Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary
Editorial Council Feodosy (Sergey I. Vasnev), Metropolitan of Tambov and Rasskazovo, Doctor of Theology, PhD in Theology. Tambov Theological Seminary, Rector (Tambov, RF). Kliment (German M. Kapalin), Metropolitan of Kaluga and Borovsk, Doctor of History, PhD in Theology. Publishing Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, Chairman (Moscow, RF); Kaluga Theological Seminary, Rector (Kaluga, RF). Alexander N. Uzhankov, Doctor of Philology, PhD in Cultural Studies, Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation, Member of the Bureau of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences for Natural and Cultural Heritage, Member of the Science Council of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. Moscow State Institute of Culture, Vice-Rector for Research, Head of the Department of Literature and Linguistics (Moscow, RF). Viktor A. Livtsov, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Honored Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation, Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation, member of the Expert Council of the Higher Attestation Commission for History under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. Central Russian Institute of Management - branch of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Deputy Director (Orel, RF). Sergey I. Resnyansky, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation, Member of the Expert Council for Theology of the Higher Attestation Commission under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation. Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education “Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia”, Professor of the Department of Russian History (Moscow, RF). Dmitry Yu. Leskin Archpriest, Doctor of Philosophy, PhD in Theology, Associate Professor, Honorary Worker of General Education of the Russian Federation, Honored Worker of Education of the Samara Region. Volga Academy of Education and Arts named after St. Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, Rector (Samara, RF). Sergiy (Vitaly V. Akimov), Archimandrite, Doctor of Theology, Professor, Member of the Synodal Biblical and Theological Commission of the Russian Orthodox Church (Merano, Italy). Serapion (August E. Mitko), Hegumen, Doctor of Theology, PhD in Philosophy. Professor of the All-Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies named after Saints Cyril and Methodius, Member of the Expert Council of the Higher Attestation Commission for Theology under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Moscow, RF). Nikolai V. Medvedev, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor. Derzhavin Tambov State University, Professor of the Philosophy Department and Methodology of Science, Faculty of History, World Politics and Sociology (Tambov, RF). Aleksei Yu. Ilin, Doctor of History, Professor. Tambov Branch of Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Director (Tambov, RF). Irina V. Naletova, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor. Rector of Tambov Regional State Educational Autonomous Institution of Additional Professional Education “Institute for Advanced Training of Education Workers” (Tambov, RF). Lyudmila Ye. Khvorova, Doctor of Philology, Professor. Derzhavin Tambov State University, Head of the Russian Language Department, Faculty of Philology and Journalism (Tambov, RF). Natalia V. Sorokina, Doctor of Philology, Professor. Derzhavin Tambov State University, Department of Russian and World Literature, Journalism, Faculty of Philology and Journalism (Tambov, RF). Viktor Lisyunin, Archpriest, PhD in Theology, PhD in History. Tambov Theological Seminary, Deputy Head of the Biblical Studies, Theology and Church History Department (Tambov, RF). Antony Dik, Deacon, PhD in History, Associate Professor. Derzhavin Tambov State University, Head of the Theological Department; Tambov Theological Seminary, Head of the Biblical Studies, Theology and Church History Department (Tambov, RF). Inna V. Allenova, PhD in History, Associate Professor. Tambov Theological Seminary, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, Associate Professor of the Department of Bible Studies, Theology, and Church History (Tambov, RF). Elena V. Grudinina, PhD in Philology. Tambov Theological Seminary, Vice-Rector for Research, Head of the Master's Program, Associate Professor of the Department of Philology and Church-Practical Disciplines (Tambov, RF). Petr N. Evtikhiev, PhD in Pedagogy, Associate Professor. Tambov Theological Seminary, Head of the Philological and Church Practical Disciplines Department (Tambov, RF). Tatiana V. Ryakhovskaya, PhD in Philosophy. Tambov Theological Seminary, Deputy Head of the Biblical Studies, Theology and Church History Department (Tambov, RF). Yera D. Orlova, PhD in History, Associate Professor. Tambov Theological Seminary, Freelance Consultant (Tambov, RF).
The image of pure soul in Russian poetry
The image of a pure soul in Russian poetry is a stable moral ideal that goes back to folklore, Old Russian literature and the Christian tradition. The article traces the evolution of this image from spiritual poems and hagiographic literature to the poetry of the 18th-20th centuries. In folklore, purity of soul is associated with righteousness and holiness, which is reflected in proverbs (“The soul is as pure as spring water”) and popular prints that refer to biblical images. In Old Russian literature, purity of soul is associated with humility, sacrifice and readiness to accept martyrdom, as in the lives of the holy princes-martyrs Boris and Gleb or “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia”. In the poetry of the 18th century (Lomonosov, Derzhavin), a pure soul is understood in the context of the frailty of life and gratitude to God. In the 19th century, this motif is heard less often, mainly in connection with childish innocence (Pushkin). However, in the 20th century it gains new strength, becoming a personal confessional statement. For Nikolai Rubtsov, Vladimir Nabokov, Alexander Solodovnikov, Vyacheslav Bogdanov and Hieromonk Roman (Matyushin-Pravdin), purity of soul is no longer just an attribute of holiness or infancy, but a conscious spiritual choice, an inner core resisting the chaos of the modern era. Particular attention is paid to the transformation of the image: from an external characteristic (“pure soul” as a property of another) to a deeply personal experience. In the context of historical catastrophes of the 20th century, poets see purity of soul as a form of resistance to dehumanization, which brings them closer to the tradition of ancient Russian ascetics. Thus, the image of a pure soul in Russian poetry is revealed as a key axiological constant of Russian culture, uniting evangelical ideals, folk wisdom and the author’s understanding of inner purity as the highest moral value. For citation: Chernova A. E. The image of pure soul in Russian poetry DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_3_235-253. EDN: LGYRSE // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 3 (32). p. 235-253. (In Russian)
Russian Literature and Literature of the Peoples of the Russian Federation
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Genre and stylistic features of the 102 Days in Political Prison Behind Bars by holy martyr Sergius Lavrov
