On September 14, Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas met with participants of the discussion “The legacy of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov and current issues of spiritual and moral education” at the Center of Slavic Culture in the village of Diveyevo dedicated to summing up of the results of the “Seraphim’s Teacher” 2020/2021 contest.

The event was attended by Vice-Admiral Alexander Balyberdin, Director of the Institute of Complex Studies of National Marine Policy, Archimandrite Platon (Igumnov), Professor of the Moscow Theological Academy, hegumen Kiprian (Yashchenko), PhD in Teaching, chief editor of the Pokrov magazine, and Olga Barayeva, Adviser to the Head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolia and the “Seraphim’s Teacher” project head manager.

At the beginning of the meeting, the archpastor noted the enormous role that teachers have in the matter of spiritual and moral education. “It often happens that our work is distinguished by assessments and diplomas, but the most important mark is that our former students became worthy citizens of our country: they followed the path of creation, giving their soul for the others. A spiritual chant bear the following words “Who are you, Moscow? Are you the holy city, or the blasphemous Babylon?” We must ask ourselves: Who are we? What prevails in our lives and what will take over? Good or evil? Light or darkness? It depends on us. If we invoke God’s blessing on our feeble efforts, it will truly bear good fruit. This is our faith and hope. Therefore, let us not lose heart. May the Lord bless us and the Protection Cover of the Queen of Heaven always stays with us, and may Venerable Seraphim and all the saints who shone forth in the Land of Russia always remain with us!” he said.

Then, Vladyka Georgiy answered the teachers’ questions. They were about education and upbringing in the family and at school, the activities of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolia and the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov Foundation. As he fielded the questions, the administrator of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese shared his wealth of experience about spiritual and moral upbringing and education gathered by the Diocese, with ten Orthodox schools and five orthodox kindergartens presently operating there.