The highest ecclesiastical organ under Peter 1. The reforms of Peter 1 briefly

Peter I remained in the history of our country in the role of a cardinal reformer, who turned the course of Russian life abruptly. In this role with him can only be compared to Vladimir Lenin or Alexander II. For 36 years of autonomous rule of the autocrat, the state not only changed its status from the kingdom to the Empire. All spheres of the country's life have changed. The reforms touched everyone - from the homeless to the nobleman from the under construction Petersburg.

The Church did not stay aside. Possessing endless authority among the population, this organization was distinguished by its conservatism and inability to change and interfered with the growing power of Peter. Kosness and adherence to the traditions of priests did not prevent the emperor from making changes in religious circles. First of all, this is, of course, the Orthodox synod. However, it would be a mistake to say that this is the end of the change.

The State of the Church on the eve of the reforms

The reforms of Peter 1, briefly, were caused by a multitude of problems in society. It also applied to the Church. The XVII century was marked by constant riots, including on religious grounds. Peter's father - Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich - encountered Patriarch Nikon, who conducted many reforms affecting certain Christian rituals. This caused outrage among the people. Many did not want to abandon the faith of their fathers and, as a result, were accused of heresy. Splitting is still there, but in the 18th century this problem was especially acute.

The key issue was the distribution of power between the tsar and the patriarch. This concerned, for example, the monastic lands and the eponymous order (that is, the ministry), which tried to regulate the management of the clergy. Such interference of secular power outraged the patriarch, and this conflict also remained open at the time of Alexis' son's ascension to the throne.

Peter's Attitude to the Church

In fact, during the time of Peter 1, the policy of his father continued in religious matters. The point of view of the new autocrat was largely shaped by the influence of secular education, as well as the priests of the Kiev metropolia, which was annexed to the Moscow Patriarchate in 1688. Moreover, he led a life far from Christian ideals and, moreover, managed to travel through Protestant Europe, where the relationship With the clergy were organized according to a new pattern created after the Reformation. For example, it should be noted that the young king looked with interest at the experience of the English crown, where the monarch was considered the head of the local Anglican Church.

The supreme ecclesiastical authority under Peter 1 at the beginning of his reign was the patriarchate, which still possessed great power and independence. The Crown Prince certainly did not like this, and he wanted on the one hand to subordinate all the higher clergy directly to himself, and on the other hand he was disgusted with the prospect of the appearance of his own Pope in Moscow. The thief of the throne of St. Paul did not at all recognize someone else's authority over himself. In addition, aspired, for example, Nikon under Alexei Mikhailovich.

The first step of the young king in relations with the Orthodox clergy was the ban on the construction of new monasteries in Siberia. The decree is dated 1699 year. Immediately after this, the Northern War began with Sweden, which constantly distracted Peter from ascertaining the relationship with Orthodoxy.

Creation of the title of locum tenens

When in 1700 the patriarch Adrian died, the tsar appointed the locum tenens of the patriarchal throne. He became the Metropolitan of Ryazan Stefan Yavorsky. Hadrian's successor was allowed to practice only "works of faith." That is, engage in heresy and worship. Yet the remaining powers of the patriarch were divided between orders. This primarily concerned economic activity on the lands of the Church. The war with Sweden promised to be a long one, the state needed resources, and the tsar was not going to leave extra money for the "priests". As it turned out later, it was a calculated step. Soon the parish bells began to be sent for remelting for new guns. The highest church organ under Peter 1 did not resist.

The locum tenens had no independent power. On all important issues he had to consult the rest of the bishops, and send all the reports directly to the sovereign. For the time being, the reforms were frozen.

At the same time, the importance of the monastic order increased. In particular, he was instructed to take control of the ancient Russian tradition - begging. Fools and beggars were caught and taken to the order. Those who gave alms were also punished, regardless of their rank and status in the society. As a rule, such a person received a fine.

Creation of the Synod

Finally, in 1721 the Holy Governmental Synod was established. In essence, it became an analogue of the Senate of the Russian Empire, which was in charge of the executive power, being the highest organ of the state directly subordinated to the emperor.