The article is devoted to the analysis of the work of one of the representatives of the clergy of the Tambov diocese of the first half of the 20th century, the rector of Peter and Paul Church in Tambov, Archpriest Sergiy Lavrov, who suffered several short-term imprisonments in correctional institutions of the city of Tambov for belonging to the “Tikhon Patriarchal Church” and resisting the tyranny of the Soviet government in relation to the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1920s. In one of them, the future holy martyr had the opportunity to keep a diary, the entries from which have survived to this day. The text under study, entitled by the clergyman himself 102 Days in a Political Prison Behind Bars with the subtitle Diary of a Prisoner, is of interest not only as a historical monument, but also as a work of art reflecting the inner world of the author and his attitude to the events happening to him. The reader becomes a witness of the extraordinary artistic abilities of the author, who before the events described took an active part in the life of the diocese as a deputy of diocesan and district congresses, and then the chairman of the Diocesan Administration. In this article, the author defines the type and genre of the writing, its stylistic features, highlights lexical layers and analyzes their role in the general outline of the text, and also considers some artistic techniques that Archpriest Sergius uses to immerse the reader in the described events in order to assess his controversial era. The methodology of the study is based on philological and sociolinguistic principles. The study analyzes the use of artistic, official-business, colloquial, church-religious styles, which the author of the text, the holy martyr, combines to achieve the set task. For citation: Sychev D. V., priest Genre and stylistic features of the 102 Days in Political Prison Behind Bars by holy martyr Sergius Lavrov DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_3_212-234. EDN: KWYHFY // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 3 (32). p. 212-234. (In Russian)
The history of the Tambov Diocese and Tambov land
A brief overview of the historical, dogmatic and liturgical features of the Ehiopian Church
The article provides a brief overview of the history, dogma, liturgical and other traditional features of the Ethiopian Church. Christianity was brought to Ethiopia by the Apostle Philip. The Acts of the Apostles (8:26-30) describes an episode when he baptized the royal eunuch. The Ethiopian Church has preserved the unique features of early Christianity due to its geographical location and historical conditions. In this country, Christianity became the official religion earlier than in many other states. The Tewahedo Church (literally, “One Whole” - the union of Divine and human nature in Christ) is unique in that its name reflects theological views. This is the only example when theological concepts found direct expression in the name of a Christian community. The Ethiopian Church had a long and difficult path to autocephaly. The Coptic Church granted it independence, but for centuries the Ethiopians were forbidden to have their own hierarchy. Despite the differences in traditions and the distance from Alexandria, this did not stop their desire for independence. The relationship between the Russian and Ethiopian Churches has a long history, which is also partially considered in this article. Particular attention is paid to the idea of the Ethiopian Church joining Orthodoxy at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. This topic was reflected in the works of Russian theologians: Archimandrite Porfiry (Uspensky), Professor V. V. Bolotov, Academician B. A. Turaev and I. Yu. Krachkovsky. In the 20th century, the Ethiopian Church had to endure a difficult period of persecution by the state authorities and overcome internal problems and contradictions associated with historical and political circumstances, which also brings its history closer to the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. The leading methods of this work are cultural and comparative historical research, the results of which can be used for a deeper understanding of the role of the Ethiopian Church in world Christianity, as well as for developing strategies to support Christian communities in the face of persecution. For citation: Sergunin V. A., archpriest A brief overview of the historical, dogmatic and liturgical features of the Ehiopian Church DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_3_195-211. EDN: HQYQXF // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 3 (32). p. 195-211. (In Russian)
dialogue between the Russian and Ethiopian Churches
“Living personofication of Orthodoxy”: pedagogical potential of the hagiographic icon of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
The article examines the phenomenon of the “living personofication of Orthodoxy”. Using the example of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, the qualities characteristic of a person who can be called such are revealed. It is known that this name was given to the saint by his contemporaries. The life of the archpastor new martyr has not yet been studied in depth enough in the scientific and pedagogical environment, although his example is worthy of following and can teach a lot to the contemporary young people. Today, when Russian society turns to its traditional spiritual and moral values, it is important to give young people guidelines for building a life strategy. The examples of saints who lived in difficult periods of Russian history can become a source of inspiration for young people. Patriarch Tikhon provides a vivid example of such a person, and his life path shows impeccable adherence to the values of Orthodoxy. We learn about the fate of Saint Tikhon not only from historical documents, but also from his life, as well as from his hagiographic icons, the borders of which depict the main events in the life of the Patriarch, and the centerpiece of which depicts his image. Based on this, the article analyzes the iconography of the saint, compiled on the basis of lifetime photographs and portraits, through the teaching on Christian virtues, and reveals the pedagogical potential of the hagiographic icon. As an example of hagi-ographic icons, we take a copy written by a modern icon painter based on his study of the life and historical material for the Donskoy Monastery in Moscow. The author comes to the conclusion that hagiographic icons of saints (using Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia as an example) have significant pedagogical potential, as they help to visualize and comprehend historical events in the context of the life path of the archpastor, as well as to highlight the values on the basis of which the personality of the future primate was formed in his youth and which he followed until the end of his days. For citation: Gusakova V. O. “Living personofication of Orthodoxy”: pedagogical potential of the hagiographic icon of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_3_179-194. EDN: GMNITO // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 3 (32). p. 179-194. (In Russian)
Metropolitan of Krini and Exarch of Malta Kyrillos (Katerelos) as a supporter of the theory of the primacy of the Patriarch of Constantinople
The article analyzes the views of the Greek canonist Metropolitan of Krini and Exarch of Malta Kyrillos (Katerelos) in support of the theory of primacy of the Patriarch of Constantinople from the point of view of Orthodox Church law. The Metropolitan’s opinion on this controversial issue was expressed regarding the so-called Ukrainian autocephaly. Bishop Kyrillos, being an expert in Byzantine Church law, first defended the theory of primacy in 2014 with a kind of apology for the ecclesiology set out in the Ravenna document of 2007. After the Ukrainian issue was brought to the fore in 2018-2019, he began to actively promote theses in defense of the special ecclesiastical authority of the Patriarch of Constantinople in the Orthodox world. Metropolitan Kyrillos, unlike all other supporters of the theory of primacy, uses rhetorical devices, influencing the emotions of the reader and at the same time not relying on facts in defense of his theses. The main message of the metropolitan is that the Roman and Constantinople cathedras initially received an indisputably high status in the Christian world. From his point of view, Constantinople as the “new Rome” was equal to Rome, which had historical primacy in the earliest era both in secular and ecclesiastical terms. Based on this concept, after the apostasy of the Roman Church, the Patriarchate of Constantinople allegedly inherited primacy among the other Churches with all the ensuing theses of modern supporters of the theory of the same name. As a result of the study, the author of the article proves that the straightforward scheme of Metropolitan Kyrillos is erroneous, since both canon law and historical facts in general support the validity of the principles of conciliar ecclesiology, according to which all Local Churches have fundamentally equal power within their jurisdiction and differ from each other by an honorable place in the diptychs, but not by primacy of power.
