Belgorod Seminary: higher education for boys and girlstranslated

With the blessing of Metropolitan John of Belgorod and Stary Oskol

Tuition, accommodation and meals for seminarians are free, and full-time students even receive a stipend.

Belgorod Theological Seminary was opened in 1787. A century later, it became the central religious educational institution of the Kursk-Belgorod diocese, and was transferred to Kursk. A branch of the seminary in Belgorod was opened on the basis of a theological school in 1906 and existed until the October Revolution.

The modern history of the educational institution begins in 1996, with the decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to create an Orthodox Theological Seminary (with a missionary orientation) in Belgorod. His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II was present at its grand opening.

The rector, Archpriest Alexy Kurenkov, talks about how the seminary lives today. He notes that students and teachers value the rich historical and spiritual heritage of the institution. In addition, it is unique for our country, specializing in training missionaries to work not only in Russia, but also abroad.

The level of education here is traditionally high: 4 doctors of science and nearly two dozen...