Establishment and Organization of Activities of Professional School at Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent of Kyiv Eparchy (the second half of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century)

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Pavlo Tychyna Uman State Pedagogical University

Establishment and Organization of Activities of Professional School at Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent of Kyiv Eparchy (the second half of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century)

Oleksandr Chuchalin

Анотація

Створення та організація діяльності училища при Лебединському Миколаївському жіночому монастирі Київської єпархії (друга половини ХІХ - початок ХХ ст.)

Олександр Чучалін

Introduction

Women's monasticism, as a historical and cultural phenomenon, is of great interest to professional researchers today.

In the history of Ukraine, women's abodes played a significant role. The particular activity of women's convents took place from the second half of the 19th century when all spheres of social life were being transformed.

Participation in the organization of charity assistance, and contribution to the development of education and culture prove the involvement of women's abodes in the social and cultural processes of provincial towns and regions.

Nowadays, a revival of women's convents is observed in Ukraine, the traditions of monastic life continue and various forms of external and public service are carried out.

The study of Orthodox convents' history, and their contribution to the social, economic, and cultural development of Ukrainian people is especially relevant in the crisis periods of the national history, and in times of massive changes in the value orientations of modern society.

The religious renaissance that entered the life of Ukrainian society after Ukraine gained independence as a global trend revived the tradition of establishing monastic schools.

In the second half of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century, Kyiv Eparchy convents took an active part in the education and upbringing of the younger generation.

The objectives of convent education were to teach female students to build a hierarchy of religious and spiritual values: life, freedom, and humility. Monastic schools trained children to work, and find ways to overcome difficulties, as key life skills, and also protected them from the negative influence of the external environment.

At that time, 'special' schools for daughters of the Orthodox clergy were also created.

They were mainly established at convents that were under the jurisdiction of the Holy Synod and the management of eparchs.

The fact that the first professional women's school in Kyiv Eparchy was established at Lebedyn St. Nikolas Second-Class Convent initiated the right to education for girls from non-privileged strata of society.

Literature Review

The issue of the existence of educational institutions at convents in the second half of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century has been neglected by modern professional historians and scholars. After Ukraine got its independence, the study of its history, including the regional aspects, began to gain scientific relevance. The book by the well- known Cherkasy local historian Yu. Marynovskyi Мариновський Ю. Черкаська минувшина. Книга 1: Православні монастирі на терені сучасної Черкаської області до 1917 року. Черкаси: Відлуння, 1997. 208 с. was one of the first scientific publications dedicated to the understudied pages of the history of Orthodoxy and the emergence of monasteries in the territory of today's Cherkasy region Мариновський Ю. Мотронинський Троїцький монастир (історичний нарис). Черкаси, 1990. 60 с.; Мариновський Ю. Куполи над Тясмином. Людина і світ. 1994. № 2. С. 8-12.. The author collected and published archival documents related to the financial, economic, and cultural activities of the monasteries, reflecting the history of their establishment and spatial development. The statistical information about the monasteries, including Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent, found in the funds of the State Archives of Cherkasy Region and presented in the book is of great importance. The analysis of this information allows us to form an idea of the property, financial, and economic situation of the abode, the amount of its revenue and to understand its ability for maintaining Lebedyn Women's Professional School.

Problems of the establishment as well as the social and economic situation of Orthodox monasteries in the Middle Dnipro region in the 19th century are analyzed in the works of L. Horenko ГоренкоЛ. Чигиринський Троїцький жіночий монастир. Родовід. 1992. № 4. С. 59-66. and O. Pashkovskyi Пашковський О.А. Господарська, освітня та благодійницька діяльність Жаботинського Свято- Онуфріївського чоловічого монастиря. Православ'я-наука-суспільство: проблеми взаємодії: Матеріали Другої Всеукраїнської науково-практичної конференції. Черкаси, 2004. С. 111-113.. The history of some monasteries and monasticism of Kyiv Eparchy is also studied in the works of T. Kilesso Кілессо Т.С. Видубицький монастир. Київ, 1999. 127 с.; Кілессо Т.С. Братський Богоявленський монастир і Києво-Могилянська академія. Київ, 2002. 144 с. and O. Popelnytska Попельницька О. Миколаївський та Богословський Йорданські монастирі у Києві. Київська старовина. 2005. № 1. С. 29-34.. The scientific research of local historian O. Samkov Самков О. Лебединський Свято-Миколаївський жіночий монастир 1779-1999 рр. (Рукопис). Черкаси. 1999. 15 с., dedicated to the 220th anniversary of the establishment of Lebedyn St. Nicholas Convent, draws particular attention. O. Lastovska has analyzed the development and state of the historiography of the problem of researching the history of Orthodox monasteries and monasticism in Cherkasy region Ластовська О.Л. Сучасна історіографія питання дослідження православних монастирів і чернецтва Черкащини. Вісник НАКККіМ. Серія «Історія». 2013. № 4. С. 269-275..

