ABSTRACT
In eighteenth century the trading networks of the Nezhin Greeks formed one of the bases for the integration of the northern Black Sea littoral into an incipient world economy, an economy fashioned to a considerable extent by economic developments further west. Nezhin Greeks might appeal to Ukrainian and Russian patrons to prevent their being condemned by the organs of the Brotherhood. The efforts the Nezhin Greeks made to create and maintain community structures despite their differing backgrounds, should point towards the central importance of community both as a framework for but also as a corollary to commerce. The Brotherhood's charter commences by determining a range of issues related to religious observance: the role of priests in the community, their obligations and their earnings; there follow the obligations of those elected to serve in the 'offices' of the Brotherhood, 'offices' that for the most part concerned the Brotherhood churches.
