Teachers of theological schools: the role and place in the cultural and educational space of the Russian province at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries

Spiritual educational institutions made a significant contribution to the preparation of pedagogical and ecclesiastical intelligentsia of the regions of Russia, were the centers of educational, scientific, cultural and educational activities. The article dealswith the composition, activities, place and role of teaching staff of spiritual and educational institutions in the educational and cultural process in the province. The source base of the research consists of materials of the educational Committee and the School Council of the Holy Synod of the Russian state historical archive, materials of the diocesan press and funds of theological seminaries and diocesan women’s schools of the Arkhangelsk, Vologda and Olonets provinces. Teachers of religious schools came from the clergy, graduates of the theological academies, substantive position close to the teachers of the secular schools. The nature and content of professional and social activities allows us to distinguish them as an intellectual elite of the Church intelligentsia. Together with the secular intelligentsia, they were also the initiators, organizers and participants of a wide cultural work in the province.