The history of conferring the doctoral degree upon Timofey Barsov, professor of St. Petersburg teological academy

The author of this article describes the history of how Professor Timofey Barsov received his degree of Doctor of Canon Law. Afer a number of failed atempts to defend his dissertation in his native St. Petersburg Teological Academy, Barsov was forced to appeal to the Holy Synod. By the Synod’s decision, Barsov’s dossier was transferred to Moscow Teological Academy, but its Academic Council also denied Barsov a doctoral degree. Finally the doctoral degree was conferred upon Barsov without defending a dissertation and despite the negative decisions of two Academic Councils. Te author studies the reasons behind the rejection of Barsov’s work by the academies and the content of the criticism offered by his opponents