{"id":498022,"date":"2024-10-03T15:14:53","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T12:14:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=498022"},"modified":"2024-10-03T15:14:53","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T12:14:53","slug":"bishop-varlaam-to-students-theology-is-learned-not-only-in-class-and-library-but-especially-in-the-church","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/bishop-varlaam-to-students-theology-is-learned-not-only-in-class-and-library-but-especially-in-the-church\/","title":{"rendered":"Bishop Varlaam to students: Theology is learned not only in class and library, but especially in the church"},"content":{"rendered":"

His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploie\u0219ti celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Tuesday at Saint Catherine University Chapel to mark the opening of the new academic year at the Orthodox Theology Faculty in Bucharest.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following the Divine Liturgy, the bishop read His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel’s blessing message<\/a> and urged the young theology students to combine prayer with study.<\/span><\/p>\n

Theology is learned in the church<\/h2>\n

“Because these two types of preparation, intellectual-academic and spiritual, go hand in hand, I urge you to use this university chapel to pray more because theology is not only learned in the classroom and library, but especially in the church, in a state of prayer.”<\/p>\n

“In the prayers that <\/span>were read<\/span>, it <\/span>was emphasized<\/span> that we come to the knowledge of God through reading the Scriptures and through contemplating God’s creation, which speaks of all His wisdom and all His power, but there is also this spiritual preparation, this preparation through prayer and deep meditation,” Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploie\u0219ti explained on October 1.<\/span><\/p>\n

Referring to the Sermon on the Mount, when the Saviour says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God,” the patriarchal auxiliary bishop said, “Purity of heart is an essential condition for deepening the mysteries of God. That is why, when He chose His disciples, the Saviour did not choose the intellectuals, the learned of the time, but disciples from among simple people<\/span>\u00a0who shone with a pure heart.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Accurate knowledge of God is a discovery <\/span>we<\/span> receive as a gift if we have a pure heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

His Grace encouraged the young students to learn as much theology as possible “but also many complementary sciences – psychology, sociology, pedagogy, and so on – because we <\/span>are called<\/span> to address a complex and often complicated world, <\/span>and<\/span> then we must have an academic preparation to match.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Saint Cleopas of Sih\u0103stria<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The patriarchal auxiliary bishop mentioned Saint Cleopas of Sihastria’s recent canonization<\/a> and offered him as an example to follow.<\/span><\/p>\n

“He was a man with only two years of schooling, but at his cell, metropolitans with brilliant studies, university professors, authors of manuals, studies, and theological books often gathered, and they marvelled at his wisdom, which he had acquired through prayer, meditation, and reading the Holy Gospel and the literature of the Holy Fathers.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“We are responsible because we are healthy, because our minds are functioning normally, because <\/span>we were chosen<\/span> to come to this faculty, and so, the time we have to spend here, we must spend it with great wisdom and discernment, not to waste time.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The professors’ responsibility<\/h2>\n

In conclusion, the Faculty’s Dean, Fr. Cosmin Pricop, spoke about the responsibility of theology faculty members.<\/p>\n

“As faculty members, we have a great responsibility before God, before the Romanian Orthodox Church, and before all of <\/span>you<\/span>\u00a0because you come, you enter the gates of the Orthodox Theology Faculty, and we are responsible for what we must transmit to you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“On the one hand, we must transmit to you teachings and exhortations, somewhat technical, let us say, theological information, which are part of the preparation and concern of each of us.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“At the same time, we are responsible for your formation that goes beyond this form of theological information, and we hope to rise to this calling. We hope that you will learn from us, during this year and in the years to come, honesty, collegiality, respect, closeness, and love for faith, for the Church, and for <\/span>the nation,” the dean emphasized.<\/span><\/p>\n

Afterwards, the students were invited to the Ioan G. Coman Amphitheater, where <\/span>they were introduced<\/span> to the faculty and given information about the new academic year.<\/span><\/p>\n

There, the volunteers of the Association of Orthodox Theology Students informed the new colleagues about student scholarships<\/span>, <\/span>accommodation in university dormitories<\/span>, <\/span>and presented the new timetable.<\/span><\/p>\n