23.12.09 - Successful finishing of the fall semester

In Advent time we had some interesting special events, the first of which was our visit to the Russion Orthodox Seminary on December 3rd. They invited us into the professors' room (staff room) and told us a lot about the history of the Seminary. Then they showed us some classrooms, the chapel, the dining hall, their amazing library and a museum of their own, after which we were led into another building and shown the school of icon drawing, which was very interesting indeed.

In December not only the usual end-of-semester exams took place, but in the same two weeks thee people passed their graduation exams.

In spite of this stressful situation, we found time to think of Advent and coming Christmas: making a wreath )actually two - one for the capel and one for the dining hall) in the beginning of advent time, having a special meal with shashlik on the 2nd Sunday of Advent.

The Music exam took the form of a little concert the students gave for the teachers and everyone who wanted to listen.

And on 18-th at the closing worship service we chose the theme of the coming sunday and even lit the fourth candle on the wreath. Bishop Ratz came to us for that service and held the sermon.

May the light of the presence of Christ be with all of us during the holidays which we spend in such different places! A blessed Christmas to everyone!