After numerous Mongol-Tatar raids, Kievan Rus lost its power. And it became the prey of new conquerors, this time Lithuanian, Polish and German. Cruel socio-national oppression fell on the shoulders of the population throughout Ukraine. The ruling circles of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth intended to spiritually enslave the country. They forcibly prohibited the people from their language and culture, but the people did not want to put up with this. He waged a constant struggle for his freedom and independence. No oppression could stop the socio-economic development of Ukraine. Under his influence, the national self-awareness of the people awakened, their spiritual powers were revealed, and interest in their own history and language increased. Then the need for the development of science and education arose.
By this time, many sons of the Ukrainian people were studying or had already received education outside their homeland. But already in the 17th century the question arose about opening their own educational institutions that could compete with European ones. This was preceded by an increase in the number of parochial schools (in the 16th century). The number of libraries also increased, and many new books appeared. All this can be considered prerequisites for the creation of a high-level educational institution.
The academy had a strict selection of teaching staff. Responsibility for this process was assigned to the academic corporation. Very high demands were placed on the teacher. The Academy also enjoyed the right to elect a rector. He was elected from among academic professors. At one time, the hetman even approved the candidacy of the rector and presented him with a “certificate of merit.” This speaks of the importance of the academy in public life in Ukraine at that time.
The academic year began on September 1 and ended in early July. However, new students were enrolled throughout the academic year. There were no age restrictions at the academy. Thus, in the junior class there could be students aged from 11 to 25 years. To become a student, it was necessary to pass an interview, which determined the applicant’s level of knowledge and which class he should be assigned to. Unsuccessful students were not expelled. A student could stay in one class as long as he wanted. Sometimes even students returned from high schools to lower classes “to confirm their knowledge.” After completing the entire course of study or one of the senior classes, the student received a certificate signed by the rector.
Young people from all regions of Ukraine studied at the academy: Kiev region, Sloboda Ukraine, Volyn, Transcarpathia, Galicia, Bukovina. These came from all layers of the population - nobility, Cossacks, clergy, townspeople and peasants. The largest representation was of the townspeople, Cossacks and priests. This principle was very important for the academy, giving the opportunity to receive a full education not only for the children of the nobility, but also for the common people.
By order of the government of the Russian Empire and the decree of the Synod of August 14, 1817, the Academy was closed. In 1819 it was reopened as the Kiev Theological Seminary, and then the Theological Academy.
The invaluable experience of Mogilyanka was used in the organization of the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy.
In 1992, the Kiev-Mohyla Academy reopened its doors to those wishing to gain knowledge at the world level. All of the above traditions have been preserved in it to this day. Now the academy is one of the most popular higher education institutions in Ukraine.
KIEV-MOHYLA ACADEMY- a higher educational institution in which, in addition to theology, philosophy and related disciplines were taught. In 1615 in Kyiv, at the Bratsk Epiphany Monastery, the Kiev Bratsk School was founded, where theology, classical languages, rhetoric, and other general education subjects were studied. The patron of the Kiev-Brotherly School was Hetman of the Zaporozhye Army P. Konashevich-Sagaidachny. Dying, the hetman bequeathed almost all his funds to the school “for science and the education of bachelors of scientists... for Christian children... why should science continue forever and ever.” In 1619–20, the rector of the school was the founder of Slavic philology M. Smotritsky, the creator of the “Slovenian Grammar”. Philosophical studies at the school were significantly developed by the rector Cassian Sakovich (1621–24), the author of the treatises “Aristotelian Problems, or the Question of Human Nature”, “Treatise on the Soul”. Subsequently, Metropolitan Peter Mogila reformed the school, significantly expanding the educational program. Students went through eight classes and studied Slavic, Greek and Latin languages, musical singing, catechism, arithmetic, poetics, rhetoric and theology. From 1631 the school was called the Kiev-Mohyla Collegium; in 1694, by royal decree, it was renamed the Kiev-Mohyla Academy (the decree was confirmed in 1701). In the 18th century French, German and Hebrew, natural history, geography, mathematics, rural and home economics, medicine and Russian rhetoric were added to the subjects taught. Theology was taught according to the system of Feofan Prokopovich, in rhetoric they were guided by the works of M.V. Lomonosov. In 1731–47, the academy was patronized by Metropolitan Rafail Zaborovsky of Kiev, after whom it was called for some time (Academia Mohlio-Zaborowsciana). At the end of the 18th century. The academy is finally transformed into a theological educational institution (Kiev Theological Academy), simultaneously with the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy.
