Types of Punishment for Clergymen of Russian Empire in Late 19th — Early 20th Centuries (Based on Example of Chernigov Diocese)

Сlergy of the Russian Empire differed from other class groups in many everyday and sociocultural aspects of life, and there were also administrative- legal differences. This is not just about certain privileges of the clergy as a class of society, but also about specific areas of activity of its representatives, from certain rights and obligations to rewards for fulfillment of the latter and punishment for their violation. The article touches on the topic of misconduct committed by clergymen in office and other violations. It is considered in the light of punishments issued for these actions, the range of which could depend not only on the current legislation, but also on the will of local diocesan authorities who in most cases turned out the arbiters of the fate of the clergy subordinate to them. An analysis of information about clergymen who were subjected to punishment, presented by the secretary of the Chernigov Spiritual Consistory to the Holy Synod in the period from 1894 to 1905, was attempted to determine what punishments the local clergy was subjected to under one of the ruling bishops — Bishop Anthony (Sokolov). Synthesis of the information obtained made it possible to identify the severity of each punishment and crime, as well as the range of offenses committed by local representatives of the clergy over those 12 years.