On September 19, St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary welcomed Fr Stephanos Ritsi, assistant missionary director of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), for a compelling series of talks organized by the St Innocent Society. Fr Stephanos has served for many years as an OCMC missionary in Albania, and currently serves as a lecturer in the Department of Theology & Culture at Logos University, alongside his OCMC responsibilities.
By God’s grace, a delegation from the Albanian Archdiocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), led by His Grace Bishop Nikodhim (M.Div.’07), was visiting the seminary that same day. His Grace was accompanied by Albanian Archdiocesan chancellor, the Very Rev. Mark Doku, and by the Rev. Grigori Pelushi, Secretary of the Synod of the Church of Albania and Chair of Radio Ngjallja, its media department. Fr Grigori was traveling with His Grace for much of September as he visited many communities in the archdiocese, making a final stop at the annual diocesan assembly, held this year in Philadelphia.
Fr Stephanos met with His Grace and the Albanian cohort for an enriching hour of conversation and fellowship before they departed. His Grace also met with seminarians and faculty in Three Hierarchs Chapel during his visit.
Fr Stephanos' first session, held in the Bashir Classroom from 1 to 2 p.m., titled “Evangelization: Reconstruction of the Albanian Autocephalous Orthodox Church from the Ruins,” provided an in-depth look at the history of the Orthodox Church in Albania, and the challenges and successes of revitalizing the Church following years of communist persecution and turmoil. His insights drew upon his extensive experience on the ground, highlighting the vital role of Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania in rebuilding a strong Orthodox community.
The evening session took place in the Met Phil Auditorium from 7 to 8 p.m., followed by a Q&A session. Titled "Theory into Practice: The Journey of Becoming a Missionary," Fr Stephanos engaged the audience with stories of his own missionary journey, emphasizing the importance of translating theological education into practical action. His experiences resonated deeply with the attendees, encouraging many to consider their own roles in the mission field.
Fr Stephanos’s visit was the first of several lecture events planned by the St Innocent Society this semester. One attendee noted, “I’m grateful to the St Innocent Society for making the effort to bring such a distinguished servant of the Church to campus. Fr Stephanos has clearly experienced much joy in the mission field alongside significant challenges. His talks inspired me to reflect on my own path in relation to the mission of the Church in today’s world.”
About the St Innocent Society
The St Innocent Mission Society exists to promote awareness and involvement in Christian mission and evangelism. Taking into account Jesus' call to his apostles to be witnesses locally, regionally, and internationally (Acts 1:8), the society seeks opportunities in these dimensions to love our fellow human beings made in the image of God and to promote the edification and growth of Christ's Church.
