On monastic life in the realities of the 19th century (based on the comments of St. Philaret of Moscow)

The article is devoted to the study of the socio-cultural phenomenon of monasticism and an overview of the life of the inhabitants of the monasteries of the Synodal period. The purpose of the study is to consider these phenomena through the prism of the epistolary heritage (letters, opinions, reviews and resolutions) of St. Philaret (Drozdov). The work uses the comparative historical method and the method of critical analysis of sources that help to evaluate the activities of the Moscow Metropolitan aimed at maintaining morality in the monasteries. The study solves a number of problems: St. Philaret’s understanding of monasticism is clarified; some shortcomings in monastic society are considered; the need for regular reading of patristic and spiritual books for edification and instruction is proven; examples illustrate the attitude of the secular and church authorities of that time to monks. The author emphasizes that monasticism is the ideal of spiritual life, and monks are only learning to follow this ideal. The relevance of the study is due to the growing importance of monasteries in the life of modern society and the need to understand this phenomenon in the current socio-political realities. The study of Russian monasticism allows us to join the experience of monks of that time and adapt it to modern life of the Church. This topic continues to attract attention of researchers in the field of theoretical theology, in particular asceticism. The lack of comprehensive studies devoted to understanding monastic work through the prism of the patristic heritage determines the scientific novelty of the publication. The results of the study make a significant contribution to the historiography of the problem under consideration and actualize issues related to the religious and moral state of modern man.