From apocrypha to Church reformation and politics: Archpriest A.V. Smirnov's response to the challenges of time

Abstract

The life and creative path of archpriest Alexander Vasil’evich Smirnov (1857–1933), a famous ecclesiastical writer, professor of theology, and political leader in the Orthodox Church was analyzed. The focus of this article is on the evolution of his worldview and professional career in the era of revolutionary changes in the late Russian Empire. As a representative of the clergy, he studied at theological educational institutions (Simbirsk Ecclesiastical Seminary and Kazan Ecclesiastical Academy) and worked mainly in secular institutions (Kazan and St. Petersburg universities). During the First Russian Revolution, he actively participated in political discussions. He was one of the founders of the “Church and Public Life” magazine (1906–1907), where liberal professors of the Kazan Ecclesiastical Academy expressed their views. Then he was a deputy of the State Duma of the fourth convocation (1912–1917). As part of this activity, he theorized the issues of “Christian socialism” and the new synthesis of ecclesiastical and secular education. He was interested in biblical studies, critical analysis of the Old Testament’s apocrypha. Since A.V. Smirnov had a rich political and artistic experience, he contributed considerably to the intellectual space of the Church and the social reformation of the early 20th century. This paper marks the start of work on A.V. Smirnov’s biography as a researcher.

Keywords

• russian empire
• synodal church
• kazan university
• archpriest a.v. smirnov
• theology
• christian socialism
• apocrypha