Information on the thesis

The research presents the institutional development of the Saint Protectione
province of OSBM in the main periods of its activity: historical background (the end
of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries), the founding (1739), integration
processes (1740–1743), reformation of the monasteries (1744–1772), reorganization
of the administrative-territorial system and the jurisdiction of the Basilian monkhood
(1772–1783).
It was established that the formation of a new monastic administrative-
territorial unit – the Saint Protectione province, initiated the process of updating the
spiritual formation, which was reflected in the way of life of the monks, the adoption
of new Constitutions and spiritual practices, and monastic reference. The introduction
of such a system of governance has given a stimulus to the elevation of the educational
level of monkhood, the development of the Basilian school, the strengthening of
discipline in the most remote monasteries, which laid the foundations for the spiritual
formation of a new, post uniate, reformed, highly educated generation of Basilian
monks.
The development of the control system of the Basilian monasteries has been
considered, which has changed the jurisdictional affiliation from the episcopat to the
proto-archimandrite governments and vice versa. The regional projects on unification
of monasteries at the level of diocesies (Peremyshl and Lviv) have been analyzed.
The influence of the council in Zamoiscia decisions on the intensification of the
process of uniting rusin monasteries into one monastery of the Congregation is
outlined. The circumstances of the formation of the autonomous monastic administrative
unit of the rusin monks – Saint Protection province are considered. It has been
determined how international social and political events led to the return of
monasteries to the jurisdiction of local bishops. The three-level system of control by
the Basilian Order (proto-archimandrite – proto-hegumene – superior) is analyzed.
The consequences of centralization of the monastic control system are determined.
The process of reorganization of the Saint Protectione province is revealed. It is
shown how the entrance of monasteries to different empires (Russian and Austrian)
influenced the change of the administration of the Basilian monasticism.
The historical circumstances of the monastic administrative unit formation –
Svyatopokrovska Province of the Order of Saint Basil the Great has been revealed.
The evolution of the monastic legislation of the united Rus Order of Saint Basil the
Great has been traced. The main provisions of the Constitution of the Order of Saint
Basil the Great concerning the definition of the administrative work of the
protohegumen’s institution have been analyzed. The main directions of the
protohegumen’s activity of the province have been defined: the visitation of the
monasteries, the monastic discipline, the appointment of the priests, the convocation
of the provincial consuls, creating the provincial archives, writing the messages,
making the warnings, the orders, the reformation decrees.
It is determined that the formation of early modern monks was significantly
influenced not only by church, but also by secular law. The acts of documentation of
secular institutions determined the fundamentally-property aspects of the material
provision of monastic communities: the size of the lands, economic rights and
liberties (propynations, saltwings, trade, mill case, forestry). In the last quarter of the
XVIII century. there is an interference of state power not only with the regulation of
the number of monasteries, but also the introduction of age and territorial restrictions
on the recruitment of secular candidates for monks. At the same time, there is a
noticeable tendency to reformat the legal status of monkhood, which was gradually
losing its own self-governing institutions and returned to the subordination of local
bishops. Instead of this, monastic legislation (general and provincial levels – constitutions,
decrees, orders) tried to unify the ascetic manner of Basilian monkhood, which had to
rely not on old customs and traditions, but on certain norms.
The main stages of the spiritual formation of the monks (candidate, novice,
brother, priest) are revealed in this research. The moral condition of monks is
considered on the basis of disciplinary cases of monasticism. The research represents
descriptive characteristics (territorial, social, confessional, ethnic origin, secular
education, spiritual and intellectual growth, age indices and physical condition,
intellectual abilities, responsibilities) of monkhood, for example, of certain ascetic
communities (Gorodenka, Goshiv, Derezychi, Dobromil, Drohobych, Lavrov, Lishnja,
Lutsk, Lublin, Spas, Ulashkivtsi, Uman, Scheploty).
Key words: Basilian monkhod, the Saint Protectione province of OSBM,
prosopography, legislation, institutional development, spiritual formation.