On October 9, 2009, the day of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Thelogian, the Heavenly Protector of the St. Petersburg Theological Schools, His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Academy church.

His Holiness was joined by Metropolitans Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, Filaret of Minsk and Slutsk, Iuvinalii of Krutitsa and Kolomna, German of Volgograd and Kamysh, Irinei of Dnepropetrovsk and Pavlograd, Vladimir of Kishinev and All Moldavia; Archbishop Evgenii of Vereia, the Rector of Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary, many Hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church and Local Orthodox Churches, clergy of the St. Petersburg diocese, graduates and guests who had arrived at the Academy for the anniversary. The Dean of HTS, Protodeacon Vladimir Tsurikov, who arrived with letters of congratulation from His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of ROCOR, and the Rector of HTS, Archimandrite Luke, was among the guests at the anniversary and concelebrated with His Holiness on the feast day.

Following the festive services, an official ceremony, headed by His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill of Moscow and All Russia, took place in the ceremonial hall of the St. Petersburg Orthodox Theological Academy. After singing “O Heavenly King”, His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill, Metropolitans Vladimir of St. Petersburg and Ladoga and Juvenal of Krutitsa and Kolomna, Bishop Ambrose of Gatchina, Rector of the SPbOTA and the Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg A. I. Vakhmistrov took their places on the stage. Members of the Holy Synod, hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church and Local Orthodox Churches, graduates of the SPbOTA and School of Choir Conductors, guests and participants in the festivities, professors, employees and students of the SPbOTA gathered for the ceremony.

Bishop Ambrose thanked His Holiness for his Patriarchal visit to the Аcademy and announced the decision of the SPbOTA’s Academic Council from August 31, 2009, to award His Holiness with the academic degree of Doctor of Theology. Bishop Ambrose bestowed upon His Holiness a Cross and Diploma, after which His Holiness addressed all gathered with a Patriarchal word. Upon the presentation, Archpriest Kyrill Kopeikin gave the keynote address with a subject “Science and Religion on the Verge of the Third Millennium”. Following this, His Holiness Kyrill bestowed awards on professors, employees, and students of St. Petersburg theological schools. Following the reading of congratulatory messages, Patriarch Kyrill and members of the stage took seats in the hall for the showing of a film dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the School of Choir Conductors, after which a celebratory concert began.

On the next day, Saturday, October 10, a Scientific Theology Conference was held dedicated to the 200th Anniversary of the SPbOTA. During the Church History session, the Dean of Holy Trinity Seminary, Protodeacon Vladimir Tsurikov, presented a speech on the topic “Saving the Historical Legacy of the Russian Diaspora in the Archival Funds of the Holy Trinity Seminary”. The session was headed by Professor Archpriest George Mitrofanov, Chair of the Church History Department, who himself presented a speech titled “A. V. Kartashev: Life Path and Service to Church History”. Members of the Faculty of the SPbOTA, guests and students of the Academy also took part in the session’s work.

On Sunday, October 11, the Dean of HTS served the Divine Liturgy with Archpriest Kyrill Kopeykin, secretary of the SPbOTA’s Academic Council, in the domestic church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul at the St. Petersburg Public University. On Monday, October 12, Fr. Vladimir visited the Alexander Nevsky Lavra for ceremonies marking the 80th Anniversary of the birth of Metropolitan Nikodim. After His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill completed panikhida at the Metropolitan’s grave, a conference dedicated to the occasion took place in the Metropolitan’s residence.

From St. Petersburg, Protodeacon Vladimir Tsurikov continued on to the Moscow Theological Academy in Sergiev Posad.