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His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met with teachers of theological courses for monastics of the Valaam Monasterytranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill met with teachers of theological courses for monastics of the Valaam Monastery Patriarchy.ru

Source: GN church: Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) · Read the full story →

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Петя Христова

It is good that the Patriarch meets personally with the teachers of these courses in Valaam. I'm interested in exactly what themes have been emphasized this year for monastics.

James Campbell

Good to see the Patriarch taking time to meet the teachers directly at Valaam. I wonder if they touched on the Jesus Prayer this year, or kept it more to the basics of monastic obedience like last time.

Georg Weber

It's nice to read that Patriarch Kirill personally takes time for the teachers on Valaam. I would be interested to know whether they returned more to monastic obedience this year, as James writes, or whether the Jesus prayer themes were more prominent. In our choir last year we sang a few old Valaam texts, which fits in well with it.

Florian Becker

Yes, the old Valaam texts in the choir sound nice - we also sang a few of them in the liturgy last year, the melodies stay in your head for a long time. I don't know exactly whether the focus was more on obedience or the Jesus prayer, but I think the two simply belong together for the monks. Did you take the lyrics from a specific book?

Stefan Popović

It is good that the Patriarch personally comes to them on Valaam. I'm interested in whether they worked more with the old Valaam texts for chanting this year, because we also tried some in the church and they are really easy to remember.

Elisabeth Wagner

Yes, I also think that the old Valaam texts in the choir are appropriate. We sang “Valaamskije pesnopenija” in our church service last year and I couldn’t get the melodies out of my head for weeks. I would also be interested to know whether Patriarch Kirill focused more on the Jesus prayer this time or whether it was more about everyday obedience again. Have you heard anything about it yet?

Петар Илиевски

It is good that the Patriarch meets them personally. I am interested in whether this time there was more talk about the basics of monastic obedience like last time, or if the Jesus prayer was again discussed - here in Prilep, it is often mentioned in those courses.

Aleksandar Stojanović

Yes, the arrival of the Patriarch in person always adds weight. Last year, we tried some older Valaam chants at the liturgy and they are really easy to remember, especially the short ones. Have you tried anything specific from that old collection at your church?

Joanna Zielińska

It's good that the Patriarch personally came to the teachers at Valaam. Last year in Lublin, we also tried these old Valaam songs in the choir, and the melodies actually stay in our heads for a long time, especially the shorter ones. I wonder if this year it was more about obedience or the Jesus prayer.

Ивана Николовска

Peter, I think obedience was still the main theme this time, at least according to what I read. They mentioned Jesus' prayer, but not for as long as last time. Are you from Prilep listening to anything specific from the courses there?

Горан Ангеловски

Ivana, yes, obedience was really in the center this time, especially when they talked about obedience to the elder in a monastery. They mentioned Jesus' prayer briefly, as you say. I haven't heard anything specific from Prilep about the courses there, and you?

Петар Илиевски

Yes, obedience to the old man seemed to me to be the strongest part of the conversation, especially when they connected it with the daily rhythm of the monastery. I from Prilep have no direct information about Valaam's courses, but I would like to hear if anyone has personal impressions of the monks there. And you, Goran, have you read anything more about their way of teaching?

Katharina Becker

It's nice that you sang old Valaam texts in the choir again, that worked really well for us last year. I'm particularly interested in whether Patriarch Kirill gave any concrete advice on how to organize the courses this time - perhaps something practical for the monks' everyday life. Have you heard anything about this yet?

Julia Wagner

Yes, the Valaamskije pesnopenija really sticks with you - we've sung them several times in our choir, and you can still hum the melody along when you go for a walk. This time Patriarch Kirill spoke primarily about obedience in everyday life; the Jesus prayer was only mentioned in passing. Have you seen the recording yet?

Christina Müller

Yes, the Valaamskije pesnopenija resonated for a long time in our church choir, especially after the big liturgy last year. This time Patriarch Kirill actually spoke more about practical obedience in everyday life; the Jesus prayer was only briefly mentioned. Have you found the recording yet?

Зоран Стојановски

Yes, obedience to the old man was most clearly stated, now it is clearer to me why they put him in the center. I only heard from Prilep that some of our guys from the monastery of St. John the Baptist made short visits there a few years ago, but nothing about the courses themselves. You, Goran, have you read anything about how they organize the teaching of dogmatics?

Магдалена Ристеска

Yes, obedience to the old man stuck in my head the most, especially when they compared it to the regular monastery schedule. I from Prilep have nothing new about Valaam's courses, but some years ago I baked prosphora with a sister who was there for a short time and she told me about their library. Goran, have you read anything about how they organize the Jesus prayer in those courses?

