Theological Academy :: ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF SAINT PETERSBURG

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Theological Academy

THEOLOGICAL ACADEMY located at 17 Obvodny Canal Embankment, closed higher theological education institution. It was founded under Metropolitan Gavriil in 1797 as the Alexander Nevsky Theological Academy based on the Main Seminary and situated in Alexander Nevsky Lavra. It was transformed into Petersburg Theological Academy under Mitropolitan Amvrosy in 1809. It had an archimandrite and, later, bishop at the head and admitted graduates of theological seminaries. The academy introduced such academic degrees as doctor of theology, master of theology, and candidate of theology. An academy building was constructed by architects L. Rusca and I. I. Charlemagne at 7 Obvodny Canal Embankment in 1817-21 and extended by architect G. I. Karpov in 1881-82. Among teachers were prominent clerics including Evgeny (Bolkhovitinov), Filaret (Drozdov), the rector in 1812-20, Makary (Bulgakov), Innokenty (Borisov), and Antony (Vadkovsky), the rector in 1887-92, as well as Professor V. V. Bolotov, N. N. Glubokovsky, A. P. Lopukhin, A. I. Brilliantov, A. A. Dmitrievsky, et al. Among graduates of the academy were John of Kronstadt, Bishop Theophan the Recluse, Patriarch Tikhon, Mitropolitan Veniamin (Kazansky), many hierarchs, theologists, and church historians. The academy was the centre of theological and historical research also engaged in the translation of the Holy Fathers. The findings of research were published in academic journals such as Khristianskoe Chtenie from 1821 and Tserkovny Vestnik from 1874. A room of church antiquities was opened in 1879. The academy was renamed as the Imperial Theological Academy in 1913-17. It was closed in 1918; its building was taken over for an orphanage. The role of the Theological Academy was assumed by the Theological Institute and Higher Theological Courses in 1920-28. Re-established in 1946, the academy was situated in the building of the Theological Seminary and transferred under the supervision of the Educational Committee of the Holy Synod. Among graduates of the academy were Patriarch Alexy II (Ridiger) and Reigning Mitropolitan Vladimir (Kotlyarov). Bishop Konstantin Tikhvinsky (Goryanov), the rector of the academy since 1996, is also in charge of theological schools in St. Petersburg. In 1963, a faculty of foreign students was established and the academy became the centre of ecumenism with chanter classes opened in 1978. There were 137 students including 58 external students at the academy in 2002. The teaching staff included 12 professors and 45 teachers. Studies last three years and postgraduate studies two years. The academy published its Herald of Leningrad Theological Academy in 1990 and resumed publishing Khristianskoe Chtenie in 1991. It also holds theological conferences and international symposia regularly.

References: Чистович И. А. История С.-Петербургской духовной академии. СПб., 1857; Его же. С.-Петербургская духовная академия за последние 30 лет (1858-1888 гг.). СПб., 1889; Богословские труды: Сб., посвящ. 175-летию Ленингр. духов. акад. М., 1986.

V. V. Antonov.