Historical Theology and national history
Metropolitan of Krini and Exarch of Malta Kyrillos (Katerelos)
[non-canonical] Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU)
Model schools of the Russian Empire in the period between the late 19th and early 20th centuries (based on the materials of Samara Province)
This article analyzes the activities of model schools, which were the bases for practical training of teachers in the educational institutions of the Ecclesiastical Department. Having emerged on the initiative of the Chief Prosecutor K. P. Pobedonostsev as a means of introducing future pastors to work in the established system of church schools, they were the places for students of theological educational institutions to undergo pedagogical practice until the end of the Synodal period. Initially, the creation of such educational institutions was planned at theological seminaries, but then it spread to girls’ schools, as well as new types of pedagogical institutions: church teacher training and second-class schools. In theological educational institutions, model church-parish schools existed as a separate structure with sufficient funding and teaching staff, whereas in teacher’s schools this function, as a rule, was performed by the first classes of the primary level of education. Model schools, faced financial difficulties, nevertheless served as centers for training teachers for church-parish schools in the districts. This experience of practical training of future teachers in the educational system of the Holy Synod has been little studied by the authors, and therefore is relevant for research. This article is based on the historical and descriptive method, which allowed us to create a picture of the formation and development of model schools, relying on published legislative and office documents, and also to illustrate this process with data on the Samara diocese, based on periodicals and archival documents. For citation: Volkov D. P., Zhitenev T. E. Model schools of the Russian Empire in the period between the late 19th and early 20th centuries (based on the materials of Samara Province) DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_3_115-142. EDN: DJYDXY // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 3 (32). p. 115-142. (In Russian)
Historical Theology and National History
Reflections on the Great Patriotic War by Marshal of the USSR A. M. Vasilevsky
The article is devoted to the analysis of post-war reflections of Marshal of the USSR Alexander Mikhailovich Vasilevsky on the reasons for the defeats of the Red Army in 1941-1942 and the key stages of the Great Patriotic War. The relevance of the study is due to the need to reassess the responsibility of the military leadership for miscalculations in strategic planning, as well as the introduction of new sources into scientific circulation - archival interviews, transcripts and late statements of the marshal. The work uses the memoirs of A. M. Vasilevsky, official documents and unpublished evidence, which were analyzed using historical-genetic, source studies and textual methods. The study established that the marshal pointed out the shortcomings of the pre-war operational plan (failure to predict a surprise attack, underestimation of the experience of Poland and France), the mistakes of I. V. Stalin (refusal of a preventive strike, ignoring intelligence data) and the role of the General Staff in strategic management. The author paid special attention to the evolution of A. M. Vasilevsky’s assessments: from softened formulations in the memoirs of the 1970s to harsher criticism in archival materials, which is associated with the easing of censorship and opening up access to new documents. The results of the work allow us to clarify the historical perspective, demonstrating how the personality of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the system of military command influenced decision-making, and also open up opportunities for discussions about the mechanisms of responsibility in the context of the personality cult. The findings are important for military-historical research, analysis of strategic planning and the formation of an objective view of the historical process. For citation: Andrianov G. V., priest Reflections on the Great Patriotic War by Marshal of the USSR A. M. Vasilevsky DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_3_96-114. EDN: ZQYELX // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 3 (32). p. 96-114. (In Russian)
Social and charitable work in the Tambov Diocese inthe early twentieth century (based on the archive of issues of The Tambov Diocesan Gazette (1900-1917)
The article is a comprehensive study of the social and charitable activities of the Tambov Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in the period 19001917. The relevance of the research is determined by such factors as the need to fill gaps in the study of regional aspects of church charity and the importance of understanding historical experience for the modern social activities of the Church. The purpose of the study is a comprehensive analysis of the organizational structures, directions and practices of the social ministry of the Tambov Diocese in the prerevolutionary period. The scientific novelty of the work is manifested in the fact that for the first time, based on a systematic study of the archival issues of the Tambov Diocesan Gazette, a holistic picture of the diocese’s charitable activities is formed, its specific features and mechanisms of functioning are revealed. The methodological basis of the research includes an institutional analysis that allowed us to study the structure and evolution of charitable organizations; quantitative methods for processing accounting data on the activities of trusteeships and fraternities; and a comparative historical method that made it possible to trace the transformation of forms of charity in the face of social upheaval. The study found that social service developed in four main areas: financial support for clergy and their families; educational and rehabilitation work with children; assistance to parishioners in need; and mobilization activities during the war years. Effective financing mechanisms have been analyzed, combining mandatory church fees, private donations and income from economic activities. It is proved that the diocese has developed a flexible system for responding to social challenges, which was especially evident in the organization of assistance to families of veterans during World War I. The study makes a significant contribution to the historiography of church charity, offering a new model for analyzing the regional experience of social service of the Russian Orthodox Church. The results obtained have not only academic value, but also practical significance for modern social work of religious organizations. For citation: Balabeikina O. A., Josaf (Vishnyakov A. P.), bishop, Slobodchikova P. S. Social and charitable work in the Tambov Diocese in the early twentieth century (based on the archive of issues of The Tambov Diocesan Gazette (1900-1917) DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_3_78-95. EDN: YXJSOC // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 3 (32). p. 78-95. (In Russian)
The idea of restoring the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church in the Synodal period (1700-1917). On the 100th anniversary of the death of His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon
The relevance of the study is due to the growing role of the Russian Orthodox Church in modern Russian society and the need for an in-depth study of the historical experience of church-state relations. The purpose of the work is to analyze the stage-by-stage development of the idea of restoring patriarchal authority as the most important element of church governance, as well as to identify the circumstances of the election of Patriarch Tikhon (Bellavin) at the Local Council of 1917-1918. The author used a historiosophical approach based on identifying the underlying causes and consequences of church reforms. The work uses methods of historical analysis, comparative research and systematization of sources: archival materials, church documents and scientific research on the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. The study found that the idea of restoring the Patriarchate remained relevant throughout the Synodal period. Despite the resistance of the secular authorities, church leaders consistently defended the need to return to patriarchal governance. The author pays special attention to the study of the opinions of bishops on the issue of the revival of the Patriarchate, expressed during the preparation for the Local Council of 1917. In conclusion, it is noted that the restoration of the Patriarchate in 1917 was the result of two centuries of efforts by the church community. The election of Patriarch Tikhon marked an important stage in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, which put an end to the Synodal period and opened a new page in its development. The historical facts presented in the article and their analysis allow us to better understand the significance of the restoration of the Patriarchate for the further history and modern activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in the field of church-public interaction. For citation: Feodosy (Vasnev S. I.), Metropolitan The idea of restoring the Patriarchate in the Russian Orthodox Church in the Synodal period (1700-1917). On the 100th anniversary of the death of His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_3_56-77. EDN: YQXRWJ // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 3 (32). p. 56-77. (In Russian)
Historical experience of interpretation of the apocalyptic image of the Whore of Babylon in Protestantism and Old Belief: similarities and differences in approaches to interpretation
The article presents the experience of studying the practices of interpreting the apocalyptic image of the Whore of Babylon in Protestantism and Old Belief. It notes the main factors that influenced the specifics of the formation and development of these practices and reflects the cause-and-effect relationship between the ecclesiological ideas of Protestants and Old Believers and the forms of their choice of approaches to interpreting this image. The relevance of this study is determined by the high level of scientific interest in the problems of Protestant and Old Believer theology in general and apocalypticism in particular, despite the fact that the topic of comparative analysis of Protestant and Old Believer apocalypticism in modern scientific research literature is poorly covered. This work attempts to shed additional light on one of the least studied aspects of this topic, which, in fact, is its scientific novelty. The purpose of this study was to identify and outline the fundamental similarities and differences seen in the approaches to interpreting the image of the Whore of Babylon used by Protestants, on the one hand, and Old Believers, on the other. In the course of revealing the topic of the article, both general scientific and special methods of scientific research were used (methods of biblical hermeneutics, chronologica, comparative-historical, and others). As a result of the study, the main approaches used by representatives of Protestantism and Old Believers in the context of developing the practices of interpreting the image of the Whore of Babylon were identified, analyzed, and compared. Based on this comparison, it was confirmed that the opinion of a number of modern thinkers, pointing to an extremely high degree of similarity between Protestants and Old Believers, does not agree with the actual state of affairs. For citation: Leonov A. M. Historical experience of interpretation of the apocalyptic image of the Whore of Babylon in Protestantism and Old Belief: similarities and differences in approaches to interpretation DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_3_37-55. EDN: XRVFLR // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 3 (32). p. 37-55. (In Russian)
