SFI Graduation Celebrations
The students who received diplomas this year were completing their studies in ten different academic courses within our faculties of Theology, History and Religious Studies, as well as our Social Work Department and the Theological College.
“It seems that it was just yesterday that my wife and I were still in Rostov Veliky in the Church of Christ the Saviour in the Anteroom,” said Theology Faculty graduate Mikhail Bakhadov. “We were looking at some frescoes on the walls, including one of the sons of Jacob, when suddenly I saw that under the icon of St Reuben there was some writing which said ‘St Reuben is unavailable’. My wife works on the restoration of frescoes, so I asked her what the strange writing meant — what is Reuben busy with, or who is occupying him? His face was so animated, thoughtful and full of inspiration. And the other sons of Jacob — are they available, or are they busy, too? So it turns out that various students do practicums in that cathedral and they make copies of the frescoes, and then “reserve” specific saints ahead of time, for themselves. And so I thought: well ok — St. Reuben got lucky and he’s occupied. But there are so many righteous in our Church whose stories, contributions and experiences are very important, yet the Church doesn’t really know them. And I want to thank our Institute, which due to the contributions of all its teachers, students and everyone together, new names are being discovered — new people, new groups, new brotherhoods — within the church, but not exclusively. It is in this that our Church comes alive, so that we can breathe deeply and fill our chests with clean air, as we get to know those whose labours are the foundation and continuation of our Church.”
