In the summer of 2015, Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary Professor Deacon Andrei Psarev led an excursion to Istanbul with members of his Byzantine History Class. To view a day to day account of their trip written Brother Angelos click here.

From July 14 to 21, 2015, two instructors from Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, Rev. Deacon Andrei Psarev and Dr Vitaly Permiakov, and two second-year students, Hegumen Constantin (Churchin) and Novice Angelos Stanway visited historical sites in Istanbul (Constantinople) and Iznik (Nicaea).  For the second-year students who studied the history of Byzantium in the 2014-15 academic year, this trip became a fitting conclusion to the course. It became possible through the generous donations of HTOS alumni and some sympathetic donors.

On July 18, the group from Jordanville paid a visit to the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Phanar district of Istanbul.  Mr George Sarraf from the English Office of the Patriarchate led the guests through the Patriarchal Cathedral of Holy Great Martyr George and told them about its history and most sacred items.  During the tour, the guests had a clear vision of the history of survival that characterized the life of the Patriarchate under Ottoman domination. The Jordanville guests venerated the relics of St Euphemia the All-Praised (4^th cent.), of the Three Hierachs – Sts Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, and other sacred items which are found in the Patriarchal Cathedral. This coming September, the cathedral will be the site of the Synaxis of the primates of the autocephalous Orthodox Churches, who will discuss plans for the upcoming Pan-Orthodox Council to be convoked in 2016.

Further, Mr Sarraf showed the guests the building which houses the Patriarchal residence and chancery, including the room where monthly meetings of the Patriarchal Synod take place.  Then, the guests prayed at Great Vespers which was celebrated at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St George in the presence of His All-Holiness.

After the conclusion of Vespers, His All-Holiness the Patriarch Bartholomew received the group of HTOS faculty and students in his office.  Aside from Mr Sarraf, Pastor Marc Madrigal who served as tour guide for the Jordanville group, and Mr Orkan Kumkale also took part in the meeting.  In the course of the conversation, His All-Holiness kindly welcomed the HTOS guests to his see and bestowed upon them his patriarchal blessing to visit the sites connected with the glorious and tragic history of Byzantium. His All-Holiness briefly shared with his guests his thoughts regarding the preparations for the upcoming Great and Holy Council in 2016 and for the Synaxis of the primates at the end of this year, asking for prayers for the success of these events.  The Patriarch heard with interest the news concerning the recent launching of Holy Trinity Seminary Press, an imprint of Holy Trinity Publications, and wished success to this endeavor. The guests received commemorative gifts from His All-Holiness, as well as books for HTOS Library.

On Sunday, July 19, the HTOS instructors and students prayed at Orthros and Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal cathedral, with all receiving the Holy Mysteries.  His All-Holiness was also present and praying at this service. After the liturgy, the Jordanville guests were invited by the Patriarch to dine with him, together with some other invited guests, in the Patriarchal dining hall.  During the meal, His All-Holiness recalled his meetings with some of the hierarchs of the Russian Church Abroad: the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus, and His Eminence Archbishop Michael of Geneva. 

After lunch, His All-Holiness donated some additional books for HTOS Library and extended to his guests an invitation to visit his see and residence in the future.

HTOS faculty and students who took part in this wonderful trip express their profound gratitude to His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew for his hospitality and warm welcome, and also thank Mr George Sarraf for his help and good care.

Π“Ρ€ΡƒΠΏΠΏΠ° студСнтов ΠΈ ΠΏΡ€Π΅ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π°Π²Π°Ρ‚Π΅Π»Π΅ΠΉ Бвято-Π’Ρ€ΠΎΠΈΡ†ΠΊΠΎΠΉ Π”ΡƒΡ…ΠΎΠ²Π½ΠΎΠΉ Π‘Π΅ΠΌΠΈΠ½Π°Ρ€ΠΈΠΈ посСтила ВсСлСнский ΠŸΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…Π°Ρ‚