Philosophy as theology: the experience of creating an apologetic philosophy textbook for universities
The relevance of the topic is determined by the significant ideological asymmetry between secular and religious popular enlightenment and education, inherited from the secular era. This asymmetry is manifested, in particular, in the secular pseudo-criticism of the religious worldview by the atheist consciousness, whose main arguments are dictated by religious ignorance or illiteracy. Taking into account the fact that post-secularism is one of the mental characteristics of the present time, it is possible to assert overcoming the bias between secular and religious public education as one of the educational tasks facing modern Russian society. The object of the research is the possibility of religious education in the context of modern secular education. The subject of the research is the specifics of theological education for students of secular universities in the framework of teaching a general education and compulsory philosophy course and creating a textbook of the same name on this academic discipline. The main research methods are pedagogical observation, comparative analysis, idealization, thought experiment, deduction, induction and conclusions by analogy. One of the main results of the work is a justification of the possibility and expediency of Orthodox education of students of secular universities in the process of studying philosophy on the basis of a textbook with an apologetic orientation and at the same time fully preserving its educational and developing potential for the formation of a general philosophical culture of personality. The field of application of the research results is pedagogical activity on religious education in the structure of secular education, the formation of an Orthodox worldview, as well as the theory and practice of teaching philosophy and other socio-humanitarian disciplines in a modern higher education institution. For citation: Gusev D. A. Philosophy as theology: the experience of creating an apologetic philosophy textbook for universities DOI: https://doi.org/10.51216/2687‑072Х_2025_3_14–36. EDN: XAKYCW // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 3 (32). p. 14–36. (In Russian)
«Ἐπιτομὴ Ἱστοριῶν» by John Zonaras. Thefirst Christian emperors: from Constantine I the Great (306–337) to Jovian(363–364) (Part 2)
John Zonaras, a Byzantine historian and canonist of the twelfth century, left behind a significant historiographical legacy in the form of his «Ἐπιτομὴ ἱστοριῶν» in eighteen books, covering the period from the creation of the world to the accession to the throne of Emperor John Komnenos (1118). The first six books are devoted to biblical history, the next six to Roman history, and the final six to the history of the Christian empire. John Zonaras was largely based on the works of such ancient authors as Josephus and Dio Cassius. In the “Roman” chapters, Zonaras focuses on periods when the Roman Empire faced internal and external challenges. The focus of this work is on the reigns of the Roman emperors from Alexander Severus to Justin I, including the period from 235 to 285. AD became known as the “crisis of the third century”, when the empire entered a period of significant political and social instability. Zonaras also draws attention to the many “parallel emperors” - usurpers who attempted to seize power in various provinces. «Ἐπιτομὴ ἱστοριῶν» focuses on the difficulties the empire faced and how they affected the population. With the coming to power of Diocletian and the transition from the princi-pate to the dominate, a new era began: the emperor carried out reforms aimed at strengthening administrative control and restoring the economy. He divided the empire into zones of competence of two Augusti and two Caesars (the so-called tetrarchy), which, in his opinion, should have contributed to more efficient management. However, despite the successful reforms, Diocletian’s reign also saw severe persecution of Christians, also noted by Zonaras. Constantine I the Great made Christianity a permitted religion according to the Edict of Milan, and in fact began the process of giving it the status of a state religion, which ended with the Edict of Thessalonians “Cunctos populos” on February 27, 380, which made Nicene Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire. Zonaras describes Constantine as a commander and reformer. Through an analysis of the actions and policies of the emperors, Zonaras takes readers through a panorama of Roman history, demonstrating how the empire faced challenges and changes over the centuries, and how these changes shaped the oikoumene. The second part of the published translation covers the events from the revolt of Constantius II against Flavius Magnus Magnentius to the end of the reign of Jovian (the preceding events were described in the first part of the translation). Translated from the edition: Ioannes Zonaras. Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae. Bonnae: Impensis Ed. Weberi, 1897. Vol. 3. Lib. XIII.1–XIV.5. P. 1–151. For citation: Khvalkov E. A. «Ἐπιτομὴ Ἱστοριῶν» by John Zonaras. The first Christian emperors: from Constantine I the Great (306–337) to Jovian (363–364) (Part 2) DOI: 10.51216/2687‑072Х_2025_2_226–247. EDN: VBPNSI // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 226–247. (In Russian)
From “Logos” to 言葉 (Kotoba): a linguo‑cultural interpretation of Christian lexicon in the translations of Saint Nicholas of Japan
This article is devoted to the study of linguo-cultural aspects of conveying Christian terminology in the missionary translations of Saint Nicholas of Japan. The relevance of the topic is due to the growing scholarly interest in missionary methods connected with translating liturgical and sacred texts into the language of the converted people, as well as the need to comprehend and actualize the spiritual heritage of Saint Nicholas of Japan in the context of modern missionary service. During his missionary service, which lasted more than half a century, Saint Nicholas worked in difficult conditions, when Christianity was perceived as hostile in Japan. During his missionary work, the saint developed a unique approach to translating Orthodox doctrine into Japanese. He sought to organically combine Christian dogmas with the peculiarities of Japanese culture and language in order to make Christianity close and understandable to the Japanese. This “cultural translation” became a key element of his missionary work aimed at deeply rooting Christianity in the Japanese cultural environment. Thanks to the efforts of Archbishop Nicholas (Kasatkin), the Orthodox Church appeared in the Land of the Rising Sun, which numbered more than 30 thousand believers. The work uses exegetical, comparative, interpretative methods and linguostylistic analysis, which allowed us to study the lexical-semantic and cultural-translation techniques used by St. Nicholas in conveying key concepts of Christian doctrine to the Japanese people. As a result, the translations presented in the article have scientific-theological and ecclesiastical-practical significance, since the experience of St. Nicholas’s missionary translation demonstrates the importance of taking into account cultural and linguistic specifics in the modern missionary activity of the Russian Orthodox Church. For citation: Kireev N. N., priest From “Logos” to 言葉 (Kotoba): a linguo-cultural interpretation of Christian lexicon in the translations of Saint Nicholas of Japan DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_212-225. EDN: UNGSQO // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 212-225. (In Russian)
Sacred semantics of concepts designating traditional spiritual and moral values of Russia
The article is devoted to the theolinguistic analysis of the concepts approved as traditional spiritual and moral values by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 809 dated November 9, 2022. The relevance of the study is due to the fact that at present, the spiritual and moral education of the younger generation, the formation of a national idea are a priority of the domestic policy of the state, but it is necessary to form a unified conceptual understanding of traditional values. In this regard, it is important to determine the definitions and disclose the sacred semantics of words denoting traditional spiritual and moral values, as well as the differentiation of these concepts by functional and semantic features, which is the purpose of this work. The article traces the historical semantic transformation of the term “sacred” from the meaning of “holy”, “dedicated to God” to the complete leveling of this meaning, up to the opposite: “forbidden, damned, unholy”. The necessity of preserving the original spiritual meaning of this term, corresponding to the ideal of holiness, characteristic of the Russian mentality, is substantiated. The author classified the concepts identified in the “Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values” into three categories: civic values, social ideals and moral values. By means of semantic, discursive and hermeneutic analysis, an interpretation of these value categories is given from the standpoint of the Orthodox understanding of spirituality, definitions corresponding to liberal value attitudes and requiring adjustment are identified. As a result of the study, the sacred meaning of most concepts included in the list of approved spiritual and moral values of Russia, which correlate with the Gospel commandments, was revealed, and principles were formulated that promote the perception and assimilation of spiritual and moral values by an individual and society. For citation: Grudinina E. V. Sacred semantics of concepts designating traditional spiritual and moral values of Russia DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_191-211. EDN: TRNIBX // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 191-211. (In Russian)
The formation of Christian-ethical norms in early Byzantine Empire in the works of St. John Chrysostom through images of living nature
The purpose of this study is to identify what analogies with living nature St. John Chrysostom used in his works and how he used them to explain and popularize Christian ethical norms. The object of the study is the creative legacy of the saint and, in particular, apologetic dialogues, in which this tendency was most clearly manifested. The subject of the study was the typology and number of images used. The relevance of the study is determined by the importance of turning to the patristic heritage as the basis for popularizing Christian ethical norms in modern society. In the course of the work, apologetic dialogues, methods used by the saint, as well as specific examples of their application in various speeches were considered. The study was conducted using such philological methods as content analysis, critical text analysis and comparative analysis. The article shows how St. John Chrysostom, through metaphors, comparisons, allegories, demonstrates the possibility of following Christian principles in everyday life. The oratorical talent of the saint was manifested in the fact that he made his speeches not only informative, but also inspiring and emotional, which made them especially valuable for Christian theology. Using images of flora and fauna, he influenced the thinking of his contemporaries and subsequent generations, strengthening Christian norms in their minds. The author comes to the conclusion that the images used by Saint John Chrysostom in dialogues helped the saint’s contemporaries to better understand the complex theological and doctrinal provisions of Christianity and to form a positive image of the religion that was new to them. For citation: Allenova I. V. The formation of Christian-ethical norms in early Byzantine Empire in the works of St. John Chrysostom through images of living nature DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_179-190. EDN: TGSDXC // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 179-190. (In Russian)
popularization of Christian ethical norms.
