The first thing that comes to mind when mentioning the term "bursa" is the work "Viy" by N. V. Gogol, because the main character of this story, Khoma Brut, is a bursak who went home during a vacation. In the works of this particular writer, this educational institution is mentioned very often (Andrei and Ostap Bulby were also Bursaks). These religious schools became more widespread in the Ukraine (Russian Empire) and Poland. Both Kuprin and Pomyalovsky wrote about bursa graduates.
Metamorphoses of the term
Turning to the origins of the term, which came from the Latin language, it should be noted that in literal translation the word "bursa" is a pocket or purse. Then in the Middle Ages, this concept meant the general fund of an educational institution, monastery, union or brotherhood. Gradually, the term transferred its meaning to the cash desk of the theological school, and then to the seminary itself and the dormitory attached to it. 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.
Apartment provided to students of certain educational institutions withfull content was 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 19th century, burses were very common.
The most famous bursa of the Russian Empire
In Ukraine and Poland, the bursa is specifically a spiritual school, which in Kyiv was later transformed into a theological academy. In Krakow, the Długosz bursa existed until 1840. The aforementioned Kiev Brotherhood School and its dormitory were founded under Peter Mogila, Metropolitan of Kiev, Galicia and All Russia in the 17th century.
Life in the bursa was not easy, because it was supported by donations mainly from the Cossack formations, which began to dissolve in the 17th century. Since the food, clothing and housing provided free of charge were more than scarce, the Bursaks began to provide for their survival by alms. This was done by the students themselves. Among them, annually and solemnly elected a group of persons who were engaged in the collection of alms and their distribution. These were prefects, assistants and secretaries. With the special Album book, trusted individuals went around begging for alms.
Besides, gifted children formed artels, which earned the necessary funds by reading poetry, sending services, staging plays and performing cants.
Bad Symbol
The position of the pupils of the burs improved somewhat by the 18th century. Because Metropolitan Arseniy, preacher of the courtElizaveta Petrovna, took care of the fate of the Bursaks. He increased the funds issued to him and transferred the school from a wooden building to a stone one, thereby improving the living conditions of the seminarians. Nevertheless, the collection of funds by the Bursaks was finally banned in 1786. Obviously, there were abuses, and the studies in the bursa suffered.
In some theological 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 we althy segments of the population, while the burses were intended for the poor, the education period did not exceed 2 years, and the amount of knowledge provided was minimal. They were dominated by unsanitary conditions and cruel morals, the children were malnourished and lacked sleep, there is no need to talk about getting a decent education. All this is very well described in N. G. Pomyalovsky's Essays on the Bursa. It should be noted that the book caused a very wide resonance in society. Maybe that's why educational institutions that do not provide solid knowledge are called scornfully bursa.
Other values
But bursa is not only all of the above. What other meanings does this word have? Bursa is also the fourth largest city in Turkey, located in the northwest of Antalya. In addition, there is an abbreviation BURS, which stands for "ignition and alarm control unit".
Without these blocks, automation of steam and hot water boilers is impossible. It provides semi-automaticstarting the boiler, maintaining the desired temperature and pressure, supplying fuel and other functions. Of course, for each block, only the BURS scheme intended for it is provided.
