“Collective Biography” of Votive Adolescents at Monasteries in Arkhangelsk Region at the Turn of 19th – 20th Centuries (Study Based on Narratives)

The article presents the experience of historical research into the patterns of collective biography of adolescent votive monks who lived in the monasteries of the Arkhangelsk province at the turn of 19th and 20th centuries. The subject of this study is memories of peasant children. The article concentrates on relationship analysis between monasticism and peasantry. It offers an opportunity to recreate some features of this bygone era and to learn how peasants' worldviews were mirrored in the everyday activities and features of adolescent votive monks. The study is based on narrative documents kept in central and regional archives. The novelty of the study stems from the insufficient information and research on adolescent work in monasteries as a form of interaction between northern monasteries and peasantry. Monastic vows were useful for both sides: peasant children learned to read and write, acquired work skills and were socialized in the working environment; monasteries strengthened ties with peasant communities and created preconditions for replenishing their brotherhood. The author declares no conflict of interests.

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