Bursa is the name of the spiritual school in the old days and not only. Meanings of the word

The first thing that comes to mind when referring to the term "bursa" is the work of Viy NV Gogol, because the main character of this novel, Homa Brutus, is a bursak who went home during the vakation. In the writings of this writer, this institution is mentioned very often (Andrei and Ostap Bulba were also bursaks). These spiritual schools have become more widespread in Ukraine (the Russian Empire) and in Poland. About graduates bursa and wrote Kuprin, and Pomyalovsky.

Metamorphoses of the term

Turning to the origins of the term, which came from the Latin language, it should be noted that in the literal translation the word "bursa" is a pocket or purse. Then in the Middle Ages, this term was understood as the general cashier of an educational institution, monastery, union or brotherhood. Gradually the term transferred its meaning to the cash register of the spiritual school, and then to the seminary and hostel itself. There is nothing surprising in the fact that educational institutions with this name first appeared in France, because the language of this country is vulgar Latin.

The apartment with full contents was given to students of certain educational institutions with the full content called bursa, and the students living in it were called bursaks, but in French it sounded much more beautiful: bursarli or bursiati. In France until the end of the XIX century bursa was very common.

The most famous bursa of the Russian Empire

In Ukraine and Poland, the seminary is specifically a spiritual school, which in Kiev was later transformed into a spiritual academy. In Krakow, the bursa Dlugosa survived until 1840. The above-mentioned Kiev-brotherly school and hostel was formed under Peter Mogil, Metropolitan of Kiev, Galicia and All Russia in the 17th century.

Life in the bursa was not easy, because it was provided with donations, mainly from Cossack formations, which began to blossom in the XVII century. Since food, clothing and housing provided free of charge were more than scarce, the bursaks began to provide their survival with alms. The pupils themselves did this. In their midst each year and solemnly elected a group of persons who were engaged in the collection of alms and their distribution. They were prefects, assistants and secretaries. With a special album Album, trusted persons circumvented the counties with a request for alms.

In addition, the gifted children formed artels, which earned necessary means by reading poetry, organizing services, staging plays and performing kant.

Badge symbol

The situation of the graduates of the bursa improved somewhat by the 18th century. Because Metropolitan Arseny, a preacher of the court of Elizabeth Petrovna, cared about the fate of the bursaks. He increased the money given to them and transferred the school from a wooden structure to a stone one, thereby improving the living conditions of the seminarians. Nevertheless, the collection of funds by bursaks was finally banned in 1786. Obviously, there were abuses, and the study in the bursa suffered.

In some seminaries, the term of study was three years or more. Along with rhetoric, philosophy and theology, history, geography and mathematics were studied. But theological seminaries were provided for children from more or less well-off strata of the population, while bursas were meant for the poor, the term of education did not exceed 2 years, and the amount of knowledge provided was minimal. They were dominated by unsanitary conditions and cruel customs, children were malnourished and undersupplied, one can not talk about getting a decent education. All this is very well described in N.G. Pomyalovsky's Essays on Bursa. It should be noted that the book caused a very wide resonance in the society. Maybe that's why educational institutions that do not give solid knowledge are called disparaging bursa.

Other values

But the bursa is not only all of the above. What other meanings does this word have? Bursa is the fourth largest city in Turkey, located in the north-west of Antalya. In addition, there is an abbreviation of BURS, which stands for " ignition and alarm control unit ". Without these units automation of steam and hot water boilers is impossible . It provides semi-automatic start-up of the boiler, maintenance of the necessary temperatures and pressure, fuel supply and other functions. Of course, that for each block only the intended BURS scheme is provided for it.