The end of academic year at the Moscow Theological Academy

The end of the academic year at the Moscow Theological Academy is another milestone in the life of the theological school. The hearts of its graduates are fill of deep feelings of joy, pride and sadness after leaving behind years of hard work, sleepless nights, exams and sessions. Yet the sadness of parting with the Alma Mater and dear mentors, teachers and classmates.

Time goes by, and these feelings will be replaced by achievements and impressions. However, the spiritual connection with St. Sergius, his monastery and the Academy are something that time could not touch. 

God intertwined many destinies and united different people under the guidance of St. Sergius. He gave them much more than just an opportunity to study and live in the Holy Trinity Lavra. He bound them with bonds of eternal friendship and relationships into a big family.

On June 30, graduates of the Moscow Theological Academy, their relatives and friends, as well as the entire academic community gathered in the Intercession Academic Church for the Divine Liturgy. The Bishop of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov Kirill, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Abbot of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, co-celebrated with the academic teachers and graduates in the priesthood. As a guest there was the Bishop of Noyabrsk Theodosius, Vicar of the Salekhard diocese.

After the Eucharistic Canon, Bishop Kirill ordained Tikhon Belokrylov, a third-year undergraduate student, into a deacon.

Before the Communion, Stepan Sumin, a first-year Master's student, delivered a sermon. He dedicated his word to the memory of all saints honored by the Christian Church.

At the end of the Liturgy, the clergy sang a glorification to all saints honored by the Christian Church. After that, Bishop Kirill offered a prayer to the Lord for the graduates. Many years were proclaimed to His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Kirill, the Rector and graduates of the Moscow theological school. 

Then Bishop Kirill congratulated an assembly on the holiday and addressed the graduates with parting words: 

Venerable Bishop Theodosius, dear fathers, brothers and sisters, I cordially congratulate you on Sunday, when we venerate all saints of the Church of Christ and on the graduation celebration. Today, each of us, one might say, celebrates his Angel Day.

On this day, we turn our prayers to all saints, so that they will help us and our dear graduates, in their future ministry. Some of you will study further, master your knowledge in relevant educational programs, some will continue to serve in parishes. In any case, do not forget the instructions of the righteous life of the Elder John (Krestyankin): “Fathers, do not forget not only to teach others, but also to learn yourself.” Even if you do not continue your studies at the Academy at higher levels of education, do not forget to study through self-education, develop your inner consciousness, enrich your spiritual experience.

One of the ascetics of Mount Athos, Abbot of the Panteleimon’s Monastery, the Elder Jerome, once wrote: “When I don’t read spiritual literature, some kind of emptiness or something harmful goes into my head.” Although this was a person who fulfilled the monastic rule, attended divine services and diligently did the Jesus Prayer. Thanks to this testimony, we are convinced that a person’s consciousness must always be fueled by good thoughts and feelings, and for this purpose one should never abandon reading the Holy Scriptures and works of the holy fathers.

There is a lot of amazing evidence of how reading the Holy Scriptures affects a person's life, even when a person knows the text of the Bible inside and out. Because the depth of Scripture lies not only in mind, but also in a heart. Its influence is so great that a person always benefits from it, even if he does not clearly notice it. He may not notice it himself, although most often he notices and feels it.

And on this holiday, turning in prayer to all saints, we sincerely ask that your service will be for the glory of the Holy Church, for the glory of the Holy Trinity. The icon of St. Andrei Rublev arrived to us a week ago, and may this great event also be a special blessing for all of you. Just as in his time St. Sergius called on our ancestors to leave personal ambitions and serve as one person and one Church for the glory of the name of Christ and for the sake of the Fatherland. So may God give you strength in service in order to harmoniously unite your families, your parish or monastic communities. May God grant that harmony among our people.

Today's text of the Holy Scripture reminds us «Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven (Mat.10:32)..

It is interesting that in ancient Greek there is a slightly different statement. It says: “Whoever confesses about (ἐν ἐμοὶ) about (ἐν αὐτῷ), I also confess about (ἐν αὐτῷ) to the Heavenly Father” (Matthew 10:32). But at the same time, the text further says: “Whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.” In this case, we see that instead of “in Me,” there is “Me.” The Holy Fathers have interpretations for this piece of text, which explain that one can confess Christ only by abiding in Him. Only by the grace of Christ can you confess Him not only with your lips, but also with your heart, and soul, and with your whole life. If you only renounce Him with your lips, this will be enough for the soul to perish for eternal life. But in order to live in Christ and confess Him, great daily work and great mercy of God are required. May God grant spiritual truth and insights that have reached us through the patristic heritage, that we carefully put in our hearts and the words of Holy Fathers, which prayerfully guide us to our salvation. I wish all graduates who studied and grew up in the monastery of St. Sergius, God’s help to follow the example of this saint and serve the Church and the Fatherland with dignity.

After the Liturgy, a solemn graduation ceremony took place in the Great Hall of the Moscow Theological Academy. Graduates of the Post-graduate school, Master's and Bachelor's degree, as well as the faculties of Church singing and Icon painting were awarded ceftificates of completion the theological school, distinctive signs and memorable gifts. Bishop Kirill led the celebration.

The Academy's management, faculty corporation and employees received words of gratitude from the graduates:

• On behalf of the graduates of the Post-graduate school, a speech of gratitude was delivered by Hieromonk Georgy (Pimenov), Deputy Dean of the Pastoral and Theological Faculty;

• On behalf of the Master's graduates, priest Dmitry Konov delivered a speech of gratitude;

• On behalf of Bachelor graduates Daniil Gashchuk delivered a speech of gratitude;

• Nadezhda Chernova delivered a speech of gratitude on behalf of the graduates of the Faculty of Church Singing Art;

• On behalf of the graduates of the Icon painting faculty, Serafima Vashakidze delivered a speech of gratitude.

For many years of work and merit in the field of church singing art, graduate student Mikhail Afanasyev was awarded the medal of the Moscow Theological Academy. 

After the graduation ceremony, teachers, graduates, students and guests of the Academy, together with the Rector, had a festive meal.

At the end of the festive lunch, a solemn procession headed by the Rector Bishop Kirill, went to the Trinity Cathedral of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra to officiate a prayer service in front of St. Sergius’ shrine.

Then, on the steps of the Lavra bell tower, commemorative photographs of the graduates and teachers of the theological school were taken.

At the end of the ceremonial events, the academic family held a funeral litany for the deceased teachers at the MThA necropolis.

On Sunday, June 29, Archimandrite Venedikt (Knyazev) officiated an All-night Vigil to honor the memory of all saints honored by the Church of Christ co-served by teachers and graduates in the priesthood.

Background information:

Chanting at the Divine Liturgy performed by a male choir conducted by Ivan Bondaruk, a third-year undergraduate student, and a mixed choir led by graduates of the Faculty of Church Singing Art Ekaterina Yudenko and Nadezhda Chernova.

Chanting performed at the prayer service in the Trinity Cathedral and at the funeral litany by a male choir under the conduct of Ivan Bondaruk.

MThA Press Office