I. Lomachynska pays attention to the rethinking of the social and cultural phenomenon of Orthodox monasteries as a fundamental element of the church organization Ломачинська І.М. Роль православних монастирів у формуванні світоглядних орієнтирів українського суспільства. Вісник Черкаського університету. Серія «Філософія». 2016. № 2. С. 61-70; Ломачинська І.М. Монастирі України. Київ: Балтія-Друк, 2015. 208 с.. The author studies the history of the development and economic formation of many monasteries in Ukraine, including those that functioned on the territory of Kyiv Eparchy. The researcher gives special attention to the importance of abodes in spreading education, shaping the cultural landscapes of Ukraine, and preserving the national spirituality of the Ukrainians. Orthodox abodes on the territory of Ukraine arise as a real embodiment of the social memory of Ukrainian society, and an element of self-identification of the Ukrainian nation. The functions of the monastery in relation to society, and its role in the ethno-cultural formation of the Ukrainian nation deserve special attention.

In his research paper, and then in his dissertation, N. Lavrinenko Лавріненко Н.П. Участь православних монастирів Київської єпархії у системі духовної освіти Російської імперії (XIX - початок XX ст.). Лаврський альманах: Києво-Печерська лавра в контексті української історії та культури: зб. наук. пр. 2005. Вип. 14. С. 18-26; Лавріненко Н.П. З історії Чигиринського Свято-Троїцького монастиря (забута обитель). Київська старовина. 2006. № 6. С. 99-106; Лавріненко Н.П. Православні монастирі Південної Київщини (соціально-економічна діяльність). 1773-1917 рр. Черкаси: Чабаненко Ю.А., 2009. 216 с. studies the social and economic as well as cultural and educational activities of Orthodox monasteries and monasticism in the south of Kyiv Eparchy from the late 18th till the beginning of the 20th century. The author describes the active process of formation and development of educational institutions at monasteries on the territory of the nowadays Cherkasy oblast. Convent professional schools trained not only educated housewives but also potential teachers of zemstvo and parochial schools. The author emphasizes Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent's significant contribution to the development of women's education in the second half of the 19th century.

In the second half of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century the idea of establishing parochial schools became widespread. The conditions for the emergence of church teacher training schools, the peculiarities of the organization of their functioning, the formation of the teaching staff and the contingent of students are uncovered in the scientific studies of M. Yanchuk Янчук М. Підготовка учительських кадрів у церковно-учительських школах наприкінці ХІХ - на початку ХХ століття. European Philosophical and Historical Discourse. 2018. Vol. 4. Issue 3. P. 79-85.. On the example of a parochial school that functioned at Kyiv St. Michael Golden-Domed Monastery, the author asserts that subordinating the daily routine of the students of this school to the monastic order was aimed at shaping the outlook of future teachers in the spirit of deep ecclesiastical piety, obedience, and loyalty.

T. Kuzmenko also studied the activities of St. Michael Church Teacher Training School, established at St. Michael Golden-Domed Monastery in 1890 Кузьменко Т. Михайлівська церковно-учительська школа при Києво-Золотоверхому монастирі (кін. ХІХ ст.). Труды Киевской духовной академии. 2019. № 19 (191). С. 88-99.. The author also emphasizes the general trend characteristic of Orthodox monasteries of Kyiv Eparchy of the second half of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century. It was in fact that gradually growing economically, the monasteries also expanded their educational activities among the poor strata of society. The main role in the activity and development of the monasteries was played by its reverend fathers. It was their position that determined the direction of the spiritual and educational life of students, monks, and pilgrims. Through their activities, the reverend fathers and monks of the monastery played a great charitable and educational role in Ukrainian society.

However, one of the least studied issues of national history today is the process of formation and development of women's spiritual education in the second half of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century, especially in the regional aspect. Creating a complete picture of the activities of Orthodox convents in the organization of educational institutions, their development, and material support necessitates the search for new sources and the systematization of scattered information. Therefore, the purpose of the research paper is to study the contribution of Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent of Kyiv Eparchy to the development of women's education in Ukraine in the second half of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century and to analyze the peculiarities of establishment and organization of the women's professional school activities at it.

