Zinovy (Drozdov), Archbishop of Tambov and Kozlov: childhood, adolescence, youth, and the first years of priesthood (1875-1904)

Using archival materials, memoirs, and contemporary publications, this article examines little-studied aspects of the early life of Zinovy (Drozdov), Archbishop of Tambov and Kozlov - from his birth in 1875 to his release from captivity after the end of the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. Particular attention is given to the influence of his family, rural, and church-educational environments on the formation of his personality, as well as his motivation for taking monastic vows and voluntarily joining the military medical corps. The article analyses future archpastor’s life, including his studies at Galich Theological School, Kostroma Theological Seminary, and St. Petersburg Theological Academy, his service in the Kostroma Diocese, the premature death of his wife, taking the monastic vows, his naval campaign in the Far East as a priest on the hospital ship “Oryol”, the Battle of Tsushima, and his captivity in Japan. Using an interdisciplinary approach (historical-biographical, church-historical, and spiritual-anthropological), the connection between Archbishop Zinovy’s upbringing in a religious family and his church ministry is revealed. The study expands our understanding of the role of the clergy in public life and the care of soldiers in Russia at the turn of the 20th century.