PRYLUKY MEN’S GYMNASIUM IN THE UNOFFICIAL SECTION OF “POLTAVA EPARCHIAL HERALD”

Abstract

The article, based on the principles of historicism and objectivity, problem-chronological approach, using methods primarily of analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, and source criticism, reconstructs the multitude of contexts in which the male gymnasium of Pryluky is mentioned in the official section of the “Poltava Eparchial Herald”. One of the contexts is the documentation of religious conversions. The publication consistently recorded conversions from Catholicism and Judaism, often providing detailed accounts of the baptismal histories of students from different confessions: Barenblat, the daughters of Grebeldiner, and Axelrod. Each entry included unique biographical details – from the names of godparents to the circumstances of religious conversion. The administrative and personnel context revealed the internal dynamics of gymnasium life through the movement of clergy. Clergymen frequently changed or combined church positions within the complex system of service promotions characteristic of the time. The publication meticulously documented their professional trajectories. The missionary and educational dimension presented the gymnasium as a center of active work in this direction. Both law teachers and other educators engaged not only in pedagogical activities but also as members of Orthodox societies, organizers of public readings, and founders of Sunday schools. Records of awards and recognitions emphasized the significance of individuals associated with the gymnasium. For instance, M. Rumyantsev’s awarding of a kamilavka (1889) and a pectoral cross (1895) was not merely ceremonial but a testament to his active missionary and liturgical work. The Ascension Gymnasium Church appeared in a separate context of institutional representation. Bishop Ilarion paid particular attention to it, underscoring its status. The church had its own staff and was part of administrative ecclesiastical districts. Overall, the official section of the publication depicts the gymnasium as a space of complex social interactions where educational, religious, and civic practices were deeply intertwined. This institution transcended the boundaries of a mere educational establishment, becoming a center for shaping civic consciousness and spiritual upbringing among youth within the imperial traditions of the period.