To the Question of Doctoral, Master and Candidate Crosses of the Synodal Period

The article introduces the question of the insignia for graduates of higher religious educational institutions of the Russian Empire — doctoral, master’s and candidate’s crosses — that has not been developed in modern historiography. Appearing in the Charter of Theological Academies of 1814, the so-called doctoral and master’s crosses for 70 years remained the only insignia for graduates of theological educational institutions. The charter of 1884 introduced a cross already for the degree of candidate of theology. However, it was only in 1886 that signs appeared for graduates without holy orders — special badges for doctors and masters. Candidates of theology who were not ordained were marked with a sign only in 1901. Such badges were a modest but visual expression of the theological education system of the synodal period, as well as an integral part of it, demonstrating that their owners belong to the four higher theological education institutions of the country — the theological academies. The revival of the discussed badges in the modern system of theological education of the Russian Orthodox Church, which occurred in early 2020, only actualizes the study of the topic of this article.