On October 27, 2026, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia met with the winners and prize-winners of the III, IV and V All-Russian Theology Olympiads in the Patriarchal Hall of the Refectory Chambers of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. Intellectual competitions were held among the students of the final year of theological schools and theological departments of universities.
The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Gregory of Voskresensk, the Moscow Patriarchate's administrator of affairs, and Archpriest Maxim Kozlov, Chairman of the Educational Committee of the Russian Orthodox Church and rector of the Church-wide Postgraduate and Doctoral School named after Saints Cyril and Methodius.
Among the invited were representatives of the Moscow, St. Petersburg and Sretensky Theological Academies, as well as seminaries from different regions of the country. The first place in the III Olympiad was taken by Priest Alexander Turkov, representing the Voronezh Theological Seminary, in the IV — Deacon Alexander Tarnakin from the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, in the V — reader Anton Avtaykin from the Sretensky Theological Academy. The winners of the second and third places came to the meeting with them.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed the audience with a Primatial address, then talked with the students and answered their questions.
During the meeting, Archpriest Maxim Kozlov handed the Primate the book "Memory of the Church. Conversations with witnesses of the life of the Church in the Soviet era." The publication became the first collection of the eponymous project of the Educational Committee. It includes the memories of people who preserved their faith during the years of persecution and restrictions of church life. The authors of the testimonies tell about secret visits to churches, home prayer, and fidelity to Christian beliefs during their studies, military service, and family life.
According to the Chairman of the Educational Committee, about 90 percent of the certificates are collected by students of theological schools under the guidance of teachers. Almost 300 memoirs have been published on the project's portal; by the end of the year, their number is expected to exceed three hundred. This work allows future clergy to get to know the experience of the older generation directly and participate in the preservation of church historical memory.
Patriarch Kirill thanked for the book and noted his personal interest in the collected materials: "I myself am a witness of the Soviet era, and it will be very useful to compare my memories of those times with what is in this book."
Metropolitan Gregory of the Resurrection expressed gratitude to the Primate for his attention to spiritual education and the support of the Educational Committee, bishops, heads and teachers of theological schools. He stressed that the changes in recent years are aimed at ensuring decent preparation of future pastors for ministry.
At the end of the meeting, a general photographing took place. Patriarch Kirill gave each participant an icon of the Vladimir Mother of God with the Patriarchal blessing and his books "Life by Faith" and "His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the Holy Scriptures. Thoughts for every day of the year."