Academic Year Starts at Kyiv Theological Schools
The Knowledge Day at the Kyiv Theological Schools began with the Divine Liturgy, which was conducted on September 1 at the Refectory Church of the Holy Dormition Kyiv Pechersk Lavra by Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary Archbishop Anthony of Boryspil in concelebration of the professors and teachers in the holy orders.
After the Divine Liturgy the building of the hostel for the students of the Academy (Lavra’s block No.60) was blessed. It was done due to the capital repairs carried out during the summer holidays.
The rite of blessing was performed by the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr. After the prayer service the Archpastor aspersed the students cells with holy water.
Finally Vladyka Rector thanked the Primate for his paternal care of the Kyiv Theological Schools and gifted to him the Octoechos of the ХVIII century.
Then the teachers and students led by their Primate headed to the Church of Exaltation of the Cross. Here His Beatitude conducted the prayer service for the beginning of the new academic year at the reliquary of the Venerable Nestor the Chronicler.
Concelebrating with His Beatitude were Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, Archbishop Anthony of Boryspil, Bishop Iriney of Nizhyn and Pryluky, Secretary for the Primate of the UOC Bishop Alexander of Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi.
Greeting the pious assembly on the beginning of the new academic year, the Archpastor addressed those present with a word of instruction:
“Now, raising the prayers before the beginning of our labors with participation of all the professors, teachers and each of the students, I hope that the truth will enlighten each man coming to the world, especially our compatriots, who had not yet come to Christ. If you came here, let’s believe that you responded the call of your heart, to get ready for the high and responsible ministry to God and people, so that our life coincided with our convictions, and our convictions – with the righteous life of those who serve as a model for us”, said His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr.
After the Divine Liturgy the teachers and students received blessing for the work and study in the new academic year from the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, who aspersed all those present with the holy water.
Maxim Sydorenko
photos by deacon Maxim Brusnyka
Image from photolitopys.in.ua
