On September 2, 2024, Metropolitan Epiphany of Kyiv and All Ukraine led a prayer service to mark the beginning of the new academic year at the Kyiv Orthodox Theological Academy.
Also present at the service were the Primate of the autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Yevstratiy of Bylotserk, Vicar of the St. Michael Golden-Top Monastery, Archbishop Agapit of Vyshgorod, Bishop Ephraim of Vasylkiv, Vicar of the Holy Dormition Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Bishop Avraamiy of Boryspil, rector KPBA archpriest Oleksandr Trofymlyuk, as well as teachers and students of the academy.
Following the service, a gathering was held in the academy’s assembly hall, where His Eminence delivered a speech.
“We commence the new academic year with prayer, seeking the grace of the Holy Spirit upon students and teachers. It is up to each of us to cooperate with God and open our hearts to His grace. Aspiring priests must continually strive for comprehensive self-improvement, particularly in spiritual and intellectual aspects. This is the mission of our spiritual educational institutions – to facilitate and guide such improvement as effectively as possible,” stated Metropolitan Epiphany.
Addressing the students, the Primate emphasized the importance of chaplains and educated priests, especially in the current Russian invasion situation. He urged the students to remember the sacrifices made by soldiers and to strive for spiritual growth, learning, and development for the benefit of the Church and the Ukrainian people.
