On the territory of the Russian Federation there is one special educational institution - this is the St. Demetrius School. It is especially so because it, the only one in the Russian Federation, trains Orthodox sisters of mercy - these are not nuns, as is usually thought (although Catholic Christian women take monastic vows for this service), but ordinary women, married and single, who have chosen to serve God with their lives and to people.
Their main difference from ordinary nurses is that nurses help people cope with both physical and spiritual pain, essentially being “spiritual” nurses.
History of creation
The institution was created by the decision and blessing of Patriarch Alexy of Moscow and All Rus' in 1992. This was facilitated in 1990 by a meeting of three doctors - Alexander Flint, Boris Solenko and Alexei Masterpulo, who decided to create an evening school.
St. Demetrius School of Sisters of Mercy in Moscow
Their goal was to create an educational course in which students would learn both medical science and the basics of counseling. For these doctors, there was an obvious need in medicine for people who would not just perform their duties and alleviate physical pain, but would help people cope with mental turmoil.
Only 50 women entered the first year. At the same time, there were students who already had higher education and even an academic degree. The training was in the evening, and during the day students could practice their skills at the First City Hospital.
In 1992, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy and with his help, the St. Demetrius School received its official status from the Moscow Government. The curriculum is based on the specialty "Nursing", but includes various spiritual disciplines. The program fully complies with the state one and upon completion of training, students are given ordinary secular diplomas, and in the specialization column there is “Nurse/brother”.
On a note! Together with the school, the first hospital church was opened in Moscow - the Church of St. Tsarevich Demetrius was opened at the hospital named after N. Pirogov.
Very often, nurses who worked at the hospital or visitors came to the temple, and then entered the school to learn to help people with mercy. Throughout its existence, the educational institution has expanded and grown. Initially there was only a day department, but in 2004 an evening department was opened.
And in 2006, a history museum was opened at the school, which contains materials that tell and show how communities of sisters of mercy arose and grew. In 2009, this educational institution was visited by the First Lady of the United States - Michelle Obama as part of her visit to Russia, and in 2010 - by the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew.
Specialties:
- Nursing
- Nurse (Nurse Brother)
The School of Sisters of Mercy was founded in 1992, and is the first Orthodox medical educational institution in the Russian Federation.
Many educational institutions followed this example and founded their own schools in many cities of the Russian Federation.
Upon completion of training, all graduates are issued a certificate and a state diploma in the specialty “Nursing”. Obtaining a specialty as a nurse or nurse has always been prestigious and in demand at all times.
Admission conditions
To enter the school, you must complete 9 or 11 grades of a general education school and have the appropriate certificate. Students in grade 9 enter the first year, and students in grade 11 enter the second year. To enroll in the evening department, you must have a certificate of completion of 11 grades of school or a diploma of higher or secondary specialized education.
Christian girls are trained as nurses at the St. Demetrius School
Citizens of Russia can enroll in the budget department (except for those who already have a secondary specialized education), and for foreigners it is possible to study only on a paid basis. Students of the Russian Federation receive all state privileges:
- social payments;
- scholarships;
- discounted travel passes;
- benefits for orphans or those without parental care.
Important!
All students are provided with free 2 hot meals a day in the local canteen. Interest in the St. Demetrius School is growing. But this educational institution also has its own special requirements for applicants:
- strong Orthodox faith;
- good health.
As the bishop says, studying here is also part of the work. In addition to teaching, sisters of mercy work in hospitals, caring for the sick. However, these qualities are not always enough. Before becoming a student at the school, you need to pass tests.
At first, the girl is sent to a hospital, where she takes care of the sick and does any menial work. They monitor not just the performance of duties, but also their attitude towards their work. Many girls leave, realizing that it is not their business. Those who remain become students. The training lasts 3 years and 10 months. After its completion, a document is issued for the qualification of a nurse - a state diploma.
Students undergo internships in many hospitals in Moscow
It is interesting that in addition to medical science, spiritual disciplines are also taught. This is the Church Slavonic language, church singing, liturgics, theology. The school itself provides a special uniform for female students. These are long skirts, soft sweaters with long sleeves, without cutouts. Wear a special white apron with the corresponding badge.
Important! A girl who becomes a sister of mercy must give up makeup and high heels. She must always wear a scarf on her head. A sister of mercy should be more courteous to the traditions of her faith. A girl should go to church often and keep fasts.
Otherwise, the life of sisters of mercy differs little from the life of ordinary people. They may also work in various organizations, get married and have a family.