The situation with the monasteries of Kyiv Eparchy in the 19th the beginning of the 20th centuries

Among many other activities, Kyiv Eparchy and its monasteries of the second half of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century, were actively involved in all social and economic processes of that time, engaged in education and charity, and showed care for the orphans of the Orthodox clergy of the region. There were four women's professional schools of the Ecclesiastical Department of Kyiv Eparchy: in Lebedyn, Rzhyshchiv, and two in Kyiv Киевская єпархія в 1878 году. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1879. № 7. С. 2.. Such educational institutions were 'called schools for maidens of spiritual rank' Записка об устройстве и составе Киевского училища для девиц духовного звания. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1861. № 17. С. 508.. They were focused on the education and upbringing of girls mainly from clergy families, especially those who lost their parents and had no means of further existence. The goal of such educational institutions was to “...educate future mothers and educators of those children who are destined to the special service of our Orthodox Church”. There primary education was provided, handicrafts were taught, and, if necessary, the students were accommodated in convents. Children of other social strata were also admitted to such professional schools, both on paid and free basis.

When Kyiv Eparchy was headed by Filaret (Amphiteatrov, 1837-1857), Metropolitan of Kyiv and Halychyna, Archimandrite of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, who actively supported the charitable activities of the monasteries of the Eparchy, Lebedyn St. Nicholas Convent took care of such orphans as well. That abode was located in Chyhyryn povit of Kyiv hubernia. It was established at the end of the 18th century by nuns from Moldova Похилевич Л.И. Сказания о населенных местностях Киевской губернии или Статистические, исторические и церковные заметки о всех деревнях, селах, местечках и городах, в пределах Губернии находящихся. Киев: Типография Киево-Печерской лавры, 1864. С. 362.. After the accession of Right-Bank Ukraine to the Russian Empire and the spread of imperial legislation there, including the management of monasteries, a significant number of monasteries was eliminated or left aside from the register. Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent also found itself out of the register, which meant without financial assistance from the state.

The monastery got only 85 rubles and 75 kopecks from the state treasury as compensation for the lands not allocated to it. However, the proper organizational and dynamic economic activities of Hegumenia Magdalena (1829-1858), who was the reverend mother of the Convent for almost thirty years, contributed to its transformation into a powerful architectural and economic complex of that time, which housed about 50 nuns and 30 novices at the same time Ibid. С. 715.. Over time, the significant economic success of Lebedyn Convent and the increasing activity of its reverend mother contributed to the change in the status of the abode.

According to the Decree of December 25, 1841, on the staff of monasteries for the Western Eparchies, the Governing Senate and the Holy Synod approved the staff for those monasteries on January 4, 1842. Following the recommendation of Metropolitan Filaret of Kyiv and Halytchyna, the Holy Synod assigned Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent to the second class. The fact of transferring the Convent to a 2nd class with receipt of 2.155 rubles from the state treasury was approved by the Decree of Kyiv Spiritual Consistory dated October 14, 1842 The State Archive of Cherkasy Region (SAChR). Fund 422. List 1. File 2. P. 134.. That also became possible because Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent belonged to the urban monasteries due to its territorial allegiance. Urban monasteries could be included in the register of monasteries, as opposed to rural monasteries.

In the second half of the 19th - the beginning of the 20th century the revenues of convents were formed from several sources. Since Kyiv hubernia at that time was mainly an agricultural region, the monasteries were engaged in those types of the economy that brought profit directly from agricultural activities and rent. In particular, the means of maintenance of Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent were additionally strengthened by a minor agricultural occupation on 86 desiatinas of land belonging to it. To cultivate those fields, the Convent used hired laborers at the expense of 200 silver rubles given for that purpose from the state treasury. An additional, albeit insignificant, profit was brought by the

Convent's mill and the capital in the amount of up to 8.000 rubles ПохилевичЛ.И. Сказания о населенных местностях Киевской губернии... С. 716.. The growth of the income testified to the competent organization of Convent's economy. That made it possible to significantly strengthen the economic position of the Convent and, on its basis, to continue economic development and engage in active educational activities.

In this context, the leadership of the Convent and its nuns tried to keep up with the times. The fact was that already from the beginning of the 19th century the state began to pay attention to the process of training women in Orthodox monasteries of Ukraine for the spiritual and moral upbringing of children. For that purpose, in 1808, the 'Regulations on Theological Schools, Seminaries, and Academies' was adopted, which approved the structure of monastic women's educational institutions. In 1832, Kyiv Educational District was established, which included monastic women's educational institutions, and in October 1836, a Decree of the Holy Synod assigned monasteries and clergy the responsibility to provide primary education to peasant children, in particular, to girls of spiritual rank Фазан Т.П. Підготовка жіноцтва у православних монастирях України до духовно-морального виховання дітей (ХІХ - перша чверть ХХ століття): дис... к.п.н: 13.00.01 - загальна педагогіка та історія педагогіки. Полтава, 2020. С. 100..