Π‘ 14-Π³ΠΎ ΠΏΠΎ 21-ΠΎΠ΅ июля 2015 Π³. ΠΏΡ€Π΅ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π°Π²Π°Ρ‚Π΅Π»ΠΈ Бвято-Π’Ρ€ΠΎΠΈΡ†ΠΊΠΎΠΉ Π”ΡƒΡ…ΠΎΠ²Π½ΠΎΠΉ Π‘Π΅ΠΌΠΈΠ½Π°Ρ€ΠΈΠΈ Π² Π”ΠΆΠΎΡ€Π΄Π°Π½Π²ΠΈΠ»Π»Π΅ Π΄ΠΈΠ°ΠΊΠΎΠ½ АндрСй ΠŸΡΠ°Ρ€Π΅Π², Π’.А. ΠŸΠ΅Ρ€ΠΌΡΠΊΠΎΠ² ΠΈ студСнты: ΠΈΠ³ΡƒΠΌΠ΅Π½ ΠšΠΎΠ½ΡΡ‚Π°Π½Ρ‚ΠΈΠ½ (ΠšΡƒΡ€ΠΊΠΈΠ½) ΠΈ ΠΏΠΎΡΠ»ΡƒΡˆΠ½ΠΈΠΊ АнгСлос Π‘Ρ‚Π°Π½Π²Π΅ΠΉ посСщали историчСскиС Π΄ΠΎΡΡ‚ΠΎΠΏΡ€ΠΈΠΌΠ΅Ρ‡Π°Ρ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒΠ½ΠΎΡΡ‚ΠΈ Π² Π‘Ρ‚Π°ΠΌΠ±ΡƒΠ»Π΅ (ΠšΠΎΠ½ΡΡ‚Π°Π½Ρ‚ΠΈΠ½ΠΎΠΏΠΎΠ»Π΅) ΠΈ НикСС (ИзникС). Для студСнтов, ΠΈΠ·ΡƒΡ‡Π°Π²ΡˆΠΈΡ… ΠΈΡΡ‚ΠΎΡ€ΠΈΡŽ Π’ΠΈΠ·Π°Π½Ρ‚ΠΈΠΈ Π² 2014-15 ΡƒΡ‡Π΅Π±Π½ΠΎΠΌ Π³ΠΎΠ΄Ρƒ, ΠΏΠΎΠ΅Π·Π΄ΠΊΠ° явилась Π·Π°Π²Π΅Ρ€ΡˆΠ΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ΠΌ курса истории Π’ΠΈΠ·Π°Π½Ρ‚ΠΈΠΈ ΠΈ стала Π²ΠΎΠ·ΠΌΠΎΠΆΠ½ΠΎΠΉ благодаря Ρ‰Π΅Π΄Ρ€Ρ‹ΠΌ поТСртвованиям выпускников Π‘Π’Π”Π‘ ΠΈ ΠΎΡ‚Π΄Π΅Π»ΡŒΠ½Ρ‹Ρ… ΡΠΎΡ‡ΡƒΠ²ΡΡ‚Π²ΡƒΡŽΡ‰ΠΈΡ… Π΄ΠΎΠ±Ρ€ΠΎΠΆΠ΅Π»Π°Ρ‚Π΅Π»Π΅ΠΉ.

