< Back page

Missive of His Beatitude, the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria-Pheodor II On The Occasion Of The Opening of Sumy Theological Seminary

Your Eminence, Archbishop of Sumy and Akhtyrka,

the beloved brother in God , and fellow servant of our Dimension,

Eulogy,

joy and grace to Your Eminence

and the world of the Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

 

With great excitement and nostalgia write to You, remembering our perennial acquaintance at that blessed time when we served as Patriarchal Ekzarh in Odessa.

With the unspeakable joy we received the news that you convert your church school in Your Diocese to the Theological Seminary and heartily rejoice with you. Of course, in the great spiritual tradition of our Orthodox Church theologians were those who [first] lived, and then talked about the Divine, according to the holy Ascetic Nile: "If anyone theologian, who prays is true, and if someone truly prays, the theologian." The apostle Paul wrote: "Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. Who thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, that was given the knowledge by him "(1 Kor 8: 1-3). So, successful church school is considered to be not one that simply provides academic knowledge, but one that enables its students to become initiated into the sacraments of the Church, especially in church services and liturgical wealth.

We believe with all our heart that on this foundation You build up your new school, so it is guaranteed success.

I heartily wishing you health and force in the commission of Your many-sided bishop serving and blessings from the Lord your pious congregation, dwell with You,

 

loving brother in Christ

Theodore II of Alexandria