“From academy to academy”: the life path of professor of Leningrad Theological Academy K. A. Sborovsky (1883-1965)

Drawing on archival and published materials the article reconstructs the biography of a graduate of St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Professor of fundamental theology at Leningrad Theological Academy Konstantin Aleksandrovich Sborovsky (1883-1965). For the purposes of the article, the life story is divided into three periods: before 1917, after the revolution and the period of his activity in Leningrad Theological Academy (LTA). K. A. Sborovsky received theological education in a classical way (school, seminary, academy), but then decided to graduate from the Faculty of History and Philology of St. Petersburg University and devote his further teaching career to the Russian language and literature. After the revolution, K. A. Sborovsky continued teaching the same disciplines, combining teaching with social work. At LTA in 1946 he became a lecturer of fundamental theology. Pedagogical activities of K. A. Sborovsky from 1946 to 1957 were very rich: in addition to the major subject, he taught the Russian and Church Slavonic languages, the Holy Scriptures of the New Testament, delivered lectures at the University of Bonn, etc. Also, K. A. Sborovsky performed administrative functions of the secretary of the Pedagogical Council of the Academy, the secretary of the Academic Council, and the secretary of the Council of Deans. In conclusion, the article raises a number of questions that require in-depth study. It is concluded that the reconstruction of biographies of the first generation of professors of the revived Academy provides rich materials for further research and publications.