Book review: “Righteous and Wonderful doctor Nikolai Pirogov: medic, scientist, teacher, philosopher and religious thinker (materials for canonization)”

The given book is a collection of the main biographical materials devoted to the life and activity of the great Russian surgeon Nikolai Pirogov. The compilers of the collection tried to show the famous N. Pirogov from a poorly known side, unique materials were published showing the scientist as a religious thinker, philosopher and teacher. The book includes essays and articles by people of the “wonderful doctor's” time – famous public figures, clergymen, theologians and philosophers who introduce the readers with N. Pirogov personality in the context of his religious and philosophical views. Among them it is necessary to mention A.F. Koni, S.L. Frank, Archpriest V.V. Zenkovsky, Archbishop John (Shahovskoy) and others. The collection was prepared under the editorship of Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences Yuri Shevchenko (Archimandrite George). This outstanding cardiac surgeon of our days managed to present N. Pirogov as a deep Orthodox believer, philosopher and thinker moved in his professional activity by Christian virtue and high moral principles. From such point of view, the great Russian surgeon is studied in our modern science almost for the first time. Much material given in the publication was previously published only in pre-revolutionary Russia, having become a bibliographic rarity nowadays. The most important source for studying the philosophical and theological views of the scientist is N. Pirogov's diary, a comprehensive analysis of which is given in the reviewed publication.