To the characterization of the religious-philosophical worldview of M. N. Katkov

Te article is dedicated to the outstanding national public figure, thinker, publisher, literary critic, publicist Mikhail Nikiforovich Katkov (1818-1887), the 200th anniversary of his birth is celebrated this year. Katkov had a significant impact on the development of the state policy of the Russian Empire, public life, philosophical thought and classical literature, as well as on the theory and practice of Russian education, acting as one of the main ideologists of the system of classical education as barriers to the spread of nihilism. Particular attention is paid to the apologetics of the Orthodox Church: the publicist “Оkhranitel” aspired to cover her life in her publications, invariably speaking from the position of impermissibility of subordination of the Church to the state. Te article notes the influence on the outlook of MN Katkov of some church hierarchs, in particular, on Metropolitan Philaret (Drozdov); key publications of Katkov and his staff on church issues are highlighted. Te author proposes to abandon the existing stereotypes and superficial views on the religious and philosophical heritage and literary and publishing activities of MN Katkov and objectively assess his contribution to the development of the national religious and philosophical thought and Orthodox education