Spiritual Formation in Russian Theological Education: An Empirical Study of Theological Institutions in St. Petersburg

Theological education should aim not only for the development of their student’s minds, but also their souls through the important work of spiritual formation. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Nadezhda Tarasenko examines the significance of spiritual formation within five theological institutions in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her rigorous qualitative empirical research reveals that confessional institutions place an emphasis on spiritual practices whilst Protestant evangelical institutions are more focussed on maintaining state accreditation. Applying insights from literature and her research, Dr. Tarasenko proposes a robust model of spiritual formation that understands the holistic nature of spirituality and is faithful to its Russian context through application of the indigenous concepts, obozhenie and sobornost. These innovative ideas aid the advancement of spiritual formation by encouraging institutions to have a spiritual outlook and invest in spiritual leadership. This is a must-read for educators and theological institutions interested in the holistic transformation of their students.