THE CONTRIBUTION OF SAINT INNOKENTY (BORYSOV) TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KYIV THEOLOGICAL ACADEMY AND HIS TEACHING AND ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

Abstract

The article analyzes the life path of Saint Innokenty (Borysov), rector and teacher of Kyiv theological schools, an outstanding preacher, church figure and hierarch, who served in many ancient chairs in Ukraine, which was under the control of the Russian Empire at the time. The milestones of the archbishop’s life and his contribution to the education of the Kyiv Academy were studied. The results of his teaching and academic activities are also described. The work mentions the saint’s childhood and the period of study, because it is from this time that the formation of his worldviews begins, which influenced his further fate and activities. Attention is paid to his pastoral labors in the army during the Crimean War, where he was a comforting angel for soldiers in hospitals and on the battlefield. Hierarchical growth of Innokenty Borysov, as well as his activities in the ranks of archimandrite, bishop and archbishop, are traced. Attention is paid to the saint’s professorial activity because he was an outstanding teacher of his time who knew how to win the sincere attention of students. The moment of the hierarch’s administrative work is shown in the form of his achievements in the reformation of the then education system in the Kyiv Theological Academy. The saint’s special skills were also characterized, namely his phenomenal memory, thanks to which he easily quoted the holy fathers in Latin and Greek, the Old and New Testaments, and could deliver a sermon without extra preparation.