The article is related to the problem of method in theology. The author introduces Fr Nicholas Afanasiev’s draft classification of theologians into “dogmatic theologians” and “historians” and accepts the basic cohrrectness of the classification. The main thesis of the article is that the essence of the historicist approach in theology is creative learning from the past. The two currents of Orthodox theological thought which followed the method that may be called historical are presented. These are, on the one hand, neopatristic synthesis of Father George Florovsky and, on the other hand, eucharistic theology of Fathers Nicholas Afanasiev and Alexander Schmemann. The considers the attempt of eucharistic theology to learn from the past more successful. The two theological currents have not exhausted their opportunities. If they follow the path of creative learning from history, each of them is capable of further development.