During the governing of Metropolitan Isidore (Nikolskyi, 1858-1860) of Kyiv Eparchy, monastic educational activities continued to be supported. Taking into account the existing experience of organizing care for orphans from clergy families, a four-grade Woman's Professional School was established on the initiative of the Right Reverend at Lebedyn Convent. It was established in 1859 by the Hegumenia of the Convent Filareta, born Baroness Varvara Mykolaivna Shlippenbach Киевская єпархія в 1878 году. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1879. № 7. С. 4.. The Hegumenia was also appointed as the Head of the School. She received a decent by then education. In the past, she was a learner of St. Petersburg Patriotic Institute, since 1832 she was a novice of Novgorod Holy Spirit Monastery, and a year later, at her request, she was transferred as a nun to Sts. Florus and Laurus Convent of the Ascension, where she stayed for the next 16 years. On December 18, 1848, Filareta was appointed as Hegumenia of Odesa Saint Archangel Michael Convent, and in 1853, by the Decree of the Holy Synod, Filareta Schlippenbach was transferred to the post of Hegumenia of Lebedyn Convent. However, she was in no hurry to take up the position, as Hegumenia Magdalena continued to cope with her duties. Filareta remained a nun at the Convent and, with the support of the Hegumenia, along with other caring nuns, immediately started organizing the upbringing of girls from both clergy and secular families Самков О. Лебединський Свято-Миколаївський жіночий монастир. С. 5..

Four-grade Women's Professional School at Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent (18591872)

In July 1858, Filareta managed to occupy the post of Hegumenia, which gave her much greater opportunities to realize her plan of organizing proper education and upbringing of orphans within the walls of the Convent. Having enlisted the support of Isidor, Metropolitan of Kyiv, in 1859 Hegumenia Filareta established a Professional School for girls of the spiritual rank and orphans at Lebedyn Convent. The School was located in a wooden convent wing with three cells Похилевич Л.И. Сказания о населенных местностях Киевской губернии. С. 716..

The newly established Professional School at Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent became the first monastic women's educational institution on the territory of Kyiv Eparchy and in terms of its status was equated to primary parochial schools Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Kyiv (CSHAU in Kyiv). Fund 183. List 1. File 166. P. 49.. Lebedyn Women's Professional School was subordinated to the Metropolitan of Kyiv and controlled by the Spiritual Consistory. The organization of the educational institution's activities and the arrangement of children's everyday life required considerable material costs. Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent did not have significant financial resources, it was itself overcrowded with nuns and novices, but it still found the means to maintain the Women's Professional School at the proper level.

Thanks to the efforts of Hegumenia Filareta, the School was provided with material support to organize its activities at that initial stage. Metropolitan Isidore himself was the first to set an example and sent 3.000 silver rubles from his funds. His example was followed by Agnia, Hegumenia of Sts. Florus and Laurus Convent of the Ascension, with the nuns. That convent donated 5.000 silver rubles and suburban land for the School in Lebedyn. Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra provided a one-time sum of 3.000 silver rubles and then 1.000 rubles were sent by Lavra every year. 1.000 rubles were sent by Kyiv St. Michael Golden-Domed Monastery for the purchase of a house and 100 rubles for its arrangement. Other monasteries of the Eparchy did not stand aside. In particular, Kyiv Brotherhood Monastery sent 300 rubles, and St. Nikolas Desert-Rykhly Monastery sent 100 rubles Епархиальная хроника. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1861. №1. С. 41.. The new Metropolitan of Kyiv and Halychyna, Arsenius (Moskvin, 1860-1876) also allocated 200 rubles from his salary each year for the maintenance of Lebedyn Professional School for girls of the spiritual rank Ibid. С. 57.. In the future, the School continued to be maintained mainly from the funds of the Convent and at the expense of charitable contributions.

As of 1860, 27 daughters of the clergy, aged from 9 to 14, already studied at the School. Of those 17 girls were orphans of deceased parish priests and were on the School's full board, 8 boarders were daughters of active priests and 2 did not live in the School and were daughters of priests from the nearby villages. Orphans studied at the School for free, and boarders were charged a tuition fee of 80 rubles for the clergy and 100 rubles for secular persons. The tuition fee was paid every six months CSHAU in Kyiv. Fund 183. List 1. File 166. P. 8-10..

