Moscow Theological Academy started a new academic year
The first day of a new academic year is a special time for an academic family.
The first day of the new academic year is a special time for the entire academic community. This day unites everyone who studies and works at the Moscow Theological Academy in a shared celebration.
Today, professors and students gathered for the communal eucharistic prayer that preceded the start of the new academic year, to thank the Lord with one heart and one voice and to ask for His blessing for the upcoming academic year.
The Divine Liturgy in the Intercession Academic Church was led by the Rector of the Academy, Bishop Kirill of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov. At the service, the Bishop was concelebrated by professors and students in priestly rank.
During the Liturgy, the hierarch performed the chirothesia to reader for four fourth-year undergraduate students: Alexander Matyushchenko, Alexander Karasev, Alexander Sprinchan, and Seraphim Nastashchuk.
Before communion, Hieromonk Ioann (Merzlyakov) delivered a sermon to those gathered in the church.
After the Liturgy, the academic community offered prayers to the Lord during a moleben (prayer service), where petitions were offered to God to grant wisdom and enlightenment of heart to everyone beginning their studies, so they may comprehend the teachings.
Following the moleben, professors and students, led by the rector, proceeded in a solemn procession to the Trinity Cathedral, where they sought a blessing for the new academic year at the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh.
The moleben to the Venerable Sergius was led by Bishop Kirill.
Addressing the students of the Academy, the archpastor gave a word of guidance:
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!
Dear fathers, brothers, and sisters, today, as we begin the new academic year, we have already heard the words of greeting from His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. In them, as I recall, he draws attention to our intellectual academic pursuits but also notes that, in addition to knowledge, all of you are called to acquire skills. Among Christian deeds, he highlights spiritual and inner perfection, which, of course, we are to strive for throughout our entire lives. But during your years of study here, through the prayers of St. Sergius, may God grant you to acquire the habit of learning.
Perfection is continuous learning. Today, in secular and academic circles, they speak of continuous learning, repeating the ancient wisdom: 'Live and learn your whole life'. But Christians, as St. Tikhon of Zadonsk said, were called disciples before they were called Christians. He refers us to the 11th chapter of the Acts of the Holy Apostles, which says that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. And St. Philaret of Moscow says that Christ called Himself the Teacher and His disciples just that — disciples — not anything else. And if you, a Christian, do not learn and do not enlighten yourself—he repeats a verse from the 3rd chapter of the Epistle to the Colossians — then, St. Philaret says, 'I do not know what you are and where you will end up'.
May God grant that our desire to learn be constant. And this constancy is also a most important virtue, a most important skill that we must learn during these years. The constancy of labor is becoming more and more vital in our era. In old times, a person would acquire certain skills and could use them almost their entire life, learn almost nothing new, and be, in modern terms, an effective worker in a particular field. In our time, this is no longer possible. A person must constantly labor, mastering new and new knowledge and skills.
Of course, we also remember the teachings of the Holy Fathers. Here I will refer to St. John of Kronstadt, who said that when a person only multiplies rational knowledge while forgetting about the heart and soul, it is not only not beneficial but even harmful. It is necessary that this harmony of the mind and heart develop in your inner person in parallel. And St. John of Kronstadt places even greater emphasis on the heart, saying that it is the source of life. A Christian must cleanse it and light a warm fire there that would guide his thoughts, desires, aspirations, and his whole life.
Today, standing before the relics of St. Sergius, looking at these oil lamps, I pray that your hearts will always be like these lamps, warm with the light of love for God, for the Church, and with gratitude for the Lord bringing you to this learning, so that you may continue to be His servants. And may this fire of the Spirit of God always be the most precious thing that we must cherish most in our soul, which, according to the words of Christ, is worth more than the whole world. Amen."
After the moleben, the professors and students descended to the narthex of the Trinity Cathedral, where the rector, according to tradition, sprinkled them with holy water.
Then, Bishop Kirill, teachers, and students gathered on the steps of the Lavra's Refectory Church for a group photograph.
Afterwards, everyone proceeded to the academic necropolis to pray for the repose of their deceased mentors and to honor their memory.
The panikhida (memorial service) was led by Igumen Daniel (Vasilenko), the Academy's Vice-Rector for Educational Work.
Background information:
At the Liturgy, Bishop Kirill was concelebrated by: Archimandrites Venedict (Knyazev), Platon (Igumnov), Hilarion (Forkavets), Luka (Golovkov), Simeon (Tomachinsky), Sotirios (Nkonge); Igumen Adrian (Pashin); Hieromonk Varnava (Losev); Igumen Daniel (Vasilenko); Priest Stefan Domushchi; Hieromonks Feodor (Yulaev), Cassian (Plosky), Philaret (Zubov), Damian (Voronov), Mikhey (Kopytov), Boris (Zelyuchenko), Ioann (Merzlyakov), Iov (Urum), Innokenty (Melikhov); Priest Georgy Shein; Deacon Dimitri Maslov; Hierodeacon Pimen (Shein); Deacons Dionisy Makarov, Sergey Gorbunov.
The liturgical hymns were performed by the 1st Academic Choir, directed by E.V. Borovinsky, and the 3rd Mixed Choir, directed by K.A. Bukurova.
In the Trinity Cathedral, at the moleben to St. Sergius, the rector was concelebrated by: Archimandrite Mikhail (Borey); Hieromonk Varnava (Losev); Igumen Daniel (Vasilenko); Hieromonk Feodor (Yulaev); Priest Pavel Lizgunov; Hieromonk Mikhey (Kopytov); Deacon Dimitri Maslov; Hierodeacon Vladimir (Khachapuridze).
The hymns for the moleben were performed by the 1st Academic Choir, directed by E.V. Borovinsky.
