Orthodox clergy and flock of parishes of the Ob North: the economic aspect of relations (XVIII – early XX centuries)

the article notes that the Ob Ugrians who converted to Christianity throughout the synodic period (XVIII – early XX centuries) interacted with the Orthodox clergy on a wide range of problems, including economic activity. The study of this interaction allows characterizing the factors that influenced the financial situation, occupations of the indigenous population of the Tobolsk North, and traditional culture in general. Objective: to characterize the forms, specifics and results of economic relations between the Orthodox clergy and the Ob Ugrians in the synodic period (XVIII – early XX centuries). Research materials: correspondence, accounts, reports of archpriests, heads of dioceses, diocesan bishops, as well as publications in periodicals about the interaction of the Orthodox clergy with the Ob Ugrians on economic issues. Results and novelty of the research: the study has shown that the clergy promoted the involvement of the Ob Ugrians in goods-money relations and the intensification of economic activities related to the need to provide for church needs. It was not the direct, but the indirect influence of the Orthodox clergy on the newly baptized. This influence evolved from exploitation mainly due to non-equivalent trade and various fees to the desire to use the potential of the Russian Orthodox Church to spread Russian culture and new economic activities among the «backward» peoples (as it was then considered) of the Tobolsk North. For the first time in Russian historiography, the evolution of forms, the specifics and results of economic relations between the Orthodox clergy and the Ob Ugrians in the synodic period are shown.