Kyiv archpriest Ioann Levanda and his library in the funds of Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine

The article gives a review of the biography of the representative of the Ukrainian preaching of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, archpriest of St. Sophia Cathedral, Ioann Levanda, and analyzes his private library. It turned out that the archpriest used to read fiction and secular literature, from which he drew a rich vocabulary and received emotional potential for the comfort of parishioners and his numerous correspondents. After all, he conducted spiritual mentorship both directly during the sermon and by correspondence with well-known political figures and ordinary parishioners. Being a representative of the white clergy and a father of a large family, Ioann Levanda was closely connected with the society, and, thanks to love, respect for all, with whom he communicated, was so desirable, needed and popular. And his behavior during the Kyiv fire proves that the preacher lived as he said: he loved everyone, did not seek anything beyond measure and did not want to be a burden to anyone. The archpriest’s private library also proves the breadth of his thinking and tolerance. In general, father John gathered a collection that reflects the secular book culture of the late 18th and early 19th centuries: philosophical literature, classical ancient works popular at that time, travel descriptions, and fraud novels.