By the end of this season of Great Lent, our Dean, Chancellor, and Men’s Choir will have visited a total of 13 parishes and deaneries—serving, singing, and presenting homilies, lectures, and retreats, in service of Christ’s Church (and that does not even include the number of presentations given in non-Orthodox venues, such as colleges and universities, which raise the profile of the Orthodox Christian faith). This photo collage depicting their most travels speaks volumes on how St. Vladimir’s Seminary ministers to the church at-large and the wider community.
Chancellor Archpriest Chad Hatfield was retreat leader at St. George Cathedral, Charleston, West Virginia, where alumnus Archpriest Olof H. Scott is Cathedral Dean.
Dean Archpriest John Behr, served as homilist at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Greenville, South Carolina, where Archpriest Thomas Pistolis is rector; the parish hosted the local Sunday of Orthodoxy gathering.
Dean Archpriest John Behr led a parish retreat at St. John of the Ladder Church, Piedmont, South Carolina, where alumnus Archpriest Marcus Burch is rector; additionally, Fr. John presented a retreat to the Carolinas Deanery clergy of the Orthodox Church in America at that same church.
Chancellor Archpriest Chad Hatfield, with Associate Chancellor for Advancement Ted Bazil, accompanied the Men's Choir to St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Allison Park, Pennsylvania, where Archpriest Michael Senyo is Cathedral Dean; Fr. Chad preached and the Men's Choir, led by Hierodeacon Herman, sang both Vespers and Divine Liturgy. Our SVS Press & Bookstore Marketing Manager, Dn. Gregory Hatrak not only served during Divine Liturgy, but also managed our traveling bookstore.
Chancellor Archpriest Chad Hatfield continued traveling with the Men's Choir from Allison Park Pennsylvania up to Holy Trinity Church, State College, Pennsylvania, to concelebrate Sunday evening Vespers with the rector of the parish, Archpriest John Reeves; to greet His Grace Melchisedek, bishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania; and to deliver a homily at the service.
Dean Archpriest John Behr flew off to Alhambra, California, to deliver a public lecture titled "The Mystery of Death as Theological and Pastoral Challenge" at St. Steven's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, where alumnus Archpriest Nicholas Ceko is Cathedral Dean. He also delivered the talk, extended in a retreat setting, to the clergy of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, after concelebrating Pre-sanctified Liturgy with them; His Grace Maxim, bishop of the Western Diocese, presided [Photo credit: Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America].
Following his California journey, Dean John Behr landed in Washington, D.C., where he presented a public lecture entitled "The Earth That Suffers: The Struggle to Become Human in the Early Church," at Catholic University of America, where he was welcomed by Professor Philip Rousseau, Andrew W. Mellon Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for the Study of Early Christianity at the university (pictured with him here); Fr. John also presented a graduate seminar on St. Maximus the Confessor, Ambigua 41.
Chancellor Archpriest Chad Hatfield served and preached St. Jacob of Alaska Orthodox Mission, Montpelier, Vermont, where alumnus Priest Caleb Abetti is rector; last year, Fr. Caleb and his parish, with great courage and determination, dealt with the devastating effects of Hurricane Irene on the towns and people of Vermont.
Chancellor Archpriest Chad Hatfield also gave a lenten retreat (sicty people from six parishes attended) and preached at the Divine Liturgy at Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Phoenix, Arizona; additionally, he preached at an evening Missions Vespers sponsored by the Phoenix–Scottsdale Brotherhood.
Still to come are photos from Fr. John Behr's visit to the Cathedral Parish of the Annunciation, Ottawa, Canada; and Fr. Chad's visit to St. John Chrysostom Orthodox Church in Golden, Colorado. View the full versions of Fr. John's 2012 Travel Schedule and Fr. Chad's 2012 Travel Schedule: look for both of them in your area!
