The educational level of the parish clergy in the Russian empire in the second half of the 19th - early 20th century (on the example of the Chernigov diocese)

The education of future priests and clergy is a topic that will be relevant at all times. It depends on his level whether the priest will take the place of a spiritual leader leading the parishioners to salvation, or he himself will remain guided by various prejudices and superstitions. This can also be attributed to the clergy of the Russian Empire in the last half century of its existence, especially since then literacy and education were necessary for a priest or a psalmist and for maintaining parish documentation, which was quite extensive. This was especially true in rural areas, since most of the parishes (due to the fact that the majority of the population of the empire were peasants) were located in villages, villages and towns. In this essay, using the example of the parish clergy of the Chernigov diocese in the second half of the 19th - early 20th century, I attempt to trace the education of members of the clergy, primarily rural clergy, who made up the vast majority of the clergymen and churchman of the Russian Church in this period.