Hegumenia Filareta's proper administrative activities and constant financial support from Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent contributed to the expansion of the Professional School's opportunities. For example, for the maintenance of the School in 1867, the Convent received 2.628 rubles. The sum included 1.938 rubles that were paid by the students for education, 200 rubles were received from Arsenius, Metropolitan of Kyiv and Halychyna, 100 rubles from benefactors, 373 rubles were the income from the Convent shop, and 17 rubles were received from the sale of the Professional School students' handicraft items. Almost all of that money was spent on the needs of the School, staff, and students. In particular, 1.050 rubles were spent on food and 498 rubles on students' clothes, 379 rubles on heating, lighting, and repair of premises, 260 rubles on school students' supplies, 414 silver rubles on the salaries for teachers and class mistresses О состоянии Киевского училища девиц духовного звания и особого такового же училища при Лебединском женском монастыре в Чигиринском уезде Киевской епархии за 1867-1868 учебный год. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1869. № 4. С. 174..

The student body of the Professional School was constantly growing. As of the 18671868 school year, 58 girls were studying there, 32 of whom were on free education, 23 were studying at the expense of their parents, and 3 were not enrolled as regular students. The teachers were 3 priests and a deacon who served at the Convent. That school year, a teacher from Zlatopil Noble School and three class mistresses joined the staffIbid. С. 174..

With each passing year, the demand for primary women's education only grew. The Professional School at Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent gained a good reputation and was popular among the population of Chyhyryn and the closest to it Zvenyhorod and Cherkasy povits. The number of those wishing to study there only rose. Thus, according to the report of the 1871-1872 academic year, there already were 97 students. 63 of them were the children of priests, 6 - deacons, and 12 - psalm readers. The remaining 16 students came from different social strata: 4 girls were daughters of landowners, 2 daughters of officials, 4 daughters of peasants, 5 daughters of townspeople, and the parents of one girl were foreigners who worked at a local plant Лебединское женское шестиклассное училище в учебном отношении за 1881-1882 учебный год. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1882. № 18. С. 329..

Six-grade Women's Professional School (1872-1886)

The success of the educational institution and its provision of the appropriate level of knowledge created conditions for reviewing its status. In 1872, Lebedyn four-grade Professional School was transformed into a six-grade Professional School Самков О. Лебединський Свято-Миколаївський жіночий монастир. С. 6.. Such changes made it possible to educate a larger number of orphans from families of the Orthodox clergy free of charge, compared to previous years. As of 1872-1873, there were 101 students at Lebedyn Professional School. Among them were 45 orphans, 52 boarders, and 4 students who were local residents and came to study from home every day Краткий отчет о состоянии Лебединского шестиклассного училища девиц духовного звания в Лебединском Николаевском второклассном женском монастыре за прошлый учебный 1872-1873 год. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1874. № 5. С. 70.. The course of study lasted 6 years in six grades, respectively, and 7 years together with the preparatory department. Starting from 1873, the students completed the school course annually, which made it possible to admit orphans to the School every year after the graduation of girls from the 6th grade Ibid. С. 65..

The functioning of the Professional School at the Convent was an important criterion that gave Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent the 'educational' status SAChR. Fund 149. List 1. File 74. P. 49.. The transformation of Lebedyn Women's Professional School into a sixth-grade educational institution increased the number of teachers and students. Studying at the School provided the maintenance of some of the students at the expense of the School, factually at the expense of the Convent.

The School undertook to provide housing for children who lost their families. The constant increase in the number of students and the School's commitment to providing orphans with a full board made its leadership hastily organize the construction of a dormitory in the fall of 1873. The room looked like a common bedroom “...52 arshins long, 10 arshins wide, with three stoves” Краткий отчет о состоянии Лебединского шестиклассного училища. 1872-1873. С. 65.. The Convent spent 1.586 rubles and 22 kopecks on its construction and allowed to use of oaks from its forest. The problem of providing children with a roof over their heads was solved for some time.

In addition, the increase in the number of students raised the question of purchasing additional desks, benches, beds, wardrobes, books, equipment for classes, etc. A library was also established at the School. Its funds were insignificant, but the students were provided with all the necessary textbooks and fiction Лебединское женское шестиклассное училище в учебном отношении за 1881-1882. С. 328.. The Zinger foot sewing machine was purchased by the Convent in Yelysavethrad to meet the students' household needs, as well as for handicrafts Краткий отчет о состоянии Лебединского шестиклассного училища. 1872-1873. С. 70..