In the history of Russian culture and philosophy, the Kiev-Mohyla Academy played an outstanding role. Bishop Gideon Vishnevsky described it in the following words: “The Kiev Academy has always abounded in learned people. And from her, like from that glorious Athens, all of Russia drew a source of wisdom.” From its walls came the founder of professional philosophical education in Russia, Archbishop Theophylact Lopatinsky. Such prominent hierarchs as Stefan Yavorsky, Dimitry Rostovsky, Arseny Matseevich studied there. A major contribution to the history of Russian philosophy was made by the teachers of the academy - representatives of the Western Russian school I. Kononovich-Gorbatsky, I. Gizel, I. Krokovsky, V. Yasinsky, M. Kozachinsky, G. Konissky. Statesmen Count P.V. Zavadovsky, Prince G.A. Potemkin-Tavrichesky, A.A. Bezborodko, D.P. Troshchinsky studied at the academy. The Academy published the periodical organ “Proceedings of the Kyiv Theological Academy”.
Literature:
1. Macarius(Bulgakov). History of the Kyiv Academy. St. Petersburg, 1843;
2. Askochensky V.I. History of the Kyiv Theological Academy after its transformation in 1819. St. Petersburg, 1863;
3. Stratius Ya.M. Problems of natural philosophy in the philosophical thought of Ukraine in the 17th century. K., 1981;
4. Nichik V.M. The role of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy in the development of national philosophy. – In the book: Philosophical thought in Kyiv. K., 1982;
5. Stratius Ya.M.,Litvinov V.D.,Andrushko V.A. Description of courses in philosophy and rhetoric taught by professors at the Kiev-Mohyla Academy. K., 1982;
6. Zahara I.S. The struggle of ideas in philosophical thought in Ukraine at the turn of the 17th–18th centuries. (Stefan Yavorsky). K., 1982;
7. Khizhnyak Z.I. Kiev-Mohyla Academy. K., 1988.
A.V.Panibrattsev
We continue to publish materials dedicated to the history of the Kyiv Theological Academy, which this year celebrates its 400th anniversary.
Holy Spiritual Church of the former Brotherhood Monastery. Modern look
After the period of Ruins ended, Kyiv became part of the Muscovite kingdom, and the Kiev Metropolis became part of the Moscow Patriarchate (in 1686), and it became necessary to regulate the status of the Kyiv Collegium in this new situation. In 1693, an embassy headed by the rector of the college, Abbot Joasaph (Krokovsky), went to Moscow. Thanks to the support of the Kyiv Metropolitan Varlaam (Yasinsky) and Hetman Ivan Mazepa, the rector managed to receive two important letters from Tsars Peter and John Alekseevich (both dated January 11, 1694). The first of them approved all of its estates for the Bratsky Monastery. The second gave the board the right to teach theology, accept children of all classes not only from Ukraine and Russia, but also from abroad (primarily from Poland) and approved the right to internal autonomy for the Kyiv school.
However, the recognition of the Kyiv school's right to internal self-government led to a conflict with the city authorities of Kyiv. Teachers and students of the college, citing the royal decree, avoided subordination to any authorities other than the school authorities. Foreign students (immigrants from Poland) became especially famous for this. While carrying out riots in the city, they refused to answer to the city court. All this forced Metropolitan Varlaam (Yasinsky) to turn to Tsar Peter I with a request to grant the Kyiv College full rights to the Academy. As a result, on September 26, 1701, Peter I issued a charter in which the Kiev school was officially recognized as the Academy. The charter once again confirmed all the privileges that were given to the college in 1694.
The period from 1701 to 1760. is rightfully considered the heyday of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy. During these years, the Academy was the most prestigious educational institution in the territory not only of Ukraine, but also of the entire Russian Empire.
