With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of St. Vladimir’s Seminary Trustee Emeritus Mitchell Zunich. Zunich, 93, died on the Feast of Holy Pascha, Sunday, April 19, at his home at St. Mary of the Woods Assisted Living in Avon, OH.
Zunich was born May 10, 1926 in Lorain, OH. He served with the US Army during World War II in the 357th Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division. During his service, he participated in the battles of Rhineland and Central Europe and received the European-African-Middle-Eastern Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, a Good Conduct Medal, a WWII Victory Medal and an Occupation Medal for Germany. His division was awarded the Bronze Star and participated in the liberation of Flossenburg Concentration Camp. Zunich attended the Ohio State University where he earned a bachelor of science in accounting. He founded Mitchell Zunich & Co. Certified Public Accountants, retiring in 2001. He was active in the community, having served as an officer, president, and board member of many organizations including the Lorain Rotary Club, Lorain Salvation Army, Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority, the City Bank Co., Lorain Family YMCA, Clearview School Board, and St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. In the 1990s, Mitchell and his wife, Violet, helped establish a scholarship for Serbian Orthodox seminarians at St. Vladimir’s so that no young Serbian Orthodox men would be turned away from becoming priests. Zunich was a member of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Lorain, the Serbian National Federation, the Ohio Society of CPAs, and the AICPA.
"Mitch was honored to be on the Seminary’s Board of Trustees," said fellow St. Vladimir's Trustee Emeritus Brian Gerich. "He served many years as one of the four Serbian trustees along with [Trustee Emeritus] Alex Machaskee, Leon Lysaght, and myself.
"During our 1990’s Capital Campaign, I asked Mitch to join with me in establishing endowments for scholarships for Serbian Orthodox students studying to become priests. He immediately accepted, and he and his beloved wife Violet added to their endowment regularly. Mitch was pleased to know that as students graduated they were debt free as they prepared for a lifetime of serving our Lord."
"I remember Mitch as a quiet, decisive, compassionate gentleman who was a staunch supporter of our Orthodox Christian faith and a great contributor of time, talent, and treasure to St. Vladimir's Seminary," added Alex Machaskee. "He was a founding contributor to Monastery Marcha in Richfield Ohio, a decorated veteran of World War II, and a highly esteemed civic leader."
Mitchell Zunich is survived by his sons, Mitch Zunich of Cleveland and Rob (Eva) Zunich of Avon Lake; grandchildren, Neven, Dane, Rada, and Mila Zunich; and sister, Sophie Tyrin of Chicago. Zunich was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Violet M. Zunich (née Kobac) on Sept 7, 2014; infant son, Nick Zunich, in 1959; parents, Nikola & Stanka Zunich (née Kunic); brothers, Demeter, George, Nick, and Mike Zunich; and sisters, Mildred Stamatis, Dorothy Kovan, Nellie Raynovich, and Mary Zunich.
Due to restrictions on social gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, private family funeral services will be held. Hieromonk Nektarije Tesanovic of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church will preside with burial to follow in Elmwood Cemetery in Lorain. Memorial contributions may be made to St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 3355 Grove Ave, Lorain, OH, 44055 or St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 575 Scarsdale Rd, Yonkers, NY, 10707. Arrangements are under the direction of Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave, Lorain. Online condolences may be made at www.gluvna.net.
May the memory of Mitchell Zunich be eternal!
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(The photo and some information in this article have been reprinted from The Morning Journal.)
All St Vladimir’s Seminary alumni are invited by the Alumni Board to attend a virtual town hall meeting on December 7th at 2:00 p.m. Eastern (11:00 a.m. Pacific). The purpose of this event is:
For alumni to learn more about what is happening at the seminary from the Academic Dean and Interim President, Dr Alex Tudorie. There will be an opportunity to send in questions ahead of time (see below), as well as to submit questions live;
To discuss the upcoming Alumni Board elections, and to begin the process of nominations;
To discuss alumni initiatives for reunions and other events, ways to strengthen the relationship between St Vladimir’s Seminary and its alumni, and offer ideas for upcoming events like the All-American Council Reunion with the new Director of Alumni Relations, Zach Mandell;
To reconnect, albeit via Zoom, with old friends and classmates.
