Solemn Commencement on the Occasion of the First Graduation of the Sumy Theological Seminary

On June 1, 2017, on the day of the New Martyrs' of Slobozhansky, in the Sumy Seminary named after of His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir (Sabodan) was held the first graduation.

As part of the celebration of the event, at the Holy Panteleimon Temple were performed the divine services: the vigil on the eve, on the day of the holiday, a prayer service with the reading of the acathist to the holy righteous John of Kronstadt and the Divine Liturgy.

The divine service was headed by the rector of the seminary, Archbishop of Sumy and Akhtyrka Evlogii, in the service of teachers, students and graduates in a Holy orders.

During the service prayed for peace of Ukraine.

All students received the sacrament of the Eucharist.

At the conclusion of the divine service, by tradition was made a group photo.

Graduation was held At 11.30 in the auditorium of the seminary.

The Rector of the Seminary Archbishop of Sumy and Akhtyrka Evlogiy opened the meeting. The Vice-rector for Academic and Disciplinary Work Archimandrite Anthony (Bondarenko) read out a report on the results of the examination session and final examinations.

The vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis, Head of the Educational Committee of the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Bishop of Irpen Kliment greeted the audience.

The best graduates of the year, archpriest Alexander Petrenko and Podvalny Dmitrii addressed to the audience. In their speech they expressed sincere gratitude, first of all, to the Rector of the Seminary to the Archbishop of Sumy and Akhtyrka Evlogii, on the initiative of which on October 27, 2015 the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine Onuphriy (Journal No. 44) Sumy pastoral and theological school was reorganized into the Sumy Seminary and the continuous care and prayers of which it exists.

In the memory of this day, the graduates presented two sets of deacon's vestments.

To the address of graduates, and also to all those present, the Rector of the Seminary the Archbishop of Sumy and Akhtyrka Evlogii said the parting word. His Eminence reminded the graduates of the difficult, responsible, sacrificial and at the same time good and salutary ways of the priest and called upon all to be worthy, to serve faithfully in the glory of God, for the good of the Church and Fatherland.

At the gift of the Sumy Theological Seminary, His Eminence handed over the book "All-Ukrainian Procession 3-27 of July 2016".

A traditional ceremony of awarding diplomas took place at the end of the meeting. The graduates received the diplomas of the bachelor of theology, the direction of the Study Committee of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for parish and obedience, and as a sign of successful completion of studies and in blessing for further works a memorable gift: the book "Acathists".

26 people graduated from the first graduation of the Seminary: 18 people in the presbyter's rank, 1 in the deacons, 7 took the chirotesia as a reader.

We believe that the first graduation of the Sumy Seminary is just the beginning of the long life of the theological school in Sumy region, and the first graduates of the seminary are the first swallows, in the wake of which, in line with them, new workers will come out on the field of Christ, enlightening and consecrating the God-protected Ukrainian land with the Word of the Holy Gospel .