The Academy was headed by the rector, who was also the abbot of the Kiev-Brotherly Monastery. Since 1732, the rectors bore the honorary title of archimandrites, granted to them by the Synod at the request of Metropolitan Raphael (Zaborovsky). Until the 1760s, the rector was usually elected by the academic corporation and then confirmed in office by the Kyiv Metropolitan. The rector carried out general management of the educational process and was in charge of all the affairs of the monastery. He reviewed and approved curricula and lecture courses prepared by professors. The rector considered all complaints received against students from city authorities and ordinary citizens, and resolved conflicts between the prefect and teachers. The rectors of the Academy were also professors of theology.
Archbishop Feofan (Prokopovich). Portrait. The end of the 18th – beginning of the 19th century.
Many rectors of the Academy reached the rank of bishop and became famous church figures. Among them are Archbishops Feofan (Prokopovich), George (Konissky), Joseph (Volchansky), Sylvester (Kulyabka), and others.
The second (after the rector) official at the Academy was the prefect. He oversaw the educational process and discipline. He had the right to conduct interviews with young men wishing to enroll in studies and enroll them in one class or another. He also observed the bursas (student dormitories) and the houses in which students were accommodated. The assistants to the prefect were superintendents from among the teachers and lords from among the students who kept order in the schools.
In the 18th century, the full course of study at the Academy was 12 years and was divided into eight classes. First there were four grammatical classes: headlight, infima, grammar and syntax. This was followed by the classes of poetics (piitiki), rhetoric, philosophy and theology. In grammar classes, students had to thoroughly study Church Slavonic, “Russian” (as the book Ukrainian language of that time was traditionally called, which was noticeably different from the Great Russian language), Polish, Latin and Greek. After the first four classes, the student had to speak Latin fluently, read and translate texts in all specified languages.
Kyiv Metropolitan Joasaph (Krokovsky). Portrait, 19th century
In the poetry class, students mastered the art of composing poetic works, and in the rhetoric class they studied the theory and practice of oratory. Church eloquence (homiletics) at that time was considered a part of rhetoric.
Philosophy included not only logic, dialectics and metaphysics, but also natural sciences (physics, mathematics, astronomy, zoology). In the theological class, in which initially they studied for four years, and from the second half of the 18th century. - three years, studied dogmatic and moral theology, church history, hermeneutics and Paschal. In addition, theological students were entrusted with composing and delivering sermons in churches.
In addition to the indicated eight ordinary classes, there were also extraordinary classes at the Academy, which were considered secondary. If ordinary classes followed each other sequentially, then extraordinary classes could be attended by students of different years of study in parallel with their main classes. As part of extraordinary classes, students studied algebra, geometry, optics, hydrostatics, civil and military architecture, mechanics, geography, new European languages, drawing and a number of other disciplines. According to researchers, in the 18th century. In total, about 30 academic disciplines were studied at the Kiev-Mohyla Academy.
Portrait of St. Paisius Velichkovsky. End of the 18th century. Moldova. Unknown artist
The academic year at the Academy began on September 1, although sometimes those wishing to enroll in studies came to Kyiv at the height of the academic year. After an interview with the prefect, they were allowed to attend classes. Every day (except Sundays and holidays) in all classes there were eight lectures lasting one hour. They started at eight in the morning and ended at six in the evening. The lunch break lasted two hours.
The pride of the Academy was its unique library. The collection of books, which began at the Kyiv College under Peter Mogila, has always been considered a priority task. Imitating St. Peter, many noble graduates of the Academy bequeathed their book collections to the Kyiv school. As a result, many unique volumes were collected in Kyiv. By 1780, the library consisted of 12 thousand volumes. In 1780, there was a fire at the Academy, during which 9 thousand books burned, which amounted to three quarters of all library collections. Nevertheless, the Academy's book collection was regularly replenished and, despite serious losses, remained one of the best in the Russian Empire.
