Belgorod Theological Seminary (with a missionary focus) provides full-time and part-time education. Special priests emerge from the walls of the educational institution, ready to support the flock in the most difficult situations.
Foundation and development
The Belgorod Theological Seminary arose on the basis of a school opened in 1721 for the education of children of clergy. It was the first educational institution where broad knowledge was given in secular and religious sciences. The following year, the school receives the status of a "small seminary", the cells of the Nikolaevsky monastery, the founder of which was Boris Godunov, became its location. The official opening of the institution took place in 1787.
The subjects of complete seminaries were included in the curricula, active work was carried out to fill the library funds. Literature in the library was divided into three main sections: fundamental sciences, books for sale (sales), fund for free use. The seminary kept up to 10 thousand units of literary works of various directions.
Training at the Belgorod Seminarywas conducted in three areas - rhetoric, philosophy, theology. The full course of study lasted three years. In 1801, a separate two-story building was built for the educational institution, located near the Holy Trinity Cathedral.
By the end of the 18th century, the seminary became the central educational institution of the diocese and was named Kursk, although geographically it was still located in Belgorod. Over the period from 1791 to 1805, more than one thousand graduates attended the full course of science. Not all of them chose the church service, many entered secular educational institutions to become medical workers, military, civil servants.
Before the revolution
It is noteworthy that among the first students of the university opened in Kharkov, there were 20 graduates of the Belgorod Theological Seminary. The spiritual educational institution had a powerful educational base and a large number of subjects. In addition to theological sciences, students studied physics, foreign languages, humanities, arithmetic, geometry, hermeneutics and much more.
In 1879, the Belgorod Seminary was transferred to Kursk, which significantly increased its status, opening up the opportunity for graduates to receive further education in the academies of Moscow, Kyiv, St. Petersburg. A significant part of the students who did not dare to move remained in Belgorod, the school was reopened for them. This was due to the fact that initially an educational institution in Belgorod was created for the children of clergy, where versatile knowledge was given. Graduates were freechoose your own path without being rigidly tied to the church. The Kursk Seminary began to prepare pupils for further service in the spiritual sphere.
The school received the status of a branch of the Kursk Theological Seminary, it had up to 200 students, divided into four classes. The institution worked on the territory of the Nikolaev Monastery until 1917. Immediately after the revolution, the branch was liquidated.
Rebirth
The political and economic reforms of the late 20th century opened up opportunities for the revival of spiritual life in Russia. In 1990, the Kursk Seminary reopened classes for students. At first, a theological school was founded, but a year later the training course began to be taught in full seminary. The training began to take 4 years. In addition, women's classes, an icon-painting and restoration workshop were opened. In the summer of 1996, the Belgorod Orthodox Theological Seminary reopened its doors, having received a specialized direction of education - missionary work.
The first issue took place in 2000. In the next academic year, a major overhaul of the facade was carried out, the surrounding area was put in order - flower beds were laid out, a spacious car passage was made, a monument to Metropolitan Macarius was erected. In 2006, on the basis of the educational institution, the television studio "Prosvetitel" began to work, and in 2017 the seminary got its own four-story private building, where full-time students live.
In 2013-2014, the teaching of biblical theology began,missionary work, social and humanitarian disciplines. Since 2015, missionary training courses have been opened at the educational institution, the duration of training is 2.5 years, and a missionary magistracy also operates. In 2015, Archpriest Alexy (Kurenkov) was appointed rector of the Belgorod Seminary.
Training
The task of the Belgorod Orthodox Seminary is to prepare pastors for service in the realities of the modern world, bringing the light of Orthodoxy and love to every parishioner. The educational institution has a two-level education system - bachelor's and master's programs. In the 5th year, teaching is conducted according to the curriculum of a specialist with the profile "Orthodox theology and missiology". The master's program trains specialists of the Missiology profile.
The seminary trains future regimental chaplains, teachers and teachers of the Law of God in secular educational institutions, teachers of church educational institutions, missionaries. You can get an education at the full-time and part-time department of the Belgorod Seminary. In the last year, students, regardless of the form of study, defend the qualification work (preparation is carried out jointly with the supervisor), take exams.
Priorities
Missionary work is a priority area of staff training, for its study additional subjects have been introduced into the curriculum - "History of Mission", "Methods, Principles of Missionary Activity", "Introduction to Missiology". Educational and educational process in the Belgorod Seminary in full-time and part-time departmentsimplemented over 5 courses. Also, applicants have the opportunity to attend a one-year course of the preparatory department.
On the 5th year, the study of ethnography, economics, natural science, screen art is added to the main subjects. The course "Fundamentals of Information Technologies" is gradually expanding, it is planned that its study will begin from the 1st year of the seminary. For four years, each student gets the opportunity to study a foreign language. From the 4th year, seminarians study psychology (general, social, age, conflictology).
Applicants with the rank of priest are admitted to the correspondence department of the Belgorod Theological Seminary, and laymen who carry out missionary obedience in any diocese belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church are also eligible for admission.
Practice
A feature of the Belgorod Seminary is the accentuated attention to the practical activities of students. In the curriculum, a sufficient number of hours are allocated for educational and production work. Students have the opportunity to conduct liturgical, pedagogical, missionary and research activities. Skills are acquired in various places. So, in 2000, a missionary center was opened in Chukotka, in the city of Anadyr, where seminarians are sent for practice. The base for preparing missionary activity includes the development of pedagogical, missionary, catechist social work.
