On Monday, February 1, 2010, 3rd-year student Ivan Denisenko gave a presentation about his trip to the Holy Land. The trip, focusing on Biblical Archeology, took place in November of last year. Ivan represented Holy Trinity Seminary on the trip, which included two other students and two professors from the Moscow and St. Petersburg Theological Academies. Over the course of one week, they visited Jerusalem’s Old City and such famous places from Biblical history as Masada, Kumran, Samaria, Sichem, and Ashkalon. The trip allowed the students a unique opportunity to gather histoical material for their Thesis projects and to see with their own eyes places, which up to this point they had only known through textbooks.

Ivan prepared a detailed presentation about his impressions. Photographic material was not lacking – participants in the expedition took thousands of pictures. The best of these were included in the presentation. The talk, given to the student body, was also attended by pilgrims to Holy Trinity Monastery. As the assembly in the seminary reading room was international, the talk was simultaneously translated by the brother-seminarians. Fr. Cyprian, professor and Inspector of the seminary, commented on many aspects of biblical archeology and history of Palestine. The information presented by Ivan sparked active discussions. The audience asked many questions and added their own impressions and comments.

We wish seminarians to have many similar academic trips in the future!