A new Doctor of Theology has appeared in the Russian Church
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AND Is it worth looking for it or is it better, like most people, to calmly go with the flow? Thousands of people around the world are increasingly asking this question. Perhaps the doctor of theology and minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Felix Poniatowski, who knows first-hand what the search for life purpose is, will help us answer it.
- Felix Klimentievich, since childhood you wanted to become theologian and church minister?
- No. I never dreamed or thought that I would become a theologian. I was born in the Soviet Union, and my family was not a believer. I studied at regular school, and I had ordinary dreams. Of course, I dreamed of becoming someone, achieving something in this life, but my dreams changed as I grew older.
I was greatly influenced by youthful romanticism. I loved reading books about adventures and travel and decided to implement something similar in my life. But in the Soviet Union it was simply impossible to travel far. And I realized that the only way to travel is to become a sailor.
- Did you like the process of training as a sailor or did you disappointed in your choice?
- If we talk about the educational process, then, as in any educational institution, there are subjects that you are simply delighted with, because they inspire you, and there are those after which you feel depressed.
I really liked the profession of a sailor. And although I later realized that she was not as romantic as I thought, I still loved her.
However, by that time I had become a believer, went to church and realized that it would be impossible to combine the profession of a sailor with my religious beliefs. So inside of me for a long time there was a struggle. I didn’t know what to do: graduate from this educational institution or leave my studies right now? To tell the truth, this was a very difficult question for me.
- Where did the desire to become a theologian come from? a church minister? After all, this field of activity is radically different from work in the fleet!
- During my student years I became interested in the Bible. But I didn't want to play religion. I wanted to become a truly spiritual, believing person. That's when my search for God began. I started going to church and reading every day Holy Bible. I was faced with the fact that much of what I read in the Bible was not clear to me. I really wanted to understand this book more deeply than most people! I realized that for this I needed special knowledge or, rather, special education. However, the dream of understanding the Bible continued to grow in my heart.
- Very interesting! Let's get back to our sailor studies. How did your internal struggle end?
- I still decided to get a diploma, and only then think about whether I should work in my specialty or not. At that time, after graduation there was a distribution to jobs. I was assigned to Mariupol, but I didn’t go. By that time, I had already firmly decided that I would not connect my life with the profession of a sailor, because then I would have to compromise with my principles and spiritual beliefs.
- This is a very noble and courageous decision, but After all, you need to live on something. What did you do next?
- The next few months I tried to realize myself in a small business. Not everything went smoothly. And then I was offered the ministry of pastor in one small church. I thought that this was too lofty and difficult a calling, and I would not succeed. After all, for this you need to know the Bible very well, be able to preach, and communicate with people. At that time, I believed, I did not have such skills. I was sure that I could hold out for a month at most, and that would be the end of this whole thing. But it so happened that I served as a pastor for a whole year, after which I was offered to receive a theological education at the Zaoksk Theological Seminary. And when the Church directs you to study, this means that it bears the bulk of the costs of studying. I accepted this offer without hesitation. This is how God began to fulfill my new dream.
- It is amazing! However, being a sailor is much more more prestigious and financially profitable than being a church minister! How hard was it to give up this tempting prospect because of religious beliefs?
- It wasn't easy. My father, having learned how profitable the profession of a sailor is, pestered me for some time with questions: “When will you come to your senses and work in your specialty?” But then I had already begun to mature as a person and was able to realize that it would be better to give up this dream now than to be tormented all my life by remorse for going against my principles.
Besides, my primary dream is to travel around different countries, to see the world - not dead. God helped bring it to life in even more amazing ways than I could have imagined. Sailors usually see the world from the window of their ship. Well, or, at best, as tourists, without having much time to stay in a particular country.
God allowed me to truly see the world. In 2008, the Church sent our family to study in the Philippines, where my wife and I received our doctorates. We were there for four whole years. Then, a couple of years after our return to Ukraine, I again had the opportunity to go abroad for six months. This time to Holland. It was an amazing experience too! I can say without a doubt that if it is God's will, He can fulfill any of our dreams!
How to find your calling
1. Listen to yourself.
If a person is under the influence external factors chooses a job that he does not like, he will suffer in the future all his life. You need to listen to yourself and look for work that brings you pleasure.
2. Most work brings pleasure and satisfaction
where you can not only make money, but also serve others.True happiness begins when you live not only for yourself, but also for others.
3. Necessary listen to God.
Must read God's Word, the Bible, and in prayer ask the Lord to show Him what He wants from us in our lives. I am confident that God has a plan for each of us. And if we follow this plan, we can become truly effective in our profession and achieve the highest possible goals in life.
