I. V. Kireevsky on the character of Christian education. Philosophical and pedagogical context

The article is devoted to the views on the origin and characteristics of the Christian education in Europe and Russia which were analyzed by the outstanding Russian Slavophile thinker Ivan Vasilyevich Kireevsky (1806-1856). It is shown that this “strongest philosophical mind of the first half of the 19th century” (according to the characteristics given him by archpriest V. Zenkovsky) for a number of years investigated the principles that determined the formation of education in the Latin West and in Russia. The philosopher singled out two historical types of education - the inner constitution of the spirit, which gives the integrity of the mind, and the accumulation of the sum of knowledge and the development of the intellect, and justified the need to “penetrate” Western education with the old Russian meaning. It was noted that he was not content with theoretical reasoning, but he also gave practical recommendations for the implementation of these ideas in the modern Russian primary education system, the main element of which should be the study of the Church Slavonic language, Holy Scripture and Orthodox worship. The result of the philosophical and pedagogical research of an outstanding thinker seems to be the proven need for the return of national education to the bosom of the Orthodox Church.