salvation than in intelligent and efficient administration of their internal affairs and the development of the cooperative spirit within their own and other environing communities, to insure for all of them their continued cultural development and impregnability.[1]
He had learned much from old Akenthia as well as from other learned men who came to the monastery about the merits and demerits of the various kinds of ruling governments in northern Rus, in the principality of Novgorod and other provinces; about the progress and development of civilization and the diverse practices of governments. All that he heard inspired him to make a firm resolve to devote his entire life to the betterment of community life in his beloved Tukhlia and the creation of a set of principles and workable laws which would bring about the closest possible cooperation among his people and their surrounding communities or townships.
Seventy years had now passed since he had returned from his wanderings. Like an archaic, giant oak stood Zakhar Berkut amidst the younger generations and saw with his own eyes the results of his long years of labor. There is no doubt but that he must have looked upon his work with the greatest feeling of joy and satisfaction. The community stood indivisible, a strongly united, cooperative body, each individual member secure in the enjoyment of all his liberties and free customs, municipal privileges, the rights of justice, common deliberation and freedom from arbitrary taxes. The community held its own court, conducted its own trials and managed all its affairs
- ↑ The king surrounded himself with a chosen warband of companions, servants or “thegns” (English) or boyars (Ukrainian) who were rewarded for their service by gifts from the public land. Their distinction rested not on hereditary rank, but on service done to the king. The fidelity of this warband was rewarded with grants from the royal domain, the king became their lord “the dispenser of gifts”. Personal service at his court was held not to degrade but to ennoble. The boyar absorbed every post of honor while his wealth increased as the common folk-land passed into the hands of the king and was carved out by him into estates for his dependents.
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