Interviewed by Oleg BOKOV
adventist.ru
Printed with abbreviations
Until recently, it was impossible to become a doctor of theological (or theological) sciences in Russia. Of course, academic degrees were awarded by dissertation scientists by the councils of theological academies and universities of the Russian Orthodox Church, but they had no legal force on the territory of the Russian Federation.
However, in September last year, by decision of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) of Russia, theology became a new scientific specialty, receiving the code “26.00.01”. And on May 30, the first joint council for the defense of dissertations for the academic degree of candidate and doctor of science in the specialty “theology” was created in the Ministry of Education and Science. And now, within an absolutely legal framework, you can protect scientific work in theology and receive a scientific degree of candidate or doctor.
Currently, within the framework of the Higher Attestation Commission, a expert advice in theology. And earlier, an agreement on the creation of a joint dissertation council in theology was signed by the rectors of RANEPA, Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov, All-Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies named after Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Cyril and Methodius (OTsAD) and Orthodox St. Tikhon humanitarian university(PSTGU).
In Russia, about 50 state and non-state universities are accredited in the specialty “theology”. This year, about 200 students will graduate at the bachelor's level and about the same number of master's degrees. It is still unclear how many of them will choose graduate school. But the dissertation council in theology is ready to accept scientific papers.
The council has the authority to accept works for defense, review them and make recommendations, the council explained to Izvestia.
Debates about whether theology is a science or not have been going on since 1991, when the government first included theology in the list of scientific specialties and then excluded it.
“I express my personal opinion as a Doctor of Philosophy and an academician of the Academy of Education,” says Oleg Smolin, first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education. - From my point of view, there is no and cannot be secular theology as a science. Science can be religious studies and other disciplines that study religion. I fully understand, for example, that St. Tikhon’s University successfully brings the word of God to the masses with help modern technologies. But I don’t understand at all when a theology department opens at a nuclear university. Lomonosov repeated the idea of dual truth back in the 18th century. Its meaning is extremely simple: theologians have nothing to do in science, and scientists should not engage in theology. Everyone must do their job.
Meanwhile, the emergence of a dissertation council in theology will make life easier for scientists whose work did not fit into the framework of philosophy or the history of religion.
I am deputy chairman of the dissertation council on philosophy of religion and religious studies at RANEPA. Religious studies in Russia are classified as philosophical sciences, as well as historical ones,” says the religious scholar, professor of the department of national and federal relations at the Institute of Civil Service and Management of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, head of the Interuniversity Department of Religious Studies, Ethnocultural Studies and Problems of Eurasian Integration of the Moscow Orthodox Institute of St. John the Theologian of Russia Orthodox University William Schmidt. - And due to the specifics of our council, we have traditionally accepted work that was at the intersection of sciences. For example, cultural studies, sociology, political science, law. Sometimes they were difficult to qualify as philosophical works because the religious discourse indicated that this was the subject area of theology. But there was no theology, so candidate and doctoral theses were returned for revision. And some rejected it altogether.
Schmidt encountered this situation personally when, in 2000 at Moscow State University, and then in 2007 at the Russian Academy of Civil Art, he defended his thesis and doctoral dissertation on the legacy of Patriarch Nikon.
Some doctors of science made claims against it - they believed that the theological component was strengthened in the work. And they said: “Why should we defend it in philosophical sciences, even if the subject area is religious studies?” recalls Schmidt.
As experts in the field of theology and religious studies emphasize, we're talking about not only about Christian theology, but also Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, etc.
There is no just theology - theology is always specific and corresponds to one or another religious tradition, explains Schmidt.
According to experts, the level of theologians in Russia is now extremely low, since criteria have not yet been formed.
Oleg Smolin believes that clergy may well receive an academic degree. But not theologically.
It seems to me that if a clergyman wants to have a secular academic degree, he can defend himself, for example, in church history. Or on some other topics, but within the framework of secular sciences, and not in theology, says the deputy. - Because if, say, an atheist, a religious figure and an agnostic come together during the defense of a dissertation, then, most likely, Kant’s formula will triumph. And it sounds something like this: there are three main proofs of the existence of God, but none of them is scientifically proof. Therefore, to each his own.
However, William Schmidt is convinced that this is not entirely correct, since theologian and religious scholar are different scientific specialties. Today the question of giving theology the status of a scientific branch is being discussed.
Yes, these sciences have different objects of study. Religious studies does not study the problems of God. And theology does just that. The ultimate object of theology is God and his manifestations in the world. And religious studies deals with religion as a social phenomenon, a phenomenon,” says Schmidt. - But to non-specialists it seems that these are one and the same thing.
Currently, a total of just over 50 people are studying in graduate schools of religious universities with a degree in theology. And now each of them has the opportunity to become a candidate of science.
