The first dissertation on Theology was considered at the first meeting of the Joint Dissertation Council, headed by the Rector of the General Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies, Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Philosophy, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk.
The first applicant for the title of candidate of science in this new specialty (26.00.01-Theology) was Archpriest Pavel Khondzinsky. The theme of his scientific work: "The solution of the problems of Russian theology of the 18th century in the synthesis of St. Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow." The text of the dissertation itself was posted on the website of the General Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies on February 15, 2017.
The dissertation council formed a commission, which included doctors of philosophical sciences Vladimir Katasonov, Konstantin Antonov, Alexey Fokin and doctor of historical sciences Alexander Nazarenko. They should familiarize themselves with the scientific work and prepare a preliminary opinion. They will assess whether the topic and content of the dissertation correspond to the scientific specialty, how fully the materials are presented and whether the requirements of the Regulation on the award of academic degrees are met. The defense of the dissertation of Archpriest Pavel Khondzinsky is still scheduled for the end of May 2017.
Recall that in October 2015, the Presidium of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) approved the passport of the scientific specialty "Theology" in Russia, giving it an official status. The Joint Dissertation Council was created by order of the Ministry of Education and Science on the basis of the General Church Postgraduate and Doctoral Studies, the Orthodox St. Tikhon University for the Humanities, Moscow State University and the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation.
Natalia Lebedeva