How to become a sister of mercy? 25 years of St. Demetrius School
The Nursing School of the Sisters of Mercy is not an ordinary educational institution, although the graduates' diploma is no different from the standard state document on the education of nurses. On November 5, the St. Demetrius School of Sisters of Mercy celebrates its 25th anniversary. For a person, turning twenty-five is an age that closely borders on adolescence. For the educational institution, this is a significant anniversary of overcoming difficulties and gaining invaluable experience. Today we are talking with a graduate of the St. Demetrius School of Sisters of Charity Daria Sologubova .
— Daria, what made you choose the difficult education of a nurse?
— Since childhood, I really liked medicine. There were many medical kits. Even when they gave me a real microscope, I began to use it as a medical instrument. My grandmother is a neurosurgeon. Since childhood, I really loved going to work with her and observing the reception of patients. Grandmother is a very good specialist, as well as a very kind and sympathetic person. This was for me the first example of a merciful attitude towards the sick. At the age of 8, I was taught to have my eyes tested in an ophthalmologist's office. From that same age, one of my favorite books was the medical encyclopedia, many volumes of which were in my grandmother’s closet. At the age of 13, I attended an operation for the first time; it was a neurosurgical operation. Therefore, there were no questions about choosing a profession at that time. Well, since I am a deeply religious person, I have been going to church since childhood, when I learned that there was an Orthodox school, I began to enroll there.
— How do you remember your training as a nurse and the school itself? Tell us about your years of study.
“It was the best time of my life.” I almost always arrived there before all the students and tried to stay as long as possible. When I entered the St. Demetrius School, I was 15 years old.
In the 1st year, mainly only school subjects were studied. Medical subjects started from the second. But since this is not just a medical school, but an Orthodox school, we also taught spiritual disciplines. Our most important and favorite subject was the Spiritual Foundations of Mercy (HOME). This subject was taught by Bishop Panteleimon (Shatov), then our beloved Father Arkady (the school’s confessor). It was always very interesting. At them we studied the Liturgy, the sacraments, and “the teachings of Abba Dorotheos.” After all, the work of a sister of mercy is, first of all, a work of love. Christ is Love, and the most important sacrament of Love on earth is the Liturgy. We were taught that a sister of mercy is not just a nurse; for her, the sick are not patients, but, first of all, suffering people in need of love. And only at the Liturgy can we learn this love from Christ.
Along with spiritual subjects, we were taught by highly professional teachers, most of them doctors. We did our internships all over Moscow. If suddenly in practice in some hospital we were only allowed to roll cotton balls or make napkins, without allowing us to see the patients at all, they immediately changed the hospital. Very often there were such cases that when we came to the department, nurses asked us what school we were from. And as soon as they heard that they were from Svyato-Dimitrievsky, they all trusted us. It happened that they left the department, giving us the opportunity to independently perform the duties of nurses.
Until now, I have a lot of friends and acquaintances from the school, not only among students and graduates, but also among teachers. From time to time we communicate, meet, and help each other. For me, this is forever another family of mine, another home, from which, although I have already left, I can always come back as if it were home. And I will remember him all my life.
— Is there any event during your years of study at the School of Sisters of Mercy that you remember with particular trepidation?
— I think these are our student Liturgies. We trained them according to courses. The entire course took part in the Liturgy, some sang, read, some looked after the candles, usually everyone took communion that day. There was some kind of holiday of Love.
— Which lessons from the school’s teachers left a more vivid imprint in your memory: mastering professional medical practice or developing morality?
I think it's both. She loved the Spiritual Foundations of Mercy very much. And she really loved practicing at the hospital.
— Did studying at the St. Demetrius School influence your spiritual life?
The time of studying at the school falls on a difficult transitional age. Thanks to the school, I retained the childhood faith instilled by my parents. The school confessor became my confessor.
— What would you like to wish to the confessor, director, teachers, everyone who helps to master the profession of a sister of mercy at the St. Demetrius School, as well as to the students of the educational institution?
I wish God’s help in educating students in the spirit of love and mercy, strength, health and joy. And I wish students to absorb as much as possible what is being taught to them, be sure to ask questions while there is such an opportunity, and appreciate the happy time in which they are. In case of failures, remember that with God there are no hopeless situations.
Interviewed by Ekaterina Solovyova
With the blessing of Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo-Zuevsky
Please note that the information presented on the site is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended for self-diagnosis and self-medication. The selection and prescription of medications, treatment methods, as well as monitoring their use can only be carried out by the attending physician. Be sure to consult a specialist.
Reviews of Moscow colleges
Reviews of colleges may also indicate the negative aspects of the institution. For example, there are a number of people who are dissatisfied with the pricing policy for training there. Since it offers both free and paid training, there is a lot of competition for applying for a grant. Of course, among these individuals there are a large number of people who were unable to pay for education at this school. The trend towards paid education contributes to the development and improvement of the school’s infrastructure, and benefits and grants are paid to students from the same funds.