Until the beginning of the 19th year, slender common system certification in Orthodox spiritual educational institutions There was no Russian Church and academic degrees were awarded in each school in accordance with its own charter. The first attempt to harmonize the statutes of theological academies with national norms for awarding academic degrees occurred in 2016. As a result, clergy began to be awarded academic degrees according to uniform rules." candidate of theology", "Master of Divinity" And " doctor of divinity". The first two of them were awarded to graduates of theological academies based on the results of their studies and the knowledge acquired. The degree of Doctor of Theology could be awarded only on the basis of the defense of a dissertation.
In the year a new charter of theological academies was adopted, and with it new order awarding degrees. The degree of candidate of theology began to be awarded to students who completed three, and the master's degree - four years of study. These degrees are designated only different classes academic diplomas.
From this year onwards, those who most successfully graduated from theological academies were awarded degrees, and the rest - titles." actual student", which was identical to university diplomas. A master's degree in this case was evidence of higher theological education. From the year on, based on the results of the defense of dissertations, the following degrees were awarded: " doctor of divinity", "Doctor of Church History" And " Doctor of Canon Law", although there were exceptions.
In the English-speaking world
In a number of Orthodox educational institutions that arose in the English-speaking world, the generally accepted local system religious teaching degrees. Usually a three-stage system is used - " bachelor", "master" And " doctor", with the addition of a sphere of specialization. Thus, for a year one of the most significant Orthodox higher theological schools English-speaking world- St. Vladimir's Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York - offered three master's and one doctoral programs with four specializations: theology(Theology), shepherding(Divinity) art(Arts) and service(Ministry)
Theology and related subjects.
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In the UK, the degree of Doctor of Divinity is English. Doctor of Divinity (D.D.) - traditionally the most prestigious of doctoral degrees, the “Doctor of the University” degree, roughly equivalent to the Russian Doctor of Science degree. It should not be confused with the Doctor of Theology degree. Theology Doctor, ThD (D.Theol.) - the initial doctorate awarded for research, and approximately corresponding to the Russian degree of candidate of sciences, in in this case- theology.
Next in importance are the degrees of Doctor of Law (Legum Doctor) (or Doctor civil law- Doctor of Civil Law), Doctor of Medicine (Medicinæ Doctor), Doctor humanities(Litterarum doctor), doctors natural sciences(Scientiæ Doctor) and Doctor of Music. The Divinitatis Doctor degree owes its high status to the traditional connection of British universities with Christian Church. With the secularization of universities in the 20th century, the Divinitatis Doctor degree loses its former meaning, although officially it is still the highest doctoral degree in the English universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, as well as in the Scottish universities of St. Andrew, Glasgow, Aberdeen.
USA
In the United States, the Divinitatis Doctor degree is most often given honoris causa. There is no system of “higher doctorates” in the USA, so higher degrees in academic theology - Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Theology (Doctor of Theology) or Doctor of Sacred Theology.
Other doctorates in theology - Doctor of Biblical Studies, Doctor of Practical Theology, Doctor of Ministry.
Russian empire
IN Russian Empire academic degrees in religious educational institutions were established at the beginning of the 19th century.
A master of the academy could become a doctor of theology. To obtain a doctorate degree, the master had to write an essay in Latin or Russian, which was submitted to the conference in in the prescribed manner. The essay had to consist of: “a) either an answer to one of the problems proposed by the conference for resolution; b) or from the discovery of new ways to improve any of the sciences related to spiritual learning: c) or from content arbitrarily chosen by the writer, which may have a special influence on the benefit of the church.”
“The space of the proposed essay is sufficient, and its dignity is respected: a) when the writer has thought about the subject he has chosen or assigned to him from a conference from all possible angles: b) when he has written as much about it as he should have written; c) when he expressed in such a precise syllable what is akin to the essence of the object.”
The statute also specified that the title of doctor should not be given for: “a) For translations. b) For preaching, unless someone with constant exercise of this kind, and cleanliness Christian teaching, distinguished himself especially and earned general approval. c) For an essay chosen without much difficulty from other domestic or foreign books.” The Charter spelled out moral requirements for applicants for the title of doctor.
“No amount of perfection of writing should grant the title of doctor to someone who, through a pure and blameless lifestyle, has not attested to the exalted title of being a Christian teacher. The conference should make every effort to have correct information about this.”
Modern use
The Divinitatis Doctor degree is most often given honoris causa to people whose distinguished works are related to religion. At most English-speaking universities, students who complete a PhD thesis receive the Doctor of Theology degree rather than the Divinitatis Doctor. According to the US National Science Foundation, this degree is currently equivalent to the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
In Russia
Currently on site Russian Federation appropriation academic degree“Doctor of Theology” does not fall within the competence of the Higher Attestation Commission of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
In Russia and Ukraine, Doctor of Theology degrees are awarded in the following educational organizations:
- Church-wide postgraduate and doctoral studies named after Saints Cyril and Methodius - a joint program with Western universities with the award of the degree “Doctor of Theology II degree” or “English. Doctor of Divinity"(in European classification)
- Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy - a joint program with Western universities awarding the degree of Doctor of Divinity in English. Doctor of Theology»
- Orthodox St. Tikhon Humanitarian University - only “PhD in Theology”.
