Din istoria vieții monahale în Basarabia (prima jumătatea a sec. al XIX-lea)
From the history of monastic life in Bassarabia (first half of the 19th century)

Summary/Abstract: Within the present article, based on archival sources, the author reflected the position and development of the monastic community in Bassarabia in the first half of the 19th century. Particular attention is paid to the work of the Metropolitan of Chisinau and Khotin, Gabriel Banulescu-Bodoni, in relation to the regulatory measures in the monastic fraternity. As an example, an instruction of His Eminence (1812) was published, according to which the monks did not have the right to leave their monasteries without permission. A bishop’s permission was needed to obtain this right. The article focuses on the quantitative, social and ethnic composition of the monastic fraternity. Particular attention is drawn to the fact that not only ordinary people were tonsured to monasticism, but also clergymen who wanted to spend the rest of their days away from worldly life. Also, the author comes to the conclusion that after 1812, the composition of novices in the monasteries was increasing. Special attention is given to the hostel statute, which was introduced in 1819 in order to eliminate social differentiation among the brethren. At the same time, the author publishes material about some monasteries’ elders, who monitored orders in the holy monasteries entrusted to them. It is highlighted that throughout the indicated period, the monasteries were headed, as a rule, by the enlightened representatives of the clergy.

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