Asking the question "Do Books Still Matter?" during its annual fall open house, St. Vladimir's Seminary paid tribute to Orthodox Christian authors, illustrators, and publishing houses on Orthodox Education Day, in a "Celebration of Orthodox Christian Publications." Display tables lined the hallways of the John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building, showcasing the books and wares of nine publishers; among those, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press received special mention for having reached its 50th Anniversary Year.
"Clearly, this year's theme resonated with large numbers of Orthodox Christians who appreciate the educative value and pure joy in reading great books about spirituality, church history, lives of saints, sacred arts, and so on," said seminary Chancellor/CEO, The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield. "Despite the gloomy skies, the faces of our visitors beamed with the pleasure that only a book lover can have, when he or she has a great book in hand!"
In the day's highlight, Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, author of academic, popular, and spiritual works, presented the Keynote Address, “From Scroll to Book to Net: The Web of Knowledge.” Father John highlighted the symbiotic relationship between Christianity and books, and described how the development of the internet has changed the way people read. (Listen to Fr. John's talk on Ancient Faith Radio.) A discussion followed, with panelists John Maddex, Ancient Faith Ministries CEO; His Grace Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk, former member of the Publishing Council for the Moscow Patriarchate; Fr. John Behr; and SVOTS Associate Professor of Systematic Theology Dr. Peter Bouteneff.
In other venues, children enjoyed the workshop set up in the Germack Solarium, and guests feasted on delicious food truck cuisine or desserts created by the St. Vladimir's community. Dancers from neighboring Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle provided entertainment, and two afternoon workshops—"Writing About Theology," with Dr. Bouteneff, and a young adult discussion on The Maze Runner with Sessional Professor of Literature Dr. Kate Behr, provided food for thought.
The celebration of a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in Three Hierarchs Chapel at 9:00 a.m. started the day. The Most Blessed Tikhon, archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All America and Canada, Orthodox Church in America (OCA), concelebrated with His Grace Bishop John, His Grace Bishop Saba of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church in North America, and seminary clergy. Archbishop Melchisedek of the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania also attended. During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Tikhon awarded a Nabedrennik to SVS Press Editor-in-Chief The Rev. Dr. Benedict Churchill for his years of dedicated service.