Specific features and uniqueness of the Kazan Cathedral paintings in Tambov in the context of the artistic and historical development of church painting in the grisaille technique
This article examines the paintings of the Kazan Cathedral in Tambov, which is part of the temple complex of the Kazan Mother of God Monastery of the Tambov Diocese, in the context of the artistic and historical development of church painting made in the grisaille technique. The relevance of the study is due to the fact that there are many myths and legends around the grisaille paintings in the Kazan Monastery, actively spread by tour guides among tourist groups. Our goal is to dispel these stereotypes and provide reliable information about the paintings of the Kazan Monastery Cathedral. In the course of the work, the author determines the features and highlights the unique characteristics of the painting of the Kazan Cathedral in Tambov among the general structure of church art works made in the grisaille technique. The representation of the semantic content of the ornaments and gospel stories presented in the interior painting of the Kazan Cathedral is made using semiotic-hermeneutic and interpretive research methods. Using comparative and formal-stylistic analysis, the author seeks to expand and organize knowledge about the grisaille technique, uses reference comparative material, draws analogies, and thus presents a detailed overview of grisaille samples that can be found in Russia. The author summarizes that despite the fact that the paintings of the Kazan Cathedral of the Tambov Monastery are not defining works of Russian art, they are still of interest to the national culture due to their harmony, philosophical depth, and timeless focus on revealing the doctrinal truths of Orthodoxy. All of the above makes them significant for study by theologians, historians, art historians, and local historians. For citation: Mikhailova O. V. Specific features and uniqueness of the Kazan Cathedral paintings in Tambov in the context of the artistic and historical development of church painting in the grisaille technique DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_151-178. EDN: GIUJTL // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 151-178. (In Russian)
Missionary work and catechetesis in China: theological education and enlightenment in the context of the specifics of the legal status of Orthodox communities
Orthodoxy in China has a long history associated with the activities of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission. After its closure and the formation of the Chinese Autonomous Orthodox Church (CAOC), questions about the revival and development of full-fledged theological schools remain open to this day. The article examines the problems and prospects for the development of spiritual education in Orthodox communities in China, taking into account the historical heritage and modern socio-cultural specifics. In conditions where the state adheres to atheistic views and controls the religious sphere, Orthodox communities face problems: the state does not recognize the Church, which leads to restrictions in religious activities, including educational and spiritual activities. The author uses historical and analytical methods, including the study of archival materials, an analysis of the modern religious policy of the PRC, as well as a review of the experience of Orthodox communities in adapting to local conditions. The study identified the main problems hindering the development of spiritual education in Orthodox communities in China: 1) limited opportunities for conducting services and rituals; 2) insufficient number of qualified spiritual mentors; 3) lack of official recognition of theological educational institutions. The author suggests possible ways to overcome the above-mentioned difficulties, which will contribute to the preservation and dissemination of the Orthodox faith in Chinese society. The materials of this study can be used by Orthodox organizations and individuals interested in studying issues of catechetesis, spiritual enlightenment and education in China. For citation: Gorstka D. N. Missionary work and catechetesis in China: theological education and enlightenment in the context of the specifics of the legal status of Orthodox communities DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_134-150. EDN: FPCHEE // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 134-150. (In Russian)
Theatrical activities as a factor in the formation of historical thinking in primary school children during their study in an Orthodox Sunday school
The object of the study is the formation of historical thinking in primary school students. The subject of the study is theatrical activity as a factor in the formation of historical thinking in primary school students in the process of studying in an Orthodox Sunday school. The relevance of the work is determined by the consequences of the crisis of spirituality in the late 20th - early 21st centuries. The mass introduction of extreme liberal values led to the loss of clear spiritual guidelines for the personal development of the younger generation and the loss of awareness of the significance of historical processes and the loss of faith in the possibility of influencing them of each specific person. The article raises the problem of using the pedagogical traditions of the parish and modern Orthodox Sunday school in secular education. According to the author, theatrical activity based on the cultural principles of Christian thinking allows to level the situation of methodological uncertainty in the formation of historical thinking and a stable matrix of spiritual values of the individual in secular and Orthodox Sunday schools. The leading research methods in the work are theoretical and analytical, systemic, problem-historical, comparative analysis, which made it possible to determine the pedagogical advantages of the Orthodox Sunday school in the development of the cultural foundations of historical thinking in primary school students. As a result, the thesis is substantiated that theatrical activity based on the Christian type of thinking allows developing communicative, intellectual, adaptive abilities in primary school students. In the process of theatrical activity, the personal experience of the primary school student is enriched through comprehension, comparison on a historical scale, analysis of the actions of the Old and New Testament heroes and characters. Theatrical activity in the form of a role-playing game activates different types of memory in children (family, historical, ethnic, etc.) and contributes to the formation of historical thinking on this basis. For citation: Savvaty (Nikitin S. V.), hieromonk. Theatrical activities as a factor in the formation of historical thinking in primary school children during their study in an Orthodox Sunday school. DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_119-133. EDN: BJWQCP // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 119-133. (In Russian)
The role of the Prison Trusteeship Society in organizing the construction and maintenance of churches at prison castles (based on the example of the charitable activities of N. I. Popov, the Director of Kozlov Prison Department)
