ABSTRACT
In its consequences the reform of the church administration was one of the most important Petrine reforms. It should be noted that the tsar had been considering it for a long time. A turning point in the new policy toward the church had occurred after the death of Patriarch Adrian in October 1700. Among the letters informing Peter about it was one of 25 October from Aleksei Kurbatov, a well-known “profit maker” or voluntary inventor of various requisitions and taxes from the populace. In his opinion the patriarchal system of administering the church had become ineffective, so in selecting the new patriarch “it will be proper to wait until such time as you yourself may wish to review your autocracy in this regard.” 1
