FEATURES OF THE RELIGIOUS DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOUTH OF THE YENISEI PROVINCE DURING THE GOVERNORSHIP OF ALEXANDER PETROVICH STEPANOV

The aim of the research is to identify changes in the religious life of the Khakass-Minusinsk Region during the governorship of A.P. Stepanov (1822–1831). The study is based on published reports on missionary activity, archival sources represented by reports of parish priests, and documents of the Steppe Dumas. An important factor in the changes was the policy of Alexander I and Nicholas I aimed at strengthening the state influence on church life, increasing the authority of the clergy, legislatively regulating its rights and responsibilities, and activating missionary work in Eastern Siberia. The influence of the first Yenisei governor A.P. Stepanov on religious life is noted. He paid special attention to the organization of self-government of the province's autochthons. The reorganization of the church-administrative structure had a certain influence: the parishes of the Khakass-Minusinsk Region were transferred to the Irkutsk Diocese. The problems of religious life in the Khakass-Minusinsk Region were associated with the development of the gold mining industry, the strengthening of the role of the Moscow-Siberian Highway, the increase in the number and proportion of the Russian population, the erosion of the old-timer backbone, and the concentration of the Khakass ethnic group. The number of representatives of non-Orthodox confessions, Old Believers, and sects increased. Some of the changes affected the Christianization of the Khakass people, the indigenous inhabitants of the Khakass-Minusinsk Region. The documents of the Steppe Dumas noted that at least a quarter of the newly baptized had fallen away from Orthodoxy. The priests could not cope with their missionary duties. The state developed measures aimed at improving the qualifications of the white clergy through spiritual education and improving their financial situation. Since during the 19th century there was a shortage of clergy in the parishes of the south of Yenisei province, these problems were not finally resolved by the end of the century.