Analysis of the course of lectures on fundamental theology by archbishop Nikanor (Brovkovich; 1826-1890)

The article is dedicated to the study of the theological legacy of one of the leading figures in Russian fundamental theology of the synodal period, Archbishop Nikanor (Brovkovich; 1826- 1890), Professor of this discipline at St. Petersburg and Kazan Theological Academies. Analyzed are the lectures on fundamental theology delivered by Archbishop Nikanor at Kazan Theological Academy in 1869-1871, which survived in manuscript form and are currently kept in the State Archive of the Odessa Region (GAOO). The article shows that in the course of his foundational theological work, Archbishop Nikanor refused to develop a comprehensive lecture series covering all aspects of theology, but chose to focus on the issues of proving the existence of God. Teaching fundamental theology, Archbishop Nikanor embarked on a thorough exploration of the issues of proofs of God’s existence, theology as it is and sources of theological knowledge, drawing on the experiences of contemporary Western theologians, particularly F. Gettinger’s, as well as the insights of Professor P. D. Yurkevich of Moscow University. The primary result of Archbishop Nikanor’s efforts to find sufficient gnoseological foundations for asserting the truth of God’s existence was his extensive article titled “Is It Possible, Using Positive Philosophical Method, to Prove the Existence of Anything Supernatural - God, Spiritual Immortal Soul, etc.?” This article of his was later turned into the first part of his three-volume polemical work titled “Positive Philosophy and Supersensory Cognition”. The research of Archbishop Nikanor’s gnoseological system made it is possible to reaffirm once again the earlier hypothesis that his system was the result of his fundamental theological work.