Theophan Prokopovich
Theophan Prokopovich | |
|---|---|
| De-facto head of the Most Holy Synod | |
Posthumous portrait, mid-18th century | |
| Church | Russian Orthodox Church |
| See | Novgorod |
| Installed | 1722 |
| Term ended | 1736 |
| Predecessor | Stefan Yavorsky |
| Successor | Joseph Volchansky |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 June 1681 |
| Died | 19 September 1736 (aged 55) |
| Alma mater | Kiev Academy |
Theophan or Feofan Prokopovich (Russian: Феофан Прокопович; Ukrainian: Феофан Прокопович, romanized: Feofan Prokopovych; 18 June [O.S. 8 June] 1681 – 19 September [O.S. 8 September] 1736) was a Russian Orthodox bishop, theologian, pietist, writer, poet, mathematician, astronomer, pedagogue and philosopher of Ukrainian origin. He was the rector of the Academia Mohileana in Kiev (1711–1716), the bishop of Pskov (1718–1725), and the archbishop of Novgorod (1725–1736).
Prokopovich elaborated upon and implemented Peter the Great's reform of the Russian Orthodox Church; he served as the first vice-president of the Most Holy Synod from 1721, which replaced the office of the patriarch. He was the de facto leader of the synod (and the Russian Orthodox Church) following the death of Stefan Yavorsky in 1722. Prokopovich also wrote many religious verses and some of the most enduring sermons in the Russian language.