Natalia C. Psychological characteristics of professional formation of future priests

The thesis is devoted to the study of the features of professional formation of future priests. The psychological features of theologian profession were highlighted. We identified the major results of students' professional formation in religious universities, which are necessary for the professional activity implementation (the development of communicative competence, spirituality and organizational skills). The specific learning conditions in religious universities were detected at all stages of professional development. The characteristics of personality formation are: professional orientation (motives career choices and education ), satisfaction with the chosen profession, spirituality formation (religion, art, values) and organizational skills. The characteristics and levels of professional formation of future priests were empirically detected. The most significant variables in the structure of professional formation of future priests were revealed. The four factors of future priests' professional formation are detected: "specifically theological", "motivational", "communicative", "social". "Training program for promoting professional formation of future priests" was developed and the effectiveness of its use was proved. Key words: professional formation, student, priest, professional orientation, spirituality, organizational skills, communicative competence, interpersonal relations.