The publishing house of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy has published a monograph "Leningrad Theological Academy (late 1940s - mid-1960s): education and Science."
The monograph has become the fifth edition (after M.V. Shkarovsky's book "The Time for Saving Russia is Approaching." The life and Church ministry of Archbishop Theophan (Bystrov)", the collective monograph "Theological Disciplines at the St. Petersburg Theological Academy of the Synodal period", the monograph of Archpriest Vladimir Mustafin "Essays on Russian Epistemology of the XIX-XX centuries", as well as the book "Archpriest Nikolai Gundyaev (1940-2021). Life through Preaching"), published in the jubilee series dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the revival of the Leningrad (St. Petersburg) theological schools.
The author is a graduate of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Candidate of Theology, Deputy Director of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy Publishing House, Priest Nikolai Tarnakin.
The monograph is based on the PhD thesis of Father Nicholas, defended on February 24, 2025 at the Dissertation Council at the Orthodox St. Tikhon University for the Humanities and the St. Petersburg Theological Academy.
In his address to the readers, the President of the Russian Academy of Education, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor O.Y. Vasilyeva notes: "In the year when the St. Petersburg Theological Academy celebrates the 80th anniversary of its rebirth, it is important not to limit ourselves to solemn events and speeches, but also to take a closer look at the routine, daily work that was carried out within the walls of the Theological School, including during the Soviet years. The author, Priest Nikolai Tarnakin, did not write a hagiography, but an honest scientific work, where there is a place for asceticism, weaknesses, and tragedies of choice."
In the preface to the book, Archpriest Konstantin Kostromin, Associate Professor of the Department of Church History, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Theological Work at St. Petersburg State University, Candidate of Theology, Candidate of Historical Sciences, emphasizes: "In the jubilee year, recreating in historical memory the events of the revival of the theological academy ... it is impossible not to pay tribute to the corporation — mentors and students who decided in the "land of victorious atheism" to link their lives with the Church. ... Father Nicholas did not fail to characterize the scientific research of his predecessors, students and teachers <...> one cannot but pay tribute to those who created not "because of", but "in spite of", and was a recognized expert in theological knowledge."
The author of the monograph, using a significant number of archival documents from the Archives of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy and the Central State Archive of St. Petersburg, examines key aspects of the activities of theological schools: the process of restoration, preservation of pre-revolutionary academic traditions, the formation and composition of the teaching corporation and student body, curricula, liturgical life and cultural and educational events. Much attention is paid to scientific and theological work, publication activities, dissertation defense and participation in various conferences. It also shows the significant contribution of Metropolitan Gregory (Chukov) to the organization of the educational process and the development of theological science under state control.
Russians Russian Orthodox Church's Publishing Council recommended the monograph "Leningrad Theological Academy (late 1940s - mid—1960s): education and Science" for publication and is intended for teachers and students of theological educational institutions, theological faculties of secular universities, as well as for anyone interested in the history of spiritual education and the Russian Orthodox Church in the Soviet period..