The curriculum of the six-grade Lebedyn Women's Professional School included the study of the Law of God, Russian and Slavic Languages, Calligraphy, Arithmetic, Geography, General and Russian History, Physics, and Geometry, French and German Languages, Pedagogy, Music, and mastering handicraft Киевская єпархія в 1878 году. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1879. № 7. С. 4.. The curriculum of Lebedyn Professional School corresponded to the program of women's educational institutions of the Ministry of National Education Устав епархиальных училищ. § 111. Полное собрание законов Российской империи. Собрание 2. Т. XLIII, № 46271. Санкт-Петербург, 1868. С. 127..

The results of learning were checked by means of written assignments and exams. Basically, it was writing compositions on a given topic in order to check the level of grammatical material mastery and the ability to express one's thoughts properly Самков О. Лебединський Свято-Миколаївський жіночий монастир. С. 6.. During the school year, students of grades 4-6 wrote five compositions, which testified to the teachers' efforts to develop and train the mental abilities of their students Лебединское женское шестикласное училище в учебном отношении за 1881-1882. С. 329..

A full-fledged educational process was organized in the educational institution. The daily routine at the School was clearly regulated, and children were taught order and discipline. Educational classes lasted from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. After 11:00 a.m. there was a 30-minute break for breakfast.

There were 98 lessons per week for all 6 grades, although the students were not overloaded with the number of lessons. While the schedule provided 5 lessons per day, in reality, there were significantly fewer lessons, which could be explained by the lack of teachers and their excessive workload. In the absence of the teacher, self-study was practiced during the lesson.

The students performed various tasks, but preference was given to reading, writing, and artistic creativity Ibid. С. 327.. After dinner, under the supervision of the schoolmistresses, the students were engaged in preparing homework, and reading books, special attention was paid to learning foreign languages: “The daughter of a music teacher... exercises the female students with reading and conversation in German every day from 3 to 7 in the afternoon” Краткий отчет о состоянии Лебединского шестиклассного училища. 1872-1873. С. 67.. The moral and religious upbringing of students at the School was tried to be carried out through their learning of the rules of Christian morality in the lessons of the Law of God, as well as the establishment of constant control over their behavior by the Head of the School and class supervisors.

The school year lasted from September 1 of the current year to the beginning of June of the next calendar year and ended with exams. Positive exam results made it possible to transfer to the next grade. There were cases when students showed a low level of knowledge.

That was a reason to leave them for a repeat course or perform additional tasks during the holidays and conduct a re-examination for them before the new school year.

Usually, at the beginning of June, after the passing of all exams and completion of all matters related to the training department, a celebration was held on a day set by the leadership to mark the end of the school year. A thanksgiving prayer was held, after which the students of grades 1-5, who had demonstrated excellent knowledge during the exams, were awarded a certificate of good work and conduct. Successful completion of a full course of study at the School resulted in a certificate. Particularly diligent students were rewarded with cash payments from the capital accumulated from the 1.100 rubles donated to the School at the stage of its foundation by Arsenius, Metropolitan of Kyiv and Halychyna. For example, in 1873, Anna Lebedynska, a graduate of the School, got 50 rubles as a reward along with a certificate Ibidem..

The unfortunate situations happened at School as well. Not all students could complete the full course of study. The reasons for expulsion were different: the state of health of the students or the financial problems of their parents. For example, Olha Zavadska, the daughter of a priest of Kaniv povit, whose father paid 15 rubles for her education every year, was excluded from the 4th grade. The family's financial situation made it impossible for the girl to continue her education Ibid. С. 69..

The quality of staffing at Lebedyn Women's Professional School is also worth noting. The level of teachers' education was quite high. Its staff consisted of two priests of the local church, 6 teachers who were graduates of Kyiv Theological Seminary, Bila Tserkva Nonclassical Secondary School, Tiflis Gymnasium, and the graduates of St. Petersburg Orphan Institute of Nicholas I. Church chant was taught to students by a monastery priest Ibid. С. 67..

The schoolmistress and five class mistresses were the graduates of Lebedyn Women's Professional School. Quite often, the learners of monastery schools, especially orphans, children of the clergy, and from secular families as well, expressed a wish to become novices and monks of the monasteries in which they themselves got the education.

Another mission of monastery schools was educational when the learners themselves became class mistresses and teachers. For example, the above-mentioned 1873 year graduate of Lebedyn Women's Professional School Anna Lebedynska, having excellent academic results, got the proposal to take the position of class mistress of the same school Ibid. С. 65.. Children who did not want to enter monasticism or who were taken away by their parents were never encouraged by the School leadership to stay in the monastery.

