The paper examines the main activities of church-parish schools in the Russian Empire during the second half of the 19th and the early 20th century as an element of the elementary education system. The research aims to identify their role in the spread of literacy, religious education, and social adaptation of the population. The analysis is conducted based on normative documents, statistical data, and methodological recommendations of the time. The aim of the study is a comprehensive assessment of the functioning of church-parish schools in the Russian Empire and their impact on the development of the educational environment and the spiritual and moral formation of the individual. Particular attention is paid to the following key areas: educational, religious and upbringing, as well as the social aspect, related to the accessibility of education for the poor sections of the population. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the systematic coverage of the structure and organization of these educational institutions, including their role in the training of teaching staff from among the local population. The research findings show that, despite limited state funding, church-parish schools played an important role in the formation of elementary education, providing not only the development of literacy, but also the strengthening of Orthodox traditions among young people. The data obtained allow us to expand the understanding of the mechanisms of functioning of the elementary education system in the pre-revolutionary period and its significance for the socio-cultural development of society.
Ivan Vladimirovich Kucherov (Tue,) studied this question.