On Wednesday, March 19, His Eminence Metropolitan Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA) visited St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS), leading the seminary community in the celebration of the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts in Three Hierarchs Chapel. The service was celebrated according to the rubrics of the Antiochian Archdiocese, with the chanting entrusted to the Seminary’s Byzantine Choir, led by alumnus and Byzantine chant instructor, the Rev. Nicholas Fine (M.Div. ‘23).
The celebration of the Presanctified Liturgy ended with a Trisagion for Metropolitan Philip of thrice-blessed memory (departed on March 19, 2014). After a Lenten meal with the community, Sayidna Saba gathered with seminarians and seminarian spouses in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium, where he offered a pastoral talk and a time of fellowship and spiritual encouragement.
In his word of welcome, Interim President and Academic Dean, Dr Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie noted that, according to his recent autobiographical book, A Life Testimony, His Eminence had intended, as a young monastic, to study at St Vladimir’s Seminary. The Lord’s providence worked in different ways, however, returning Sayidna Saba to America as head of the Antiochian Archdiocese, to continue the fruitful ministry of Metropolitans Anthony Bashir and Philip Saliba, who were also friends and close collaborators of the Seminary.
His Eminence’s talk focused on the importance of humility, community, spiritual growth, and staying true to the Orthodox faith, without succumbing to fear and resisting the temptation of ideologization in the face of modern challenges. He urged the seminarians to remain realistic and humble in their approach to ministry, stressing that sanctity is not about achieving perfection, but about performing small tasks with great love and devotion.
Antiochian seminarian Nathan Jekel (M.Div. ‘26) expressed his gratitude for Metropolitan Saba’s visit, reflecting, “We were very thankful for Sayidna Saba’s visit on Wednesday, to have the chance to celebrate the Presanctified Liturgy with him and hear his wisdom. The service was beautiful and prayerful, really a sacred moment. His Eminence inquired about the students’ experience of living in community at St Vladimir’s. He shared his belief that fostering a true Christian community ‘is one of our most important responsibilities and that such communities of love are an antidote to many of the problems that threaten the Church and society at large.’”
The visit was a blessed occasion, enriching the seminarians' spiritual lives and strengthening the traditional ties between St Vladimir’s Seminary and the Antiochian Archdiocese.
