Kuznets T. Orthodox priesthood of Kyiv eparchy in late 18th - early 20th centuries: social, economic and political aspects.

Using a great number of sources (published and newly introduced into archive materials) the dissertation reconstructs the eparchial structure of the orthodox church, outlines the process of regulating church life in Ukrainian territories incorporated by Russia in the imperial period . The major attention is focused on qualitative and quantitative characteristics of priesthood, evolutionary changes of its status, attitude towards Ukrainian peasantry. The dissertation describes the state policy concerning the orthodox church and emphasizes its influence on the lowest part of the eparchial management - the country orthodox priesthood. The system of religious education in Kyiv eparchy and the evolution of the educational level of the country priesthood have been researched. Using the example of the orthodox priesthood of Kyiv eparchy the research shows the evolution of the church in social and economic aspects, its inner transformations in the periods of social reforms, emphasizes the contribution of the church in improving the religious life of the community.