By the grace of God, four current seminarians were ordained to holy orders during the second half of April 2025, adding to the four ordinations which took place during the first part of the month. In addition, the rank of archimandrite was bestowed upon faculty member the Very Rev. Archimandrite Vasily (Vitaly Permiakov).
On Lazarus Saturday, April 12, the St Vladimir’s Seminary community was blessed with a hierarchical visit from His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest (OCA). His Eminence arrived on Friday, April 5, and attended Vespers that evening. During the Divine Liturgy for Lazarus Saturday, His Eminence ordained seminarian Jarrod Huffman (M.Div. ‘26) to the Holy Diaconate and elevated Assistant Professor of Liturgical Theology, the Rev. Hieromonk Vasily (Permiakov), to the rank of archimandrite, in accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of the OCA in March of this year, on behalf of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada (OCA).
Assistant Professor of Liturgical Theology, the Rev. Hieromonk Vasily (Permiakov), being elevated to the rank of archimandrite
Laura Ionescu (M.Div. ‘25) led several hymns with the children’s choir, a St Vladimir’s Seminary tradition for Lazarus Saturday
A second seminarian ordination on Lazarus Saturday took place at St Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY. His Eminence Metropolitan Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of New York and All America (AOCANA) presided over the Divine Liturgy, joined by His Grace Bishop Mousa (al-Khasi), auxiliary to His Beatitude Patriarch John X. Sayidna Saba asked Sayidna Mousa to ordain Nicholas Aultman (M.Div. ‘26) to the holy diaconate. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence encouraged the newly ordained Dn Nicholas in his new ministry, saying, "As you build your family, try your best to build your parish, the family of Christ. Because you are a father, you will feel with your wife and children their joy and suffering. Do the same with your people because they are God's people. They should all become one family."
Nicholas Aultman (M.Div. ‘26) is ordained to the holy diaconate by the hand of His Grace Bishop Mousa (al-Khasi)
The St Vladimir’s Seminary Antiochian contingent with Sayidna Saba after Dn Nicholas’ ordination
Following the feast of Great and Holy Pascha, two more seminarians received Holy Orders. On Bright Saturday, Daniel York (Th.M. ‘25) was ordained to the holy diaconate by the hand of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, at St Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, DC. The Rev. Archimandrite Vasily attended the ordination and concelebrated with His Beatitude and several other clergy.
The newly ordained Dn Daniel York (Th.M. ‘25), with His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon
On Thomas Sunday, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel ordained Dn Joseph Winsler (Th.M. ‘25; M.A. ‘24) to the holy priesthood at the Diocesan Cathedral, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL. Following the Divine Liturgy, the Archbishop congratulated Fr Joseph, Matushka Tammi, and their three children.
The newly ordained Fr Joseph Winsler (M.A. ‘24; Th.M. ‘25), with His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel
Incoming President Dr Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie expressed his joy at the number of ordinations and elevations during the month of April, saying, “We give thanks to God and pray for His blessing on our eight students who have just been ordained. It is truly remarkable to witness; oftentimes, we see eight to ten ordinations in a semester, across current students and alumni. It is awe-inspiring and humbling to see so many students raised to holy orders, and our dear faculty member ordained to archimandrite, over a period of one month. Glory to God!”
May God grant the newly ordained Fr Joseph and Mka Tammi Winsler, Dn Jarrod and Mka Emily Huffman, Dn Daniel and Mka Megan York, and Dn Nicholas and Shamassy Elizabeth Aultman many blessed years!
