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Nicholas Quanrud, an ordinand training at Westcott House, writes:

To a see a Church which has suffered such terrible losses in the past century
rediscovering its identity and vocation in the world was something which I will
never forget. The sense of restoration, not only of Church buildings, but also of
people’s faith- evident particularly in a recent surge in Orthodox Christians
entering into the religious life, was deeply moving and inspiring. I felt through
the visit I was able to see something of the Church’s history, through visiting
ancient monasteries, but also gain a huge insight into the Church’s contempo-
rary life. As someone training for ordained ministry in the Church of England,
the opportunity to visit Russia and the Orthodox Church was one which I felt
could not be passed up. It was a huge privilege not only to witness, but also to
participate in, Orthodox worship and life. It was encouraging to see the poten-
tial for future dialogue, particularly in the area of declining religious literacy in
both our societies, and it is clear that there is much to be learned from one
another.
It was a privilege to engage in theological dialogue, particularly through
the SS Cyril and Methodius Institute for postgraduate studies, which is clearly
a dynamic, rigorous academic environment. This trip would not have been pos-
sible or anywhere near as enjoyably with out hospitality shown to us by our
hosts. Their warm welcome and helpful guidance made the trip so worthwhile,
and I am most grateful to them.

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