The Modern Era and the demography of the Orthodox clergy family in the late XIX–early XX century (based on materials of the Vyatka Diocese)

Using the Vyatka Diocese as an example, the paper considers the process of modernization of the clergy in the late XIX–early XX centuries. The author studied archival materials on the history of three priestly families – the Voznesenskys, the Lobovikovs, and the Vechtomovs – for over two centuries. The demography, work activities and social priorities of different generations were analyzed. The clergy were slower to integrate into modernization than other classes. Initially being a privileged class and retaining its status and class privileges, it gradually turned into a professional group, which corresponded to the interests of the class and the demands of the state. This process was actually completed by the end of the first decade of the XX century. The study revealed the peculiarities of the white clergy of this period: its demography remained the same for a long period and depended on external favorable conditions and the efforts of the state; priestly families did not gravitate towards monasticism and were not a supplier of personnel for it; priestly dynasties did not completely leave the clergy; the commitment of the clergy to service in their small historical homeland could be traced. Modernization significantly affected the clergy, but there is no need to talk about a crisis in the church and its ministers.