The activity of archimandrite John (Sokolov) as a member of the St. Petersburg committee for theological censorship

For many decades, theological censorship has played an important role in the publishing not only of religious, but also secular literature in the Russian Empire. In this article the author discusses one of the censors of the St. Petersburg Theological Censorship Committee - Archimandrite John (Sokolov). In this committee there was a frequent change of censors, however, Archim. John managed to hold his office from 1848 to 1857. Based on the example of his work, the methods and principles used in theological censorship are shown. The main sources used are the Fund of the Theological Censorship Committee (f. 807), which is stored in the Russian State Historical Archive, and the “Collection of Legal Provisions and Orders on Theological Censorship”. In addition to other additional literature, the monograph of A. N. Kotovich is analyzed. By comparing the reviews by Archim. John with the official instructions of the “Collection of Legal Provisions...”, it became possible to identify the characteristic methods and the motivational dynamics of his decisions. In the conclusion of the article, the author, on the basis of the material received, formulates a conclusion regarding the objectivity of the views of Archim. John (Sokolov) and assesses his work as a member of the St. Petersburg Theological and Censorship Committee.