Professor-Archpriest Paul Svetlov on the Problems of Development of Higher Theological Education in the Russian Empire in the late 19-th - early 20-th century

The article was prepared on the basis of a study of the theological and polemical works of Professor of theology at the Imperial University of St. Vladimir in Kiev archpriest Paul Svetlov written by him in the late 19-th - early 20-th century. His works have not yet become the subject of special research in modern historiography. This article focuses on his publications on the reforms of higher theological education in the Russian Empire. He himself proposed this formulation of the problem, since in church circles at that time only the next reform of religious education was discussed. However, as archpriest Paul Svetlov stated, theology is a science that can develop only "in the family" of University sciences. In his opinion, the introduction of theological faculties will be useful both for the University itself, and for the russian Church, and for the russian state. In his publications, Svetlov pointed out the great shortcomings of the religious education, which became especially noticeable at the beginning of the 20-th century. He was one of the active participants of the sessions the 1906 Office, Preceding the All-Russia Church Local Council, where discussed the whole complex of Church problems, including of the questions of religious education. Svetlov proved himself to be a bright polemicist, who defended his "special opinion" about the immediate replacement of theological academies by the theological faculties, which, however, was not supported as excessively radical. In the proposed publication the discussions on the higher theological education in Russian society of the early 20-th century are considered on the basis of the classical principles of strict historicism and scientific objectivity.