The article examines the issues of organizing the construction and maintenance of churches at prison castles using the example of the construction of a prison church in Kozlov prison castle by a hereditary honorary citizen, director of Kozlov Prison Department, merchant Nikolai Ivanovich Popov. The history of creation of the Prison Trusteeship Society and its interaction with the Russian Orthodox Church and government agencies, documents and materials reflecting the goals and objectives of the Society in the field of spiritual, moral and religious education of convicts have been studied. The study used materials stored in the funds of the State Archive of the Tambov Region, regulatory documents governing the activities of the Prison Trusteeship Society in the Russian Empire. Particular attention is paid to studying the activities of the Tambov Provincial Prison Trusteeship Committee and the Kozlov Prison Department. The service in the position of director of Kozlov Prison Department and the work of Kozlov merchant N. I. Popov as the warden of the prison chapel have been analyzed. The article reveals N. I. Popov’s charitable activities within the Prison Trusteeship Society, his contribution to the development of the penal system, and ensuring the activities of Kozlov prison castle. As a result, the need to preserve the memory of the activities of outstanding fellow countrymen in the framework of the implementation of spiritual, moral and educational work with society has been substantiated. Proposals for preserving the historical memory of N. I. Popov’s charitable activities have been worked out. For citation: Tushestsova E. O. The role of the Prison Trusteeship Society in organizing the construction and maintenance of churches at prison castles (based on the example of the charitable activities of N. I. Popov, the Director of Kozlov Prison Department) DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_102-118. EDN: BJUEPC // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 102-118. (In Russian)
Monasteries of the Tambov Diocese -monuments to the miraculous salvation of the Tsar’s family on October 17, 1888: “Places of worship” as “Places of memory”
The object of the study is the regional practice of preserving the historical memory of significant events in the life of the imperial family in Russia in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. The subject of the study was Orthodox monasteries, considered as memorial sites. The article, using the historical and genetic method, presents the origin of the Orzhevsky Alexander Nevsky Monastery and the Trekh-Loshchinsky Panteleimon Monastery of the Tambov diocese as monuments to the salvation of Emperor Alexander III and his family in a train accident on October 17, 1888. It is noted that this event was understood at the state and church levels as a miracle that happened by the grace of God over the ruling Russian emperor and his family, which predetermined the need to preserve information about it in the historical memory of the population of the Russian Empire. The comparative historical method helped to identify the historical continuity in the process of creating a monastery and a skete on the site of revered Orthodox shrines. The study established that the Tambov diocese was the only one in the Central Black Earth Region where a monastery and a skete were founded in memory of the miraculous salvation of the imperial family. Moreover, when priest V. A. Golubev created the Alexander Nevsky Monastery, he used the experience of establishing the Tavolzhansky Convent in the Voronezh Governorate. Their inclusion in the list of memorial sites was the result of the personal initiative of the organizers. Memorial status was assigned to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery and the Panteleimon Skete, which were located in places associated with a long-established tradition of venerating the Orthodox shrines located there. For citation: Kozlov K. V. Monasteries of the Tambov Diocese -monuments to the miraculous salvation of the Tsar’s family on October 17, 1888: “Places of worship” as “Places of memory” DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_80-101. EDN: PVCILU // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 80-101. (In Russian)
crash of the tsar’s train on October 17, 1888
Panteleimon Skete of the Kazan Monastery - Tambov Bishop’s House.
Administrative activities of the Holy Martyr Kirill (Smirnov) in the Tambov diocese from 1911 to 1916
The article continues a series of scientific publications devoted to the activities of Archbishop Kirill (Smirnov) at the Tambov diocese. This study touches upon the administrative aspect of the archpastoral service of Saint Kirill. The relevance of the chosen topic is due to the scientific interest in the legacy of the new martyrs and confessors of the Russian Church, in particular, the demand at the present stage of Russian history for the experience of organizing church life in a situation of socio-political instability. The period under consideration (1911-1916) of the administration of the Tambov diocese by Saint Kirill is characterized by the most active actions of the archpastor, aimed at creating intra-church life and church-public relations. The material for the study was the Highest Imperial decrees and commands, definitions of the Holy Synod and diocesan administrative and legal documents published in the Church Gazette, Tambov Diocesan Gazette, as well as materials from the State Archive of the Tambov region, which reflect the main personnel and administrative decisions of St. Cyril. The following scientific methods are used in the work: content analysis, historical-chronological, ideographic. The article draws a conclusion about the main directions of Archbishop Kirill’s administrative activities in the Tambov diocese, including decisions on the establishment of monasteries and monastic life, control over the activities of parishes, strengthening church-public relations and social charity, and intensification of missionary and anti-sectarian work. The facts highlighted in the article allow us to draw certain historical analogies and use the positive experience of Archbishop Kirill’s ministry in the modern life of the Russian Orthodox Church. For citation: Feodosy (Vasnev S. I.), Metropolitan of Tambov and Rasskazovo. Administrative activities of the Holy Martyr Kirill (Smitnov) in the Tambov diocese from 1911 to 1916. DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_62-79. EDN: MIZWYG // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 62-79. (In Russian)
On the purpose of family union through correleation of the concepts of “Church” and “Small church”
The purpose of the study is to formulate the purpose of the family union by clarifying how the concepts of “Church” and “Small church” relate, to what extent they can be considered identical, and what practical significance is seen in such a correlation. The relevance of the study is due to the fact that today the institution of the family is in decline in about 70% of marriages, which is confirmed by Rosstat data. At present we have access to many works of the Holy Fathers and prominent theologians who consider the marriage union as a “Small church”, there is also a significant number of works on Orthodox ecclesiology, but there are no studies that clarify the purpose of Christian marriage through the correlation of the concepts of “Church” and “Small church”. This article is an attempt to substantiate the common ground between Christian teaching on marriage and the Church, and to distinguish from this the practical significance in the preservation of marital unions. The author uses the methods of critical analysis of sources, a comparative method, generalization and synthesis. The author in the article, relying on the heritage of the Church Fathers, deduces a direct and close connection between the doctrine of marriage and the dogma of the Trinity of the Godhead, from which the dogma of the Church is derived. The practical consequences of the identification of the “Small church” and the Church are the affirmation of the true purpose of marriage, which consists in the achievement of the spouses of the likeness of God and the establishment of the nature of the marriage relationship as an exclusive union on the basis of sacrificial love and the resulting high moral requirements for the spouses, since the family is ideally the Church as the body of Christ: “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her” (Eph 5, 25). For citation: Kovalevsky V. V. On the purpose of family union through correleation of the concepts of “Church” and “Small church”. DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_46-61. EDN: LEGLAL // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 46-61. (In Russian)
the teaching of the holy fathers on family union.
