The Evolution of Legislative Acts Concerning Church Record-Keeping During the Synodal Period

Abstract

The article examines the evolution of legislative acts regulating church record-keeping during the Synodal period (1721–1917). Particular attention is given to the General Regulations of 1720 and the Spiritual Regulations of 1721, which laid the foundation for reforming the management and documentation systems in both state and church institutions. The General Regulations introduced new norms for document management, established the mandatory written form of decrees and decisions, and defined procedures for their registration and storage. The Spiritual Regulations abolished the patriarchate and established the Holy Synod, subordinating the Church to the state. The article provides a detailed analysis of key aspects of these reforms, including the introduction of annual reports by diocesan bishops, parish registers (metrical books), and the standardization of documentation processes. Special attention is paid to the role of secretaries and chancelleries in organizing record-keeping, as well as the impact of the reforms on the centralization of church administration. Using the Tobolsk Diocese as an example, the article demonstrates how these new norms were implemented in practice. It emphasizes that these legislative acts not only systematized church record-keeping but also facilitated the integration of the Church into the state administration system, which became a defining feature of the Synodal period.