Move to St. Petersburg Georgy Gapon

st. petersburg theological academy, attended georgy gapon, 1 of 4 religious academies of russian orthodox church. school training facility theologians.

gapon , wife had 2 children in rapid succession, wife fell ill following 1898 birth of second child, boy. died not long afterward , gapon decided leave poltava make new life in capital city of saint petersburg. bishop ilarion made strong recommendation konstantin pobedonostsev, procurator of holy synod, gapon allowed take entrance examination saint petersburg theological academy despite lack of standard seminary certificate. gapon placed 16th of 67 applicants , subsequently awarded scholarship reserved top prospects @ school. 1 of 235 students regularly attend classes @ school in 1898.

during first year @ st. petersburg academy, gapon became involved in missionary work church through society religious , moral enlightenment in spirit of orthodox church. part of activity gapon helped conduct religious discussions in industrial shops, mess halls, , lodging houses, bringing him close contact urban proletariat first time. tightly-wound gapon found strain of missionary work plus demands of academic life great , fell state of acute depression , began skipping classes. withdrew school on medical leave of absence , spent year in crimea in attempt regain psychological health.

gapon s status student @ st. petersburg theological academy, 1 of elite theological training institutions of orthodox church, placed him in graces bishop nikolai of taurida, permitted gapon live in monastery near sebastopol without having take monastic vows. in crimea met several prominent members of tolstoyan movement, of whom intensely critical of orthodox church , urged gapon leave priesthood. gapon rejected advice, choosing instead return course work in st. petersburg in november 1899, renewed , reinvigorated.

gapon became religious teacher @ st. olga children s orphanage in 1900 , became involved in working factory workers , families impoverished unemployment.