Raisa Zianiuk. Traditions of Alcohol Consumption and Production in Roman Catholic Monasteries and Theological Seminaries in the Belarusian-Lithuanian Lands (1772–1914)

The article traces the evolution of the traditions of alcohol production and consumption in Roman Catholic monasteries in the Belarusian-Lithuanian lands in the late 18^th and early 20^th centuries. The tradition of Roman Catholic monasticism on the territory of today’s Belarus dates back to the 13th century. However, monastic orders in the Belarusian-Lithuanian lands received the greatest development in the 17^th – 18^th centuries. Parallel to the development of the network of Roman Catholic orders and their monasteries, the main directions of their activities also developed. One of these directions was brewing and making strong alcoholic beverages.

The author tries to determine how important the consumption of alcohol was in everyday monastic life. Particular attention is paid to the consumption of alcoholic beverages in Roman Catholic theological seminaries – educational institutions where future representatives of the diocesan clergy received education and training. The article defines the main types of alcohol used in monasteries and seminaries (beer, vodka, and wine). It talks about the negative consequences of the use of alcohol by the clergy (alcoholism, and suicides), as well. The reason for the decline of the traditions of making alcoholic beverages in the Roman Catholic Church was the confessional policy of the Russian authorities after suppression of the uprising of 1863–1864, as well as the development of the industrial production of alcohol.