Крестоприводные пошлины при присяге губных старост, целовальников, дьячков и тюремных сторожей

Исторический вестник. 2025. Т. LI. С. 46–59.

Королева М. В.

The article discusses the causes and methods of charging fees for kissing the cross. These fees were paid in the 17th century by headmen of the police district, tax-collectors, sextons and prison guards when they took the oath. Fees for kissing the cross are mentioned in scientific literature, but researchers have not studied what and how these duties were levied. 

The author bases on the archival documents and assumes that the headmen of the police district, tax-collectors, sextons and prison guards paid fees for kissing the cross for the letters of governmental instructions. These letters contained information about the powers and duties that officials assigned after they took the oath. The author also discusses the actions taken by the authorities to ensure the full payment of the necessary funds.

As a result, the author concludes that the fees for kissing the cross were only related to the oath by name. However, the actual severity of these annual payments influenced people's willingness to take the oath and perform related official duties.

Keywords: oath, присяга, cross-kissing, крестное целование, fees for kissing the cross, bringing to faith, крестоприводная пошлина, приведение к вере