On June 28, the flagship project of "Tabor"—the Spiritual Development School—concluded successfully. This is an educational and enlightening course for laypeople taking their first steps in the Church. Seventy participants completed the program.
Over the course of three months, the learners:
– listened to more than 45 lectures delivered by experienced clergy, including bishops, priest-instructors from the Moscow Theological Academy, parish priests of Moscow churches, and well-known preachers;
– took part in worship services and sacraments, exploring their meaning with mentors in over 15 meetings;
– participated in pilgrimages to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, churches and monasteries of Pereslavl-Zalessky, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery, and visited the Butovo firing range;
– engaged in volunteer activities at social Church institutions, at the Butovo firing range, and integrated into Moscow parish communities, assisting in the churches of the course instructors;
– regularly met with experienced priest-mentors in small groups and individually to discuss all questions in depth.
During the program, 50 participants took part in the Church’s sacraments for the first time consciously, and several were baptized.
The graduation ceremony took place on June 28 at the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by Bishop Methodius (Zinkovsky) of Yegoryevsk—the abbot of Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery and Rector of the Holy-Tikhon Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox University—with the course instructors concelebrating. Following the Liturgy, the bishop offered heartfelt parting words to the graduates and awarded each a certificate of successful completion.
At the festive meal that followed, graduates met with the bishop once more—he revealed to them the subject of the theology of the person, which was the focus of his own dissertation. After his presentation, participants had the opportunity to ask him questions. The day concluded with a guided tour of the monastery.
We extend heartfelt thanks to Bishop Methodius for his care of the School and his warm welcome at the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Monastery!