Economic situation of orthodox clergy in the period оf the provisional government (on materials of national regions of the Middle Volga region)

Introduction. The article analyzes the attitude of the Orthodox clergy to the February revolution of 1917 in Russia. Against the background of the perception of the mentioned revolution, including as a religious one (due to the legislative decisions taken by the Provisional government in this area), the changes in the socio-economic status of the clergy are considered. Materials and methods. The empirical level was the identification and study of factual material in the archives and published sources, as well as developments in historical literature. The collected factual material was interpreted with the help of general logical methods and general scientific research methods. In the course of the study, the basic principles were historicism and objectivity. Discussion and conclusion. The situation in the national (foreign) regions of the Middle Volga region after the February revolution of 1917 developed in the conditions of the established “freedom of the Church”. Everywhere there was a new form of relations in system “the authority of government - the clergy”, “priest - parish”, “a priest - a priest”. On the basis of the study of the documentary base the thesis about the deterioration of the General situation of the ordinary clergy, reduction of social significance and the level of economic security of the clergy, active - and often illegal - interference in the affairs of the parishes both from the new state institutions of governance and from the part of citizens who are not included in the structure of the official Church administration, the growth of tension in the priestly environment is stated and confirmed.