On June 1, eight graduates of the Moscow Old Believer Theological School received diplomas from the hands of the Primate of the Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Korniliy. Six of them were able to attend the solemn ceremony in the metropolitan chambers. Metropolitan Korniliy thanked the faculty and the students for their efforts and expressed the hope that the acquired knowledge and skills will benefit the Church a hundredfold.
The graduates were greeted by the director of the MSDU, Anatoliy Ivanovich Shatokhin:
“It’s pleasant to look at you. You have come a long way; teachers have worked with you for two years. These two years are an invaluable contribution, first and foremost, to your spiritual life.”
Archpriest Alexey Mikheev has been spiritually caring for the school for several years and is currently the rector of the Intercession Cathedral on Rogozhskoye. Fr. Alexey compared the two-year period of study in a religious educational institution with military service, and also noted:
“When you enter MSDU, you find yourself in a special world. During these two years, you have grown spiritually, gained knowledge and skills that will be improved throughout your life. You will share them with the younger generation. At the same time, try to acquire Christian firmness and not succumb to the temptations of the world – only then will you feel God’s help.”
The Moscow Old Believer Theological School annually enrolls students for training in the speciality “ustavschik, Sunday school teacher.” Particular attention is paid to teaching practical disciplines: liturgical Typicon, znamenny chant and church reading.
