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STATE POLICY TOWARD OLD BELIEVER HERMITAGES AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN NIZHNY NOVGOROD PROVINCE (1825–1855)

History of Russia: from ancient times to 1917 , UDC: 908 DOI: 10.24412/2076-9105-2025-460-28-47

Authors

  • Seleznev Fyodor A. Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor
  • Aksyanova Olga V.

Annotation

The authors examine the formation and implementation of state policy toward Old Believer hermitages on the Kerzhenets River during the reign of Nicholas I. Legislative acts and official administrative documents serve as the primary sources. The authors argue that the case of Nizhny Novgorod Province demonstrates the absence of a unified, coordinated program between the state and the Church for the elimination of Old Believer hermitages under Nicholas I. Government directives emerged in response to local initiatives and were limited in scope. The main proponent of the crackdown on Old Believer hermitages was Archbishop Iakov (Vecherkov) of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas. He was actively supported by special assignments official P. I. Melnikov. Meanwhile, Governor M. A. Urusov favored the Old Believers. Due to the leniency of provincial and police officials, the enforcement of government measures was notably mild. The most prominent Kerzhenets hermitages — Olenevsky, Komarovsky, Ulangersky, and Chernukhinsky — survived the Nicholas I era.
Tags:
Nicholas I , Nizhny Novgorod province , Old Believer hermitages , Old Believers , Russian Empire , Russian history , П. И. Мельников

How to link insert

Seleznev, F. A. & Aksyanova, O. V. (2025). STATE POLICY TOWARD OLD BELIEVER HERMITAGES AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN NIZHNY NOVGOROD PROVINCE (1825–1855) Bulletin of the Moscow City Pedagogical University. Series "Pedagogy and Psychology", № 4 (60), 28. https://doi.org/10.24412/2076-9105-2025-460-28-47
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