The main milestones in the life of Professor N.N. Fenomenov are featured in this article. N.N. Fenomenov is a towering figure in the field obstetrics and gynecology, not only in Russia, but also outside of our country. He has been credited with several advances to obstetric and gynecological surgical techniques: the method of perforation of the presumptive head of the fetus, decapitation of the fetus (decapitation by the Fenomenov method), cleidotomy, pyeloplasty, and stitching of ureter fistulas. N.N. Fenomenov also invented and improved a number of obstetric instruments that bear his name: obstetric forceps, a perforator for craniotomy, a spoon for exception, and a scissors for cleidotomy. The historical claim of Professor N.N. Fenomenov’s active promotion of the introduction of aseptic and antiseptic methods in domestic medical practice is analyzed. It is noted that N.N. Fenomenov is the author of the manual «Operative Obstetrics», which has been issued in 6 editions; many of the provisions of this manual are still up to date. The article emphasizes that many of the professor’s ideas were in advance of science in his time, and notes their confirmation in subsequent studies, stimulating the progress of scientific thought.