The Synaxis of the Three Great Hierarchs, Sts Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, was celebrated in the Three Hierarchs Chapel at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) with a hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Presiding at the liturgy were His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon of All America and Canada (OCA), and two newly ordained hierarchs, His Grace, Bishop Nikodhim of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese (OCA), and His Grace, Bishop Benedict of Hartford and New England (OCA). The patronal feast of the seminary was enhanced by the ordination of seminarian Monk Stephen Guirgis (M.Div. ‘25) to the Holy Diaconate.
The 41st Annual Fr Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture was held in the evening of the feast day, with Dr Robin Darling Young, Ordinary Professor of Church History at the Catholic University of America, speaking on the topic “Evagrius of Pontus at the Border of Cosmos and Aeon.”
Honored guests in attendance at the lecture included His Grace, Bishop Nikodhim of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese (OCA), and His Grace, Bishop Benedict of Hartford and New England (OCA). The talk was also attended by the student body, many faculty, staff, and community members, and almost 200 registrants signed up for the online live stream of the event. For those unable to attend the lecture live, the recording has been uploaded to the SVOTS Youtube channel.
Watch lecture recording
Preceding Dr Darling Young’s presentation, the 2023-2024 Mid-Year Commencement took place. The Rev. Gregory Christakos was awarded the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree, having completed his doctoral thesis titled The Anatolian Genocide: Understanding Narratives of Tragedy from an Orthodox Perspective. The Rev. Theodore Paraskevopoulos was also awarded the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree; his graduate thesis was titled Do You Want to Die?”: Towards an Eschatological Vision. Both D.Min. graduates presented their reflections on their experience as D.Min. students at St Vladimir’s Seminary, and thanked the faculty who guided them through their program of study.
The event concluded with a festive reception for all in attendance.
