A graduation day was held at the Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary (NNTS) on June 13. Graduates of the NNTS, the Nizhny Novgorod Female Theological College, and St. Elizabeth Sisters of Charity Department based in Nizhny Novgorod Medical College received diplomas.

The ceremony began with a Divine Liturgy held at St. Alexius of Moscow Temple situated on the premises of the seminary. Present at the divine service were graduates and teachers of the Nizhny Novgorod theological institutions.

Metropolitan Alexius restored the dilapidated Annunciation Monastery
The Uncovering of the Relics of Saint Alexius the Wonderworker, Metropolitan of Moscow (1431), is commemorated on June 2. Hieromonk Laurentius (Sobko), a teacher of the Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary, told about the saint.

A regular meeting of the Inter-Council Presence’s Committee on the Organization of Church Mission was held at a Moscow metochion of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra on May 18. Archbishop Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, Chairman of the committee, presided over the meeting.

A meeting of a philosophy group based in Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary (NNTS) was held on May 17. The final meeting in this academic year took place at the Higher School of Economics (HSE) and was titled “Ethics of Creativity”.

Nizhny Novgorod Branch of the Russian Federation Journalists Union participated in a contest called “Orthodox Initiative” organized by the Charity Fund of St. Seraphim of Sarov and received a grant for a project titled “Talk to Youth About Faith”. The project includes visits to the Nizhny Novgorod diocesan educational institutions, including Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary and an Orthodox school.

A student panel discussion on the topic “Church and Army in Modern Russia” was held at Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary on April 26.

With the blessing of Archbishop Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, the fifth Paschal Choral Council meeting was held at the Cathedral of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky on April 9, Friday of Bright Week. Our Seminariy has participated in it. It is great pleasure to sing together with such well-known choirs. It gives us a high goal to aim for. We can not only share the joy of Pascha but also develop our talent given by God.

“I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled!” (Luk 12:49). The first in this year, April Issue of Damascus magazine published by Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary opens with this quote from the Gospel.

The signing of a tripartite agreement between the Nizhny Novgorod administration Department of Education, Social and Legal Protection of Childhood; the Nizhny Novgorod diocese, and a general education school 187 on the establishment of the city resource center for moral and spiritual upbringing and civil education at the school was held at Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary on April 7.

The Very Rev. Georgy, Archbishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, officiated a Divine Liturgy at the Annunciation Cathedral of the Annunciation Monastery on April 7. The service was co-officiated by Hegumen Alexander (Lukin), Father Superior of the monastery, the brethren, and other clerics of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese.

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.

The first meeting of the Committee on the Organization of Church Mission of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church was held at the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra in Moscow on March 23. The committee chaired by Archbishop Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas — head of our seminary.

This evening a special service is held at the seminary church, the so-called Standing of St. Mary of Egypt. This is the name of the Matins held on the fifth Thursday of Great Lent. Traditionally, the service takes place on Wednesday evening. This divine service is commonly called “St. Mary’s Standing”, because the Life of St. Mary is read at the middle of this long service.

An annual meeting of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese was held at a recreation center in Nizhny Novgorod on March 10. The chairman of the meeting was Archbishop Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas.Archbishop Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas opened the meeting saying, “On the holy days of Great Lent we gathered here in order to summarize the results of 2009 and formulate plans for the future of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese.”

Archbishop the Tulchinsky and Bratslavsky Jonathan visited Nizhniy Novgorod Theological seminary. The Very Rev. Jonathan examined Seminary church in honor of St. Alexy, Мetropolitan of Moscow, our library, museum, refectory and cells of seminarians. After this he gave a lecture on the topic of missionary service. The Very Rev. Jonathan shared his experience in celebrating missionary liturgies with students and the seminary staff. His point of view is celebrating in Russian language and giving short comments. According to the Very Rev. missionary liturgy is not for everyday divine service. One may perform it only after special training. The Very Rev. Jonathan noticed, that young church members and first of all seminarians are especially responsible for missionary service.

The next session of the Philosophical society, lead by PhD D.V Semikopov head of Church History department, took place in the Nizhniy Novgorod Theological seminary. The concept of “consumer society Philosophy” became a session theme.

First-year students of the Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary made a pilgrimage to the city of Murom in the Vladimir region.

The Murom land is famous for its holy places and saints, including Saints Peter and Febronia, St. Juliana, and St. Ilya Muromets. The most famous saint is a medieval knights-errant, Ilya Muromets, who became a monk and was buried at Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

“O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power and idle talk. But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brother. For blessed art Thou unto the ages. Amen.”

The regional stage of the competition “Holy Russia Keep the Orthodox Faith!” begins
The regional stage of the all-Russian academic competition on the basics of Orthodox culture titled “Holy Russia Keep the Orthodox Faith!” was held at Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary on February 7.