The activity of Zhytomyr Volodimir-Vasilivskyi fraternity in the Volyn province in the second half of 19 th century

Abstract

Organizational principles and functioning of Zhytomyr’s Volodimіr-Vasilivskyi fraternity,
one of the main Volyn’s church fraternities of the Volyn province, that was under patronage of
archbishop of Volyn and Zhytomyr Paladiy, are revealed. Main directions of the educational
works, manifested in the opening of church-parochial school, founding of the library and
organization of similar libraries in other cities of the district, are outlined. Missionary activity
of fraternity, concerned with patronizing people who would like to accept Orthodoxy and those
who already did, distribution of books and brochures of ecclesiastical content, organization
of spiritual and ethic readings and conversations, is explored. The value of Orthodox church
fraternity, that had influence on development of ecclesiastical and public life of Zhytomyr and
its outskirts in the second half of 19 ^th century, is shown.
Keywords: оrthodox fraternity, Zhytomyr, educational work, missionary activity, the
Volyn province