Divine attributes in the academic fundamental theology of the synodal period

The article deals with the problem of teaching the doctrine of divine attributes in Russian fundamental theology. As a result of analyzing the process of formation and development of Russian fundamental theology as an independent theological discipline, which deals with the rational substantiation of Christian faith and theology foundations, two directions of its development in the 19th century Russian theological schools are identified. Thus, in the St. Petersburg and Kiev Theological Academies, fundamental theology developed along the lines of general theology or introduction to theology, while in the Moscow Academy it developed along the line of natural theology. Within the framework of the first path, which later became dominant in Russian fundamental theology, the Catholic theological system formed by that time was taken as a basis, according to which the doctrine of divine attributes was placed in the thematic field of dogmatic theology. Within the framework of the second path, divine attributes acquired the status of an independent section. The experience of teaching this section in academic fundamental theology is also considered. In conclusion, the author substantiates the possibility and necessity of returning the doctrine of divine attributes to the subject structure of modern fundamental theology, without removing it from the thematic canon of dogmatics.