History of the formation of the New Testament canon of the Holy Scripture: on the issue of the “forgotten” research of representatives of the Russian Theological School Archpriest Alexander Gorsky and Holy Martyr Hilation (Troitsky)
This article examines the research conducted by outstanding representatives of Russian theological thought of the second half of the 19 th -early 20th centuries - Archpriest Alexander Gorsky and Hieromartyr Hilarion (Troitsky). In their research, they put forward and substantiated a hypothesis about the formation of the complete canon of the Holy Scripture of the New Testament in the Church of Ephesus in the second half of the 1st century. The article is relevant due to the fact that in modern Russian theological publications, scientific works and textbooks devoted to the issues of the formation of the New Testament canon, the hypothesis of Archpriest Alexander and Hieromartyr Hilarion is practically not mentioned. In the Russian theological environment, the assertion, accepted by Western Catholic and Protestant biblical studies, that the canon of the Holy Scripture of the New Testament was formed in Rome no earlier than the second half of the 2nd century, still prevails. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that it analyzes and comments for the first time on the ideas expressed by Archpriest A. Gorsky and Saint Hilarion (Troitsky). The author identifies main arguments presented by each of them, as well as the additions proposed by Saint Hilarion. The work uses comparative theological and dialectical methods, which made it possible to compare the opinions of the authors of the articles on the issues under consideration; intertextual analysis helped to establish the connections between the texts under study. In conclusion, the author of the article points to the validity of the hypothesis put forward by Russian theologians, confirmed by both the facts about the circumstances in which the Ephesian Church found itself in the 1st century, and the goals of the apostolic epistles highlighted by Archpriest Alexander Gorsky. The results of the study can be included not only in textbooks on the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament, but also serve as a starting point for further research on this topic. For citation: Shcherbakov V. Yu., priest. History of the formation of the New Testament canon of the Holy Scripture: on the issue of the “forgotten” research of representatives of the Russian Theological School Archpriest Alexander Gorsky and Holy Martyr Hilation (Troitsky) DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_30-45. EDN: KISGKJ // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 30-45. (In Russian)
Freedom and responsibility in digital reality: an attempt of Orthodox analysis
The subject of the article is the process of digitalization, taken from the side of their worldview and ideological foundations and concretized to the relationship between freedom and responsibility. The purpose of the research is to analyze these foundations from the Orthodox positions in the aspect of the ideological content of digitalization, considered through the prism of the relationship between freedom and responsibility in the digital reality. The relevance of such an analysis is dictated by the growing influence of digitalization on all aspects of personal and social life of a person with the obvious ambiguity of its current tasks and ultimate goals. The following methods serve as the methodological basis for the study: comparative, which compares the relationship between freedom and responsibility in Orthodoxy with their content in the digital reality; phenomenological, revealing the essence of freedom and responsibility in these areas; axiological, focusing on the value aspects of freedom and responsibility. It is shown that digitalization and artificial intelligence can have a positive impact on the development of humanity, but only if they remain what they essentially are - just another stage of technological development - and do not claim the status of a new and comprehensive paradigm of global progress. However, digitalization is already claiming the status of a dominant trend of our time. It is concluded that the worldview and ideological basis of digitalization is trans-humanism and a radical substitution of the spiritual essence of man; at the same time, digitalization negatively affects the spiritual content of human life, reducing the potential for interpersonal communication, primitivizing culture, replacing the creative essence of man with formal behavioral stereotypes. Since the trend towards the expansion of digital reality is universal and cannot be ignored, it should be endowed with at least minimal moral content as much as possible and not allowed to turn into a global challenge for humanity. For citation: Kosichenko A. G. Freedom and responsibility in digital reality: an attempt of Orthodox analysis DOI: 10.51216/2687-072Х_2025_2_14-29. EDN: RWRLNY // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 2 (31). P. 14-29. (In Russian)
«Ἐπιτομὴ Ἱστοριῶν» by John Zonaras. The first Christian emperors: from Constantine I the Great (306-337) to Jovian (363364) (Part 1)
John Zonaras, a Byzantine historian and canonist of the twelfth century, left behind a significant historiographical legacy in the form of his «Ἐπιτομὴ Ἱστοριῶν» in eighteen books, covering the period from the creation of the world to the accession to the throne of Emperor John Komnenos (1118). The first six books are devoted to biblical history, the next six to Roman history, and the final six to the history of the Christian empire. John Zonaras was largely based on the works of such ancient authors as Josephus and Dio Cassius. In the “Roman” chapters, Zonaras focuses on periods when the Roman Empire faced internal and external challenges. The focus of this work is on the reigns of the Roman emperors from Alexander Severus to Justin I, including the period from 235 to 285. AD became known as the “crisis of the third century”, when the empire entered a period of significant political and social instability. Zonaras also draws attention to the many “parallel emperors” - usurpers who attempted to seize power in various provinces. «Ἐπιτομὴ Ἱστοριῶν» focuses on the difficulties the empire faced and how they affected the population. With the coming to power of Diocletian and the transition from the principate to the dominate, a new era began: the emperor carried out reforms aimed at strengthening administrative control and restoring the economy. He divided the empire into zones of competence of two Augusti and two Caesars (the so-called tetrarchy), which, in his opinion, should have contributed to more efficient management. However, despite the successful reforms, Diocletian’s reign also saw severe persecution of Christians, also noted by Zonaras. Constantine I the Great made Christianity a permitted religion according to the Edict of Milan, and in fact began the process of giving it the status of a state religion, which ended with the Edict of Thessalonians “Cunctos populos” on February 27, 380, which made Nicene Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire. Zonaras describes Constantine as a commander and reformer. Through an analysis of the actions and policies of the emperors, Zonaras takes readers through a panorama of Roman history, demonstrating how the empire faced challenges and changes over the centuries, and how these changes shaped the oikoumene. The first part of the published translation ends with the removal of Vetranio from power by Constantius II (further events are described in the second part of the translation). Translated from the edition: Ioannes Zonaras. Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae. Bonnae: Impensis Ed. Weberi, 1897. Vol. 3. Lib. XIII.1–XIV.5. P. 1–151. For citation: Khvalkov E. A. «Ἐπιτομὴ Ἱστοριῶν» by John Zonaras. The first Christian emperors: from Constantine I the Great (306–337) to Jovian (363–364) (Part 1) DOI: 10.51216/2687‑072Х_2025_1_222-245. EDN: RKIABH // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 1 (30). P. 222–245. (In Russian)
Agioseme as a component of the semantic structure of religious vocabulary
The article is devoted to the controversial issue of classification of religious vocabulary. It presents a critical analysis of existing approaches to classification and nomination of religious vocabulary. The purpose of this study is to substantiate a new approach to classification of religious vocabulary based on the criterion of the presence of agioseme in the semantic structure of the lexeme. Agioseme is considered as a minimal component of the semantic structure of a word, which has the meaning of holiness, which is often expressed implicitly or contextually, and allows the lexeme to be classified as a lexical-semantic group “religion”. Agioseme is identified using the methods of component, contextual and comparative analysis, as well as the functional-semantic method. The object of the study is Orthodox religious vocabulary. As a result of the conducted research, a classification of religious vocabulary is proposed according to the following criteria: 1) by religion (Christian, Islamic, Buddhist), 2) by confessions (Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic, Old Believer, etc.), 3) by source (Biblical, New Testament), 4) by thematic principle, 5) by the presence/absence of agioseme. The analysis of texts of different functional styles and discourses presented in the National Corpus of the Russian Language made it possible to identify several groups of vocabulary with the semantics of holiness, to analyze the phenomena of desacralization and sacralization. The results of the component analysis, the identification of the agioseme as a marker of religious context make it possible to differentiate religious and non-religious, sacred and profane meanings of one lexeme and to distinguish homonymy in different contexts. For citation: Bugaeva I. V. Agioseme as a component of the semantic structure of religious vocabulary DOI: 10.51216/2687‑072Х_2025_1_202-221. EDN: RDDWVR // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 1 (30). P. 202–221. (In Russian)