Monastery priests taught the Law of God to children of the School for free. By agreement with the leadership of the School, instead of being paid for their work, they got the right to educate their daughters there for free. During the school year, the teachers there taught from 8 to 28 lessons per week and a salary, respectively, from 200 to 700 rubles per year. If necessary, school teachers were provided with housing. The position of school inspector was also introduced, who was employed there on special terms. She was supposed to be paid a salary in the amount of 150 rubles per year and was provided with housing, full meals, and servants at the expense of the School Ibid. С. 70.. The School, at its own expense, also had three masters of sewing and shoe repair, eight convent nuns who worked in the School, as well as sixteen laundresses Ibidem..

After the death on April 26, 1875, of the reverend mother of Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent, the founder and head of the School Hegumenia Filareta, the staff of the School began to be rather afraid that the educational institution might cease to function.

The local clergy and all those families whose children were students of the School were particularly concerned. Rumors were spreading that the School would be reorganized into a simple literacy school, allegedly due to the fact that the nuns did not want to have an educational institution at their abode, which absorbed almost all of the convent's income Известия из Лебединского училища. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1874. № 6. С. 83..

Archimandrite Arsenii, Archpriest of the monasteries of Kyiv Eparchy, reverend father of Kyiv Vydubychi Monastery, visited the Convent to clarify the situation and decide the further fate of the Women's School Распоряжения епархиального начальства. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1875. № 16. С. 537.. The inhabitants of the Convent decided to continue the good work of Hegumenia Filareta and continue to take care of the educational institution, and the Archpriest informed the Eparchy leadership about that. The newly elected Hegumenia Archelaia (Dashkevych) was also appointed the Head of the Professional School. The staff of the School at that time included 8 teachers, 4 class mistresses who were also engaged in teaching activities, a supply and maintenance schoolmistress, and a hospital supervisor Киевская єпархия в 1878 году. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1879. № 7. С. 4..

Practically from the first days of her election to the position of the Head of the School, Hegumenia Archelaia paid considerable attention to the improvement of the educational institution. Classrooms were re-equipped and repaired, special attention was paid to the organization of living conditions and everyday life of the students. The previously built dormitory for female students looked like a common bedroom that could accommodate almost a hundred beds. On the one hand, such construction earlier solved the problem of accommodating the students who needed full boarding.

On the other hand, the inconvenience of having so many children in one room, as well as the non-compliance even with the time hygienic norms, were obvious. And it was quite difficult to properly heat such a large room. Over time, such inconveniences were eliminated by the leadership of the School. Hegumenia Archelaia ordered to organize bedrooms for children in comfortable and dry premises consisting of several rooms, and the former common bedroom was reconstructed into a kitchen and dining room Известия из Лебединского училища. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1875. № 16. С. 539..

On the initiative of the newly elected Head of the School, the educational process was changed as well. Teachers mastered and applied new methods and techniques for teaching female students, especially younger children. The experience of public schools in organizing the educational process in the form of lessons on separate specific subjects was adopted. Learning French and German became mandatory for all students Ibid. С. 539..

The growth in the number of students of Lebedyn Women's Professional School testified to its demand and popularity among the population of Chyhyryn and the nearest povits of Kyiv hubernia.

For comparison, in all women's professional schools of the Ecclesiastical Department of Kyiv Eparchy, as of 1878, the number of students was up to 500, and a significant part of them were children not only from clergy families but also representatives of other strata of society Киевская епархия в 1878 году. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1879. № 7. С. 5.. At that time, 91 students studied at Lebedyn Professional School, 69 of whom were children from clergy families and 22 - from other strata. The daughters of nobles, officials, merchants, townspeople, and peasants were also educated in the School, and there were even children of foreigners whose parents worked for Horodyshche Sugar Plant Краткий отче о состоянии Лебединского шестиклассного училища... 1872-1873... С. 69.. Out of the total number of the educatees, 36 were on the Convent's full board, 34 - with a conditional fee for education and maintenance, 16 - did not live in the dormitory, but paid tuition fees, and another 5 girls also did not live in the dormitory, but studied for free.

The approach to tuition fees was quite different. In particular, the tuition fees for girls from clergy families ranged from 65 to 130 rubles per year, including music lessons, French, and German. Secular families paid from 100 to 180 rubles for the education of their children. Lebedyn Convent took care of purchasing clothes, shoes, and educational literature for orphaned children, and their parents paid for those who had families CSHAU in Kyiv. Fund 183. List 1. File 300. P. 48..

