Karion Istomin (; late 1640s – no earlier than 1718) was a Russian poet, translator, and one of the first Muscovite enlighteners. He was a student of Sylvester Medvedev. Karion Istomin was born in Kursk. He was a celibate priest and then a hegumen at the Chudov Monastery. He graduated from the patriarchal school and then worked at the Print Yard from 1679 to 1701. Istomin started as a regular scrivener, then held the post of editor, and later became the head of the yard. He is known to have authored and translated from Latin historical, religious, and pedagogical works, including his Arithmetics () and the Book of Reasoning (), in which Istomin directed the 11-year-old Peter I on proper manners. Also, he wrote numerous acathistuses, prayers, epitaphs, and panegyrical, congratulatory, and edifying poems. In 1690s, Istomin compiled the Small Alphabet Book () and Big Alphabet Book () for Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, in which verse facilitated learning. Istomin also wrote in verse the lives of the saints, an edifying treatise for schoolchildren called (Domostroy, or 'Household Management'), and a book named ('Polis'), which was a short encyclopedia for younger readers, written in verse. It contained characteristics of twelve different sciences and most important geographical knowledge. Being an active supporter of the Petrine reforms in Moscow, Istomin was one of the first in Russia to realize the necessity of co-education of boys and girls. He elaborated methods of school education, which would be used in Muscovite schools throughout the 18th century. Istomin died in Moscow, and was buried at the cemetery of the Zaikonospassky monastery. References External links Букварь By Карион Истомин Russian educational theorists Russian Eastern Orthodox priests 17th-century Eastern Orthodox priests 18th-century Eastern Orthodox priests 17th-century Russian writers 18th-century writers from the Russian Empire 18th-century male writers