The first candidate of theology appeared in Russia

The first in the modern history of Russia, the candidate dissertation on theology defended the dean of the theological faculty of the Orthodox Holy Tikhonovsky University (PSTU), Archpriest Pavel Khondzinsky.

According to RIA Novosti , the topic of the dissertation is “The solution to the problems of the Russian theology of the XVIII century in the synthesis of St. Filaret, Metropolitan of Moscow”.

Initially, it was assumed that Khondzinsky will become a candidate for related disciplines - history and philosophy, but in 2015 the highest certification commission recognized the theology by scientific discipline, and in 2016 the dissertation and expert councils on this discipline were created.

The defense took place on June 1 in general church graduate school and doctoral studies named after Saints Cyril and Methodius.

For the award of the academic degree, Kondinsky voted 21 of the 22 present members of the United Dissertation Council on Theology, headed by the chairman of the department of external church relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Ilarion (Alfeev).

“In Soviet times, many wrote to the table, thinking that perestroika would come and so much could be published, but this did not happen. - said Khongzinsky. “But I hope that new candidate and doctoral dissertations will appear here.”

“It agreed that this year marks 150 years since the death of Metropolitan Filaret, and the fact that the first secure dissertation on theology was connected with his name, it seems to me a very important and iconic phenomenon, because he was indeed the greatest theologian of Russia,” the PSTGU website quoted the Khondzinsky website .