At the end of the 18th century, during the reign of Catherine II, the idea of" correcting " and enriching the Russian language, primarily by creating a dictionary, was understood and supported at the highest level. The creation of the Russian Academy, approved by the Empress, allowed its president, E. R. Dashkova, to attract prominent statesmen, writers, and scientists to work on creating the dictionary. Many representatives of the clergy did not stay away from this either. One of them was the Metropolitan of Novgorod and St. Petersburg, Archbishop Gabriel-in the world-Grigory Petrovich Shaposhnikov.

Archbishop Gabriel became a member of the Russian Academy at its very foundation, being, in fact, its vice-president, and in the absence of E. R. Dashkova, he took her place. Only six members of the Academy were not elected at the suggestion of Dashkova and Gavriil. Among the academicians, he became particularly close to Prince Potemkin, Elagin, and Boltin, and he revered Suvorov, although he did not like him. The historian of the Russian Academy M. I. Sukhomlinov wrote: "None of the Academy's businesses

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none of the major issues that arose in its environment were finally resolved without the assistance and participation of Gabriel" (Sukhomlinov M. I. Istoriya Rossiiskoi Akademii, SPb., 1874. Vol. I). He reviewed the works of academicians and others, presented the materials he collected, participated in meetings, reported his comments and considerations, and also took part in the main work - compiling a Dictionary. Gabriel was a member of the dictionary rules department, and he was also the head of this department, zealously attending all meetings related to the discussion of the dictionary.

In many controversial issues, it was addressed to him. Gabriel considered it necessary to adhere to uniformity in the presentation of verbs; to explain words denoting emotional experiences, he advised to focus on philosophical works, and not to give an interpretation through similar ones, since the words fear, horror, awe, etc.are not synonymous; explained the words that caused difficulties: lithium, anointing. Gavriil suggested giving the word sparrow in an independent article, which was originally placed in the article under the verb byu, biu. For the dictionary, he made a selection of words with the letters I, I and K from the books of the best writers of that time, as well as from the words and conversations of John Chrysostom.

Gavriil considered it legitimate to include regional words in the dictionary and introduced the words Little Russian. He also reviewed the materials compiled by students Dmitry and Pyotr Sokolov ,who later also became members of the Russian Academy. In the Academy's memoirs of 1784, one can read: "The academy has lent its advice and diligence to the success of composing a dictionary; he [Archbishop Gabriel. - E. D.] led at the beginning of the working people in the explanation of words; he persuaded some men who were skilled in the Russian word and did not have any participation in the academy, to put words into the letters i, I, k in the word-derived order,and took the trouble to consider them. His advice in the meetings of the Academy, when considering the dictionary, contributed much to the perfection of it. Analogical word painting also received a considerable increment. He also participated in the compilation of rules that serve to compose the dictionary. In doubtful cases, he gave his opinions; to solve doubtful signs of words, he sent his useful explanations." Later, Archbishop Gabriel was also zealously involved in the work of compiling the alphabet dictionary. Taking care that the author of the dictionary had the necessary literature for this work, he presented the Academy with the Lexicon translated by Maxim Grek, the Lexicon of Pamva Berynda, and the Dictionary of Fyodor Polikarpov. The works of Archbishop Gabriel himself were awarded the gold medal on November 25, 1786.

Archbishop Gavriil (Grigory Petrovich Shaposhnikov) was born in Moscow on May 18, 1730 in the family of a synodal reference officer, since 1741-

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he studied at the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, and after graduating in 1753, he was going to lead a quiet and secluded life, but without entering the monastic order. Since 1754, Grigory Shaposhnikov was assigned as a reference worker, or senior proofreader, in the Moscow Synodal Printing House. This work, in his own opinion, greatly contributed to the study of the properties of the Russian language, and in 1758 he began teaching rhetoric at the St. Sergius Lavra Seminary. And in the same year, after being forced three times, he was tonsured a monk in the Trinity Metochion of St. Petersburg, receiving the name of Gabriel. After taking monastic vows, he became rector of the Trinity Seminary, teacher of theology, and vicar of the Lavra. In this field, just like everywhere else, Gabriel worked very hard and conscientiously, directing the reception of pupils, training, and selection of teachers; he personally attended exams. At the Lavra, he led a strict and monotonous life in accordance with his rank and heartfelt disposition. Since 1761, Gabriel was rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and a member of the Synodal Office, which had 24 dioceses under its jurisdiction.

Gabriel's activities as rector have earned attention from the court and the government. By a personal decree, he was "given the right to have tablets and a staff with apples on his mantle in reasoning of a noble degree and rectorship" (Smirnov S. K. History of the Moscow Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, Moscow, 1855). Metropolitan Dmitry Sechenov (whom Catherine II boasted to Voltaire), during his stay in Moscow, said to Gabriel:: "You teach well. The Synod knows this and wants to make you a bishop." Gabriel refused to accept this position, saying that frequent changes in the teaching staff would harm the academy. However, in 1763, he became Bishop of Pskov and was summoned to St. Petersburg by a letter from the Empress.