In fact, tuition fees for children who were on full or partial board and those who studied but did not live in the School formed the main source of revenue for Lebedyn Women's Professional School. The total amount of revenue in 1878 averaged 6.799 silver rubles.

Almost half of the sum (3.338 rubles) was spent on teachers' salaries Ibid. P. 13.. In addition, the Metropolitan of Kyiv annually donated 200 rubles to the School, and over time - 300 rubles. It was a small but stable income. Also, the School had a small capital. Those were funds in the amount of 1.100 rubles donated some time ago by Metropolitan Arsenii and deposited in the bank at 5% per annum Киевская епархия в 1878 году. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1879. № 7. С. 5.. The interest earned on that capital was spent on supporting orphans from clergy families, or rewarding such children for special merits in their studies and behavior.

Private one-time donations were also made for the benefit of the School. Among those who financially supported the School were the director of the local sugar plant V. Konstantynov and the trustee of the School, a merchant from the town of Shpola O. Otrachenko. The latter provided assistance with candles from his plant, which were sold in the Convent, and the proceeds were given to the School.

However, the funds received by the School were catastrophically insufficient. For a better understanding of the financial situation in the educational institution, the leadership of Kyiv Eparchy established an audit commission headed by Archpriest A. Voskresenskyi. The results of the audit indicated that the leadership of the educational institution properly performed its duties, and in order to maintain its status as a six-grade school, the School needed to further raise additional funds.

The search for ways out of the difficult economic situation led to the idea of opening a wax candle plant at Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent. It was assumed that a significant portion of the income could be transferred to the benefit of the Women's School. Hegumenia Archelaia actively supported the idea of establishing a plant and appealed to the clergy of Chyhyryn and other neighboring povits to support the Lebedyn Convent in that matter and then buy candles for their churches and monasteries only from that plant Ibidem..

However, even such measures did not solve the financial expenses of the Convent for the growing needs of the School. And those were not the only problems for the Convent and its educational institution. The problem of further education worried both students of eparchy women's professional schools and their parents. The thing was that the certificate of completion of the eparchy professional school was not equal to the certificate of the gymnasium. Graduates of such professional schools could enter higher grades only if they passed all exams for the gymnasium course.

And the choice of the field of activity after graduating from such a professional school was limited to the position of a village school teacher. In the labor market, it was difficult for a graduate of an eparchy professional school to compete with students of women's gymnasiums. Another problem was the closeness of educational institutions, and extremely strict rules of routine for female students, which did not allow them to receive proper comprehensive development at the right time and hindered their socialization Современные задачи женских епархиальных училищ. Почаев: Типография Почаево-Успенской лавры, 1905. С. 3..

In 1886, the Six-grade Women's Professional School at Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent was abolished. Most of the clergy of Cherkasy and Chyhyryn povits closest to Lebedyn made a choice for the education of their children and financial support in favor of two women's professional schools in Kyiv, giving reasons for better transportation as well.

In 1887, the new reverend mother of Lebedyn St. Nikolas Convent, Hegumenia Apollinaria, again petitioned Kyiv Spiritual Consistory to resume work and support the further functioning of Lebedyn Women's Professional School, which was of particular importance for orphans and children from poor families in the region Распоряжение епархиального начальства «О женском духовном училище при женском Лебединском монастыре». Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1887. № 43. С. 837-838..

However, after lengthy discussions, by the resolution of Kyiv Spiritual Consistory dated November 12, 1887, Hegumenia Apollinaria was offered to establish a two-grade women's school on the type of two-grade parochial schools with monastic funds and private donations, instead of the abolished six-grade school Журнал совета Киевского женского училища духовного ведомства мая 14 дня 1892 г. Киевские епархиальные ведомости. 1892. № 12. С. 154..

Such schools already existed at Sts. Florus and Laurus Convent of the Ascension and Rzhyshchiv Spaso- Preobrazhenskyi Convent. It was supposed to be a two-grade Women's Professional School for children of psalm readers and orphans from clergy families. In order to improve the financial support of the School, it was proposed to redirect the deductions of 2% from the salaries of the psalm readers of Chyhyryn, Cherkasy, Zvenyhorod, and Kaniv povits, which were territorially close to Lebedyn Convent. Earlier, the named deductions were transferred to the Council of Kyiv Women's Professional School of the Ecclesiastical Department Распоряжение епархиального начальства «О женском духовном училище при женском Лебединском монастыре»....