The first dissertation on theology is protected in Russia

In general church graduate school and doctoral studies named after Cyril and Methodius were defending the first dissertation in modern Russia in the scientific specialty "Theology". This is reported by Interfax.

The author of the first dissertation on theology is the dean of the theological faculty of the Orthodox Holy Tikhonovsky Humanitarian University, Doctor of Theology Archpriest Pavel Khondzinsky. He presented the work on the topic "Resolution of the problems of Russian theology of the 18th century in the synthesis of St. Filaret, Metropolitan of Moscow." After the approval of the decision of the dissertation of the highest certification commission of Khondzinsky, the degree of candidate of philosophical and historical sciences will be awarded.

The defense lasted about four hours. The hall of general church graduate school could not accommodate everyone. The discussion of opponents has unfolded around whether the personal experience of faith and the life of the theologian can be used in writing a scientific work. Among the critics there were many representatives of natural sciences.

“I think that the current protection is of great importance for theology as a science and for recognizing it as such,” said the head of the dissertation council, Metropolitan Illarion, Metropolitan of Volokolamsk. This, according to him, is also evidenced by an increased interest in the work of the applicant by the media and the public.

In March last year, Moscow State University Viktor Sadovnichy, Russian Academy of National Economy and Civil Service of the President Vladimir Mau and the Orthodox Holy Tikhonovsky University, Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyov, as well as the rector of general church graduate school and doctoral studies, Metropolitan Ilarion (Alfeev) signed an agreement on the creation on the creation on the basis of their establishments of the United Dissertation Council in the specialty "Theology" .

This is the first dissertation council on theology in modern Russia. His education became possible after the decision of the Presidium of the Higher Certificate Commission, which on October 12, 2015 recognized the theology as a scientific specialty.

In recent years, the Russian Orthodox Church has been actively fighting for the discovery of the Department of Theology both in theological and secular universities. In November 2012, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill said that obtaining higher theological education is an obvious need for modern society .

A month earlier, the Department of Theology was opened in MEPhI. She was headed by Metropolitan Hilarion. The appearance of this department caused protests of the scientific community. In particular, 91 Academician and corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences expressed “special fears” in connection with the “general trend of growing clericalization of society”.

The Russian Orthodox Church, however, assured that the department did not interfere in the work of other university units.