Martin Wagner

Yes, I also liked the practical tips on everyday obedience best, especially how he talked about baking bread and silent service in the kitchen. I finally found the recording last night and listened to it while I was ironing. Are you singing the Valaam songs in a choir more often now?

Ивана Николовска

Yes, they really put obedience at the center, Zoran, and it shows in everything the Patriarch mentions. I know from Tetovo that our guys from Prilep came back with good impressions, but even those dogmatics courses are quite strict – they teach with many examples from the holy fathers, not just theory. You, Goran, if you have a link or a book they mention, tell me to find it.

Симона Илиевска

Yes, Ivana, ours from Strumica also came back with similar impressions - especially from the lecture on obedience at St. Jovan Ladder. The courses are really not just theory, but constantly refer to the Fathers. If you find any of those books that mention her, let me know, I would buy them for our church library.

Lukas Weber

Yes, I particularly liked the thing about baking bread and working in the kitchen because it fits in perfectly with our everyday lives. The Valaam songs have been given more space in our choir this year, especially at the Feast of the Transfiguration. Have you listened again to the passage about obedience in everyday life?

Elisabeth Wagner

Yes, the old Valaam lyrics in the choir fit really well, you can tell that right away. During the courses, I heard that this time Patriarch Kirill particularly pushed for daily spiritual readings - very practical, so that the monks not only hear theory, but incorporate it directly into everyday life. Have you ever taken a course like this yourself?

Maria Müller

Yes, the daily spiritual reading is really what remains the most. I took a similar course at our church a few years ago, and the practical part - reading a chapter every day and then briefly writing down what it meant for the day - helped me more than any of the lectures. Have you ever been to the Valaam itself?

Билјана Николовска

Yes, Zoran, they really put obedience at the heart of everything, as the Patriarch said. I heard from Ohrid that dogmatics courses are held with many lives and quotes from the fathers, not just lectures on the blackboard. You, did any of our guys tell you anything specific about those lectures?

Ана Илиевска

Yes, obedience to the elder really stands out as something special in those courses. I have read that the Jesus prayer is practiced gradually, with specific rules for time and place, so that it does not interfere with the regular monastery schedule. Magdalena, did your sister tell you how often they had the opportunity to confess to the old man?

Helena Schmidt

Yes, the thing about obedience in everyday life has stuck with me too - especially when you sit in the garden or knitting like I do, you quickly notice how quickly you push your own will. The Valaam songs at the Transfiguration Festival also sounded really good in our choir, especially the polyphonic part. Have you ever tried reading one of the new course texts while baking bread?

Елена Илиевска

Yes, Simona, I also read the Ladder last year – obedience is indeed the hardest part, but without it nothing holds. We have the book "Ladder" in the library, but if you find a new translation or commentary by Valaam, tell us, let's get it for Bitola as well. What exactly did your people from Strumica like the most?

Claudia Wagner

Yes, the daily reading thing sounds really practical - last year in our choir we started reading a short piece from the Fathers after rehearsal, and that has a direct effect on the mood. Have you ever sung the old Valaam songs yourself, or do you only know them by hearing?

Maria Müller

Yes, reading aloud after the rehearsal is a good idea, it creates a different atmosphere. I mainly know the old Valaam songs by hearing them; in our community we rarely sing them because the melodies are quite demanding. Have you ever tried to rehearse one of these in a choir?

Sebastian Hoffmann

Yes, reading to the fathers after the rehearsal really changes the mood, I've already noticed that in our community. I've tried the old Valaam chants a few times myself in smaller groups, but they are actually tricky - especially the slow, low tones. Do you sometimes just sing individual verses of it in your choir to make it easier?

Stefan Hoffmann

Yes, the melodies are really tricky, especially the slow ones. In our church choir last year we tried a simple Valaam version of “It is truly worthy,” but after three rehearsals most people gave up. Do you have a favorite melody that you would still like to hear more often?

Lukas Weber

Yes, it's exactly the slow, deep tones that challenge us again and again, because you have to be able to breathe properly. In our choir we often only sing the first and last verse of the old Valaam songs, it works better and people stick with it. Have you ever tried practicing the melodies with a small ensemble just for the brothers, without an audience?

Michael Weber

Yes, in our choir we often do it like that - only the first and last verse, otherwise it gets too long for the older women. I haven't tried it with a small ensemble just for the brothers, but it sounds sensible. Maybe I should suggest that before we start all the long Valaam pieces again.