Postgraduate students of the Moscow Theological Academy attended their first lecture

On September 2, 2022, postgraduate students of the Moscow Theological Academy had their first lecture at St. Andrew’s monastery in Moscow.

Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Educational Committee, Archimandrite Kirill (Zinkovsky), Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, Hegumen Dionysius (Shlyonov), Abbot of St. Andrew’s monastery and Head of the Postgraduate department, and representatives of the MThA teaching corporation had a meeting with postgraduate students of the Moscow Theological Academy.

Archimandrite Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Resurrection Cathedral of St. Andrew's monastery. At the end of the service, Archimandrite Kirill delivered a sermon.

Archpriest Maxim Kozlov said a welcoming speech in front of the postgraduate students in the assembly hall of St. Andrew’s Monastery. The Chairman of the Academic Committee pointed out that from now on postgraduate students will have a unique opportunity to carry on their scientific work both at the Moscow Theological Academy and St. Andrew’s Monastery in Moscow, visit central libraries, archives, scientific centers and institutions such as the Moscow State University and the Academy of Sciences.

Archpriest Maxim also expressed the hope that the Educational Committee, the Moscow Theological Academy and St. Andrew’s Monastery will work in close cooperation to achieve significant and tangible success.

Archimandrite Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, and Hegumen Dionisy, Abbot of the monastery, noted the need for a systematic approach, diligence and inspiration for writing scientific works. Postgraduate students should see them not only as a part of personal development, but as a way to serve the Russian Orthodox Church.

They wanted to make it clear that the road will be mastered only by walking and sacrificially trying to work with maximum efforts.

Associate Professor D.V. Makarov, Deputy Head of the MThA Postgraduate Studies, got students to know some new aspects of the educational process in the 2022-2023 academic year. They are part of the Federal State Requirements for Postgraduate Programs for Scientific and Scientific-Pedagogical Training.

Priest Andrey Lysevich, Vice-Rector for Licensing and Accreditation at the Moscow Theological Academy, congratulated the students on the beginning of a new academic year and wished them God's help in their studies. He drew students’ attention to the fact that achieving results both in church service and in science is impossible without a sincere heartfelt sacrifice.

Then first-year postgraduate students were given their there student membership cards.

After the official part, Hegumen Dionisiy delivered a lecture on “The decision of the Russian Orthodox Church Synod about the recognition of the Macedonian Orthodox Church - the Ohrid Archdiocese (08.25.2022) and its background”.

The lecture included a brief historical review of the history of Macedonia and the Balkans as a part of the Roman Empire. Ohrid, which is one of the most historical cities, after 1018 has not followed the church policy of Constantinople. It was confirmed, in particular, by the position of the Archbishop of Ohrid Demetrius Chomatian. The Tomos issued by the Serbian Orthodox Church to the Macedonian Orthodox Church recognized by the Russian Orthodox Church and rejected by the Constantinople Patriarchate. The situation highlights a deep canonical conflict between conciliar ecclesiology and the theory of “primacy of honor and power”.

After the lecture, teachers and students went on a guided tour round St. Andrew’s monastery and had lunch.

The current number of postgraduate students of the Moscow Theological Academy 78 (full-time) and 43 (part-time). Second and third-year students are given a scientific adviser and a topic of the research. First-year students have to choose their scientific advisers and consolidate dissertation topics during the first month of their study. In three academic years, students do their scientific work, study academic disciplines and prepare for PhD examinations. 

In this academic year, classes will be held both at the Moscow Theological Academy and at St. Andrew’s monastery. The opening of new educational premises for the MThA postgraduate studies in Moscow has its predecessor, the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy. 

In the modern world, science is the most important tool, which helps educational and spiritual development. The revival of old schooling traditions within the monastery walls will contribute not only for postgraduate studies, but for the Orthodox science as well.

Background information:

Clergy served at the Divine Liturgy: Archimandrite Kirill (Zinkovsky), Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy; Hegumen Dionisy (Shlyonov), Abbot of St. Andrew’s monastery and Head of the MThA Postgraduate Department, Priest Andrey Lysevich, Vice-Rector for Licensing and Accreditation, the monastery brethren and students of the Academy.

Chanting performed by a choir under the conduct of Fyodor Surovtsev, a second-year graduate student.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of March 24, 2022 (journal 26), Professor Hegumen Dionysius (Shlenov) assigned for a position of Abbot of the St. Andrew's Stauropegial Monastery and Head of the Postgraduate Department of the Moscow Theological Academy.

MThA Press Office

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