For those attending, questions may be submitted on the registration form. If you cannot attend, you may still submit questions via email at alumni@svots.edu; the Town Hall will be recorded so that you can view it at a later date.
If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here:
We hope to see you there, and we hope that this event is a catalyst for an active and thriving relationship between our alumni, alumni board, and the seminary. Even if you cannot attend, do not hesitate to reach out, about this event and in general. We want to hear from you, growing together in communion, in community, and in our common mission of serving Christ and his Church. Email Zach Mandell, Director of Alumni Relations, any time at zmandell@svots.edu, or call at 914-961-8313 ext. 342.
We are living in an unprecedented Orthodox Christian moment in North America. New converts are joining faster than we can ordain priests. Eighteen years ago, Fr Christopher Foley (M.Div. ’06) started with a small group of families; he has since stewarded the parish of Holy Cross in Kernersville, NC through many joys and challenges, culminating in the consecration of the parish’s beautiful new church building on September 21, 2024.
Fr Chris, tell us the story of your community. Take us back to the beginning. How did your time at St Vladimir’s Seminary impact your leadership of a fledgling parish?
Being at the seminary gave me a vision for a proper liturgical life, a vision for beauty, for doing things decently and in order. Jumping into a brand new mission with three people singing in the choir is tough! I remembered those vigils at the seminary and the antiphonal choirs and I really felt like I graduated with a lot of tools in a tool belt, but I realized pretty rapidly that the best way to learn how to be a priest is to just be on the job. It’s all theory at that point. But I felt like my time at St Vladimir’s certainly prepared me, in many ways, for the challenges of a brand new mission.
I graduated in 2006 and was assigned to this new mission that had been organized about a year before. We met in a hotel banquet room for six months, setting up and taking down every week. Very quickly, I started saying, ‘Okay, we’ve got to find a place.’ It’s funny how God doesn’t waste anything—my background in the underground music scene, with its DIY mentality, came in handy. Instead of saying, ‘We could start a rock venue here,’ it was, ‘We could have church here.’ We looked at about 15 different spaces and finally found a Presbyterian church that rented us their old youth hall for $400 a month. We completely renovated this little outbuilding into our first church. Two parishioners even drove up to Ottawa to pick up an iconostasis, which the OCA Cathedral gave us for free. Outside, it was just a concrete block building, but inside, it looked like a beautiful little church.
The Foley family at Pascha: (from left) Jonas, Alexei, Aiden, Evan (seated), Fr Chris, and Mka Carrie; headline photo: Fr Chris, Mka Carrie, and their sons at the new church building, just before the installation of the main cross atop the dome
At the time, there was no all-English Orthodox church in our area of North Carolina. The founding group really had a vision for an English-speaking, outreach-oriented, indigenous North American church. We grew quickly and steadily, applying for the OCA planting grant about two years in. I started working full-time at the church, and we grew quickly, having about 10 to 15 catechumens a year. At one point, we were about 70% converts, with the rest cradle Orthodox, including Russians, Ukrainians, Lebanese, Romanians, Greeks—a nice mix of folks.
People got excited about the vision of Holy Cross and wanted to be part of it. In 2015, we bought some land, started a building committee, and spent the next few years preparing to break ground. After hiring a local builder and architect, we launched a formal capital campaign that went amazingly well—we raised about $1.5 million, way beyond what we expected. Then COVID hit, putting a damper on everything–prices went up, and the church we were renting from folded, so we had to find a new temporary space. We rented a basement from a Methodist church, where we had 100 people downstairs while they had only three or four people upstairs! And miraculously, even in the basement of the Methodist church, new people kept showing up. We launched a secondary mini-capital campaign to raise more funds, signed the loan papers two years ago, and finally moved into our new building this past January.
