In November of this year I was made an unexpected offer – an all-expenses-paid trip to Belorussia to participate in an annual student seminar, which took place on November 25-28 at the Minsk Theological Academy and Seminary, which is located in a small town called Zhirovichi, a couple of hours away from Minsk. 

The theme of this year's seminar was “In the Beginning Was the Word.” Representatives from other Orthodox seminaries in Russia and Ukraine as well as representatives from many of Belorussia's secular institutions of higher education came together to give their presentations and discuss the topic of language. Many presentations were given on the various aspects that define this topic. Among them were: “Problems of Modern Language: the Slang of Today's Youth,” “Problems With the Actualization of the Belorussian Language in Liturgical Practice,” “The Internal and External Reasons Behind the Use of Foul Language,” “Language of the Internet and It's Influence on Modern Languages” and “The 1918 Reform of Russian Orthography: Causes and Effects.” 

The participants were divided into four groups. Each group went into its assigned room where the presentations were given, and afterward discussed by all the participants. It was difficult for me to comprehend and fully absorb the content of many of the presentations due to my insufficient knowledge of Russian, but I must say, I was extremely impressed by the level of education and professionalism demonstrated by every one of the speakers in my group.

The first presentation given was “The 1918 Reform of Russian Orthography: Causes and Effects,” and it was delivered by a young lady who looked to be about 17 years old. She spoke knowledgeably about the circumstances surrounding the reform, the differences between old and new orthography, and the advantages and disadvantages of both. After she had finished, everybody applauded. Then a young man, who looked to be at least six years her senior, stood up and began to ask her questions, at the same time presenting an opposing point of view. My immediate thought was, “Oh, the poor thing! She did so well! This fellow is going to confuse and embarrass her.” I knew how I would feel in her position. I should not have worried. Not seeming in the least put out, she defended her position, answering all his questions and everyone else's with ease and confidence. And it was the same with all the rest. No matter what kind of opposing opinions they met with, they had a quick and educated answer ready. They had obviously researched their topics well and had put a lot of work and serious thought into their presentations.   

However, the talent did not stop there. In the evening on the first day of the seminar everyone was treated to a concert. There were performances by the men's choir of the Minsk Theological Academy and Seminary, the women's choir, made up of students of the seminary's choir directing department; and the mixed choir, composed of the men's and women's choirs. There were also performances by a few of the seminar participants not affiliated with the Academy and Seminary. The atmosphere was delightfully upbeat and cheerful, with jokes in between the numbers and even some participation by a few of the more prominent figures of the seminary and academy. It was a very warming experience, as I had been under the preconceived impression that the Minsk Theological Academy and Seminary would be rather stiff and solemn. That impression was dispelled almost immediately upon my arrival. I found everyone to be extremely happy, friendly, and very helpful.   

Their helpfulness made me think about myself a bit. I realized that I rarely offer anyone help. If approached and asked, I am usually happy to lend a hand; but I am very rarely the initiator. I found that during my visit people would come up to me and ask me if they could help or do something for me. One young man asked me about what sorts of music I liked. Then, he took me to his room, sat me down, went through all his music and films with me, had me choose everything I liked, and burnt me a whole stack of CD's. Another group of seminarians found out that I was missing Thanksgiving, went and bought three small chickens, had the kitchen cook them and treated me to my own private Thanksgiving meal. The hospitality I met there was truly exemplary. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Belorussia, and would very much like to return someday if the chance arises.   

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Archimandrite Ioasaph, Rector of the Minsk Theological Academy and Seminary, for inviting Holy Trinity Seminary to participate in their annual seminar.