Rector of St Petersburg University together with the University’s staff and students take part in the procession
To mark the 300th anniversary of the transfer of the relics of St Prince Alexander Nevsky from Vladimir to St Petersburg, a procession has been held in St Petersburg. Among the participants were representatives of the clergy, students, veterans of the special military operation, residents of St Petersburg and pilgrims from other Russian cities. They were accompanied by Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, students and staff of the University.
The procession was led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’, Honorary Doctor of St Petersburg University. During the ceremony, the Patriarch was joined by: Alexander Beglov, Governor of St Petersburg, Member of the Board of Trustees of St Petersburg University; Alexander Drozdenko, Governor of the Leningrad Region, Member of the Board of Trustees of St Petersburg University; Boris Piotrovsky, Vice Governor of St Petersburg; Alexander Belsky, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of St Petersburg; Metropolitan Barsanuphius of St Petersburg and Ladoga; and other honourable guests.
The participants in the procession were Dmitrii Shmonin, Director of the Institute of Theology of St Petersburg University, Chairman of the Expert Council of the Higher Assessment Committee under the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for Theology, staff and more than 40 students of St Petersburg University from various fields of study: theology, history, philosophy, political science, law, management, Asian and African studies, and others.
Earlier, during his visit to St Petersburg University, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus’ presented Rector Nikolay Kropachev with one of the highest awards of the Russian Orthodox Church — the Order of Saint Blessed Grand Prince Alexander Nevsky, 3rd class. The award was conferred in recognition of his help in restoring the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul at St Petersburg University. The church, built in the 1830s in the Twelve Collegia building for staff and students of the University, was recently opened after restoration and consecrated by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill.
St Petersburg University also held a ceremony to present Patriarch Kirill with the University insignia, commemorating his conferment of the title of Honorary Doctor of St Petersburg University.