By Kostas Onisenko
Russian clergymen who have received ecclesiastical education outside Russia will not be able to serve in churches, teach or engage in missionary activity if they do not receive additional training in the field of “principles of state-church relations in Russia,” as reported by Interfax.
After their training, the clergy will have to pass the examination in order to obtain state certification that enables them to engage in their occupation.
According to the head of the special committee of the State Duma on the on Development of Civil Society, Public and Religious Organizations, Sergei Gavrilov, “the law provides that priests and religious personnel who has received training abroad and started the church service, missionary or educational activity for the first time should receive additional training in the field of principles of state-church relations in Russia,” as reported by Interfax.
The law excludes those clergy who have been appointed before its enactment. The law was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and published yesterday.
