History of teaching Oriental languages at theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church during the 18th and 19th centuries

Abstract

Throughout its history, Russian oriental studies have been closely linked to the educational and missionary activities of the Russian Orthodox Church. At the beginning of the 18th century, Peter I initiated the study of oriental languages for missionary purposes, and he also created a multi-level system of theological schools for the Russian Orthodox Church to help increase the level of intellectual training for clergy. Languages of the peoples of the Russian Empire and those of the East beyond the Russian Empire were taught in various church-run educational institutions.

In the 19th century, the importance of studying and teaching oriental languages grew as part of the process of forming a unified cultural space for the empire and nation-building. This led to the teaching of Tatar, Chuvash, Kalmyk, Mongolian, and other languages in theological seminaries and academies run by the Russian Orthodox Church at the beginning of the century. Outstanding scholars, both secular and religious, developed the methodological basis of missionary oriental studies and created a wealth of educational materials. Through the training of specialists who spoke the languages of Eastern peoples, they not only fulfilled church-related goals, but also contributed to the state's objectives. Graduates from theological schools who spoke Oriental languages engaged in missionary work, translation, linguistic, historical, ethnographic and cultural research, teaching children and adults in ethnic schools, thus eventually playing an important role in cultural development within the Russian Empire and beyond.

References

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