DIFFICULTIES OF THE DIVORCE PROCESS OF PEASANTS IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY (in terms of Tobolsk diocese)

Based on previously unexplored documents of Tobolsk Ecclesiastical Consistory, stored in the State Archive in Tobolsk, the difficulties that stood in the way of peasants to obtain permission to divorce were identified. The influence of large territories of the Russian Empire, including Tobolsk diocese, on the increase in the duration of office work and, as a consequence, on the aggravation of problems associated with divorce, is revealed. The dynamics of filing petitions for divorce for each decade from 1863 to 1917 is presented, the analysis of which showed that in the early 20th century, peasants, eager to change a spouse, applied more and more often, however, as ages before, only a few received positive decisions per year. It is concluded that most of the problems associated with divorce proceedings had remained unchanged since the previous19th century. It was found that in the early 20th century, more and more literate people, now able to sign documents on their own, appeared; however, ignorance of the laws led to an increase, in quite long time, frame for resolving marriage issues. Personal circumstances could also have an impact, and the diocesan authorities’ strict adherence to the letter of the law prevented them from entering into the position of the participants in the case.