His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia congratulated the rectors, teachers, mentors and students of higher theological educational institutions on the start of the new academic year.
In his address, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church emphasized that theological academies and seminaries, Orthodox universities and institutes should be not only centers of education and scientific research, but also an environment for the moral education of future ministers and workers of the Church.
Patriarch Kirill recalled the inseparable connection of theological knowledge with a pious life, prayer and repentance. According to him, studying in theological schools is designed to promote the comprehensive development of personality and spiritual growth of a person.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill noted that special attention in the educational process should be paid to the challenges that the Church and modern society face today. Among such issues, he called attempts to revise and distort history, the risks of uncontrolled development of artificial intelligence, problems of bioethics and new medical opportunities.
The task of spiritual education is not only to comprehend these phenomena, but also to find meaningful and convincing answers to the current problems of our time.
At the end of the address, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church wished the teachers and students strength of strength and God's help in their upcoming labors.
"May God's blessing be with you all," His Holiness Patriarch Kirill said in his message of congratulations.