Holy Cross Orthodox Church, Kernersville, NC
Since then, the growth has been explosive. I have a spreadsheet with 141 names—people inquiring, coming to classes, or emailing. I’ve never had to do that before. Currently, we have around 45 people coming to catechism classes, with 20 on Zoom and 25 in person. Zoom’s been a challenge, but it allows more people to participate. Moving into our own building happened at the perfect time; if we were still in the basement, we’d still be growing, but now we have the space, and it’s just overwhelming. We’re averaging about 150 people on Sundays.
With this growth, we’ve had to get organized. I always set a theme for the year, and this year’s was hospitality. Now we have committees for young adults, youth, sisterhood, a men’s group, and more. With a new building, we added a building and grounds committee, and a kitchen volunteer team, all of which takes a lot of organizing. People have stepped up, and one of the best questions I’ve heard was, ‘Father, what are the thingsyou do during the week that somebody could take off your plate?’ As a mission priest used to wearing 42 different hats, I’m learning to delegate. Some things are hard to let go of, but I’m learning to trust others. It’s an exciting time for us.
The Holy Cross parish photo after the consecration of the new church building
At our consecration, Bishop Gerasim (OCA Diocese of the South) presided, along with 18 priests, five deacons, and about 300 people—it was just such a joyous time after everything we’d been through. Rarely do you have a moment where you can step back and just look and see the work that God has done in such a tangible way, because we've been through a lot. I mean, it was very difficult when we were going through the building stuff. We had interpersonal struggles and some people left the parish. It was hard. There were tempting times when I thought, “Man, I don't know if I'm the person for this job.”
How has prayer been a part of this building process?
We bought our property 11 years ago and started praying on it probably 10 years ago. Every Friday, we’d serve a short molieben on the land, just praying. We wanted God to bless our efforts and bring unity to the process. We had a faithful group of about 10 or 12 who would stand out there, even in 15-degree weather.
Praying the molieben at one of the final “prayers on the property,” Fall 2023
Prayer was essential through it all. I remember telling this story at the banquet: once, when things were really tough, I just fell flat on my face before the Holy Table, crying, ‘Lord, make a way.’ I didn’t see a way, but now, seeing everyone gathered and committed, I know it’s not just a building. The building is an icon of us as the living stones, being built up into God’s temple. It reflects the work we’ve all done in prayer, repentance, and reconciliation.
As we’ve grown, the sacramental life has stayed central—everything flows from the Holy Table. Even with our new focus on hospitality and small groups, I’ve told each group leader to ensure their work supports our liturgical life. We’re not creating small groups for their own sake but strengthening our shared vision for a sacramental, prayer-centered community.
Fr Chris at the Holy Table on the day of his ordination to the priesthood, Jan. 22, 2006, Three Hierarchs Chapel
Father, I see so much of the seminary experience in your story—the focus on prayer, sacramental life, and the challenge of bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, I recently spoke with someone who questioned the need for the traditional model of community life at seminary, saying students could just take classes online instead of spending three years out of their comfort zone. Could you speak to this?
I’d say we absolutely need that in-person experience. You can’t get it through Zoom. The intensity of living with people for three years in an intentional community teaches you a lot about relationships—there is so much from that experience of community life that I still draw from. Many of those relationships last to this day. I have friends from seminary I still talk to daily. One of my dearest friends, Fr Justin and Matushka Jodi Matthews (M.Div. ’07) came to our consecration, and I just went out to Kansas City for an event he had at Reconciliation Services for the opening of their new building and chapel. Our wives are also dear friends; they have their own group that texts daily and meets once a year for a week-long get-together. Those seminary connections have been foundational for my wife and I.
