Academy Students Participate in the II International F.M. Dostoevsky Student Camp

From July 10 to 13, MThA students participated in one of the key events of the spiritual and educational project "Dostoevsky Days in Optina Monastery — 2025", the II International F.M. Dostoevsky Student Camp.

Commemorative events in honor of the great Russian writer, Orthodox Christian, and patriot of Russia are held annually in the village of Gubino, Kozelsk district, in the Kaluga region. The location of the festival is unique: on one hand, it is close to Optina Monastery, and on the other, the village of Gubino itself is an example of a Russian village that was almost extinct but has been miraculously revived.

Students from various universities in Russia and Belarus participated in the camp: St. Tikhon's Orthodox University for the Humanities, Kursk State Agrarian University, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, S.A. Gerasimov All-Russian State University of Cinematography, S.G. Stroganov Russian State University of Arts and Industry, Kaluga State University, A.S. Pushkin State Institute of Russian Language, Institute of Contemporary Art, Higher School of Economics, Smolensk State University, Moscow Pedagogical State University, Moscow Power Engineering Institute, State University of Management, Belarusian State University, and Belarusian State Medical University. The Academy's team was represented by 7 undergraduate students from the Faculty of Theology and Pastoral Studies, the Icon Painting Faculty, as well as students from the "Russian as a Foreign Language" program. The group was accompanied by Alexander Terentiev, a specialist from the MThA International Department.

On the first day, a guided tour was organized for everyone to the Vvedensky Stauropegial Monastery Optina Monastery, where they could hear about Fyodor Mikhailovich's meeting with Venerable Amvrosy of Optina, which marked the beginning of a new period in the writer's creative path. The students had the opportunity to venerate the holy relics of the venerable Optina elders and pray at the burial sites of the Optina New Martyrs — Hieromonk Vasily (Roslyakov), Monk Trofim (Tatarsnikov), and Monk Ferapont (Pushkarev) — as well as the recently reposed Schema-Archimandrite Iliy (Nozdrin) and Hierodeacon Iliodor (Gairiyants).

That evening, all camp participants got to know each other through a creative presentation from each university. Bishop Iosif of Mozhaisk, the abbot of Optina Monastery, gave a welcoming address to the students. To conclude the day, there was an outdoor screening of the film "Evil City", which tells the story of the heroic defense of Kozelsk.

On the second day, a thematic quest was held on the picturesque bank of the Zhizdra River. It was across this river that pilgrims would cross on their way to Optina Monastery in the 19th century. To cross on a ferry authentic to the era of F.M. Dostoevsky, a symbolic payment was required, and the "necessary sum" was earned in thematic team games that revealed the features of Russian folk culture and called for ingenuity, dexterity, and erudition.

After returning to the camp, a solemn opening ceremony took place, after which representatives of universities participating in the project for the first time, including MThA, planted their own tree on the F.M. Dostoevsky oak alley. In the evening, the main stage of the Dostoevsky Days in Optina Monastery hosted a gala concert, which was opened by actress Elizaveta Arzamasova, who read several monologues of Prince Myshkin from the novel "The Idiot". The singer Irakli Pirtskhalava delighted the guests with his soulful and profound compositions. The day ended with a discussion between camp participants and Heroes of Russia, including Priest Alexey Skripnik — a priest who went through the "pipe" with our soldiers during the special operation in Sudzha. Just recently, he was awarded the Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Dmitry Donskoy, 1st Class — the highest church award for courage — by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. The conversation with real participants of combat operations who are also devoutly religious people allowed many young students to see a solution to the philosophical and ethical problems that war poses for a person.

On the third day of the camp, it was the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Therefore, everyone could pray at the Liturgy in Optina Monastery, after which students met with poet, prose writer, and publicist Mikhail Kildiashov and with Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov, who left no one indifferent. Father Artemy conveyed the most important meanings to the audience in a lively and unique manner. On the same day, there were meetings with the Executive Director of the Efko Group of Companies, Sergey Ivanov, and with the cosmonaut Alexander Gorbunov. At the end of the day, students could also attend a gala concert on the project's main stage.

On the fourth day, a Sunday, Academy students and interested students from other universities prayed at the Liturgy in the Church of the Conception of John the Baptist in the village of Gubino. During breakfast, the camp participants talked with the world boxing champion Grigory Drozd. After that, a volleyball tournament for the cup of the II International F.M. Dostoevsky Student Camp was held. Following the tournament, the students met with Alexey Sokolov, the executive director of "Foma" magazine.

Then, all the universities had some free time to create short videos showing how their team members saw "Dostoevsky's Optina" in 2025 and what they remembered from their time at the camp. In the evening, the singer Nikita Lovich delighted everyone with his performance on the camp stage. Bishop Iosif of Mozhaisk awarded participants and winners of the essay contest, presented a letter of appreciation to a representative from each university, and gave a parting speech. Next, the videos from each university were screened. They were lively, interesting, and already evoked nostalgic feelings that evening, as everyone understood that they would have to leave the camp the next day. The official part of the event concluded with a spiritual conversation with Hieromonk Vadim (Basov), who is involved in organizing the spiritual and educational project. After dancing, singing songs, and a short sleep, all the camp participants had to say goodbye to this picturesque, beloved place and to each other.

The students of the Moscow Theological Academy express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to Bishop Iosif of Mozhaisk, the mastermind of the festival Hieromonk Vadim (Basov), festival producer Nadezhda Kupriyanova, camp director Tatyana Dorenskaya and all her assistants, and the hosts Alexey Chesnokov and Leonid Shumov. Special thanks go to the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives for their help in implementing the project.

MThA Press Office