Stages of formation of the parish system on the right bank of the southern Middle Volga region in 1580's - early XVIII century

The article covers the process of the Orthodox colonization of the southern Middle Volga region and its role in the general stream of the Russian colonization. The author defines and analyzes stages of the parish system formation, their characteristic features, dynamics of the number of churches and parishes, stratification of parishes, and overall results of this type of the Orthodox colonization.