The 1867 Reform of Theological Education: Incorporating the Course «Russian Literature and Literary History» into the Curriculum of Theological Seminaries
Keywords:
православные духовные семинарии, реформа духовного образования 1867 г., теория словесности, история русской литературы, история чтения.Abstract
This article examines the development and implementation of new subjects, «Theory of Literature» and «History of Russian Literature», into the general education curriculum of Orthodox theological seminaries as a result of the 1867 reform. The author demonstrates the independent nature of the 1869 curricula prepared by the Synod's Educational Committee and their influence on the 1872 gymnasium curriculum. The article discusses textbooks and sample analyses of literary works that provided seminarians with an introduction to the emerging canon of Russian literature. Analyzing the study of Alexander Pushkin's ballad «The Demons» in seminaries as a case study, the paper shows how the use of teaching materials from progressive educators came into conflict with the goals of spiritual education. The author concludes that the formation of curricula and teaching practices for secular subjects was not a mere copying of secular school experience but was instead aligned with contemporary pedagogical debates of the reform era.
