After 10 years of successful ministry the Biblical Theological Seminary decided to change its logo. The letters B, T and S stand correspondingly for the name of the seminary. It is based on the strong belief that only Bible (unlike apostolic tradition or personal spiritual revelation) may be the means to understand God and the foundation to build relationship with Him.
The background for those letters is the Celtic cross to signify that pastors, teachers and elders who are trained here see the Scriptures in the light of the Reformed tradition. Along with many biblical classes students study John Calvin’s Institutes, the Westminster Confession of Faith and other great examples of true exposition of the Scriptures.
The cross and the letters rest on the date 1999 – the year when the seminary was founded in St. Petersburg. Since then seminary graduates took the calls to churches (Pushkin and St. Petersburg), mission fields (Tumen) and social ministries (Chaplain Prison ministry).As a whole letters B, T and S, the cross and the date are put into a circle with three Latin words: Veritas, Qualitas and Ministerium which stand for Truth, Character and Ministry. The Latin language was chosen to signify the respect for the historical tradition of the Church. The words themselves go back to Ezra 7:9 – 10:
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”
In hard times of the Israel history Ezra was looking for the Truth when he prepared his heart for the law of the Lord. This truth shaped his character when he followed this law in obedience. Finally, he served or ministered his community by teaching people and working with them shoulder to shoulder. Therefore we expect that our students will be eager for the Truth, which will build up their characters. And already in the years of their study in the seminary worthy men minister to their churches and communities “that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 5:16).
