Just after Christmas, St Vladimir’s Seminary had the joy of hosting the youth group from St Steven’s Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Alhambra, CA, led by their cathedral dean and SVOTS alumnus Fr Nicholas Ceko (M.Div. ‘85). The youth were met first by four seminarians, Paisius Bradley Winsler (M.A. ‘24), Sergio Hector Lopez (M.Div. ‘26), Pavlo Kurganov (M.A. ‘24), and Silouan Jovani Valdez (M.A. ‘24), who sat down with them to talk about seminary life and their own backgrounds and reasons for pursuing a vocation within the Church. Seminarians took questions from the youth group members and spoke candidly about past experiences of conversion, the struggles and joys of attending seminary, and the redemptive nature of life within community in prayer and service.
Seminary President, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield followed the seminarians with a presentation of his own, giving the youth group a brief history of Orthodox seminary education in America and explaining the developments that brought St Vladimir’s Seminary into being. Fr Chad took questions from the students and encouraged all, including the young women, to consider a future education at the seminary. Fr Nicholas also shared many reminiscences about his time as a student and an SVS Press Bookstore employee in the 1980s, including fond memories of former Dean of Students, the Very Rev. Paul Lazor.
The youth group and seminarians enjoyed lunch together in the refectory in the Germack building and then were treated to a tour of the Father Georges Florovsky Library, given by senior staff member and former SVS Press Director, Ted Bazil. During the tour, one of the students, a grandson of longtime seminary benefactor and former trustee Obren Brian Gerich (Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa), was able to get a photo with the plaque bearing his grandparents' names as sponsors of the Seminary Board Room. The youth group also made a stop in Three Hierarchs Chapel, where they sang two hymns, "Holy God" and "Praise the Lord,” a special treat for everyone.
Fr Chad, reflecting on the St Steven’s Youth Group visit, remarked, “It is truly encouraging to see fresh young faces coming to visit the seminary, showing their piety and interest in future service to the Church. It was also a joy to welcome back notable alumnus Fr Nicholas Ceko and to meet the grandson of distinguished seminary supporter, former board member, and founder of multiple endowment funds for Serbian students, Brian Gerich. We hope to welcome many more Serbian students in the future at St Vladimir’s Seminary.”
