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850 COKE’S TRAVELS IN RUSSIA.
tion. It would be tedious to enumerate the various chronicles, journals of the court,
books of genealogy, public records, ftate-papers, and other fimilar fources of infor-
mation, both of his and fucceeding times; which the libraries contain in fuch abundance
as to aftonifha ftranger, who by falfe reprefentations may have been mifled to conceive
that the Ruffians are deficient in original documents.
Among the perfons who, pofterior to Nicon, have moftly contributed to promote
fcience by their example and prote&tion, and who may be claffed among the hiltorians,
muft not be omitted Theophanes Prokopovitch, metropolitan archbifhop of Novogorod.
This learned prelate was the fon of a burgher of Kiof; he was born on the gth of June
1681, and baptized by the name of Elifha. He commenced his ftudies under his
uncle Theophanes, rector of the feminary in the Bratfkoi Convent at Kiof, and
was well grounded in the rudiments of the Greek, Latin, and Hebrew tongues.
‘Though his uncle died in 1692, he completed his education in that feminary, and in
the eighteenth year of his age, travelled into Italy. He refided three years at Rome;
where, befides a competent knowledge of the Italian, he acquired a tafte for the fine
arts, and improved himfelf in philofophy and divinity.
On his return to Kiof, he read lectures on the Latin and Sclavonian poetry in the fe«
thinary, and, having aflumed the monaftic habit, changed his name to Theophanes,
Before he attained the 25th year of his age, he was admitted praefeét, the fecond office
in the feminary, and profeflor of philofophy. In 1706, hediltinguifhed himfelf by a
Latin oration before Peter the Great, and ftill more by a fermon, which, in 1709, he
preached before the fame monarch after the battle of Pultava. Having once attraéted
the notice, he foon acquired the protection of Peter, who, captivated with his great ta-
lents, fuperior learning, and polite addrefs, fele€ted him for a companion in the
enfuing campaign againit the ‘Turks; a fure prelude to his future advancement. In
1711, Theophanes was nominated abbot of the monaftry of Bratikoi, rector of the
feminary, and profeffor of divinity. His cenfures again{ft the ignorance and indolence of
the Ruffian clergy, and his endeavours to promote a tafte for polite literature among
his brethren, rendered him a fit inftrument in the hands of Peter for the reformation
of the church, and the abolition of the patriarchal dignity. | He was placed at the head
of the fynod, of which ecclefiaftical eftablifhment he himielf drew the plan, was created
in 1718 bifhop of Plefcof, and in 1720 archbifhop of the fame diocefe: foon after the
acceflion of Catherine he was confecrated archbifhop of Novogorod, and Metropo-
jitan of all Ruffia, and died in 1736. 5
Befides various fermons and theological difquifitions, he wrote a treatife on rhetoric,
and on the rules of Latin and Sclavonian poetry; he compofed verfes in the Latin lan-
guage, and was author of a work, for which he is chiefly mentioned in this place, the
Life of Peter the Great, which terminates with the battle of Pultava. In this perfor-
mance the prelate has, notwithftanding his natural partiality to his benefaétor, avoided
that feurrilous abufe of the contrary party which frequently difgraces the beft hiftories,
and has been particularly candid in his‘account of Sophia. Peter employed him in
compofing the decrees which concerned theological queftions, and even many which re-
lated -to civil affairs.
Theophanes not only cultivated the fciences, and promoted them during his life, but
likewile left a legacy to his countrymen, for their further progrefs after his deceafe, by
maintainmg and fuperintending the education of fixty’boys, in’his epifcopal palace.
Under his aufpices, they were inftruéted in foreign languages, and in various branches
of polite knowledge, which had been hitherto cenfured by many as profane acqui-
fitions 5
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