Kiev Theological Academy is the oldest university in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Religious educational institution was founded at the beginning of the XVII century. At that time, the university’s metropolis was under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople. You will find the development history and information about graduates and rectors of the Kiev Theological Academy in our article.
Kiev Brotherhood School
The primary source of the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary is the Kiev Brotherhood School, which appeared on the basis of the Epiphany Monastery in 1615. Her appearance was realized on the idea of Archimandrite Elisha Pletenetsky. According to his plan, classical languages, rhetoric, theology and a number of areas of elementary education were to be studied here. Later, Kiev Metropolitan Peter Mogila contributed to the unification of his school with the Kiev-Bratsk. After some time, the institution changed its status and became the Kiev-Mohyla College.
Kiev-Mohyla College
The format of the work of this institution was similar to foreign counterparts in which the Grave received education. As part of the program, students studied languages, arithmetic, poetry, rhetoric, theology, music, catechism and philosophy. Also on Saturdays, pupils went to classes in the conduct of disputes. The rector was at the head of the educational institution; he delegated part of the powers to the perfection and superintendent. Famous personalities trained here are Lazar Baranovich, Feofan Prokopovich, Innokenty Gisel, Stefan Yavorsky.
Kiev-Mohyla Academy
The institution received the status of the academy in 1701. In connection with these changes, several more sciences and languages began to be taught here:
- geography;
- maths;
- natural history;
- French;
- German;
- Jewish language
- painting;
- architecture;
- the medicine;
- rural and home economies;
- supreme eloquence.
By the end of the XVIII century, the staff of teachers totaled more than twenty people, more than ten thousand books were stored in the local library. The main part of the curriculum was based on foreign sources. The exceptions were only theology, which was studied according to the Prokopovich system, and rhetoric, the basis of which was spelled out in the leadership of Lomonosov.
At the end of the 18th century, serious changes began in the life of the academy. During this period, the state began to allocate some appropriations for its needs, which greatly facilitated the life of spiritual persons. The high level of education allowed the pupils of the school to easily enter the academies and seminaries of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan. After some time, its popularity faded significantly due to the emergence of Moscow and Kharkov universities. By decision of the Synod, since 1817, the Kiev-Mohyla Academy was closed.
Kiev Theological Academy
In 1819, an educational institution, new in its structure, began its activity. They organized it in a historical place - on the basis of the Brotherly Epiphany School of the Monastery. New teachers worked here, who organized the educational process according to an improved system.
Closing in Soviet times
The official liquidation of the Kiev Theological Academy took place in 1919 by decision of the Soviet authorities. On their orders, the seminary building was converted into a naval political school, but despite these changes, religious citizens created a small Orthodox Theological Academy, led by the former rector of the Kiev Theological Academy, Alexander Glagolev. It was here that the training of those who decided to devote themselves to religious service took place. It is worth noting that the educational institution did not have its own building. Teachers lectured in private apartments. There is information that such a training format existed until 1925.
Academy's new life
After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine gained complete independence, and religious trends in the country - a new branch of development. So, in 1992, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate created the Kiev Theological Academy on their own initiative - two independent seminaries with the same names appeared. The creators claimed that each of these religious institutions is the successor to the academy, closed in 1919. Later, the church of the Kiev Patriarchate nevertheless decided to rename its educational institution to the Kiev Orthodox Theological Academy.
Modern "Kiev Theological Academy"
The founding place of the institution was the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Graduates receive the qualifications of candidates of theology and masters of theology. The journal “Proceedings of the Kiev Theological Academy” is considered an honorary publication.
In an educational institution applicants from different countries want to study. Currently, guests from Serbia, Greece and Poland are undergoing training. They study humanitarian subjects and theology, which allows graduates to be not only religiously educated, but also to gain in-depth knowledge in a variety of areas (languages, philosophy, history and others). Musically gifted students can try their hand at the choir of the Kiev Theological Academy, which is known throughout the world.
