NETWORK OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC MONASTERIES IN THE VOLYN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ХІХ CENTURY

. The process of assembling a network of Roman Catholic monasteries in Volyn which began at the end of the XІV century and ended at the beginning of the ХІХ century was analysed. It consisted of over fifty monasteries of various Roman Catholic male and female orders and congregations. Most of them had parish churches in which the monks performed pastoral duties. The focus is on the founders of monasteries among which were dominated local magnates , middle-class noblemen and the high-ranking clergy. Princes Ostro gs ki, Sangushki, Potocki and Lubomirski took the most active part in the foundation of the monasteries. Usually the monasteries were located in the patrimonial possessions of the founder. Most Roman Catholic monasteries were founded in the XVII century, much less in the XVIII century and only one appeared in the ХІХ century. Most of the monasteries belonged to the Dominicans and Carmelites, quite a few monasteries belonged to Bernardines and Trinitarians; Franciscans, Capuchins, Reform ate s, Augustinians had several monasteries each own, and only one monastery belonged to Bonifratris (officially the Hospitaller Order of the Brothers of Saint John of God) and to Marians. The number of female monasteries was strikingly smaller than male. Only the monasteries of Carmelites, Bridgettines and Charities (or sisters of mercy or Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul) were founded in Volyn. In conclusion it was noticed that the formation of a network of monasteries in Volyn has certain have certain patterns related to natural and geographical conditions. There were more monasteries in the forest-steppe south-western regions which was related to the concentration of magnate and noble estates in the economically more developed part of Volyn. Several monasteries functionate d in the such cities as Lutsk, Dubno and Kremenets. Lutsk remained the spiritual centre of Volyn where by the end of the XVІІІ century six monasteries had been established. In the Volyn province, most were of Dominicans monasteries (13) as well as Carmelites (12), somewhat less were of the monasteries of Bernardines (8), Franciscans (6), Trinitarians (5), and Capuchins (4). Augustinians had three monasteries in Volyn, Piarists and Reform ate s h e ld two monasteries each own as well as Bridgettines and Charities. Bonifratris, the Congregation of Marians and female Carmelite order had only one monastery each own.