The role of the Orthodox clergy of the North Caucasus in the incorporation of the region into the Russian Empire in the middle of the XIX century

Introduction. The reference to the history of forming an independent Caucasian and Black Sea diocese is due to the study of the problem of the incorporation of the North Caucasus into the Russian Empire. In the absence of an extensive system of administrative control bodies and a protracted military conflict in the first half of the 19th century, the process of searching for a platform of national identity was underway, which allowed not only to reduce the level of escalation of the conflict, but also to incorporate the North Caucasus into the socio-cultural space of the Russian Empire.
Materials and Methods. The study is based on the principles of an interdisciplinary approach, which allowed us to consider the problem in its entirety, combine data obtained from different fields, look at the problem of the influence of the clergy and the Orthodox cultural tradition from different positions, expand and deepen the existing body of scientific knowledge on this issue. The method used made it possible to conduct modern historical research from the standpoint of historical anthropology. In addition, the work uses narrative, historicalgenetic, historicaltypological, retrospective and anthropological research methods. The research is based on materials from archival collections and review articles of the Caucasian (Stavropol) Diocesan Gazette. The analysis of the problems raised is reflected in the works of researchers of the history of the Cossacks V.A. Potto, F.A. Shcherbina, and the nature of colonization of the region G.N. Prozritelev. The organization of church administration and the personality of the first bishop Jeremiah (Solovyov) was analyzed in the study by I.K. Smolich.
Results. According to the results of the study, it can be concluded that, being in the minority in relation to the ascetics of Islam, Old Believers, sectarians inhabiting the region, the Orthodox population managed to create the basis for the spiritual unity of the population of the region. The traditions of Orthodox culture in the North Caucasus have become the basis of ethnocultural identity, acting as a historical and cultural landmark for a certain part of the population.

1. Volodkova EN, Goncharov VN, Kolosova OYu, Nemashkalov PG. The role of the Orthodox parish in the process of incorporation of the Slavic population of the North Caucasus into the socio-cultural space of the Russian Empire in the first half of the XIX century. Voprosy istorii. 2021;6-2:152-160. (In Russ.).

2. Volodkova EN, Knievsky SA, Nemashkalov PG. The formation of the first Russian cities in the NorthEastern Caucasus and their role in the process of incorporation of the region into the Russian Empire. Voprosy istorii. 2021;(11-3):89-95. (In Russ.)

3. The State Archive of Stavropol Krai (GASK). F.135. Inv.1. D.319. (In Russ.)

4. GASK. F.135. Inv.1. D.340. (In Russ.)

5. GASK. F.135. Inv.1. D.51. (In Russ.)

6. GASK. F.135. Inv.1. D.877. (In Russ.)

7. GASK. F.135. Inv.2. D.410. (In Russ.)

8. GASK. F.135. Inv.3. D.1025. (In Russ.)

9. GASK. F.135. Inv.4. D.252. (In Russ.)

10. GASK. F.135. Inv.4. D.557. (In Russ.)

11. GASK. F.135. Inv.4. D.558. (In Russ.)

12. GASK. F.135. Inv.4. D.787. Part 13. (In Russ.)

13. GASK. F.135. Inv.4. D.921. (In Russ.)

14. GASK. F.135. Inv.16. D.80. (In Russ.)

15. GASK. F.135. Inv.56. D.722. (In Russ.)

16. GASK. F.135. Inv.69. D.1479. (In Russ.)

17. GASK. F.90. Inv.1. D.1548. (In Russ.)

18. Kaufman AA. Resettlement and colonization. St. Petersburg: Obshhestvennaja pol’za; 1905. 444 p. (In Russ.)

19. Korolenko PP. Chernomortsy in Kuban: A historical essay on the settlement of Kuban by Black Sea Cossacks in Commemorative book of the Kuban region for 1878. Yekaterinodar: Printing House of the Kuban Regional Government; 1878. P. 113-144. (In Russ.)

20. Mikhailovsky G. Historical information about the split among the Terek (Grebensky) Cossacks in the second half of the XVIII century. Kavkazskie eparhial’nye vedomosti. 1877;(3):97-98. (In Russ.)

21. Mikhailovsky G. Information on schism and schismatics within the Caucasian diocese. Kavkazskie eparhial’nye vedomosti. 1875;(10):324-337. (In Russ.)

22. Nemashkalov PG. Formation and functioning of the diocesan management system of the Russian Orthodox Church in the North Caucasus (late XVIII-60s of the XIX centuries): thesis. Stavropol, 2020. 555 p.

23. On the compilation of the Caucasian from two regions: the Caucasian and Astrakhan in The Complete Collection of laws of the Russian Empire (1649-1825). Vol. 22. No. 16193. (In Russ.)

24. Potto VA. Two centuries of the Terek Cossacks (1577-1801). In 2 vol. Vol. 1. Vladikavkaz: Stavropol Caucasian Library; 1912. 383 p. (In Russ.)

25. Preface by the chairman of the Archeographic Commission AD Berge in Acts of the Caucasian Archeographic Commission. Tiflis: Printing House of the Main Directorate of the Governor of the Caucasus; 1866. Vol. I. 827 p. (In Russ.)

26. Prozritelev GN. Stavropol province in historical, economic and everyday relations in Memorial book of Stavropol province for 1919 Part 1. Stavropol: Gubernskaya tipografiya; 1919. P. I–XI. (In Russ.)

27. Prot. Popov I. My studies in the archives in Collection of the Society of lovers of Cossack antiquity. Vladikavkaz, 1912. No. 1. P. 18-20. (In Russ.)

28. Rovinsky I. Economic description of the Astrakhan and Caucasian provinces. According to their civil and natural state in relation to agriculture, industry and home economics. St. Petersburg: Printed in the Imperial Printing House; 1809. 495 p.. (In Russ.)

29. Saveliev YuR. Byzantine style in the architecture of Russia. The second half of the XIX – the beginning of the XX century: Album. St.Petersburg: Publishing house Liki Rossii; 2005. 272 p. (In Russ.)

30. Smolich IK. The history of the Russian Church: 1700-1917. In 2 parts. Part 1. Moscow: Publishing House of the Transfiguration of the Valaam Monastery; 1997. 800 p. (In Russ.)

31. Shcherbina FA. The history of the Kuban Cossack army. In 2 vols. Vol. 2 . Reprint edition. Krasnodar: Publishing house Sovetskaya Kuban; 1992. 850 p. (In Russ.)