On April 29, 2026, students and teachers met with the head of the Legal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, Abbess of the Alekseevsky Stavropol Convent in Moscow, Abbess Xenia (Chernega), at the Kutafin Moscow State University of Law (MGUA). Matushka graduated from this university in 1993, defended her PhD thesis within its walls and taught at the Department of Civil Law.
During the meeting, Abbess Xenia (Chernega) spoke about her life and professional development as a lawyer of the Moscow Patriarchate, and then answered the students' questions, in particular about the activities of the Legal Department of the Moscow Patriarchate, the requirements for the staff of this department, the previous and current mechanisms of interaction between Church and state.
Then she visited her native Department of Civil Law, accompanied by Vice-rector for Youth Policy A.S. Chanyshev and head of the Department E.V. Vavilin. According to Abbess Xenia (Chernega), a lot has changed here: and most importantly— the atmosphere. "At the time when I studied and taught here, the attitude towards spiritual traditions was different, the influence of Soviet stereotypes was felt. Now I see a keen interest of students and former colleagues in the life of faith, and this is very encouraging," said Matushka.