Seminary Expands Contact with Academic Institutions in Russia
On October 13, 2006, Deacon Vladimir Tsurikov, Assistant Dean of Holy Trinity Seminary, flew to Moscow to attend festivities connected with the patronal feast of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary, the Protection of the Theotokos. Several bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church attended this annual celebration, as well as representatives of other theological institutions. His Eminence, Metropolitan Kliment of Kaluga and Borovsk, Chancellor of the Russian Orthodox Church and himself an alumnus of the Moscow Theological Academy, officiated at both the Vigil and Divine Liturgy. The Divine Liturgy on October 15 was followed by a meal and a festal program, which included several addresses, a report of the Academy's educational initiatives during the past year by Prof. M.S. Ivanov, a musical program prepared by the Liturgical Music Division of the Moscow Theological Academy under the direction of Archimandrite Makarii, and a presentation of awards.
Deacon Vladimir Tsurikov presented several Holy Trinity Seminary and Monastery publications to the library of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary. Fr. Vladimir held several meetings with representatives of institutions of theological educational and research centers. His Eminence, Archbishop Evgenii of Vereia, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary, met with Fr. Vladimir several times to discuss joint publication projects; an agreement was reached allowing several students from the Moscow Theological Seminary to study at Holy Trinity Seminary. Fr. Vladimir also met with the following: S. L. Kravets, Director of the Orthodox Encyclopedia Scholarly Center and General Editor of the The Great Russian Encyclopedia ; representatives of the Division of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Archpriest Vladimir Vorobiev, Rector of Saint Tikhon's Orthodox University of the Humanities; and Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, Secretary of the Office of External Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, to discuss the progress of joint projects as well as future publication efforts and other joint scholarly initiatives. S.L. Kravets informed Deacon Vladimir Tsurikov that a certificate would be issued to the Holy Trinity Seminary library for a complimentary set of the Orthodox Encyclopedia, including all subsequent volumes.
Holy Trinity Seminary wishes to express its gratitude to His Eminence, Archbishop Evgenii, and the faculty of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary for inviting and hosting our representative, and looks forward to strengthened ties with the theological institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church.