His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios visits St. Sergius’s Laura of the Holy Trinity and the Moscow Theological Academy

HIS BEATITUDE PATRIARCH IGNATIOS VISITS ST. SERGIUS’S LAURA OF THE HOLY TRINITY AND THE MOSCOW THEOLOGICAL ACADEMY

In the course of his visit to Russia, His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios IV of Antioch and All the East and the delegation of the Patriarchate of Antioch visited on January 23, 2003, St. Sergius’s Laura of the Holy Trinity and the Moscow Theological Schools. The Primate of the Church of Antioch was accompanied by Bishop Feofan of Magadan and Sinegorye.

At the holy gates of the monastery His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios was welcomed by the father superior, Bishop Feognost of Sergyev Posad, and the monastic community as well as the rector of the Moscow Theological Seminary and Academy, Archbishop Eugene of Vereya.

The guests venerated the relics of St. Sergius and proceeded to the building of the Moscow Theological Academy where Archbishop Eugene introduced to them the faculty and students of this educational institution. In his welcoming speech, Archbishop Eugene noted that the visit of the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Antioch was a historic event for the Moscow Theological School. In his response, His Beatitude Ignatios gave special attention to the importance of theological education in the modern world.

Answering numerous questions from students and professors, His Beatitude Patriarch Ignatios said, in particular, that the witness to Orthodoxy in today’s world could be successful only on the basis of cooperation and unity among all the Orthodox. What is essential for real unity is that all the Local Churches should strictly observe the sacred canons decisive for the life of the Church and her life in the world.

Having given his benediction to the assembly, His Beatitude Ignatios presented commemorative gifts to the Moscow Theological Academy and the father superior of St. Sergius’s Laura of the Holy Trinity.