Lesson at the Kiev-Mohyla Academy. Fragment of an engraving. 1712
The hallmark of the Academy was the debates held here. They came in two types: private and public. Private ones were held weekly as practical classes, and public ones were timed either to coincide with the end of the school year or to coincide with some special memorable days. Public debates were held with a large crowd of guests. The debates were supposed to not only teach students to defend their beliefs, but also testify to the Academy’s success in education. For public debates, theses were prepared and published in advance. Only the best students were nominated to participate in the debates.
The total number of students at the Academy varied over the years. Thus, in 1710–1711, after all the upheavals associated with the events of the Northern War and the plague epidemic that struck Kiev, only about a hundred students remained at the Academy. However, in 1715 there were already 1,100 of them. In the period from the 1720s to the 1740s, in connection with the opening of the Kharkov and Pereyaslav collegiums, the number of students decreased slightly. Now about 800 people studied at the Kyiv Academy every year. From the mid-1740s, the number of students increased and gradually reached 1,100 people. In 1770, a plague epidemic broke out again in Kyiv, as a result of which 6 thousand out of 20 thousand inhabitants died in Podil. That year, only about 150 students remained at the Academy, and it was decided to temporarily send them home. In the 1770-1790s, the total number of students ranged from 700 to 900 people.
The Academy retained its all-class character. The children of the clergy, nobles, Cossacks, townspeople and peasants studied there. People from the clergy in the first half of the 18th century. made up only a third of the total number of students.
In 1703, a new academic building of the Academy was founded. Its construction was carried out at the expense of Hetman Ivan Mazepa and was completed in 1704. Initially, it was a one-story building, divided into six classrooms and three vestibules. In 1740, on the initiative of Metropolitan Raphael (Zaborowski), the building was rebuilt. As a result, the building became three-story. In addition to the six lower classes, classes of philosophy and theology could now also be accommodated here. A congregational hall was also built in the building, where ceremonial meetings and public debates were held. On the eastern side of the building, the Annunciation Congregational Church was added, which Metropolitan Raphael solemnly consecrated on November 1, 1740.
In the 18th century Extensive international relations of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy are developing. Serbs, Greeks, Montenegrins, Romanians, as well as immigrants from Hungary (residents of modern Transcarpathian Ukraine) come to the Academy to study. However, the bulk of foreign students were, of course, immigrants from Poland. These were Orthodox Slavs (Belarusians and Ukrainians) who lived in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and were canonically subordinate to the Kyiv Metropolis. About a hundred Polish citizens entered the Academy every year.
For the period from 1701 to 1760. about 70 graduates of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy reached the rank of bishop. They occupied the overwhelming majority of bishops' sees of the Russian Church. Those who came from the Academy, in all places of their episcopal service, tried to open schools that would work according to Kyiv models. Thus, the foundations of the education system in the Russian Empire were actually laid.
Since the 1760s, the situation at the Academy has changed noticeably. This was due to the fact that in 1762 Empress Catherine II ascended the Russian throne. She had a very unkind attitude towards the Ukrainian bishops, seeing in them possible opposition to her church policies. Therefore, the Empress did not show much favor towards the Kyiv Academy. In 1763, the annual salary established for the Kyiv Academy by the royal charter of 1694 was abolished. Also, graduates of the Academy lost their previous privilege when appointed to episcopal departments. During the reign of Catherine, the Ukrainian episcopate in the Russian Church was gradually replaced by the Great Russian one.
Kyiv Metropolitan Samuil (Mislavsky). Portrait. Second half of the 19th century
In 1783, Metropolitan Samuil (Mislavsky) was appointed to the Kyiv See. He ordered that a number of non-theological subjects be taught at the Academy “in the Russian language with the observation of the pronunciation that is used in Great Russia.” From now on, arithmetic, history and geography were taught in the Great Russian language. In 1786, after the publication of the charter of public schools, which was also extended to religious educational institutions, the Metropolitan ordered “to assign to the Kyiv Academy an image of teaching that was legalized for all schools in the Russian Empire.” Thus, during the reign of Metropolitan Samuil, one can observe the gradual displacement of Kyiv academic traditions and the partial Russification of the Academy.