18 июля Π΄ΠΆΠΎΡ€Π΄Π°Π½Π²ΠΈΠ»Π»ΡŒΡΠΊΠ°Ρ Π³Ρ€ΡƒΠΏΠΏΠ° посСтила ВсСлСнский ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…Π°Ρ‚ Π² Π€Π°Π½Π°Ρ€Π΅. Π‘ΠΎΡ‚Ρ€ΡƒΠ΄Π½ΠΈΠΊ английского ΠΎΡ‚Π΄Π΅Π»Π° ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…Π°Ρ‚Π° Π”ΠΆΠΎΡ€Π΄ΠΆ Π‘Π°Ρ€Π°Ρ„ ΠΏΠΎΠΊΠ°Π·Π°Π» гостям ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€ΡˆΠΈΠΉ собор св. Π²Π΅Π»ΠΈΠΊΠΎΠΌΡƒΡ‡Π΅Π½ΠΈΠΊΠ° ГСоргия ΠΈ рассказал ΠΎ Π΅Π³ΠΎ истории ΠΈ Π²Π°ΠΆΠ½Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠΈΡ… святынях.  Π’ΠΎ врСмя экскурсии для гостСй стала ясно Π²ΠΈΠ΄Π½Π° история выТивания ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…Π°Ρ‚Π° Π² условиях Османского владычСства. Гости ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΠ»ΠΎΠΆΠΈΠ»ΠΈΡΡŒ ΠΊ ΠΌΠΎΡ‰Π°ΠΌ св. Π²ΠΌΡ‡Ρ†. Π•Π²Ρ„ΠΈΠΌΠΈΠΈ Π’ΡΠ΅Ρ…Π²Π°Π»ΡŒΠ½ΠΎΠΉ (IV Π²Π΅ΠΊ), Π’Ρ€Π΅Ρ… БвятитСлСй – Василия Π’Π΅Π»ΠΈΠΊΠΎΠ³ΠΎ, Григория Богослова ΠΈ Иоанна Златоустого, Π° Ρ‚Π°ΠΊΠΆΠ΅ ΠΊ Π΄Ρ€ΡƒΠ³ΠΈΠΌ святыням, ΠΏΠΎΡ‡ΠΈΠ²Π°ΡŽΡ‰ΠΈΠΌ Π² ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€ΡˆΠ΅ΠΌ соборС.  Π’ этом ΠΆΠ΅ Ρ…Ρ€Π°ΠΌΠ΅ Π² сСнтябрС с. Π³. состоится совСщаниС Π³Π»Π°Π² помСстных ΠŸΡ€Π°Π²ΠΎΡΠ»Π°Π²Π½Ρ‹Ρ… Π¦Π΅Ρ€ΠΊΠ²Π΅ΠΉ, Π½Π° ΠΊΠΎΡ‚ΠΎΡ€ΠΎΠΉ Π±ΡƒΠ΄ΡƒΡ‚ ΠΎΠ±ΡΡƒΠΆΠ΄Π°Ρ‚ΡŒΡΡ ΠΏΠ»Π°Π½Ρ‹ ΠΊ созыву ВсСправославного Π‘ΠΎΠ±ΠΎΡ€Π°, Π½Π°ΠΌΠ΅Ρ‡Π΅Π½Π½ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ Π½Π° 2016 Π³ΠΎΠ΄.

Π”Π°Π»Π΅Π΅ Π³-Π½ Π‘Π°Ρ€Π°Ρ„ ΠΏΠΎΠΊΠ°Π·Π°Π» гостям Ρ€Π΅Π·ΠΈΠ΄Π΅Π½Ρ†ΠΈΡŽ Π‘Π²ΡΡ‚Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠ΅Π³ΠΎ ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…Π° ΠΈ ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€ΡˆΠ΅ΠΉ канцСлярии, Π² Ρ‚ΠΎΠΌ числС ΠΈ Π·Π°Π», Π³Π΄Π΅ СТСмСсячно проходят засСдания постоянного синода ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…Π°Ρ‚Π°.  Π—Π°Ρ‚Π΅ΠΌ Π²ΠΎ врСмя Π²Π΅Π»ΠΈΠΊΠΎΠΉ Π²Π΅Ρ‡Π΅Ρ€Π½ΠΈ, ΡΠΎΠ²Π΅Ρ€ΡˆΠ°Π΅ΠΌΠΎΠΉ Π² присутствии Π‘Π²ΡΡ‚Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠ΅Π³ΠΎ ΠŸΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…Π°, гости молились Π² ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€ΡˆΠ΅ΠΌ соборС Π‘Π². ГСоргия.

