THE CONCEPT OF “CONFESSIONALIZATION” — A POSSIBLE PARADIGM OF RUSSIAN HISTORY OF THE 16–17 CENTURIES RESEARCH?

Abstract

Th is article considers the methodological potential of the Concept of “Confessionalization” for the research of the Russian history of the 16 17th centuries. Th is Concept was formed in German historiography of the end of 20 century (W. Reinhard, H. Schilling) and is used in modern Russian historical science (A. Prokopyev, Yu. Ivonin, M. D mitriev). Special attention is given by the article to the problem of relevance of the Concept of “Orthodox Confessionalization” for analysis of processes and phenomenon of religions life in Russia of that time. To justify the conception of “Orthodox Confessionalization” one must not only set the particularity of functioning of the Byzantine orthodox tradition in Orthodox cultures of Eastern Europe (M. D mitriev), but also consider the development of religious beliefs and norms in Orthodox societies of the 16–17th centuries, the infl uence of other confessions or their struggle with them. However, now one can delineate some positions allowing us to talk about synchrony and asynchrony of processes of religious reform and the development of Russian, and Central and Western European history. All formal signs of the process of “Confessionalization” n Russia’s religious life were formed in the 16–17th centuries. But their display within particular social and cultural conditions of concrete historical environment is chracterized by originality. Refs 11.

Keywords:

“Confessionalization”, historiography, Russian history, religion, Orthodox Church