St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) marked the beginning of the 2024 Fall Semester on Thursday, August 22, 2024. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada (OCA) led the Moleben (prayer service) for the Beginning of a New Academic Year, attended by SVOTS faculty and the incoming class. At the conclusion of the service, His Beatitude exhorted the new students, saying, “…the task at hand for you, as incoming seminarians, is to take up your studies, under the oversight of the interim President and Academic Dean, Dr Alex Tudorie, learning from the distinguished faculty with their many years of collective wisdom and experience, and supported by the hard-working staff. And to take up this task within the often challenging context of the seminary community.”
Interim President and Academic Dean, Dr Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, addresses the new students and faculty
Immediately following the Moleben, each member of the faculty welcomed the new students and shared encouragement for the rigorous training ahead of them. Interim President and Academic Dean, Dr Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, urged the students to engage deeply with the faculty throughout their studies and to always speak up in case of need, academic or otherwise. Applauding the students for leaving behind comfortable careers and homes to come to seminary, Associate Professor of New Testament, Dr John Barnet, offered his words of thanks to the students, saying, “I am in awe of each and every one of you.”
Later in the evening, the St Juliana Society also hosted its first gathering for the Fall 2024 semester. The St Juliana Society, named after St Juliana Lazarevo, was formed in 2010 by Mka Thekla Hatfield to support future clergy wives by hosting speakers on topics related to parish life and service. A separate women’s group was also established to facilitate events encouraging fun and fellowship for all the women on campus. In response to recent suggestions by women on campus, the SJS will now be open to seminarian and faculty wives, single women students, and female SVOTS staff and faculty. Dr Patricia Bouteneff and returning trustee Tatiana Hoff have stepped in to guide the Society for the coming semester.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon addresses the St Juliana Society
After enjoying refreshments near the John G. Rangos Building koi pond, Dr Tudorie opened the meeting, before His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon gave the opening remarks. His Beatitude encouraged the attendees to remember the words of the Lord to St Peter, "...when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish (John 21.18)." He assured the women that life at seminary and in future ministry would often involve challenging situations and circumstances. Using his own experience as an example, he suggested that, even when you find yourself going "where you do not wish," humility and trust in the Lord's will can lead to deeper love for God and spiritual maturity.
The group adjourned to the seminary board room to meet incoming Director of Admissions Zach Mandell, after which Patricia Bouteneff then gave a brief overview of upcoming events, invited the group of 25 women to introduce themselves and consider discussion topics and questions they would like to ask potential future speakers. As Dr Bouteneff said, “It is always a joy to bring Orthodox women together across jurisdictional lines, and we can’t wait to get things underway this year!”
Members of the St Juliana Society at this year’s inaugural meeting
Student Orientation sessions continued over the following three days, concluding with the General Student Meeting in the afternoon of Sunday, August 25. During this annual meeting including the entire student body, faculty and staff reviewed updates to policies related to community service and residential life.
Thirty-two students are beginning their first year of studies in their respective degree programs: fifteen in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program, three in the Master of Arts (M.A.) program, six in the Master of Theology (Th.M.) program, one in a special one-year program, and seven in the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program.
Faculty, staff, and seminarians and their families enjoy a welcome reception at the Germack building
The incoming class of twenty-nine men and three women hail from four countries: the United States, Canada, Ukraine, and Serbia. The seminarians represent eight Eastern and Oriental Orthodox jurisdictions:
- Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
- Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (GOA)
- Serbian Orthodox Church
- Ukrainian Orthodox Church
- Macedonian Orthodox Church
- Armenian Apostolic Church
- Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church
One first-year seminarian, Scott Strickland, is coming to seminary from the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Miami and the Southeast (DOMSE) to enter the Master of Divinity program and offered his thoughts on beginning his theological studies.
"I am looking forward to exploring the depths of the Orthodox understanding of the deification of man. The future of the church rests on unlocking the potentiality of every human person in relation to God. It is time for us to believe and reclaim who we were always meant to be in Christ."
Counting the incoming class, the total student body at SVOTS this year is ninety-five seminarians.
Assistant Director of Chapel Music and Director of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Alumni Relations, Zach Mandell
Welcoming the students this year is the latest addition to the SVOTS faculty and staff, Zachariah Mandell, Assistant Director of Chapel Music and Director of Admissions, Financial Aid, and Alumni Relations. Zach is an alumnus himself (M.Div. ‘20), and is “excited to engage with students from their earliest explorations of seminary education, during their time at St Vladimir’s Seminary in class, in choir, and in life, and as alumni in their work and ministries.”
Assistant Professor of Liturgical Music and Associate Dean for Residential Life, the Rev. Dn Dr Harrison Basil Russin
In another notable update to the Seminary administrative team this year, the Rev. Dn Dr Harrison Basil Russin will serve as Associate Dean for Residential Life, in addition to his faculty position as Assistant Professor of Liturgical Music. Dn Harrison brings a hands-on approach to residential life at the seminary, drawing upon his own experience living on campus with his family for close to a decade. Regarding his new position, Dn Harrison remarked, “I look forward to serving the residential community of the Seminary, helping to keep it a safe location with an edifying community centered around the liturgical worship of the chapel. This position is certainly brand new to me, but I am willing to serve however I am called.”
The new academic year also brings two new additions to the part-time faculty: Dr Ani Shahinian, Assistant Professor of Armenian Christian Art and Culture, and Dr Sarah Byrne-Martelli, Assistant Professor of Spiritual Care.
May the intercessions of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, our patron Great and Holy Prince Vladimir, and all the saints be with our seminarians, faculty, and staff as a new academic year commences in service to Christ!