The principle of admission to the academy
The term of study at the Kiev Theological Academy is two years. Only men under the age of thirty-five can become students of an educational institution. All applicants are pre-trained at the seminary and receive first grade. It should be noted that the seminary diploma should be without triples. Before becoming students, applicants must successfully pass an interview and pass exams in subjects such as church history, English, dogmatic theology, the Holy Scriptures of the New and Old Testaments. A complete list of documents required for admission is presented on the official website of the academy. You must come to the entrance exams with a passport and military ID. Students enrolled in the academy are provided with free meals and accommodation in a hostel with domestic services. Education here is absolutely free. Scholarships for excellent students at the Kiev Theological Academy are not provided.
Rectors
During the existence of the seminary, its leadership had more than twenty talented rectors. The Kiev Theological Seminary "at different times was ruled by the following legendary figures:
- Archbishop Moses - the period of his service in this position 1819-1823.
- Innokenty Borisov is the legendary rector of the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary. He worked in this position since 1830 for nine years. It is considered a very famous preacher, a member of the Russian Academy. Also on his account a place of honor in the Holy Synod.
- Metropolitan Ioannikiy - bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church and rector of the Kiev Theological Seminary in the period from 1859-1860. He is known to the world for having founded three spiritual journals. In 2016, he was counted among the locally revered saints.
- Bishop Michael - led the Academy from 1877 to 1883. The spiritual writer and theologian wrote dozens of works known in religious circles. “Biblical science”, “Essay on the history of the interpretation of the Bible”, “Prophetic books of the Old Testament” - these are his works.
- Plato Rozhdestvensky - stood at the helm from 1902 to 1907. After the Kiev Theological Academy, he led the North American Diocese. He was removed three times from this position.
- Nikolay Zabuga - rector from 1994 to 2007. From 2005 to 2007, he was chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.
- Metropolitan Anthony - led the seminary for ten years from 2007 to 2017. He is the author of such important religious books as Simple Truths, Learning to Trust God, and Don't Go Alone.
- Bishop Sylvester - took office as rector in 2017 and bears this title to this day. He has the order of St. Peter the Grave and the Monk Nestor the Chronicler.
All representatives of leading positions at the Kiev Theological Seminary are outstanding personalities and excellent mentors.
Inspectors
Employees in this category are involved in the control of educational processes at the academy. This position was occupied by various outstanding personalities. Now it has been abolished. The last inspector was Vasily Bogdashevsky, who worked in this position from 1909 to 1913. He is known for writing such wonderful books:
- "About the church"
- The Law and the Gospel
- "On Christian charity" and others.
Also at different times, Grigory Mitkevich, Ioannikiy Gorsky, Dmitry Kovalnitsky worked as inspectors.
Graduates
Over the entire period of existence, the Kiev Theological Academy has released many legendary personalities. They have achieved tremendous success both in religious affairs and in science. One of the most talented graduates of the Kiev Theological Academy is Didenko Elevferiy. It was he who became the first governor of the revived Lavra. Here are a few more graduates of the Kiev Theological Academy:
- Theophan the Recluse - Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1988, he was counted among the saints. His relics are stored in the Kazan Cathedral of the Vyshensky Monastery. At one time, Theophan the Recluse wrote many monumental works. Among them: "The path to salvation", "Collection of letters", "What is spiritual life and how to tune in to it."
- Konstantin Dmitrievich Popov - graduate and teacher of patristics of the educational institution. The list of his significant works for the Kiev Theological Academy is as follows: “The Doctrine of the Twelve Apostles”, “Tertullian”, “Blessed Diakhod”.
- Pamfil Danilovich Yurkevich - the son of a priest and a pupil of the seminary. From 1869 to 1873 he was the dean of the teacher's seminary of the military department. He had several philosophical ideas that were included in the works of the Kiev Theological Academy and published in the Journal of the Ministry of Public Education.
Also, the pupils of this educational institution are Nazariy Favorov, Nikolai Stelletsky, Nicodemus Milash and other famous theologians.
Academy address: Kiev, st. Lavra, d. 15.