On November 13, 2009, in the antechamber of Christ the Savior Church in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kyrill chaired a meeting of rectors of the Russian Orthodox Church’s theological schools. Taking part were bishops, in their role as rectors of Diocesan theological schools, members of the Academic Committee, rectors and representatives of theological academies, seminaries, colleges, and pastoral courses.  Among the participants was Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), the rector of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary.

The meeting opened with an introductory speech by the rector of the Moscow Theological Schools, Archbishop Evgenii of Vereia.  His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill gave a presentation titled “Contemporary Spiritual Education in the Russian Orthodox Church: Problems, Questions, and Perspectives”.  In his presentation, His Holiness gave a historical overview of the growth of spiritual education in the Russian Orthodox Church and offered a path to improving today’s theological institutions.  His Holiness suggested several possible solutions to the current problems and paid particular attention to improving the training of the Russian Orthodox Church’s priests.

*Photography: www.patriarchia.ru