Continuity of pedagogical approaches of St. Philaret (Drozdov) and Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky) in performing the system of spiritual education in Russia: on the formulation of the problem
The article is devoted to identifying the ideological continuity in the work of Saint Philaret (Drozdov) (first half of the 19th century) and Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky) (early 20th century) in reforming the system of spiritual education in Russia. The relevance of the topic is due to the need to study the experience of previous generations in the field of spiritual and moral education and training for the purpose of using it in the modern education system. The authors studied Charters of the Theological Academies of 1814, 1868, the publication “Filaret, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna. Collection of Opinions and Reviews” in five volumes, containing the memoirs of contemporaries who witnessed the reform of the system of spiritual education in the mid-19th century, as well as the work of Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky) “Notes on Didactics”. The authors use theoretical-analytical, ideographic, comparative methods of scientific research. The study revealed the unity of the ideological and methodological approaches of the two archpastors in building a unified system of spiritual education in Russia. The commonality of the approach to transforming the educational model is noted in two areas: a) training of teaching staff and b) developing a common understanding of the purpose and objectives of spiritual education at all levels: from primary (church parish schools) to higher (theological academies). This made it possible to build a holistic vertical of spiritual education by the end of the 19 th century. Out by both hierarchs attempted to solve one of the pressing problems of the spiritual education system - the integration of secular sciences and theology. For citation: Evtikhiev P. N., Zosima (Klinkov A. V.), hieromonk Continuity of pedagogical approaches of St. Philaret (Drozdov) and Hieromartyr Thaddeus (Uspensky) in performing the system of spiritual education in Russia: on the formulation of the problem DOI: 10.51216/2687‑072Х_2025_1_181-201. EDN: HOZELS // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 1 (30). P. 181–201. (In Russian)
Abrief overview of the historical, dogmatic and liturgical features of the Syrian-Jacobite Church
The article is devoted to the history, dogma and current situation of the Syrian Jacobite Church, which is one of the Ancient Eastern Pre-Chalcedonian Churches. The name of the Church, which separated from Antioch in the 6 th century, is associated with the name of its founder Jacob Baradaeus (505-578). In the Syrian Jacobite Church, he is revered as a saint. The figure of Baradaeus is associated with the creation of a parallel hierarchy of Monophysites in Syria. The author, using comparative historical analysis, examines the clash of imperial Hellenistic and national Aramaic traditions in the context of the emergence of Christianity in Syria in the first centuries of our era. This confrontation accelerated the process of schism associated with the adoption of oros at the IV Council of Chalcedon. Using diachronic and synchronic methods, the article presents a brief overview of the history of Syrian spiritual culture. At a certain point, due to historical events, the era of prosperity was replaced by a period of fragmentation and decline caused by the onslaught of Arab and Tatar-Mongol tribes. As a result of socio-political persecution and disunity of the Syrian Jacobite Christians, many of them were forced to leave their lands and settle in the territories of modern Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq. In conclusion, it can be noted that at present there are no results in the theological dialogue between Orthodoxy and the Syriac Jacobite Church. However, there is interaction between Christians in the face of external trials. For citation: Sergunin V. A., archpriest Abrief overview of the histor‑ical, dogmatic and liturgical features of the Syrian‑ Jacobite Church. DOI: 10.51216/2687‑072Х_2025_1_167-180. EDN: EGSZTE // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 1 (30). P. 167–180. (In Russian)
The position of Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) as a component of the “Theory of thePrimacy of Power” of the Patriarchate of Constantinople
The article examines the views of one of the outstanding Greek theologians, Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos), as part of the “Theory of Primacy of Power” of the Patriarch of Constantinople in connection with the so-called Ukrainian question. After the Russian Orthodox Church broke off Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Constantinople in October 2018, Metropolitan Hierotheos outlined his theory on granting autocephaly from the position of the Church of Constantinople. This theory, in essence, is a distortion of Orthodox ecclesiology, since the institution of primacy violates equal relations between Local Orthodox Churches. At the beginning of the article, Metropolitan Hierotheos’s theory of an autocephalous Church is examined. His confidence in the special right of Constantinople to grant autocephaly is unfounded, since one Local Church is granted an excessive privilege that goes beyond its honorary rights and obligations. The Metropolitan’s theory of the gradual granting of autocephaly is examined in detail: 1) “by oikonomia” by the Patriarch of Constantinople, and then 2) “by akrivia”, by the All-Church Council. In any case, the Metropolitan supports the Patriarch of Constantinople in his actions leading to a schism, which complicates the possibility of restoring peace between the Local Orthodox Churches. In conclusion, the author summarizes: the anti-Russian rhetoric of Metropolitan Hierotheus testifies to his biased and unscientific approach to the history of Russia and the Russian Church. His distorted understanding of history allows him to “justify” the decisions of Constantinople, which radically violated peace and harmony in the Ecumenical Church. For citation: Dionisius (Shlenov A. V.), hegumen The position of Metropolitan Hierotheos (Vlachos) as a component of the “Theory of the Primacy of Power” of the Patriarchate of Constantinople DOI: 10.51216/2687‑072Х_2025_1_143-166. EDN: BKMSKF // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 1 (30). P. 143–166. (In Russian).
Novgorod bishops during the Russian church turmoil in the 14th century
The article is devoted to the study of the consequences of the time of troubles in the Russian Metropolitanate for the Novgorod Archdiocese. The subject of the study is the activities of the Novgorod bishops during the years of troubles and their position in the struggle of various candidates for the Russian metropolitan throne. The relevance of this topic is that in historiography, the time of church troubles of the 14th century is usually considered from the position of its central participants (primarily Moscow), while other principalities and participants in the events remain without attention. This article, like a series of our other publications, is intended to fill this research gap. The article uses the following methods: synthesis of data obtained from various types of historical sources, historical-systemic, historical-comparative, as well as the principle of historicism. The purpose of the study is to consider the participation of Novgorod bishops Alexy and John in the events of the church troubles of the 14 th century. To achieve this goal, the author analyzed a set of historical sources and identified several stories illustrating the issue studied in the article. As a result of examining several subjects (the refusal of Novgorodians to accept Metropolitan Cyprian in 1377; the activities of Archbishop Dionysius in Veliky Novgorod and Pskov in 1382; disputes between the Novgorod Archbishop and Bishop Stefan (Khrap) of Perm over the jurisdiction of the newly formed Perm Diocese in 1385-1386; the refusal of Novgorodians from the Metropolitan Court of Appeal in 1385), the author identified the position of the Novgorod bishops during the time of troubles in the Russian Metropolitanate. The results of the study may be useful in further studying the regional aspect of the history of the Russian Church and the history of church-state relations in the 14th century. For citation: Kadura N. D., priest Novgorod bishops during the Russian church turmoil in the 14th century. DOI: 10.51216/2687‑072Х_2025_1_128-142. EDN: BJPDWO // Theological Collection of Tambov Theological Seminary. 2025, no. 1 (30). P. 128–142. (In Russian)