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Address of the Holy Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill
at the IX Congress of Russia Rectors' Union



March 20, 2009, Moscow, Intellectual Center - Fundamental Library

of Moscow State Lomonosov University



Dear Dmitry Anatolievich, dear Victor Antonovich, and all the High
gathering!

I would like to thank you for the very chance to address to you, to
meet rectors of Russian and other universities. The problem of development
of applied and fundamental science and training of highly qualified
specialists is now of special significance.

We live in the epoch of modern informational, scientific and
intellectual technologies. Modern person, especially young one, cannot
imagine life without computers, cellular phones and high-speed Internet.
New technologies are appearing in industry, medicine, education and
consumer goods. Even the Arts cannot do without modern technologies. Every
humanitarian uses computer and means of communications, facing the modern
technologies.

There are problems, specific to modern post-industrial, high-tech
world in our society. These problems are so vivid that one must not dig for
it - they are on surface.

In both science and education there are problems, not necessary linked
to the lack of budget.

Society and scientific community face the problem of developing of
technical progress along with ways to apply it in real life. Therefore, we
must understand the existence of powerful educational element in creating
an individual and conditions for its scientific creative work.

No one can talk about education now, omitting religious part of it. It
is well known, that at Soviet times atheistic State tried to erect an
insuperable wall between science and Church. Science in the system of
Soviet ideology becomes the Deity, adorned with all the attributes of
worship to scientific achievements.

We, seniors, can recall vividly how any achievements of science were
blown up to some specific quality. Society was asked to bow to these
achievements - higher, farther, and stronger.

The very idea of society's development was aimed to have scientific
research results as an absolute value.

History has given a lesson - having splendid science, excellent
education and highly organized society, having colossal resources, being a
great power, we could not cope with the task - to build a prospering and
just society.

I think that any reasonable person could ask - why, having
monopolistic management (no pluralism, no variety of opinions) and all the
colossal potential of great country being aimed to solve the eternal dream
of noble peoples - to live in prosperous and just society - was a vain
endeavor. Special place in this myth was allocated to science - and it was
a myth indeed.

I think, we have to scrutinize very attentively, without biases, the
reason of our historic defeat in XX century - not making political
conclusions to serve to some political trend.

I have my own sight of the problem. I am not going to impose it -
still I would like to define it in general terms.

Being a child, I have asked my wise father - Why do we live so badly?
The answer was - Sonny, I would be very surprised if we live normally.

How can we live normally, if we have expelled God from our life?

One can view it according to one's own beliefs. Believers would agree,
atheists would doubt. Still, accepting religion only from social point of
view, the exception of religion from education field and society's life was
a colossal mistake of our country and its regime.

One could ask - what is the role of religious ideology in modern
circumstances?

Even today, modern science can substantially influence on world order
and its nature. We know about the latest attainments of science in cloning,
in biomedical researches, in genetic engineering. It demonstrates the
colossal possibilities of modern science. Still, any new achievement of
science poses new moral and ideological questions. I believe that
scientists are aware of these questions as well as clergymen.

Balance between morality and scientific quest, between morality and
human survival in industrial society has emerged in connection with nuclear
energy development. When humanity has reached the level of self-
destruction, a question of morality and survival became urgent.

Actually, science development shows the necessity of organic
combination of morality and science. Even more, this combination is the
bright example of dependence of survival on morality. Continuing this
approach, any sphere of human activity is an example of combination of
morality and survival of humanity.

Now the main question - WHY? Well, because morality is the main thing
that divides human from animal. It is an ability to tell good from evil.
Having no such approach, a human becomes an animal. If this animal wields
the super technologies, the very existence of humanity is at huge risk.

If we consider moral as a prerequisite of human civilization's
survival, then cultivating person's moral principles must be placed in
focus of our concern, rather than be put aside.

We are shocked to see on TV horrible pictures of young people killing
others because of different skin color. We ask - how they sink into these
crimes. It is a worldwide phenomenon. Thank God, in Russia situation is not
that grave. Still, the loss of moral principles is a global problem.

Now I would like to go on to the most important thing - school's role.
Being in such a highly professional gathering, one is expected to discuss
professional things like educational process management, facilities,
equipment, and trends in scientific research. Still, the problem of
cultivating of moral principles cannot be omitted. School and university
must not evade the task. One can hear frequently - what can we do? They are
grown ups! We are neither Church nor alms-house. We are the Higher School
and we cannot cultivate moral.

We must cultivate moral. There is no excuse for school if it rejects
its' highest mission - to cultivate moral and intellectual person.

Methods in kindergarten and elementary school differ from that of
higher school. One cannot hit fingers with a ruler or deliver tedious
reprimands. Instead, one must create a system of values. Having dinner at a
respectable home, even an ill-mannered person would try to use fork and
knife properly. The person feels that bad manners will ruin the home's
atmosphere.

If we create moral atmosphere in our universities, if we set high
standard of cultural, intellectual, moral and spiritual requirements then
people be afraid of dropping out of the system. This is the most proper way
of education - not to train but form a system of values, which stipulates
for person being in system - provided that the values are acceptable for
the person. I cannot imagine a tolerant attitude to weak students and moral-
breakers as well. It is too late to use harsh measures, normal in family
during childhood. Nevertheless, university must be the place with special
intellectual, moral and spiritual atmosphere. It is extremely important if
professors serve as an example of moral and intellect for youth. Examples
are more valuable for youth than lectures.

As a conclusion, I would mention several problems between higher
school and theology. We will discuss these problems in detail later in a
closer circle. Still, there are misunderstandings between Church and
secular education to be cleared up. I hope that with joint efforts we can
remove the last obstacles of past in our relations.

I would like to thank Viktor Sadovnichiy heartily for being the first
to build up a church at Moscow University, setting good example for other
universities.

I know that at the provinces people are afraid to follow the example
for no obvious reason - just a mental barrier. I believe that good examples
will help to eliminate these barriers.

I am deeply convinced that a university church, independently on
attitude of professors and students toward religion, is a good and
important factor in moral education of our youth.

As a conclusion - I have seen the RRU's strategic initiative "New
educational dimension" and I am ready to congratulate you if you approve
this document. Thank you very much.