Twenty-three deacons and students in the Diaconal Vocations Program (DVP) of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) gathered on the seminary campus for a practicum consisting of worship, theological reflection, and focused liturgical training, from July 12–15, 2015. In its ninth consecutive year, the Diaconal Liturgical Practicum continues to provide important opportunities for deacons and candidates to connect with each other and seminary faculty, as they seek to expand their ministry at the altar.
The Practicum began on Sunday evening with supper, introductions, and an icebreaker that helped participants appreciate some of the challenges of learning to serve the divine services correctly. Archpriest John Behr, seminary Dean, formally opened the program with the singing of a Molieben in Three Hierarchs Chapel. The Practicum’s beginning coincided with a week of instruction for students enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program at the Seminary, and both groups were enriched by being able to pray together and to receive a blessing with holy water as their instruction commenced. Father John then led the Practicum in an engrossing study on early martyrdom, Scripture, and the Eucharist with respect to life in Christ and the Paschal Passion. One participant noted, “I would have made the trip to the Seminary for this talk alone!”
The next day was inaugurated by a Divine Liturgy celebrated by Fr. John and Practicum participants. Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov, director of the DVP, gathered with participants at 7:00 a.m. to prepare for the service. “It is not always possible in our parish life for the deacons and servers to be the first to arrive at the church,” explained Archdeacon Kirill. “In these intensive days of training, however, we are able to practice and model the full order of liturgical services and all of the preparation required for their peaceful and orderly celebration. From filling oil lamps to chanting the prayers of the Church, the participants learn best by actively doing these things—with repetition.”
Following the first liturgy, students practiced proclaiming the Word of God by reading in church, and they learned about proper use of their voices, in the first of multiple sessions with Archpriest Sergius Halvorsen, assistant professor of Homiletics and Rhetoric at the Seminary. Vocal practice featured chanting a section from the Epistles of the Holy Apostle Paul and receiving feedback from Fr. Sergius and peers on clarity and sound.
Workshops led by Archdeacon Kirill were aimed to provide participants with the frameworks, patterns, and skills needed to serve effectively in the Orthodox Church as an attentive server or deacon. His sessions focused on the typical celebration of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Instruction and practice geared toward performing the more complicated hierarchical services was done in smaller groups, with additional guidance from Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak, secretary to His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the OCA.
Archpriest John Jillions, chancellor of the OCA, served Vespers on Monday, and then met with participants to discuss issues facing ordained clergy and the Church, as well as the Church’s work in this world. As Chancellor, Fr. John is a member of the Board of Theological Education of the OCA, which supervises the work of the DVP. The long day of work and study ended at 10:00 p.m., with a planning session for the following morning’s Divine Liturgy.
On the second day of the Practicum, Tuesday, July 14, Divine Liturgy was celebrated by seminarian Priest Aleksey Paranyuk, Archdeacon Kirill, and Practicum participants. In addition to liturgical workshops led by the archdeacons, Archpriest Alexander Rentel, assistant professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies and The John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology at St. Vladimir's, taught about aspects of liturgical theology fundamental to the ministry of the deacon and to the understanding of every Christian.
The Practicum was honored by the presence of His Grace Daniel, bishop of Santa Rosa and auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of the West (OCA), who came to the Seminary for the Practicum at the invitation of Metropolitan Tikhon. Bishop Daniel presided at the divine services, was with the participants in conversation, and met with them as a group to discuss expectations that the Church has for all men who are called to serve in the ordained diaconal ministry.
Tuesday also marked the eve of the feast of the Holy and Great Prince Vladimir, Equal of the Apostles, and patron of the Seminary. The seminary community joyously joined in the celebration of Great Vespers, which was heightened by the prayerful presence of Metropolitan Tikhon, who also serves as President of the Seminary and Chair of the Board of Theological Education. His Beatitude spoke persuasively about the sinful darkness in the world, within which St. Vladimir had to work as he converted to Christ, and he further spoke of the encouraging example the saint sets for today's Christians. The celebration continued with a cookout in honor of the Feast, hosted by the Alumni Association of the Seminary. Following the festive evening, Practicum participants continued their work late into the night, practicing reading and vocal training with Fr. Sergius.
On Wednesday, July 15, the Practicum experience was crowned by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy for the feast of St. Vladimir. Bishop Daniel served the full hierarchical order with the assistance of ten priests and six deacons, with other Practicum participants serving as subdeacons or as choir members.
Participants attended the Practicum from nearly every diocese of the OCA and from other church jurisdictions. The “good-byes” at departure movingly showed that participants not only learned more about the liturgy and their vocations in church service, but also benefited spiritually from their new connections to teachers and brothers. As one participant explained, “It is a true joy to have received the opportunity to meet you all and to call you friends.”
The Holy Synod of Bishops requires participation in at least two Practicums for candidates to complete the Diaconal Vocations Program of the Orthodox Church in America. Already ordained deacons benefit from attendance at the Practicum as part of the Continuing Education discipline of the OCA.
Learn more about the Diaconal Vocations Program
Learn more about St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and its programs of theological study: www.svots.edu
