International students of the Moscow Theological Academy (MDA) visited the Valaam Monastery. Six students from the Philippines, Mauritius, Gabon, Kenya and Ireland were accompanied by the head of the International Department of the Academy, S.A. Vinogradov.
The pilgrimage trip was initiated by the International Department of the Academy with the help of the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage, organized by the Pilgrimage Center of the Moscow Patriarchate.
During the trip, the pilgrims visited the central estate of the Valaam Monastery, as well as its numerous hermitages, including the monastery in the name of St. Alexander Svirsky on St. Peter's Island, prayed at monastic services and met with the brethren of the monastery.
The trip left unforgettable impressions for all its participants.
The participants of the pilgrimage would like to thank Egor Skopenko, Executive Director of the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage, and the staff of the Foundation for the opportunity to make such a trip, as well as Hierodeacon Sergiy (Turkeev), General Director of the Moscow Patriarchate Pilgrimage Center, Ya.V. Galchenko, Deputy General Director, and the staff of the center for organizing the pilgrimage.