St. Philaret’s Institute begins its 37th academic year
“The Christian calling is primarily to acquire and keep unity of Spirit and Truth in Love, Freedom, and Hope. At present, our lands which were once called Christian — “Holy Rus" — fail to live up to that label without qualification. There are too few people who demonstrate that principle calling in their lives. There are many good people on the earth, even very many. But they are like grains of sand — a big mountain of separate gold flecks. The flecks demonstrate no real unity, and for this reason they can’t change our life, our world, our country, our church, or our nation,” said SFI Founder Fr Georgij Kochetkov to assembled students and teachers, after opening prayers.
“And we are in need of more, whatever anyone can give — whether faith or not, whether Russian or not — every person who is willing to take the burden of spiritual, cultural, national and historical responsibility upon himself,” added Fr Georgij.
“Naturally one can’t be taught spiritual qualities in the same way we are taught in school, but it is very important to make a study of them, so as to have a greater chance of avoiding failure, so as not to waste energy, time and resources in vain, and so as not to squander your life on something of secondary importance or pursuits of little worth. Embodied perception gives us a chance to go deeper and achieve something akin to authentic life,” said the SFI Founder.
“I am glad that a greater number of students have joined us this year — more than in either of the two previous years. Our Lord has made it possible for our Institute to ride the waves of the sea for almost 40 years and it continues to stay afloat, doing its work. Glory to God that everyone has the opportunity to study spiritual wisdom and life in a sober fashion and without any illusions — without those things which would provide false external comfort, while failing to save, enrich and transform us internally. I congratulate all of you who have just joined us as students in all the disciplines that our Institute offers!”, said Fr Georgij.
Doctor of History Irina Smirnova, from the Centre for the History of Religion of the Russian Academy of Sciences then presented her lecture, entitled “Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow — Archpastor and Church Diplomat” — the first lecture of the new academic year.
“Of course, it was difficult for the church to be free under conditions of interdependency with the Orthodox Russian Empire which was headed by an Orthodox Emperor,” said First Vice Rector of SFI, Dmitrij Gasak. “But the church hardly has it any easier in our own day, though our government has an entirely different character. I think that that the experience which was so eloquently presented in today’s opening lecture will again come in handy. I was very touched by the comment of Professor Aleksej Petrovich Lebedev, when he said that behind Metropolitan Philaret’s mask of officialdom is veiled humaneness. This Christian approach to affairs, especially when this love for man isn’t situational, runs through all the business and personal correspondence of St. Philaret.”