Fr Chris and Mka Carrie standing in the new church on the day of its consecration with their dear seminary friends, Fr Justin and Mka Jodie Mathews
Liturgical life at seminary was also central. The chapel was where we went to reset and remember what this is all about. I chose St Vladimir’s Seminary because Fr Alexander Schmemann is a spiritual father to me, even though I never met him in person. Fr Alexander’s vision for the sacramental life reminds us that worship is our actual and tangible participation in Christ, not just something aesthetically pleasing. “How we believe is how we worship, and how we worship is what we believe.” Seeing that vision lived out over those three years at seminary gave me a clear sense for parish life: if people are drawn to Orthodoxy and the beauty of our services, then we must do it well; it has to be beautiful. Early on, I put a lot of emphasis on getting our choir in shape and making sure our services were done beautifully and in good order—not chaotic. All of that came from my seminary experience.
And then there were the pastoral theology classes with Fr Paul Lazor. He’s like my inner guide—‘What would Fr Paul do?’ I think of the stories he shared from his experience in parish life, which were invaluable. During those early years as a young, green, convert priest, when I encountered difficult pastoral situations and had no idea what to do, I’d think back to his advice and remember his stories. I still constantly draw from all that.
Fr Paul Lazor tells seminary children the story of St Nicholas in December 2004; Mka Carrie is standing in the back left of the photo.
You mentioned Fr Schmemann; it’s fascinating how his approach to life left such a lasting mark. His influence is still so present at the seminary, almost like the Holy Spirit is keeping his vision of the sacramental life intact through all the changes.
The parish experience you describe reflects what St Vladimir’s brought to the table—this focus on being sacramental, active in the community, all-English, and with a deep beauty in worship. Thinking ahead, Father, as our culture becomes less religious and priests are managing larger parishes, what kinds of challenges and opportunities do you see? Do we need more priests?
We’re at a point where many parishes need to consider expanding—having more than one priest or other church-supported employees, whether they’re priests or educated laypeople who can share the load. For a long time, the focus was on starting missions, but now since I serve on the OCA Metropolitan Council, we’re noticing that not as many parishes are applying for the mission planting grant. It’s not that missions aren’t starting; it’s that maybe the model is shifting, with parishes now taking on the responsibility for starting new missions themselves. One possibility I’ve considered are parish development grants that help support parishes—like ours—to hire a second priest or part-time admin so the priest and volunteers don’t burn out.
Fr Chris surveys the new nave with one of the founding members of the Holy Cross mission, Pdn George Hattle
We need to think about moving parishes from one stage to the next. In our diocese, Archbishop Dmitri of blessed memory would say that once a parish reaches about 300 people, it’s time to start a new mission. We don’t want parishes to grow so large that they shift from a family model to a corporate model—it’s just a different experience. I think the family model is so needed now, with community breaking down and people feeling isolated. So many in our parish tell me, “This is my place of sanity, where I go to be spiritually fed and find community.”
This connects to something else I see happening as our culture grows more divided and online. We think we’re connected, but we’re more disconnected than ever, and I think we’re already seeing a backlash. People are seeking real community, and I think our parishes must stay focused on being places of connection and hospitality. People don’t want to feel like outsiders, and they’re looking for connectedness, authenticity, and deeper faith—something beyond the surface, something they can build their lives on.
As your parish grows, do you see any parishioners you’d recommend for seminary in the future?
Yes, Matushka and I have been encouraging a family from our parish to consider going to seminary. We met with him and his wife about a year ago, and he’s considering it seriously. I’m certainly recommending St Vladimir’s for many reasons. He and his wife are a stable, young family with two kids and are probably in their early 30s—the perfect age.
Going to seminary surely was a sacrifice for you, and that’s something we try to emphasize in our outreach. For people with a comfortable job and home, like this family, how do you encourage them to take that step and uproot for three years?
