The life and ministry of bishop John (Sokolov) of Smolensk within the walls of the St. Petersburg theological schools

The article is devoted to the analysis of the life and work of John (Sokolov), Bishop of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh, during his service in the St. Petersburg Teological Schools. It was this stage in the life of the Reverend that was marked by many scientific works, which subsequently earned him the fame of an unordinary theologian and one of the best connoisseurs of the canons of the Orthodox Church. Te article atempts to cover the ministry of the Most Reverend John as a teacher and inspector of St. Petersburg Teological Academy, as well as its rector. Te sources for the study were the works of the most Reverend John and archival documents of the Russian State Historical Archive. As additional literature, articles from journals and memoirs of persons who knew the Reverend personally were used. Tis method allows you to approach the most objective view of the person and ministry of the person being studied. Based on the available materials, the author of the article shows the contribution of Bishop John to the church science, as well as the significance for the Russian Church of St. Petersburg theological schools as a scientific center and forge of research and administrative personnel for the dioceses and higher educational institutions of our Church in the middle of the 19th century