.” 1873, No. 8); in 1901 it consisted of 186 members, collected (with a plate collection during Palm Week) up to 5,000 rubles, which were spent; has its capital up to 6,000 rubles. There is a vast field for the activities of the missionary society within the Don diocese among the Kalmyks living there, but this mission, apparently, is not yet fully developed. The diocesan department of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society was opened on September 24, 1895 (“Donsk. E.V.” 1895, 19, 20; 1902, No. 19). In 1901 there were 541 members, the parish received over 7,100 rubles, this amount was almost entirely transferred to the society; In addition, up to 4,200 rubles were collected on Palm Sunday in favor of Palestinian fans. The department organized readings about the Holy Land and Palestinian society in Novocherkassk and more populous parishes. The emeritus fund of the clergy was established in 1879 (“Donsk. E.V.” 1879 No. 10). In its final form, it was formed into a diocesan mutual aid society. It was established on the model of the same society of the Saratov diocese (“Donsk. E.V.” 1879 No. 10; 1889 No. 12; 1900 No. 10; 1895 No. 16). The society is governed by a committee of three members elected from among the clergy at diocesan congresses. The society's funds are made up of mandatory membership fees (in three categories: 18, 12 and 6 rubles), 5% deductions from the church purse and private donations. In 1901, pensions were issued to 521 families (from 20 to 90 rubles) in the amount of up to 20,000. The capital of the company increased to 570,000 rubles. The society established a cash register for one-time benefits for orphaned families of clergy and ministers of the diocese (draft charter in No. 18 “Donsk. E.V.”), based on the fact that upon the death of a priest, each priest contributes 1 ruble, and each deacon and psalm-reader contributes 25 kopecks. The cash register and the society only have common management (“Donsk. E.V.”, 1902 No. 19). Diocesan care for the poor of the clergy was opened on January 14, 1830 (“Donsk. E.V.” 1877 No. 9). Trusteeship funds, in addition to interest on capital, circle fees and fine money, also consist of a collection on subscription lists, half or a third of the income from church places determined by the congress of 1893, annual contributions from the priest for 1 ruble, a deacon for 75 kopecks and a psalm-reader for 50 kopecks, and contributions from clergy and church ministers when moving. In 1901: 543 families were in the care of the charity, permanent benefits were issued in the amount of 12,718 rubles, one-time benefits of 750 rubles; The parish received up to 19,000 rubles, the trusteeship capital by 1902 reached 82,000 rubles. 1) Bekrenevsky Nikolaevsky male monastery, in the 150th century. from Novocherkassk, in an area called Bekrenevskaya Balka, between the villages of Mariinskaya and Kamyshenskaya, it was formed from the former courtyard of the bishop's house in 1903 through the efforts, mainly, of Hieromonk Gennady (“Donsk. E.V.” 1889, No. 16; 1890, No. 15; 1892, No. 2; 1903 No. 11–17). 2) Kremensky Ascension non-staff male monastery, according to legend, was founded on the place where 7 hermit brothers lived, cut off by a band of robbers. The monastery was formed around 1639, when land was allocated to it by residents of the nearby Kremenskaya village. In 1788, the monastery was converted into a parish church, and in 1798 it was restored (“Donsk. E.V.” 1875, Nos. 18–21, 23); in 1869 it became a hostel. At the monastery there is a shelter for wanderers, an almshouse and a literacy school (since 1901), in which 8 boys and 1 visitor are supported by the monastery. The monastery has its own Pyatipsky (in the original unintelligible - editor's note) monastery. 3) Starocherkassk Efremovsky supernumerary semi-communal convent in the village of Starocherkasskaya, founded by Colonel Evdokia Akimovna Efremov with her daughter-in-law Ulyana and nephew Nikolai Efremov at their home church (metochion) in 1837, opened on September 12. The founder provided it with capital of 50,000 rubles, and the military board donated 320 dessiatines. land. The church is stone, built by the ancestor of the founder, General Daniil Efremov in 1756 (“Donsk. E.V.” 1870 No. 5). The monastery has a courtyard in Novocherkassk (“Don. E.V.” 1898 No. 11), an almshouse for elderly and sick women and a church school for girls. In 1901 the pot was repaired. honor citizen Ivan Kolesnikov in the amount of up to 40,000 rubles. 4) Ust-Medveditsky Preobrazhensky third-class women's monastery, in the 3rd century. from the village of Ust-Medveditskaya, at the mouth of the river. Ursa, on the right bank of the Don, in 400 c. from Novocherkassk, founded in the 17th century. and was male, and was called the Mezhygorsk Hermitage; 100 years later it was buried under a mountain and in 1759 it was moved to another place (the current one). In 1785 it was converted into women's, in 1788 it was abolished, in 1798 it was restored (“Donsk. E.V.” 1869 Nos. 48–50; 1885 Nos. 19, 21, 22, 23; 1886 Nos. 1 and 2). The monastery has an almshouse for elderly and sick women and a church school for girls. Up to 3,800 rubles are allocated annually from military funds for the maintenance and provision of the monastery. Land at the monastery: allocated 652 dessiatines. and donated by the widow of the engineer Agrippina Merzhanova 545 des.