In 1786, the secularization of church lands was carried out in Ukraine. As a result, the Kiev-Brotherly Monastery was closed. Thus, for the first time in the entire existence of the Academy, its connection with this monastery was severed. It was assumed that after the closure of the monastery, the Academy would be transferred to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. This decision caused bitter disappointment in Kyiv, and Metropolitan Samuil began to lobby in St. Petersburg for its cancellation. In 1787, Empress Catherine visited Kyiv. Local authorities succeeded in mitigating her decision. Despite the fact that the Brotherhood Monastery was nevertheless disbanded, the Academy remained in its original place. It was possible to restore the Kiev-Brotherly Monastery only in 1799.
Although the internal structure of the Kyiv Academy did not undergo changes during the reign of Catherine II, it should still be noted that since the 1760s the previous custom of electing the rector of the Academy was abolished. From now on, he was appointed by the Kiev Metropolitan, without prior approval of the candidacy from the Academy corporation.
Since, since the time of Catherine II, the Ukrainian nobility and Cossack elders preferred to send their children to study in newly opened secular educational institutions, the proportion of students from the clergy at the Kyiv Academy is gradually increasing. So, if in 1760, out of 935 students at the Academy, 420 people were children of the clergy (that is, less than half), then in 1797, out of 745 students, 575 people came from the clergy class (that is, almost 80%). Thus, the Kiev Academy by the end of the 18th century. gradually loses its all-class character and turns into a school for the children of the clergy.
Saint Arseny (Matseevich), Metropolitan of Rostov. From a modern engraving by A. Osipov from a portrait of A. Kovalkov, from the original kept in the Savviny Monastery.
In the 18th century Many devotees of piety emerged from the walls of the Academy and were canonized. These are Saints John (Maksimovich), Philotheus (Leshchinsky), Joasaph (Belgorod), Pavel (Konyuskevich), George (Konissky), Sophrony of Irkutsk, Arseny (Matseevich), and Rev. Paisius Velichkovsky.
Graduates of the Kyiv Academy in the 18th - early 19th centuries. made a significant contribution to the development of a number of sciences and arts. Thus, at the origins of Ukrainian historical science were the authors of the famous Cossack chronicles, graduates of the Kyiv Collegium Roman Rakushka-Romanovsky (“Chronicle of the Samovidet”), Grigory Grabyanka and Samuil Velichko. In the second half of the 18th - early 19th centuries. this tradition was continued by Mogilyan residents V. G. Ruban and D. N. Bantysh-Kamensky. The most famous Ukrainian philosopher Grigory Skovoroda was also a student of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy.
From the walls of the Academy came the founder of obstetrics in the Russian Empire N. M. Ambodik-Maksimovich, the founder of Russian epidemiology D. S. Samoilovich and the chief physician of the Kyiv Military Hospital M. M. Vellansky.
The students of the Academy made a special contribution to the musical culture of Ukraine. Under the influence of the Italian singing school, partes (polyphonic) singing is developing at the Academy, and bright composing and performing schools are being formed. The Academy's graduates included famous Ukrainian composers M. S. Berezovsky and A. L. Vedel.
Vladimir Burega
50.464444 , 30.519444| National University "Kiev-Mohyla Academy" | |
|---|---|
| (NaUKMA) | |
| original name | National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" |
| International name | National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" |
| Year of foundation | (restored to) |
| The president | Sergey Kvit |
| Location | Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Legal address | Ukraine 04070 Kyiv, st. Frying pans 2 |
| Website | http://www.ukma.kiev.ua |
National University "Kiev-Mohyla Academy" (NaUKMA) (ukr. National University "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy") - one of the leading modern universities in Ukraine. Considering its historical predecessor - the Kiev-Mohyla Academy, NaUKMA is considered one of the two oldest universities in Ukraine after Lviv University and one of the oldest higher schools in Eastern Europe.
Faculties
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Economic Sciences
- Faculty of Computer Science
- Faculty of Legal Sciences
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Social Sciences and Social Technologies
Ratings and reputation
In 2009, according to the results of the national rating "Compass-2009" (Magazine "Correspondent" dated May 22, 2009), NaUKMA took 2nd place.
