Földi gazdagság és lelki szegénység. A Szoloveckij kolostor az oroszországi kolostori vagyonról szóló viták idején
Worldly riches, spiritual poverty. The Solovetskiy monastery during the disputes over the monastic property in Russia

Summary/Abstract: Founded in the 15th century in distant Northern Russia, Solovetskiy monastery (later to gain a bad reputation as the darkest prison in the Soviet Union) had become an ecclesiastical and cultural centre by the 16th century, with a peculiar profile and immense estates. The monastic way of life in Solovetskiy created and followed two traditions, which did not oppose each other but reflected different attitudes. Saint Nil of Sora represented the ascetic life following hesychasm , which prescribed mandatory poverty not only for the individual but for the whole monastic community as well. The other was the practice introduced by St Yosif of Volotsk, which opened the gates of the monastery before pilgrims coming from all walks of life in Russia, looked after their bodily and spiritual needs, and they, in return, made the monastery rich with their gifts. Monastic wealth was regarded important by those at the top of ecclesiastical and secular hierarchies because it could be used for what today are called social and charitable activities, for spreading culture and education. For monastic foundations in the 15th and 16th centuries were always associated with colonization (there were still vast uninhabited areas), with the spreading of Christianity, language and civilization. That is why Solovetskiy monastery, hanging on to its possessions since its foundations, could become the greatest ecclesiastical, economic and cultural centre of the White Sea coast. In the period under discussion the economic growth of monasteries was the topic of synods and church pamphlets, though most of the monasteries owned large estates. Although the Russian Church in the 16th century was consistently following Yoseflian views, rich monasteries creating and preserving culture and art were an integral part of the life of the church just as the ascetic monks and hermits living in the woods, incessantly praying.

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