ORTHODOX BROTHERHOODS IN BELARUS

Abstract

The article deals with the activities of Orthodox brotherhoods in Belarus in the XVI — early XX centuries. The causes of their occurrence, social composition, organizational structure, goals and directions of their activities and their content
are revealed in a specific historical context. Particular emphasis has been placed on the review and analysis of the educational
activities of the Orthodox brotherhoods as the main means of increasing the church and religious culture of the Orthodox priesthood and the Orthodox flock, the theoretical development and justification of the Christian dogma in its Orthodox form, and opposition to the ideological attack on the Orthodox faith by the Roman Catholic and Uniate Church, that allowed
the Belarusian people to avoid denationalization and continue their existence in the geographical and historical space. The reasons for the decline of Orthodox brotherhoods in the XVIII century and their revival in the last third of the XIX century are explained. The features of the activities of the brotherhoods in the last period of their existence are considered.

Ref.: 10 titles.