Department for External Church Relations
The site uses cookies to help show you the most up-to-date information. By continuing to use the site, you consent to the use of your Metadata and cookies. Cookie policy
Metropolitan Hilarion: Orthodox education today is comparable in quality to secular education
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, Rector of the Ss Cyril and Methodius Institute of Post-Graduate Studies, spoke about the various forms of the Church's presence in the higher education system on the air of The Church and the World television program.
«First, the Church has its own educational institutions, such as theological seminaries and academies, or the Ss Cyril and Methodius Institute of Post-Graduate Studies. These are educational institutions where we teach future clergy and Church workers.» – noted the hierarch.
Secondly, there are also Church schools of higher education, which are essentially universities. For example, the Russian University named after St. John the Theologian or the Orthodox University of St. Tikhon. In each of them there is a pastoral department, but it is only one of the departments, whereas other departments are not aimed at the education of either pastors or church workers. “These are state-accredited universities, which means that students receive a diploma and can then work in their fields, while receiving a certain amount of knowledge on Orthodox topics in the process of training” – concluded Metropolitan Hilarion.
He also mentioned another way to involve religious organizations in the educational sphere – by establishing theological faculties, departments and various theological programs at secular universities.
“I think that the quality of Orthodox education today is quite close to secular education. This is evidenced by the fact that our main theological schools received state accreditation.” – added the DECR Chairman. – “Of course, the Orthodox, religious component plays an important role in the learning process. Even if a person studies secular sciences, he receives a truly universal university education”.
DECR Communication service
Patriarch
Department Chairman
Sermons
24.01.2021
06.11.2020