Letters from the Athos Vatopedi Monastery to the Sich to P.Kalnyshevskyi and I.Hloba (1767–1768) (introductory article and publication by S.Shumylo)

Abstract

The purpose of the publication is to introduce into scientific circulation documents that reveal unknown facts of the existence of close ties between the Athonite monastery Vatopedi and the Sich in the 18th century and the patronage of the Ukrainian Cossack foreman of this Athonite monastery.

The methodological foundations of the research are based on the principles of historicism, scientific objectivity, consistency, and a dialectical approach to historical phenomena. According to the set goal and objectives, a set of general scientific, interdisciplinary, special research methods was used.

The scientific novelty lies in the fact that for the first time letters from the Athos Vatopedi Monastery for 1767–1768 were introduced into scientific circulation in the name of the last koshovyi chieftain of the Sich Petro Kalnyshevskyi and the general clerk of the Zaporizhian Host Ivan Hloba. By analyzing archival materials, little-known aspects of the patron’s support from the Ukrainian Cossack foreman of the Athonite monasteries and, in particular, patronage from the Sich and P.Kalnyshevskyi over the ancient Vatopedi monastery were revealed. The presented article, based on archival sources, reveals in a new way the history of Ukrainian contacts with the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos in the 18th century. The author uses the existing source base, introduces unknown sources into scientific circulation and tries to uncover the issues of the history of Athos’s ties with Ukrainian monasticism and Cossacks in the 18th century. It is noted that the analysis of the archival sources of the 18th century testifies that representatives of the noble Ukrainian Cossack elders, who considered their participation in the support of the Athonite monasteries as an indispensable attribute of their elite status in the Ukrainian society of the 18th century, often acted as donors, donors and donors of the Athonite monasteries at that time.