In 2009, according to the monitoring of scientific and higher educational institutions in accordance with the international citation index, NaUKMA received 36th place among all Ukrainian higher educational institutions
In 2008, in the ranking of 228 Ukrainian universities conducted by the charitable foundation "Development of Ukraine" of Rinat Akhmetov, NaUKMA shared second place with (the first was shared by the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kiev and the Yaroslav the Wise National Academy of Law).
In accordance with the ranking of universities conducted by the weekly newspaper Zerkalo Nedeli in 2007, NaUKMA took third place among 200 Ukrainian universities. According to the results of the rating conducted by the magazine Money in 2007 NaUKMA ranks first in training specialists in the humanitarian and economic fields and second in the legal field.
Story
Founding of the Kiev-Brotherly College
Theological schools and colleges for education have existed in Ukraine since the end of the 16th century. They were created by foreign Catholics: Genoese (Kyiv), Dominicans and Jesuits. They instilled the Catholic faith and Polish orders. The introduction of Ukrainians to European culture was carried out through the rejection of national ones: faith, language, customs, which was unacceptable for the population.
Kyiv became the center of national revival. Here, at the printing house of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery, under the patronage of Archimandrite Elisha Pletenetsky, a circle of the Kyiv Epiphany Brotherhood was created, which grew into a school. On October 15, the school moved to a separate premises in Podol. This date is considered the date of the organization of the Kyiv fraternal school, the predecessor of the Kiev-Mohyla Collegium, later the academy.
In 1632, the school of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the Lavra School, founded in the year by the archimandrite of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan of Kyiv and Galich Peter Mogila, was attached to the school of the brotherhood. The new educational institution was named the Kiev-Brotherly College.
Kiev-Brotherly College under Peter Mohyla
Peter Mohyla became the head of the Kyiv Fraternal College, protector and guardian. The reforms carried out by Petro Mogila turned the Kiev-Brotherly College into an educational institution focused on the “Latin”, Western European education system.
Of the figures of this collegium, the most famous are: Innokenty Gisel, Joasaf Krokovsky, Lazar Baranovich, Ioanniki Golyatovsky, Anthony Radzivilovsky, Gabriel Dometski, Varlaam Yasinsky, Stefan Yavorsky, Theophilam Lopatinsky, Theophanes Prokopovich, St. Innocent Kulchinsky, Gavriil Buyaninsky, Isaiah, Isaiah, Isaiah, Isaiah, Isaiah. Zakhary Kopynsky , Lavrentiy Zizaniy, Alexander Mytura and others.
Many prominent public figures, cultural and educational figures worked and were educated there: Epiphany Slavinetsky, I. Galatovsky, I. Gizel, D. Samoilovich, Konanovich-Gorbatskov. Students at the academy were Porfiry Zerkalnikov, who carried out diplomatic assignments for the tsar during the War of Liberation, then collaborated with Epiphany Slavinetsky in Moscow, Karion Istomin, author of the first illustrated Russian “Primer” and “Small Grammar”; Konon Zotov, famous military figure, author of the first Russian book on ship control techniques; Field Marshal General Boris Sheremetev, associate of Peter I, and others. Belarusians constantly studied at the Kyiv Academy. Among them is the famous future scientist Simeon of Polotsk (1620-1680).
Graduates of the academy were the founders of a number of schools in Russia and Belarus, especially in the 18th century. They founded schools and seminaries in almost all cities of Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Smolensk, Rostov the Great, Tobolsk, Irkutsk, Kholmogory, Tver, Belgorod, Suzdal, Vyatka, Vologda, Kolomna, Ryazan, Pskov, Veliky Ustyug, Astrakhan, Kostroma, Vladimir on Klyazma and other cities. The teachers in these schools were predominantly graduates of the Academy. In Mogilev, the archbishop, educator, scientist, student and rector of the Academy Georgy Konissky opened a seminary, which became the center of education in Belarus.
Famous alumni, students and professors
Notes
Literature
- Kharlampovich K.V. Little Russian influence on Great Russian church life. - Kazan, 1914.
- Askochensky V. Kyiv with its oldest school, the Academy. - Kyiv, 1856.
- Kiev-Mohyla Academy in names. XVII-XVIII centuries - K.: View. house "KM Academy", 2001.