По ΠΎΠΊΠΎΠ½Ρ‡Π°Π½ΠΈΠΈ Π²Π΅Ρ‡Π΅Ρ€Π½ΠΈ Π‘Π²ΡΡ‚Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠΈΠΉ ΠŸΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ… Π’Π°Ρ€Ρ„ΠΎΠ»ΠΎΠΌΠ΅ΠΉ принял Π³Ρ€ΡƒΠΏΠΏΡƒ студСнтов ΠΈ ΠΏΡ€Π΅ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π°Π²Π°Ρ‚Π΅Π»Π΅ΠΉ Π‘Π’Π”Π‘ Π² своСм Ρ€Π°Π±ΠΎΡ‡Π΅ΠΌ ΠΊΠ°Π±ΠΈΠ½Π΅Ρ‚Π΅.  Помимо Π³-Π½Π° Π‘Π°Ρ€Π°Ρ„Π°, Π²ΠΎ встрСчС Ρ‚Π°ΠΊΠΆΠ΅ приняли участиС пастор ΠœΠ°Ρ€ΠΊ ΠœΠ°Π΄Ρ€ΠΈΠ³Π°Π», Π³ΠΈΠ΄ Π΄ΠΆΠΎΡ€Π΄Π°Π½Π²ΠΈΠ»Π»ΡŒΡΠΊΠΎΠΉ Π³Ρ€ΡƒΠΏΠΏΡ‹, ΠΈ Π³-Π½ ΠžΡ€ΠΊΡƒΠ½ ΠšΡƒΠΌΠΊΠ°Π»Π΅.  Π’ Ρ…ΠΎΠ΄Π΅ бСсСды, Π‘Π²ΡΡ‚Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠΈΠΉ ΠŸΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ… любСзно привСтствовал гостСй ΠΈΠ· Π‘Π’Π”Π‘ ΠΈ ΠΏΡ€Π΅ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π°Π» ΠΈΠΌ ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€ΡˆΠ΅Π΅ благословСниС Π½Π° посСщСниС мСст, связанных со славной, Π½ΠΎ ΠΈ трагичСской историСй Π’ΠΈΠ·Π°Π½Ρ‚ΠΈΠΈ.  Π‘Π²ΡΡ‚Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠΈΠΉ ΠŸΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ… Π²ΠΊΡ€Π°Ρ‚Ρ†Π΅ рассказал ΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π³ΠΎΡ‚ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΠ΅ ΠšΠΎΠ½ΡΡ‚Π°Π½Ρ‚ΠΈΠ½ΠΎΠΏΠΎΠ»ΡŒΡΠΊΠΎΠΉ Π¦Π΅Ρ€ΠΊΠ²ΠΈ ΠΊ ВсСправославному Π‘ΠΎΠ±ΠΎΡ€Ρƒ 2016 Π³ΠΎΠ΄Π° ΠΈ ΠΊ ΡΠΎΠ²Π΅Ρ‰Π°Π½ΠΈΡŽ Π³Π»Π°Π² помСстных Ρ†Π΅Ρ€ΠΊΠ²Π΅ΠΉ Π² ΠΊΠΎΠ½Ρ†Π΅ Ρ‚Π΅ΠΊΡƒΡ‰Π΅Π³ΠΎ Π³ΠΎΠ΄Π°, ΠΈ попросил ΠΌΠΎΠ»ΠΈΡ‚Π² ΠΎ Π±Π»Π°Π³ΠΎΠΏΠΎΠ»ΡƒΡ‡Π½ΠΎΠΌ осущСствлСнии этих ΠΏΠ»Π°Π½ΠΎΠ².  ΠŸΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ… с интСрСсом Π²Ρ‹ΡΠ»ΡƒΡˆΠ°Π» извСстиС ΠΎΠ± ΠΎΡ‚ΠΊΡ€Ρ‹Ρ‚ΠΈΠΈ Π½ΠΎΠ²ΠΎΠ³ΠΎ ΠΈΠ·Π΄Π°Ρ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒΡΡ‚Π²Π° Бвято-Π’Ρ€ΠΎΠΈΡ†ΠΊΠΎΠΉ Π‘Π΅ΠΌΠΈΠ½Π°Ρ€ΠΈΠΈ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄ эгидой Π˜Π·Π΄Π°Ρ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒΡΡ‚Π²Π° Бвято-Π’Ρ€ΠΎΠΈΡ†ΠΊΠΎΠ³ΠΎ ΠœΠΎΠ½Π°ΡΡ‚Ρ‹Ρ€Ρ ΠΈ, со своСй стороны, ΠΏΠ΅Ρ€Π΅Π΄Π°Π» гостям памятныС ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π°Ρ€ΠΊΠΈ ΠΈ ΠΊΠ½ΠΈΠ³ΠΈ для Π‘ΠΈΠ±Π»ΠΈΠΎΡ‚Π΅ΠΊΠΈ Π‘Π’Π”Π‘.  