Legislation of the Russian Federation on theological degrees.
On October 11, 2015, Russia adopted a Passport for a scientific specialty in the field of theology, which involves the defense of candidate and doctoral dissertations in this field. In accordance with it, candidate and doctoral degrees will be awarded only in philosophical, historical, philological, pedagogical, cultural and art history branches of science. Candidates and doctors of theology are not assigned specialties in accordance with this passport.
At the same time, according to the Law on Education in the Russian Federation, the Licensing Regulations educational activities and state accreditation, Federal educational standards in the field of theology - theological degrees and theological titles awarded and (or) recognized on the territory of the Russian Federation or abroad are recognized. The awarding and (or) recognition of theological degrees on the territory of the Russian Federation is not regulated by law, and therefore theological degrees awarded abroad and confirmed by the Apostille of the state that issued the theological degree are recognized de jure and de facto ( Doctor of Divinity and Doctor of Theology) . Theological degrees issued by educational organizations, accepting the defense of theological degrees within the framework of additional education, however, within the framework of current legislation, they may be legitimate in the status of an honorary degree of Honoris Causa in Theology.
see also
Notes
- https://www.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxford/field/field_document/Degree%20ceremony_201617_web.pdf
- Krivoruchenko V. K. // Official website of the Moscow Humanitarian University. The author is Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor of the Department of History
In 1916 he graduated from high school in Zhmerinka. In 1916, at the request of his father, who taught physics and mathematics at the gymnasium, he entered the Kiev University Polytechnical Institute. But he did not study there for long, and entered the Faculty of History and Philology of Kyiv University.
He joined the White movement and fought as a combat officer in the armies of Kornilov and Denikin. With the remnants of the defeated army of Baron Wrangel in 1920, he left his homeland. In Constantinople, he supported himself by working as a night watchman and assistant cook.
In 1923 he received a scholarship that allowed him to continue his education in Berlin. Entered the Russian Department of Economics scientific institute, where he listened to N.A. Berdyaev, L.P. Karsavin, A.A. Kiesewetter, V.A. Myakotin and V.V. Stratonov.
In 1925 he entered the Friedrich Wilhelm University, where he studied the history of Russia, the history of the Russian Church, and there he found a patron and friend in the person of the famous Slavic scholar Max Vasmer, author of the Etymological Dictionary of the Russian Language. According to Smolich himself, friendship with Vasmer greatly influenced his entire future scientific activity.
Was an active parishioner of Resurrection cathedral V West Berlin and a member of the Russian Student Christian Movement (RSCM), since 1925 - treasurer of the German branch of the RSCM. At the same time, Smolich actively collaborated in the religious and philosophical magazines “Put” and “Vestnik RSKhD”, which brought him fame in Russian church circles.
His first book was published in 1936 big job— “The Life and Teaching of the Elders”, dedicated to the Russian elders. In it, Smolich explored the ascetic experience of the Optina elders, their influence on various circles of Russian society. Then he defended his doctoral dissertation on the life and worldview of Ivan Vasilyevich Kireevsky, who was closely associated with the Optina elders.
After the war, when there was unemployment and hunger in Germany, Smolich made a living by selling books. And then, when the situation in Germany stabilized, he became an employee of the East European Institute at the Free University in West Berlin. He was a member of the research institute of this university, where he continued to study history.
At this time, Smolich was a parishioner of the Resurrection Cathedral in West Berlin, the cathedral of the German diocese of the Moscow Patriarchate.
The purpose of Igor Smolich's scientific works was to create a monumental compendium on the History of the Russian Church. He himself wrote that, based on pressing church needs, he decided “to preface history with more early period church history of the 18th-19th centuries, that is, the period begun by the profound transformations of Peter the Great.” However, it was this work on the history of the Synodal period that became the pinnacle of his scientific activity.
For his scientific work, the historian received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and in 1964 the St. Sergius Theological Institute awarded him the title of Doctor of Theology honoris causa.
He was not destined to realize his comprehensive plan. In 1970, the historian felt an increasing loss of strength and, with great difficulty, almost managed to complete the second volume of his History of the Synodal Period. Work on church history Russia from Epiphany to 1700 remained at the preparatory stage.
Died on November 2, 1970 in Berlin. He was buried in the Tegel Orthodox cemetery in West Berlin.