Russian Patriarch says Church will Educate Youth Leaders

15/04/2010

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church said youth leaders will be educated at a new faculty of the St. Tikhon Orthodox University of Humanities in Moscow, which will open next year.

“We hope that next school year the St. Tikhon Orthodox University will open a special faculty where social and church workers, youth leaders and teachers will be educated,” Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia said.

The university, established in 1991, was Russia’s first theological graduate-level school providing theological education for lay persons. Adherence to Orthodox faith is not required for its students.

Kirill said every church parish should develop its social and educational functions. “I have suggested that in the future each Orthodox parish should have… social workers, youth leaders and teachers,” he said.

The patriarch said the church could not meet the new goals without young professionals working for decent salaries. He said only two such centers for educating youth leaders have been established.

MOSCOW, April 15 (RIA Novosti)

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