Russian warrior monks

[Paul]

The good People Over at PSR are asking for a bit of help

Does anyone know of any books or other sources that could help us research Russian warrior monks 1500-1700? So far we have found no material that really helps us with the new RedBox sets, so if anyone knows where we can get some please contact us as we would not like to have to admit another defeat on a review

!

[Susofrick]

I looked at the pictures and to me they look pretty much like fantasy. Did they exist at all? Could be useful if you need a reaper, but other than that?

[Paul]

Monks certainly fought at the seige of Siege of Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra, which, if they are meant to represent just that (and there wasn´t any actual Units of "warrior Monks") then as a set it´s got limited uses..apart from an Imaginary one. Wether they were a unit specially set up and maintained as "fighting Monks" I cannot find anything and I assume they are meant to represent the ones at Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_ ... yeva_Lavra

[Alex]

In Russia, there was no spetsialnyh military monastic orders, as in Europe. Military service, as well as other "secular" profession were not allowed to the monks. But the majority of the monastery is a fortress. And if the enemy attacked, the defending fortress everyone who was there at that time. Including the monks were not idle during this time.
Besides, some monks were soldiers before the vows.
But to participate in military operations outside the monastery - is an exceptional event, for which permission was required esteemed bishop. In the chronicles known only one such case in which the front of the battle of Kulikovo two monks were sent into battle against the Mongols. Both were known before the adoption of vows and mighty warriors.
The participation of the monks in the defense of the fortress - monastery has many messages in the annals.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solovetsk ... y_Uprising

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jasna_G%C3%B3ra

Unfortunately, there are many "scientific" books written dreamers. There you can read about Shao Linea in Russia, but it is - a lie.
So Red box set quite true, but the situation in the fortress, the monks were forced to defend themselves.
Now in Russia there are several priests who practice martial arts, but mainly the type of Aikido, initially a defensive struggle.