When we met the first time to discuss it, it was a bit overwhelming. I’d mentioned seminary in passing, and when we sat down, they were like deer in headlights—not opposed, but thinking, “We have a house, a job... but it sounds great.” They’re handling it wisely, waiting a few years to pay down debt and considering what to do with their house. They’ve asked tons of questions, and we discussed some of the financial questions that arise. Matushka and I looked back, thinking, “How did we live on such a small income during those years at seminary?”
I remember our first week at seminary when we were still covering our mortgage back home. On the first Saturday, an envelope with exactly $729—our mortgage payment—was left under our door. To this day, we don’t know who did it, but we saw it as confirmation that we were where we needed to be.
Family time in their seminary apartment
Navigating the Yonkers city schools’ special needs department was another challenge. Our oldest son has special needs and is non-verbal. When we came to seminary, he was four and not yet walking. If it weren’t for Fr Sudick, a retired local priest who sat on the school board, we might not have gotten the support we needed. Within a week of speaking with him, our son had a one-to-one aide.
Stories like that encourage this couple, and it highlights the value of in-person seminary. People ask why they can’t just do it online and keep their lives intact, and it’s a valid point. I think seminaries will need to keep strongly advocating for the in-person experience because it will only get harder to justify the sacrifice.
It’s still true that seminarians sacrifice so much and change their lives completely in order to follow their vocation to serve the Church. As someone who went through that, what would you say to those considering supporting St Vladimir’s and its seminarians?
Seminary was so foundational for me—we wouldn’t have done it any differently. The experience of the chapel, classes, relationships, and navigating all the difficulties was invaluable. We used to joke they made it harder on purpose, like boot camp. Some weeks, you’re thinking, “How am I going to finish all these papers, tests, vespers, matins, hospital hours, and community service, and spend time with my family?” But you do it, and you learn. You learn time management and how to prioritize, which is vital in parish life. By my third year, I knew I had to say no to some things—even if it meant missing matins or getting a few B’s—so I could have breakfast with my family. That balance was a valuable tool.
I believe this in-person seminary experience is essential for raising up clergy and lay leaders in the Church. I just don’t see how it can be done without that immersive, residential experience.
Fr Chris and Mka Carrie watch as the cross is lifted onto the dome of the new Holy Cross Orthodox Church, November 2023
The parish Fr Chris leads, Holy Cross Orthodox Church, has the unique distinction of being home to two current St Vladimir’s Seminary trustees, Dr Ana Iltis and Genevieve Lyday, J.D. We asked each of them to share their thoughts in response to the following questions:
In observing the work Fr Chris has done over the years since you joined the Church and became a member, how would you say he drew on his seminary training to serve the Holy Cross parish?
Is the growth of the parish and the influx of new converts related to your decision to become a trustee at St Vladimir's Seminary?
Genevieve Lyday, J.D.:
Fr Chris has a heart for searching souls who are deconstructing their faith or lack thereof. He is welcoming, patient, compassionate, and understanding, and, as a result, he is able to shepherd many such individuals to Christ and the Orthodox Church. I know Father Chris was passionate about missions before he attended St Vladimir's Seminary, but his seminary training undoubtedly contributed greatly to his ability to guide new inquirers and catechumens so deftly.
Yes! The growth of our parish is a testament to the fact that more and more people are flocking to the Orthodox Church. This influx of new converts makes the incredible need for additional clergy and seminary-trained lay people even more dire. I became a trustee at St Vladimir's Seminary so that I could use my experience and legal skills to assist the Seminary in its core mission to equip men and women to serve the Church.
Dr Ana Iltis:
I really learned about St Vladimir’s through Fr Chris. I knew that the Seminary existed as a school and press, but I first came to appreciate the seminary through him. The seminary shines through Fr Chris in so many ways, and he has always shared his deep love for St Vladimir's with his parishioners.
His homilies, inquirer classes, and catechumen classes are deeply informed and edifying. He often refers to what he learned in seminary, and he clearly draws on his education regularly, allowing us to benefit from that education.
