The Orthodox Church does not limit its activities to services, missionary and educational activities, and assistance to those in need. The educational component, as well as the study of Christian theology, are one of the most important components of the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church. And the Theological Seminary of Voronezh plays a role in this ministry.
Let's figure out together how to enter this educational institution, what should be prepared for, and also what awaits you after the final exams.
Where is
The address of the Voronezh Theological Seminary is Leninsky Prospekt 91/2.
The territory of the educational institution is located in the busiest part of the Left Bank region, and from the educational buildings overlooking the Voronezh reservoir, which gives the training a special charm.
The territory of the Theological Seminary of Voronezh is surrounded by residential buildings and grocery stores. From the outside, you cannot say that future priests are trained here.
How to get there
The seminary can be reached by private car or by public transport. If you are a car driver, you must remember that the bridge that leads to the seminary can be seriously loaded, and there is no parking for cars on the territory of the educational institution, so you will have to look for parking at some distance.
If you prefer public transport, then you should focus on the nearest stop "Arzamasskaya St.". You can get to it by buses No. 11, 13, 104, 20, 37a, 366, 1KS, 65A, 91, 120V, 122. Walking from the bus stop to the seminary will take about 2-3 minutes.
Seminar in the past and present
The history of the Voronezh Theological Seminary began in the distant 1746. Thus, this educational institution is the oldest in the region. There were several attempts to open a pastoral school in the capital of the Black Earth Region. They started back in 1706. There were courses in Orthodox rhetoric and individual theology training. All in vain. Initiatives of local spiritual leaders were broken by a lack of funds. There was even a moment when all the churches of the Voronezh diocese collected a donation to this cause.
The idea was successful only in 1746, when the Theological Seminary of Voronezh carried out the first enrollment of students in the pastoral department. With the light hand of Bishop Theophylact in the capital of the Black Earth region, the first educational institution appeared, which exists to this day. The story of the creation of the Voronezh Theological Seminary began.
The educational institution was ahead of the reform of education, and the rejection of the Latin language as the main language, and the fire in which the building of the educational building was completely destroyed, the horrors of the Civil War and even the temporary elimination with all the ensuing consequences of communist terror and atheistic ideology.
In 1918, the Soviet government criminally destroyed the entire internal structure of the seminary, as well as requisitioned all the property and burned a rich library that had been stored for several centuries. The teachers were tortured, "communed" with molten tin, and nails were hammered under the nails. Seminary was waiting for such a sad end, the sadistic Red Army men thought. But despite all the difficulties, the Theological Seminary of Voronezh still exists and continues to fulfill its mission throughout the Black Earth region.
What kind of education can you get today?
For those who want to connect their lives and professional activities with the Russian Orthodox Church, a fairly wide range of possible specialties is presented here. Before entering the Theological Seminary of Voronezh, you need to decide on the faculty that you will go to.
- Pastoral faculty. It is the main branch of this institution. It will take 5 years to study here, and the graduate will receive a state-standard specialist diploma. The graduate specialty is called Orthodox Theology, and a diploma will make it possible to become a priest in one of the Orthodox churches in any corner of the planet.
- Regency branch. Specialists in the musical component of Orthodox worship are graduating here. The seminarist will have to study for 4 years, and after receiving a diploma he can become choir regent and lead singers during liturgies, all-night vigils and make them even more beautiful.
- The icon-painting department seems to be specially created for artists who want to serve the mission of the Russian Orthodox Church. Here you can learn how to write real icons while preserving the centuries-old tradition of ancient Christianity. The seminarist will have to study for 4 years, and after them he will receive a bachelor's degree.
How to proceed
You can apply for admission throughout the year. The selection committee will not work on major church holidays, as well as on Sundays.
Documents required for admission to the Voronezh Theological Seminary:
- application for admission to study with personal data, information on marital status and the need to provide a hostel for the duration of the training;
- recommendation of a priest from a church parish at the place of residence or petition of the ruling bishop;
- completed questionnaire and autobiography (the form can be taken in the training part of the seminary);
- 4 photos, a copy of the birth certificate, baptism, wedding (for those who managed to tie the knot);
- standard set of entrants - a certificate of family composition, a medical report on the state of health;
- Also, upon admission, you must show your passport with registration at the place of residence, a valid medical policy and SNILS. Young people must present a registered certificate or military ID.
It is worth noting that the documents must be submitted immediately in full, if something is missing, then the entire set of documents will be returned to the applicant.
Requirements for knowledge and personality of the applicant
Admission to the Theological Seminary of Voronezh is a very important event. Applicants need to have a whole list of knowledge. Their list is changing rapidly, so it’s better to check it directly at the educational institution.
But the main list of knowledge is already known:
- Russian history;
- the history of the Russian Orthodox Church;
- Russian language;
- ability to read in Church Slavonic;
- knowledge of the main prayers ("Our Father", "Symbol of Faith" and so on);
- history of the Old Testament;
- New Testament;
- teaching of the Russian Orthodox Church.
This list is very conditional, but minimally necessary. The book "Law of God" by Serafim Alekseevich Slobodsky should be used as the main source for preparation. It is necessary to be fairly confident in the content of the Bible and to understand well the basics of Orthodox dogma. Among other things, the applicant must have an impeccable reputation, be in a church-blessed marriage and not participate in the divorce proceedings.
Student Reviews
Training in this institution leaves rather mixed opinions with seminarians. People with a deep faith and desire to develop in the cause of Christianity here will, of course, be interesting and entertaining. Others will fall asleep in daily worship. So think well whether you need it.
Full-time or correspondence department
The Theological Seminary of Voronezh provides educational services in the above two forms of training. Full-time study is provided for those who intend to connect their lives with service in the Russian Orthodox Church and are ready to study without being distracted from the educational process. For those who already have obedience in one of the Orthodox churches, as confirmed in the recommendation of the priest, a correspondence department of the Voronezh Theological Seminary is provided. Admission in this form is no different from full-time, except that the student will be called not a seminarian, but a protege.
What awaits graduate
In the final year of study, the seminar must decide what he will do next. It is necessary to find a temple in which the future priest or regent will continue the service. By the time the graduation course begins, it is necessary to provide a certificate confirming the readiness of an individual parish to accept a future graduate.
Next, the complex process of building a church career, preparation for the ordination and communication with parishioners awaits, and this is a completely different story with many difficulties and obstacles.
Do I have to pay somewhere
The official website of the Theological Seminary of Voronezh claims that the institution does not provide any paid services, and you can either go to a budget place or not. If we consider the document "Rules for Admission to Bachelor's Degree" approved in 2015, we can find an interesting discrepancy. The first section of the rules tells the applicant that he has the opportunity to enroll in seminary on church funds or on a contractual basis. Therefore, this information is most correctly specified directly in the educational institution.