{"id":37007,"date":"2025-04-26T12:06:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T09:06:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mpda.ru\/?post_type=news&p=37007"},"modified":"2025-05-05T22:24:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T19:24:13","slug":"svjatejshij-patriarh-moskovskij-i-vseja-rusi-kirill-i-svjatejshij-patriarh-serbskij-porfirij-posetili-moskovskuju-duhovnuju-akademiju","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/mpda.ru\/en\/news\/svjatejshij-patriarh-moskovskij-i-vseja-rusi-kirill-i-svjatejshij-patriarh-serbskij-porfirij-posetili-moskovskuju-duhovnuju-akademiju\/","title":{"rendered":"His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' and His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia Visit Moscow Theological Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"

On April 25, 2025, a solemn ceremony was held in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Theological Academy, where His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia was awarded an honorary doctorate by the theological school. The ceremony was attended by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The event was opened by the Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy, Bishop Kirill of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov, who noted in particular:\n \u201cIn today\u2019s world, where minds and hearts are constantly exposed to informational attacks, often of an anti-Christian nature, theological thought in both Russia and Serbia is being revived for the benefit of our peoples, united by a thousand-year history and the memory of our ancestors. Russian and Serbian students of theological schools are called to convey to modern society the highest truths of Christian morality, reverence for the Church\u2019s Sacraments, and the importance of following the commandments of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Rector mentioned that students from the Serbian Orthodox Church traditionally make up a significant portion of the international student body at the leading theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church \u2014 namely, the Moscow and St. Petersburg Theological Academies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The decision was then announced to award His Holiness Porfirije \u2014 Archbishop of Pe\u0107, Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci, and Patriarch of Serbia \u2014 the honorary degree of Doctor of Theology \u201cin recognition of his acknowledged scholarly and educational contribution to the development of theological science and the strengthening of ties between the Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches.\u201d The insignia of this honorary title were presented to the Serbian Church\u2019s Primate by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus'.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWith deep respect, gratitude, and humility I accept this exceptional honor \u2014 the honorary doctorate awarded to me by the renowned and esteemed Moscow Theological Academy at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra,\u201d said His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije.\n \u201cI perceive this award as one of the most significant milestones in my long-standing theological and research work, as well as in my pedagogical and educational service. I do not regard this high honor as a recognition of my own merit, but rather as an expression of the trust placed in me in the service of the Word of God and life in the Orthodox Church of Christ. I accept this award from the theological and scholarly community of the Russian Orthodox Church as a gracious gift and a visible sign of our unity in Christ \u2014 a sign that obliges, inspires, and strengthens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In his doctoral address, delivered in Russian, the Primate of the Serbian Orthodox Church spoke about the inseparable bond between prayer and theology, its cultural significance, and its influence on the social realm of human existence. He described theology as a guardian of human dignity in times of ideological simplifications, and as a witness to unity and love in the light of Christ\u2019s Resurrection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cTrue theology does not stem from abstract speculative reasoning, but from personal spiritual experience. By personal, we mean not an individualistic experience, but a Church-based one, in harmony with all the saints. In this sense, theology is not primarily an academic endeavor, but the fruit of an existential and liturgical relationship with the living God. Prayer is not a preparation for theology; it is theology. In prayer, a person stands before God not as an observer but as a participant in God\u2019s Eucharistic Mystery. \u2026Prayer, based on fidelity to the Church, becomes a kind of resistance \u2014 an act of refusing to accept the selfish and shortsighted logic of this world and a quiet yet steadfast opposition to the forces that seek control instead of communion,\u201d said His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the conclusion of his speech, the Serbian Church Primate offered heartfelt fraternal wishes to Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus':\n \u201cMay the Lord grant him many years of wise pastoral and patristic leadership of the sister Russian Orthodox Church, for the spiritual prosperity of the beloved Russian people, for the strengthening of our common Orthodox witness, and for the deepening of our mutual respect, God-pleasing cooperation, and all-encompassing communication in love. To all the faithful clergy, monastics, and people of the Russian Orthodox Church, I send my warmest greetings and sincere prayerful wishes. And to the entire Russian people \u2014 a people of profound spirituality and witness \u2014 I wish peace, prosperity, and the blessings of God. I thank the Lord and your love for this honor, which I now joyfully share with the faithful people of the Serbian Orthodox Church, whose warm greetings, heartfelt prayers, and Paschal congratulations I bring to you in the joy of the Risen Christ. Christ is Risen!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After thanking Patriarch Porfirije for his thoughtful address, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church emphasized the importance of speaking such words in theological schools that provoke spiritual reflection and intellectual searching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his subsequent remarks, Patriarch Kirill touched on the challenges facing religious consciousness, beginning from the Renaissance and Baroque eras through the modern period and into recent history. He noted that a priest cannot but be a philosopher\u2014someone who thinks about the essential things in life and asks important questions. He must be ready not only to answer those who inquire but also to engage with those who wish to debate, including adherents of various philosophical and ideological positions. Every priest should be a thinker to the best of his ability, His Holiness affirmed, and pastoral preaching \u201cmust aim to help modern people understand the problems they face.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Emphasizing that a pastor\u2019s message must be relevant, Patriarch Kirill said:\n \u201cThis does not mean we should flaunt special modern knowledge or mimic a particular linguistic style. Not at all. We must speak our own language, use our own concepts, but we must make what we say relevant so that our words truly bring about a change in people\u2019s consciousness, strengthen their faith and piety in the highest sense, and \u2014 if you will \u2014 help shape a philosophy of modern Orthodox life in our country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this regard, the Patriarch especially stressed the importance of being able to ask critical questions of oneself \u2014 from students and professors to clergy and bishops, and even the Patriarch himself:\n \u201cI will tell you frankly \u2014 I constantly try to do this and ask myself: Is everything right? Is it all correct? What else needs to be done? I don\u2019t know how successful the answers to these questions are or how much they contribute to the positive development of Church life, but I am deeply convinced that without such self-questioning it\u2019s very easy to turn into a withered fig tree. Everything may appear outwardly correct, but in essence \u2014 nothing,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Patriarch Kirill concluded:\n \u201cI am very glad to be here today, in these walls, together with my beloved brother who leads the fraternal Serbian Church. May the Lord help all of us \u2014 in Russia, Serbia, and other countries \u2014 to be capable of responding to the questions, challenges, and dangers that confront the Church of God today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Among those present at the ceremony were the Chancellor of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Patriarch\u2019s first vicar in Moscow Metropolitan Grigory of Voskresensk, Archbishop Thomas of Odintsovo and Krasnogorsk (Head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate), Patriarchal Advisor Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, Deputy Chairman of the DECR Archpriest Igor Yakimchuk, Head of the DECR Protocol Department Igumen Theophan (Lukyanov), DECR Secretariat officer for inter-Orthodox relations A.Y. Khoshev, staff of the Embassy of Serbia, members of the faculty of the Moscow Theological Academy, and numerous students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Guests of the event from the Serbian Orthodox Church included Archbishop Irinej of Novi Sad and Metropolitan of Ba\u010dka, Abbot Hariton (Pavlica) of Kovilj Monastery, Head of the Serbian Patriarch\u2019s Office Archpriest Georgije Stoisavljevi\u0107, Rector of St. Sava Seminary in Belgrade Protodeacon Radomir Vru\u0107ini\u0107, Protodeacon Radojica \u017dagran, Hierodeacon Justin (\u017divani\u0107) of Kovilj Monastery, Deacon Ivan Vasiljevi\u0107, and subdeacons D. Naki\u0107 and V. Jeli\u0107.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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