- Khizhnyak Z. I., Mankivsky V. K. History of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy. - K.: “KM Academy”, 2003.
- E.I. Onishchenko, Sunday Academy: Rumors about the rebirth of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy and its participants - K.: View. house "KM Academy", 2004.
- The Kiev Academy in the Seventeenth Century. - Ottawa: University Of Ottawa Press, 1977. - ISBN ISBN 0-7766-0901-7
- The Kievan Academy and Its Role in the Organization of Russia at the Turn of the Seventeenth Century. - New York: Shevchenko Scientific Society, 1976.
- Omeljan Pritsak and Ihor Sevcenko, eds. "The Kiev Mohyla Academy (Commemorating the 350th Anniversary of Its Founding, 1632-1982)." Harvard Ukrainian Studies. vol. VIII, no. 1/2. Cambridge, MA, 1985.
- S.M. Horak. "The Kiev Academy. A Bridge to Europe in the 17th Century". East European Quarterly, vol. 2, 2, 1968.
Before the reunification of Ukraine with Russia in 1654, Western Ukrainian lands were part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. At the end of the 17th century, contradictions within the Orthodox Church intensified, which resulted in a schism and the adoption of the Union of Brest in 1598 with the papal throne. The Union, supported by the Polish king Sigismund III, launched a serious attack on Orthodoxy and captured many churches and monasteries.
Serious opposition to the spread of the union was provided by Orthodox brotherhoods, which focused on strengthening the education system. Fraternal Orthodox schools began to open at monasteries. At the same time, the Western system was adopted as the education system, since it was more progressive than the traditional Orthodoxy of that time.
On October 15, 1615, the fraternal school of the Kyiv Epiphany Brotherhood, which grew out of a circle created by Archimandrite Elisha Pletenetsky, moved to a new premises on Podol in Kyiv. This school became the foundation of the future Kiev-Mohyla College and Academy.
In 1620, after the establishment of the catacomb hierarchy in the Orthodox Church, the charter of the Lviv fraternal school was adopted as the basis. The best teachers were invited from Lvov and Lutsk.
In 1631, the archimandrite of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Peter Mogila, founded a similar school at the Lavra, which the following year was annexed to the fraternal school of the Epiphany Brotherhood in Podol. The educational institution created by Peter Mogila began to be called the Kiev-Brotherly College. During this period, the college was supported by the Cossack army under the command of Hetman Sagaidachny and the personal possessions of Peter Mohyla. In 1634, Peter Mohyla became Metropolitan of Kyiv and continued to patronize his brainchild. Despite the favor of the Polish king Vladislav IV, the metropolitan failed to achieve official recognition of the academy, although the de facto collegium had long ago become an academy. In December 1650, the Metropolitan died and left his library and land holdings as a legacy.
The status of the academy was assigned to the collegium in 1658 during the conclusion of a treaty between the Hetmanate and Poland. In 1694 and 1701 academic status was confirmed by the Russian Tsars Ivan V and Peter I.
In 1742, 1234 people studied at the academy on full allowance. The range of subjects studied was significantly expanded, including rhetoric according to the method of M. Lomonosov and theology according to F. Prokopovich. But with the opening of universities in Moscow (1755) and Kharkov (1805), the importance of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy dropped significantly. In August 1817 the academy was closed.
For two years, the walls of the academy were empty, until the academy was repurposed as a purely spiritual educational institution. At first it was a seminary, and over time it received the status of a theological academy. After 1917, the theological academy was closed, and a naval political school was organized, which trained commissars for the Red Army.
With the collapse of the USSR and the gaining of independence of Ukraine, the need arose to revive the Kiev-Mohyla Academy as a higher educational institution in Ukraine. The official opening of the academy took place in 1992, as the successor to the Kiev-Mohyla Academy of the past. The revival of the traditions of the third of the oldest universities in Ukraine has begun, after the Ostroh Academy and Lviv National University. Six main faculties were opened: humanities, economics, computer science, natural sciences, law and social sciences and technology. By the beginning of the 2000s. Kiev-Mohyla Academy has taken a strong position among the three best universities in Ukraine.