While living in St. Petersburg, on one of the holidays on which the procession fell, Gabriel found himself walking next to Catherine II during the procession. The Empress had a long conversation with him and was able to appreciate the deep knowledge and human qualities of Gabriel. In a conversation with I. I. Melissino (curator of the Moscow University and prosecutor of St. Petersburg). Synod) , she said of the bishop that he was "a sharp and resonable man." Since that time, she has repeatedly called Gabriel to discuss many state issues, considering him a man of great intelligence and enlightenment. Catherine II visited Gabriel in Tver and even stayed at his house before her trip to Kazan along the Volga. During the trip, she translated Marmontel's Belisarius (a work of the bold based on his thoughts against bigotry and intolerance) and dedicated it to Gabriel. At the behest of Catherine II, in a dedication written by the Chamberlain Count A. P. Shuvalov (one of the leaders of the Collection).-

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vodchikov), it was said: "Your virtues are well known to all, and especially the meekness, humility, moderation, enlightened piety that dwell in you and with which the soul of every Christian, and even more so the shepherd of your rank, should be adorned ... You are as much like Belisarius in your thoughts as in your virtues." From Catherine Gabriel was at various times granted a diamond-encrusted panagia, cap and saccos made of porphyry.

In 1768, Metropolitan Gabriel was elected from the clergy to the Commission for drafting the new Code. At the opening of the Commission for drafting the new Code on July 30, Gabriel delivered a speech in which he addressed the members of the commission with the following words:: "Take your love out of your narrow limits and extend it to all; accept the feeling and feel compassion for the poverty of others; honor the well-being of everyone in society with your own well-being, and recognize that the misfortune of the last person in society must be considered the misfortune of the whole society; devote your strength to such inventions as to root in all.. so virtue and faith will remain in peace, so the prosperity of Russia will flourish."

In the same year, Gabriel became a member of the directorate commission, which elected members to other commissions, monitored the progress of work, considered submissions, reports and projects of private commissions (while it was necessary to ensure that there were no contradictions and evasions from the instructions of Catherine II). This order, written by Catherine II in her own hand, was initially entrusted to Gabriel to consider together with Metropolitan Innokenty (Nechaev) and Platon (Levshin). Among other things, it was said that the members of the Commission "should avoid expressions that are ornate, proud or magnificent, and not add a single superfluous word in the drafting of the law, so that it is easy to understand the thing established by law. Laws should not be written in vague language."

In the Commission, Gabriel worked very hard not only on issues related to the life of the church, but also on the problems of education (he was a supporter of the rapprochement of church and secular education), judicial proceedings, etc. As a representative of the clergy, he took care of their rights, believing that the clergy should receive civil independence. At his suggestion, clergymen convicted of criminal offenses were exempted from corporal punishment. This decree was later revoked by Paul I. More diligently than most, Gavriil attended the commission's meetings and sometimes considered the proposals submitted to the Commission alone. Knowing his excellent and clear style, he was often referred to when it was necessary to accurately and clearly state any legislative provision where ambiguity could not be allowed. In 1770, Gabriel became Archbishop of the St. Petersburg diocese.

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Gabriel's fame in the community was based on his speeches and sermons, which for the most part remained unpublished. The style of his sermons was more refined than that of Metropolitan Platon (Levshin), who was widely recognized for his exemplary sermons. Representatives of secular literature appreciated Gabriel's talent and valued his company. A. P. Sumarokov, who was very stingy with praise, spoke about his literary works in this way: "Gabriel, Archbishop of St. Petersburg, is more a writer of the most reasonable philosophical dissertations than public words ... The beauty of his smooth and important disposition earns him, before all the enlightened world, the praise worthy of his kind name. Gabriel is like a river that fills its banks without noise, and never leaves its borders with a decent flow." In his sermons, Gabriel, as Sumarokov puts it, "captivates the mind."

On behalf of Catherine II, who decided to publish a collection of exemplary homilies, in 1772 Gabriel, together with Metropolitan Plato, compiled from various works of the church fathers " A collection of Homilies for all Sundays and holidays "(published in St. Petersburg in 1775). The collection consists of 104 homilies, 37 of which were compiled by Plato, and 8 - By Gabriel. He also included in the collection spiritual works by authors from various countries, including Greek, French and German. Among the spiritual authors traditionally revered in Russia, Gabriel chose the instructive words of John Chrysostom.

In addition to his sermons, he wrote the following works:" On the Ministry and rite of the Orthodox Church "(1792)," Interpretations on the Conciliar Epistles of the Apostles " (1794). Gabriel was engaged in translations from classical languages, as well as from French and German. He was elected a member of the Academy of Fine Arts.

After the death of Catherine II, Gabriel found himself in disgrace, although he was the first of the clergy to receive the Orders of St. Andrew and Alexander Nevsky from Paul I (in November 1796). There are two versions that explain the merciless attitude of Paul I towards Metropolitan Gabriel: one says that Gabriel resolutely refused to accept the Order of Malta, the other-that his witness signature was on the will of Catherine II, in which she removed Paul I from the throne. Metropolitan Plato had also predicted his dismissal from the service some time before, remarking:: "You... they take you for a humble person, and so if you ever let out an extra word, they will immediately catch him in trouble." Perhaps this is what happened: in 1800, Gabriel was dismissed from all his posts and lived in Novgorod. At first, he was in very poor conditions, consoling himself with the fact that on a platform built next to his cell, he could feed pigeons directly from his hand. They were so used to him that they even sat on his shoulders.

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kamilavku. Later, he moved to a cell near St. Sophia Cathedral, and being already very weak, he could listen to the service while lying on his bed.

Before his death, Gabriel bequeathed to distribute all the remaining money to the poor in the city through the parish priests. He himself divided his vast library between Tobolsk, Veliky Ustyug, and the libraries of the St. Petersburg Academy and Novgorod Seminary. Gabriel died on January 26, 1801 in Novgorod and was buried in the chapel of St. John (Bishop of Novgorod). St. Sophia Cathedral.

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