ON THE ISSUE OF INSTITUTE PRIESTHOOD OF FINNO-UGRIC PEOPLES OF MIDDLE VOLGA REGION IN THE FOCUS OF HISTORICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

The article examines the main issues of institutionalization, legitimation of sacral power of clergymen of traditional religions of Finno-Ugric Peoples (for example, Mari, Udmurt, Mordovians). On the basis of interdisciplinary approaches of historical anthropology concludes that the clergy during its existence did not form a closed system of classical priesthood, are one of the most unique examples of conservation of autochthonous beliefs of ethnic groups living on the territory of the Middle Volga