The Synod in Russia implied such positions as the president and the vice-president. Although they were soon canceled, but such a step is the best way to show the habit of Peter I to use Tabel's practice of ranks, that is, to create new ranks that have nothing in common with the past. The first president was Stefan Yarovsky. He did not use authority or authority. The position of the vice-president served as a supervisory function. In other words, it was an inspector who informed the tsar about everything that was happening in the department.

Other posts

There was also a post of the chief prosecutor who regulated the relationship of the new structure with the society, and also had the right to vote and lobbied for the interests of the crown.

As in the secular ministries, the Synod has its own spiritual fiscals. In their sphere of influence was all spiritual activity in the territory of the country. They monitored the observance of religious norms, and so on.

As noted above, the Synod was created as an analog of the Senate, and therefore, constantly contacted him. The link between the two organizations was a special agent, who delivered the reports and was responsible for the interconnection.

For which he answered the Synod

The responsibility of the Synod included both the affairs of the clergy and the issues related to the laity. In particular, the supreme ecclesiastical authority under Peter 1 was to follow the fulfillment of Christian rites, eradicate superstitions. Here it is necessary to say about education. The Synod under Peter 1 was the last instance responsible for textbooks in all kinds of educational institutions.

Secular clergy

According to Peter's view, the white clergy had to become an instrument of the state, which would influence the masses and monitor its spiritual state. In other words, the same clear and regulated class was created, as the nobility and the merchant class, with their goals and functions.

Throughout its history, the Russian clergy differed in its accessibility to the population. It was not a caste of priests. On the contrary, almost everyone could join it. For this reason, there was an overabundance of priests in the country, many of whom ceased to serve in the parish, but became vagabonds. Such ministers of the Church were called "sacral". The lack of regulation of this environment, of course, has become something out of the ordinary in the days of Peter 1.

A strict charter was also introduced, according to which the priest should only praise the new reforms of the tsar in the service. The Synod under Peter 1 issued a decree obliging the confessor to inform the authorities if a person confessed in confession to a state crime or blasphemy against the crown. The funerals were punishable by death.

Church Education

Numerous audits were conducted to verify the formation of the clergy. Their result was the mass deprivation of dignity and the reduction of estates. The highest ecclesiastical authority under Peter 1 introduced and systematized new norms for obtaining the priest's dignity. In addition, now every parish could have only a certain number of deacons and no one more. Simultaneously, the procedure for getting out of his dignity was simplified.

Speaking about church education in the first quarter of the XVIII century, it should be noted the active opening of seminaries in the 1920s. New educational institutions appeared in Nizhny Novgorod, Kharkov, Tver, Kazan, Kolomna, Pskov and other cities of the new empire. The program included 8 classes. There were boys with primary education.

Black clergy

The black clergy also became the object to which the reforms of Peter 1 were directed . To put it briefly, the changes in the life of monasteries were reduced to three goals. Firstly, their number has steadily decreased. Secondly, access to obtaining a dignity was hampered. Thirdly, the remaining monasteries were to receive a practical appointment.

The reason for this attitude was the monarch's personal dislike of the monks. This was largely due to children's impressions, in which they remained rebels. In addition, the emperor was far from the mode of life of the ascetic. Paste and prayer, he preferred practical activity. Therefore it is not surprising that he built ships, worked as a carpenter, and did not like monasteries.

Wishing that these institutions would be of some use to the state, Peter ordered them to be converted into hospitals, factories, schools, schools, etc. But the monks' everyday life became much more complicated. In particular, they were forbidden to leave the walls of their native monastery. Absenteeism was severely punished.

Results of church reform and its future fate

Peter I was a convinced statesman and according to this belief he made the clergy a cog in the common system. Considering himself the only bearer of power in the country, he deprived the patriarchate of any power, and eventually destroyed this structure altogether.

Even after the death of the monarch, many excesses of reforms were abolished, but in the general outlines the system continued to exist until the revolution of 1917 and the coming to power of the Bolsheviks. Those, by the way, in their anti-church propaganda actively used the image of Peter I, praising his desire to subordinate Orthodoxy to the state.