Innocent Gizel

Who was Innocent Gizel?

Innokenty Gizel was a Prussian-born historian, writer, political and ecclesiastic figure, who had adopted Orthodox Christianity and made substantional contribution to Russian and Ukrainian culture.

Innokentiy Gizel was a rector of the Kievan Theological School. In 1656, he was appointed archmandrite of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Innokentiy Gizel is known to have supported the unification of Ukraine and Russia and autonomy of the Kiev clergy, simultaneously. Innokentiy Gizel is generally credited for writing the Synopsis in 1674, but some researchers deny his authorship.