Department for External Church Relations
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Patriarch Kirill welcomes a seminary in Paris
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia addressed Archbishop Innokenty of Korsun as well as the rector, faculty, students and participants in the solemn opening of the Paris Seminary. Below is the full text of his address.
Your Eminences and Graces,
All-Honorable Fathers,
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
I wholeheartedly greet you all, participants and guests of the solemn act of opening the Paris Seminary.
With the feeling of gratitude to the Giver of All Good Things, we launch the academic process in the new theological school in the belief that its work will bring with time abundant fruits. Today the Russian Orthodox Church stands in a special need for highly educated specialists fully aware of Europe’s life and well versed in academic, inter-church and diplomatic spheres, as well as for clergy who could render appropriate service at parishes abroad. The door of this school will be always open to representatives of other sister Orthodox Churches as well.
It is noteworthy that the Paris Seminary is called to become not only an educational and theological center but also a place of Orthodox witness. The very fact of its establishment is an expression of our willingness to cooperate with the European Christian civilization, the realized desire to study its achievements and potential. Along with it, I am convinced that the Paris Seminary will become a significant step towards building relations with European churches. This cooperation, I hope, will be fruitful and beneficial.
I would like to emphasize that the opening of the seminary has become possible thanks to the good and dynamically developing relations between France and Russia.
I prayerfully wish all the participants in the solemn act – the administrators, professors and students of the Paris Seminary – the inexhaustible help of God in their work ahead.
May God’s blessing be with you all.
+ Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
Patriarch
Sermons
24.01.2021
06.11.2020