The Formation of a Spiritual Hierarchy in the Process of Institutionalization of Clergyin the Mari Traditional Religion (20th–21st Centuries)

Introduction. The organizational and legal formalization of the Mari Traditional Religion’s administrative system, which began in the 20th century, achieved legitimate status in the early 21st century with the establishment of the Centralized Religious Organization of the Mari Traditional Religion in the Republic of Mari El. A key research problem is the absence in scholarly discourse of both legal and field-based sources that reflect the evolutionary mechanisms behind the formation of the Mari ethnic religion’s organizational structure during this period. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for preserving cultural identity, ensuring the legal protection of prayer leaders, developing effective governance models, and adapting traditional practices to contemporary social and legislative realities. The aim of this study is to define the trajectory of development for the organizational and legal forms of the Mari traditional priesthood in the 21st century. Materials and Methods. This study is based on archival records, field ethnographical materials, as well as the foundational documents of centralized organizations and local communities of the Mari traditional religion. In their work, the authors employed the principles of historicism, civilizational and systemic approaches, source analysis of documentary materials, the hermeneutic method, and the case-study method. This methodological framework enabled the identification of the specific characteristics in the development of the institution of clergy within the Mari traditional religion during the period under investigation. Results and Discussion. The revival of the Mari traditional religion in the 1990s was accompanied by the establishment of an institutional structure and a hierarchical system of clergy. By the end of the second decade of the 21st century, a stable, multi-level hierarchical system had taken shape. This system includes the legal formalization of the clergy’s status and mechanisms for interaction with state institutions. Currently, the search continues for legal models to support and legitimize the activities of clergy serving local religious communities within the Mari ethno-religion. The findings indicate a historical continuity in the evolution of the Mari ethnic tradition and its organizational-legal forms, aligned with the objectives of harmonizing state-confessional relations in the Russian Federation. Conclusion. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the revival of the Mari Traditional Religion in the Republic of Mari El has been characterized by a significant strengthening of its institutional structures and organizational components. By the end of the 2010s, a stable hierarchy of clerical activity had been established. This process of institutionalization is attributed not only to the legal formalization of the clergy’s status but also to the creation of an administrative apparatus within the Centralized Religious Association of the Mari Traditional Religion in the Republic of Mari El. These developments have contributed to a more structured religious system, enhancing its legitimacy and efficacy in performing religious functions. The findings of this study can inform the development of state-confessional relations at the level of constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Furthermore, they may serve as a starting point for expanding the geographical scope of research in search of new primary sources on this subject.