Π’ Π²ΠΎΡΠΊΡ€Π΅ΡΠ΅Π½ΡŒΠ΅, 19 июля, ΠΏΡ€Π΅ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π°Π²Π°Ρ‚Π΅Π»ΠΈ ΠΈ студСнты Π‘Π’Π”Π‘ молились Π·Π° ΡƒΡ‚Ρ€Π΅Π½Π΅ΠΉ ΠΈ Π»ΠΈΡ‚ΡƒΡ€Π³ΠΈΠ΅ΠΉ Π² ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€ΡˆΠ΅ΠΌ Бвято-ГСоргиСвском соборС, Π·Π° ΠΊΠΎΡ‚ΠΎΡ€Ρ‹ΠΌΠΈ молился ΠΈ Π‘Π²ΡΡ‚Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠΈΠΉ ΠŸΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…, ΠΈ всС сподобились ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΡ‡Π°ΡΡ‚ΠΈΡ‚ΡŒΡΡ Бвятых Π₯ристовых Π’Π°ΠΈΠ½.  ПослС Π»ΠΈΡ‚ΡƒΡ€Π³ΠΈΠΈ, ΠΏΠΎ ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΠ³Π»Π°ΡˆΠ΅Π½ΠΈΡŽ ΠŸΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…Π°, гости Π±Ρ‹Π»ΠΈ удостоСны Π±Ρ‹Ρ‚ΡŒ сотрапСзниками Π•Π³ΠΎ Π‘Π²ΡΡ‚Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠ΅ΡΡ‚Π²Π°, вмСстС с Π½Π΅ΠΊΠΎΡ‚ΠΎΡ€Ρ‹ΠΌΠΈ Π΄Ρ€ΡƒΠ³ΠΈΠΌΠΈ гостями ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…Π°Ρ‚Π°.  Π’ Ρ…ΠΎΠ΄Π΅ Ρ‚Ρ€Π°ΠΏΠ΅Π·Ρ‹, Π‘Π²ΡΡ‚Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠΈΠΉ ΠŸΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ… вспоминал ΠΎ своих встрСчах с ΠΈΠ΅Ρ€Π°Ρ€Ρ…Π°ΠΌΠΈ Π ΠŸΠ¦Π— – приснопамятным ΠΌΠΈΡ‚Ρ€ΠΎΠΏΠΎΠ»ΠΈΡ‚ΠΎΠΌ Π›Π°Π²Ρ€ΠΎΠΌ ΠΈ ВысокопрСосвящСнным архиСпископом ΠœΠΈΡ…Π°ΠΈΠ»ΠΎΠΌ ЖСнСвским.

По ΠΎΠΊΠΎΠ½Ρ‡Π°Π½ΠΈΠΈ Ρ‚Ρ€Π°ΠΏΠ΅Π·Ρ‹ Π‘Π²ΡΡ‚Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠΈΠΉ ΠŸΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ… ΠΏΠ΅Ρ€Π΅Π΄Π°Π» Π΄ΠΎΠΏΠΎΠ»Π½ΠΈΡ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒΠ½Ρ‹Π΅ ΠΊΠ½ΠΈΠ³ΠΈ для сСминарской Π±ΠΈΠ±Π»ΠΈΠΎΡ‚Π΅ΠΊΠΈ ΠΈ пригласил Π² Π±ΡƒΠ΄ΡƒΡ‰Π΅ΠΌ вновь ΠΏΠΎΡΠ΅Ρ‚ΠΈΡ‚ΡŒ Π΅Π³ΠΎ Ρ€Π΅Π·ΠΈΠ΄Π΅Π½Ρ†ΠΈΡŽ Π² ΠšΠΎΠ½ΡΡ‚Π°Π½Ρ‚ΠΈΠ½ΠΎΠΏΠΎΠ»Π΅.

Участники ΠΏΠΎΠ΅Π·Π΄ΠΊΠΈ Π²Ρ‹Ρ€Π°ΠΆΠ°ΡŽΡ‚ Π³Π»ΡƒΠ±ΠΎΠΊΡƒΡŽ ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΠ·Π½Π°Ρ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒΠ½ΠΎΡΡ‚ΡŒ Π•Π³ΠΎ Π‘Π²ΡΡ‚Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠ΅ΡΡ‚Π²Ρƒ, Π‘Π²ΡΡ‚Π΅ΠΉΡˆΠ΅ΠΌΡƒ ΠŸΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…Ρƒ Π’Π°Ρ€Ρ„ΠΎΠ»ΠΎΠΌΠ΅ΡŽ Π·Π° гостСприимство ΠΈ Ρ‚Π΅ΠΏΠ»Ρ‹ΠΉ ΠΏΡ€ΠΈΠ΅ΠΌ, Π° Ρ‚Π°ΠΊΠΆΠ΅ сотруднику ΠΎΡ‚Π΄Π΅Π»Π° ΠΏΠ°Ρ‚Ρ€ΠΈΠ°Ρ€Ρ…Π°Ρ‚Π° Π³-Π½Ρƒ Π”ΠΆ. Π‘Π°Ρ€Π°Ρ„Ρƒ Π·Π° ΠΏΠΎΠΌΠΎΡ‰ΡŒ ΠΈ Π·Π°Π±ΠΎΡ‚Ρƒ.