Вестник Екатеринбургской духовной семинарии (Oct 2024)
Saint Innokenty (Veniaminov) and His Work on the Establishment of Secondary Theological Education in the Far East
Abstract
The episcopal service of Innokenty (Veniaminov), Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna, remains a relevant topic for the researches nowadays. His ministry as the ruling bishop of the vast Kamchatka Diocese, which included great territories of the Far East, Siberia and Alaska, has been studied in a number of scientific works. Concern for the spiritual education of the clergy entrusted to the care of a diocesan bishop is always among hierarch’s most important responsibilities. The issues of organization and development of the secondary theological education in the territory of Kamchatka Diocese during the years of Archbishop Innokenty’s archpastoral ministry are undoubtedly an important area for independent analysis. In 2024, two important dates are celebrated: 145 years since the death of St. Innokenty and 200 years since his first arrival in America as a future hierarch. Since the issue of the theological seminary establishment in Novoarkhangelsk, Yakutsk and subsequently in Blagoveshchensk was not a separate area for research, it should be recognized that paying attention to this topic undoubtedly seems relevant and scientifically significant. Thus, the purpose of this work is to study Bishop Innokenty’s activities in organizing secondary theological schools in the Kamchatka Diocese. The main source became the materials of the Russian State Historical Archive of St. Petersburg as well as published sources, in particular Metropolitan Innokenty’s letters. Basing on these materials’ study, and also on contemporary researchers’ works, one can conclude that Metropolitan Innokenty paid special attention to the establishment of theological schools in his diocese, while setting as the long-term goal both the training and educating future clergy and the formation of comprehensively developed missionaries. The work reflects numerous problems that had to be faced in organizing theological seminary, which led to the fact that the theological school changed its location three times during the years of this Bishop’s ministry in the Far East. According to the results of the study, it has been possible to conclude that the theological seminary of Kamchatka diocese, thanks to the Bishop’s care, contributed to the successful development of the Orthodox mission in the region, in a fairly short time, despite numerous difficulties.
Keywords
