Audit system at theological educational institutions in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries

The article is devoted to a poorly studied topic on the nature of audit activities of the Educational Committee under the Holy Synod in the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The reform of theological education in the 1860s stimulated establishment of a new form of control over the life and activities of regional theological schools. This control was carried out as audits by the members of the newly established Educational Committee. At the same time, higher theological institutions were not under the jurisdiction of the Committee; however, in fact they were dependent on it. The article presents general characteristics of the control and audit activities of the Educational Committee at theological academies, seminaries and colleges, and also discusses problems related to these activities of the central governing body of theological educational institutions. The material was prepared on the basis of current studies and archival documents previously unknown in the scientific circles. The purpose of the study is to present a comprehensive description of the control and audit activities of the Educational Committee in the period under consideration, as well as to highlight the main problems of these activities. The results lead to the conclusion that development of theological education in Russia became possible thanks in part to the new audit procedure carried out by professional auditors who had higher theological education and also significant experience of ministry at the theological department.