As one may see from the course schedule, our strength is, properly speaking, the level of theological training, particularly, the presence in the schedule of the biblical languages, actively used in courses.

In the second year of training, students write a course work, in the third year, a thesis, reflecting in their research at least two areas of theology. The fourth year is vicarage (normally it takes place in home congregations of students), upon the successful completion of which student is given a certificate. The official accreditation of the Seminary is a matter of the future, but even now the Seminary program corresponds to the level of the higher theological education. The constant stay with us, at the present time, of an excellent theologian, a staff worker of an American seminary, and also a future replenishment of the staff by qualified Russian instructors, create good prospects in this area.

Novosibirsk Seminary has a library which at the present moment contains over a 1000 volumes and is constantly replenished. The library is one of the priorities of our development. The majority of books is in Russian. Nevertheless, necessary books are purchased also in English, beginning with 1999, the Seminary is also subscribed to 18 leading theological periodicals. In order that skills of working with foreign theological literature be obtained, students who have no English skills, learn it as part of program.

Our understanding of seminary training is in no way limited with the sphere of academic matters. The Seminary, rather, brings up and forms a man as a person, teaches him the life of the Church, of the liturgy, of prayer, and of charity. In the Seminary, students obtain basic liturgical skills at the time of services in the Seminary chapel where they assist ordained ministers. They also participate, as much as possible, in the practical work in local parishes and missionary congregations of Siberia. Luther’s oratio, meditatio, tentatio (prayer, meditation, testing) is an inherent part of the Seminary training

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