Belozersk Monasteries in Crisis Years (1570s – 1610s)

During the crisis years of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, including the Great Famine of 1601–1603, Belozersk monasteries in Russia remained resilient economic centers, sustaining local populations through grain loans and other resources. Unlike other monasteries, the Kirillov Monastery, under Abbot Matthew's leadership, successfully defended against Polish-Cossack plunder from 1612 to 1618, preserving its heritage. This study reveals that while the broader crisis did not disrupt regional life, monastic destruction began in 1612 and persisted until 1618. Researchers analyzed historical documents, including property inventories and business records, using methods of historical analysis such as synthesis and document criticism to draw these conclusions.

Dmitrieva, Z., Rumynskaia, M., Sazonova, T.,. (2021). Belozersk Monasteries in Crisis Years (1570s – 1610s). Vestnik Volgogradskogo Gosudarstvennogo Universiteta. Serija 4. Istorija. Regionovedenie. Mezhdunarodnye Otnoshenija, (5), 72–83. https://doi.org/10.15688/jvolsu4.2021.5.6