The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia Opens a New Theological Institute in Europe

The Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCO) has announced the establishment of a new Russian-language theological institute and seminary in Europe. The start of classes for future priests and laypeople is scheduled for the fall of 2027.

The new educational center, which will be named after St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco ( ), is being established through the joint efforts of the German, British, and Western European dioceses of the ROCOR. This educational institution is intended to complement the program of the traditional English-language seminary in Jordanville (USA) by providing the opportunity to receive a theological education in Russian.

An important stage of the program will be the launch of specialized language courses with a theological focus. Classes will begin in September 2026 in a remote format via the Zoom platform. The organizers emphasize that students with language proficiency levels ranging from A1 to B1 who wish to delve deeper into the study of ecclesiastical terminology are welcome to apply.

The leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) dioceses in Germany continues to actively develop the educational environment. In particular, believers are encouraged to take note of the existing Orthodox department at the University of Munich and the work of the distance-learning theological school, which operates with the blessing of Archbishop Tikhon of Ruzh. These initiatives are aimed at systematically expanding access to systematic Orthodox education in Europe.