CONFESSIONAL LIFE OF PETERSBURG ROMAN CATHOLICS IN THE 18-th CENTURY

Abstract

On the basis of little-known archival documents this article considers the
processes of development of Roman Catholic Church in Petersburg in the 18-th
century, reveals the dynamics of baptisms, weddings and burials. The paper also
registers the believers’ participation in church sacraments and determines some
parameters of parish increasing. In the first years of 18-th century the Catholic
community totaled a few tens of the believers, to the middle of the century the parish
included already more than two thousand persons, and by the end of the century
consisted of 6—8 thousand. The author concludes that Catholics of Petersburg did
not yield to Protestants in the measure of the confessional activity and at the same
time Catholics have played a greater role in the formation of cultural and religious
landscape of the Russian Empire. The organization of the cult and the confessional
life of the Petersburg Catholics had aided to actualize the sacraments and helped
to the flock’s social adaptation. The Petersburg Catholics became some influences
on the Russian society’s life.