From January 10 to January 22, 2025, a group of students from the Moscow Theological Academy, representatives of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, visited the Holy Trinity Monastery of the Cheboksary Diocese.
During their stay, the boys actively participated in the spiritual life of the monastery, and also contributed to the fulfillment of various monastic obediences, such as helping in the kitchen and snow removal. In addition, they performed hymns in Church Slavonic and French during the divine services.
The students enriched their spiritual experience in conversations on various topics with the abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Basil (Pasquier), who was born into a French Catholic family and consciously converted to Orthodoxy in adulthood.
Such conversations, always accompanied by kindness, allowed the students to receive valuable advice for their spiritual and academic path.
On January 15, students met with Metropolitan Savvati of Cheboksary and Chuvashia. His Eminence warmly supported the students in their studies and urged them to take a serious approach to acquiring theological knowledge. The bishop invited them to visit Chuvashia again during the upcoming summer holidays.
Staying at Holy Trinity Monastery has become a unique experience for African students, strengthening them not only in their theological education, but also in their commitment to the spiritual values of the Holy Orthodox Church.
The trip took place with the participation of the Foundation for the Support of Christian Culture and Heritage.