“Proceedings of the Leningrad Theological Academy”: Unrealized Project 1953–1954

The article, based on archival documents, examines the initiative of the then- Archpriest Alexander Osipov, a professor at the Leningrad Theological Academy, to publish a scientific and theological periodical at the theological school called “Proceedings of the Leningrad Theological Academy”. The initiative, supported by Metropolitan Gregory (Chukov) of Leningrad, met with cautious skepticism from Patriarch Alexy I (Simansky), who, in his rather critical resolution, proposed a more balanced and thorough approach to this project. As a result, first at the Leningrad Theological Academy, then at the Moscow Academy, a special discussion of this issue took place. The teaching corporations of both academies agreed to jointly publish a theological journal. In 1954, the first issue of “Proceedings” was prepared in typewritten form at the Leningrad Academy. Finally, after lengthy negotiations, the first issue of “Theological Works” was published in 1960, which became a special scientific journal of the Russian Orthodox Church for the next few decades.