Sergienko V. Formation and activity of the Orthodox Church brotherhoods of Left-Bank Ukraine (1864 - 1917).

The dissertation is devoted to the complex research of formation and activity of the Orthodox Church brotherhoods of the Left-Bank Ukraine in 1864 - 1917. The scientific research is based on the historiography analysis of the topic and wide range of sources, the majority of which is introduced to the scientific community for the first time. The prerequisites of the Orthodox Church brotherhoods creation at the second half of the XIX century were analyzed. Formation of the Left-Bank Ukraine brotherhoods' structure and causes that slowed the development of their network down were cleared up. The question of structure and powers of the brotherhoods governing authorities, number of brethren, their social and sexual belonging was discovered. Sources and amount of brotherhoods financing were investigated too. Also the dissertation is devoted to the activity of the Orthodox Church brotherhoods of Left-Bank Ukraine in the field of religious education. The main means which contributed to development and functioning of the primary religious schools network were analyzed. Folk readings and discussions existed as organizational form of religious and enlightenment activity of the Orthodox Church brotherhoods. In particular, the main topics of readings were analyzed, typical procedure of readings was described, and advantages and disadvantages of readings as educational technique were described. Influence of the brotherhoods on librarianship and publishing was explored. Organizational forms and content of the missionary activity of the brotherhoods in 1864 - 1917 were described in the dissertation research as well. Regional specificity of the Orthodox brotherhoods missions of Left-Bank Ukraine was explored. Various types of charitable activity provided by brotherhoods were investigated. The problem of influence of Left bank Ukraine brotherhoods on regional ethnography studies and their care for the Orthodox churches was analyzed. Place and importance of these church organizations in the structure of the Russian Orthodox Church was found out.