The practice of worship is available to seminarians throughout the entire period of study ineducational church of St. Innocent. Senior students practice reading sermons at holiday and Sunday services. Junior students are improving in public reading of prayers, in some cases, seminarians are sent to practice in the existing parishes of the Belgorod region.
On the cutting edge of modern life
Education of a future teacher of church educational institutions and a teacher of secular educational institutions is based on Orthodox pedagogy and psychology (general, age, social). Students receive practical skills at the Police Lyceum, Belgorod Medical College, a military unit, several secondary city schools and directly at the Belgorod Seminary.
Also, students take part in spiritual and educational conversations. Students of secular higher educational institutions of the city - economics and law, Belarusian State University, the Institute of Culture, the Institute of Cooperation and other universities become listeners or opponents. The seminary actively cooperates with the Regional Center for the Rehabilitation of Minors, as part of its activities, students conduct thematic conversations with children and adolescents in difficult situations.
Chorus
The Bishops' Choir of the Belgorod Seminary is one of the most famous groups. It was created in 1996. The founder and leader of the singing team until the fall of 2015 was Archpriest Nikolai Katsy. The main obedience of the choir is singing at all church services. In addition, the team actively participatesin major spiritual, cultural and social events, conducts a rich concert activity. The band has repeatedly performed at well-known Russian venues - in the Rossiya State Concert Hall and the Crocus Hall.
You can listen to performances not only by visiting the concert, but also in the recordings. Over the years, several discs were released, for example, in 2005 the concert “To the Angel of St. Belogorye” was released, the recording was timed to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the birth of St. Joasaph. In 2001, the disc "Songs of Faith, Hope, Love" was recorded, in 2010 - "With one mouth and one heart", etc.
The team takes an active part in missionary trips to the Arkhangelsk region, Kamchatka, Kalmykia and Karelia, visited Eastern and Central Siberia and many other remote regions of Russia. The choristers receive invitations to perform in churches and at concerts in Ukraine, Germany, Slovenia, Belarus. The choir's repertoire includes church hymns, folk songs, works by Russian and foreign composers.
Publisher
Students take an active and active part in the work of the Seminary's publishing department. Since 2000, the Seminarian Bulletin began to be published, which became an appendix to the periodical Belgorod Diocesan Gazette.
Students can post materials, topical issues, missionary stories, and reports through the newsletter.
How to apply for a full-time department?
Enter the Theological Seminary (Belgorodsky St.avenue, building 75) can be persons with a complete secondary education, the presence of any higher education is welcome. Only men under the age of 35 are admitted to the full-time department (bachelor's degree). Applicant must be single or married by first marriage. Education is provided free of charge with full board (accommodation, meals). The duration of training is 5 years. At the first stage, the candidate submits a package of documents to the selection committee, which includes:
- A petition addressed to the rector.
- A letter of recommendation from the parish priest with the seal of the temple.
- Filled out application.
- A free-form autobiography.
- Three photos 3 x 4 cm and one photo 9 x 12 cm.
- Certificate of Education (copy or original).
- Certificate indicating the composition of the family.
- Medical certificate (form No. 086-U), as well as certificates from a narcologist and a psychiatrist.
- Copy of CHI or VHI policy.
- Copy of baptismal certificate.
- For married people - copies of marriage and wedding certificates.
- Copy of passport.
- Copy of assigned military ID.
- Copy of the document on passing the exam (subjects - social studies, Russian language, history).
At the second stage, applicants take the following exams:
- Russian language (outline).
- Fundamentals of Orthodoxy.
- Testing.
- Church history.
- Reading theological literature in Old Church Slavonic.
- Basic Prayers - Knowing by heart.
- Interview.
Exams in 2018 are held during the periodfrom 20 to 24 August. Upon completion of the bachelor's degree, the student can continue his studies in the master's program.
How to enter the correspondence department?
The Belgorod Seminary accepts acting clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church for the correspondence department (age does not matter). Lay people (over 27 years old) who carry out missionary service in parishes are also eligible for admission. Exams are held in the penultimate decade of September, applicants write an essay, undergo testing and an interview. Based on the results of the tests, enrollment occurs and an agreement is concluded for the provision of educational services.
Those wishing to take part-time courses should submit the following documents to the admission committee:
- A petition addressed to the rector.
- Recommendation (referral) from the ruling bishop (for clergy) with a seal.
- Certificate of ordination (copy).
- For the laity - the recommendation and characteristics of the priest from the place of missionary service with the seal of the temple.
- A free-form autobiography.
- Filled out application form.
- Photo 3 x 4 (3 pcs.) and 9 x 12 (1 pc.).
- Certificate of Education (copy).
- Passport (copy).
- Certificate of baptism, marriage and wedding (copy).
Entrance exams for applicants in 2018 will be held from September 18 to 20.
Note
Numerous photos of the Belgorod Seminary demonstrate how the educational process takes place and the living conditions of students inhostel. The city speaks warmly about the educational institution and believes that seminarians are the most calm students. The educational institution pays a lot of attention to physical training.
The address of the Belgorod Seminary is Belgorodsky Avenue, building 27.
The best traditions of teaching are preserved in the seminary, and new ones appear, reflecting the present. New generations of priests have to lead a missionary mission in remote areas of a large country and visit Yakutia, Siberia, Kamchatka and many other places. Also, the mission of enlightenment and comfort is implemented in hospital departments where patients with the most difficult diagnoses are located, priests are happy to meet with schoolchildren and students, and go on missions to foreign countries.
From the many places seminary graduates have visited, letters of thanks come in. Belgorod Seminary in 2016 celebrated the 20th anniversary of the revival of activity, during this time many seminarians received education.
