Rus Ortodoks Kilisesinde Manastır Hayatı - Manastır Yaşam Tarihi -

<jats:p>Monastıc Life in the Russian Orthodox Churchrn-History of Monastic Life-rnThis study examines the Orthodox monastic tradition, which beganrnto take shape with the adoption of Christianity in Russia in the 10thrncentury, from a historical perspective and analyzes the religious,rncultural, and socio-political functions of the monastic institution inrna multifaceted manner. With the official adoption of Christianityrnby the Kiev Principality in 988, the first monastery buildings beganrnto be constructed under the influence of Byzantine Orthodoxy; thisrnprocess became institutionalized in the 11th century with the establishmentrnof centers such as the Kiev Pechersk Lavra near Kiev, whichrnformed the basis of the East Slavic monastic tradition. From thernearly period onwards, monasteries were not only places of seclusionrnwhere monastic life was pursued, but also multifaceted institutionsrnwhere written culture was transmitted, educational activities wererncarried out, and moral and religious guidance was provided to thernpeople. Throughout the Middle Ages, monks were not only figuresrnof religious authority but also social actors who enjoyed high prestigernamong the people and played important roles in the relationshiprnbetween the state and the church. In the 14th and 15th centuries,rnthe political influence of monasteries increased, with some largernmonasteries becoming powerful economic structures that ownedrnland and also serving as carriers of the Moscow-centered Orthodoxrnideology. Throughout the Tsarist period, monastic institutionsrncontinued to exist as structures supported by the central authority,rnbut were occasionally subject to reforms. From the 18th centuryrnonwards, particularly in the context of the reforms of Peter the Greatrnand his successors, many monasteries were closed or their revenuesrnrestricted, leading to direct state intervention in monastic life.rnDuring the Soviet era, monasteries were largely closed, many monksrnwere exiled or killed, and the monastic tradition suffered a seriousrninterruption. However, since the 1990s, with the Orthodox Churchrnregaining its influence in the public sphere, many monasteries havernreopened, witnessing a revival of religious life and the monasticrntradition. “Monastic Life in the Russian Orthodox Church” examinesrnthis historical continuity and transformation in detail, revealingrnthat monasteries are not merely religious spaces but also carriers ofrnRussian identity, memory, and cultural heritage.rnKeywords: Church; Monastery; Igumen; Russia; Synod</jats:p>