The review contains an analysis of a monographic study by the famous Smolensk historian D. A. Ivochkin, devoted to the activities of bishops in the development of provincial society in the Smolensk province in the second half of the XIX — early XX century. Their ministry was carried out in several directions: social, subjective and creative, religious and ascetic, spiritual and educational, cultural and educational. The monograph details the biographies of the bishops, shows the stages of their ministry, taking into account the church and social circumstances in which their activities took place.
Mokshina et al. (Fri,) studied this question.