THE PRIESTHOOD OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE “GREEK TOWNSHIP” OF ST.-PETERSBURG

Abstract

The article considers the personnel and the cloistral composition of clerics in Petersburg Roman
Catholic temple in the first third of the 18-th century (until the grand fire has destroyed in 1737 the temple of the “Greek township”). Before 1719 principally the Jesuits worked in the city, but in 1719 they was followed by Capuchins and Reformed Franciscans. The author accentuates the main activity lines of Roman monks – their political working, religious propaganda and educational practice. The Petersburg Catholic temple simultaneously was both the parish and mission (de-facto and de-jure). The paper also considers the conditions for priesthood’s work, analyzes their relations and their contacts with Congregatio propagandae fide. Often the priests struggled for authority and influence; as a result the parish was
split on a few hostile groupings, but the Petersburg Catholic mission carried out the functions.