Patriarch Daniel of Romania received delegation of Kiev Theological Schools
A delegation of the Kiev Theological Schools arrived in Romania on October 24, 2011, at the invitation of the University of Bucharest Faculty of Orthodox Theology. Led by Archbishop Anthony of Borispol, rector of the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary, and blessed by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania and His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine, the delegation included Ass. Prof. V. Burega, pro-rector for theological studies, Archpriest Vladimir Kotsaba, secretary of the academic council, and the academy’s lecturers.
At the Faculty of Orthodox Theology a working meeting was held with its dean, Archpriest Stephan Bukiu, and administrative officers. Father Stephan explained to the guest the present system of theological education in the Romanian Orthodox Church. They also discussed prospects for cooperation between the Kiev Theological Academy and theological educational institutions in Romania.
The delegation also met with professors and students of the faculty. Archpriest Anthony spoke of the history of theological education in Ukraine and the work of the Kiev Academy today. The guests were asked numerous questions about the life of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, her relations with the state and prospects for the development of Orthodox theology in Ukraine.
On the same day, the delegation visited the Antim Monastery in Bucharest built in the early 18th century. The monastery hosts the Synodal library of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The delegation were shown old and rare books. After that the delegation went to the RaduVoda Monastery founded in the 16th century. At the monastery’s cathedral, the delegation said a prayer at the grave of Patriarch Justinian of Romania.
Then the delegation went to the Bucharest Seminary to familiarize themselves with its work and to see the everyday life of its students.
In the evening of October 24, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania received the delegation at his residence in Bucharest. Welcoming the guests, he asked to convey his gratitude to Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine for his help in arranging the visit and pointed to the long history of relations between Romania and the Kiev Theological Academy. Theological education was initiated in Kiev by St. Peter Moghila, who came from the family of rulers of Wallachia, an historical region in southern Romania, and Moldova. Among the graduates of the Kiev school was St. Paisius Velichkovsky, who made an importance influence on the regeneration of old monastic traditions in Greece, Wallachia, Moldova, Ukraine and Russia. The Kiev Academy also issued some prominent hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Patriarch Daniel expressed satisfaction with the plan to develop cooperation between the Kiev Theological Academy and the University of Bucharest Faculty of Orthodox Theology and wished the guests success in training pastors for the Church of Christ.
In his response, Archbishop Anthony thanked His Beatitude for the invitation to visit Romania. Speaking about the life of the Kiev theological schools today, he emphasized that theological schools of all the Local Orthodox Churches should seek today to maintain cooperation so that the unity of Universal Orthodoxy may be consolidated and common answers to today’s challenges may be sought.
Patriarchia.ru/DECR Communication Service