Court career of archpriest Gabriel Odoevsky (1786-1867)

The article examines the biography and long priestly service of Archpriest Gabriel Mikhailovich Odoevsky (1786-1867). The article considers the life path of G. M. Odoevsky from a military priest who proved himself during the Patriotic War of 1812 and the foreign campaign of the Russian army to a Churchman-Abbot of the Tsarskoye Selo Court Church, to which he dedicated 20 years of his service (July 28, 1837 - January 1858). It shows the features of the appointment of priests in the court churches, the economic conditions of life of the clergy of the Tsarskoye Selo Court Church and the management of the clergy by both the ecclesiastic and the court authorities. Some conflict issues related to both economic and career moments that were significant for the Church clergy of the time under study are shown, as well as their consideration and reconciliation by the authorities. Considerable attention is paid to everyday life and family problems in the life of Archpriest Gabriel Mikhailovich Odoevsky during his priesthood in Tsarskoye Selo. The research is based on a significant volume of previously unused archival sources from the Central Russian and St. Petersburg archives, and introduces new materials on the history of the priesthood in the Russian Empire of the 19th century.