At a more personal level, the deep friendships that he and Matushka Carrie formed during their time at St Vladimir's have been vital as they have sought advice and support as our community grew.
I see tremendous value in what the seminary provides for future priests and their families as well as lay people who are studying at the seminary and who will serve the Church in many different ways. Being a Trustee is a privilege - it allows me to be part of that work.
Brethren, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
In 2012, a philanthropic organization in New York started Giving Tuesday with a simple idea: giving back to others brings joy, and is the logical response to the observance of Thanksgiving.
Today, over 37 million people participate each year and collectively have given $3.1 billion on Giving Tuesday in the United States. The Giving Tuesday movement continues to grow.
In 2014 the community of St Vladimir’s Seminary both on and off campus participated for the first time in Giving Tuesday. It was so successful we decided to continue. We all felt such joy as we focused on “cheerful giving” to seminarians and the mission of St Vladimir’s, remembering that “Everyone capable of thanksgiving is capable of salvation and eternal joy” (+Fr Alexander Schmemann).
Giving is woven into the St Vladimir’s Seminary DNA: our professors give their hearts to teach the gospel of Christ. Our students give their time to prepare for service in the Church. Our graduates are giving their lives to minister to Christ's flock. As an outgrowth of this, Giving Tuesday has become a tradition, a reminder during the Nativity Fast of the blessings of open-handed giving. Seminarians, alumni, trustees, faculty, and faithful ministry partners from Alaska to Maine, all step up to support the work of St Vladimir’s before, during, and after this day of generosity.
This outpouring is born out of hearts of love: love for the Church and love for a world in need of Christ. In 2024 the need for well prepared clergy and lay catechists has never been greater. The Orthodox Faith is growing rapidly in North America and the call for new laborers in the harvest is urgent! With the help of our remarkable extended family, we will rise to the challenge.
We pray that “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” Happy 10th Giving Tuesday to the entire St Vladimir’s Seminary family!
"I Saw the Lord" (Isa 6.1): Entangled Jewish and Christian Perspectives on the Encounter with God
Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) will hold its Third Annual Academic Symposium on November 13-15, 2024.
This year’s symposium, titled “I Saw the Lord (Isa 6.1): Entangled Jewish and Christian Perspectives on the Encounter with God,” gathers leading Orthodox Christian and Jewish scholars from around the world, who will reflect on the manner in which theophanic texts—biblical accounts of Divine Revelation to the patriarchs and prophets—have always been and remain foundational to their respective doctrinal and spiritual traditions. For more details, see the Vision Statement.
The symposium will commence on Wednesday, November 13, at 6 p.m. (EST), in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium, with two keynote addresses.
With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share the news of the repose of former trustee and longtime friend and supporter of St Vladimir’s Seminary, Andrew Nassir, who fell asleep in the Lord on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
The Rev. Fr Andrew Nassir Memorial Endowment Fund was created by Andrew and the Nassir family in 1991 in honor of their grandfather, an influential Orthodox priest in early 20th century America. The initial donation of $50,000 launched the fund, but the family has increased that over the years through additional donations. The seminary distributes an amount from the fund to seminarians preparing for the priesthood every year; there were two recipients this year. Thanks to the miracle of compound interest, even with distributions from the Nassir Fund for the last 30 years, the balance has tripled.
St Vladimir’s Seminary and the Board of Trustees send their sincere condolences to the Nassir family and offer their prayers for the repose of Andrew Nassir.
To read the biography provided by Andrew’s family members, click the button below.
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.
The 2024 Fall Open House at St Vladimir’s Seminary spanned three days, offering a comprehensive look at seminary life. Eleven visitors from Canada, Switzerland, and all across the US gathered on campus for the event, held on October 13-14. Beginning with Divine Liturgy on Sunday, Oct. 13, the prospective students spent their time on campus participating in a variety of scheduled activities, including in-depth Q&A sessions with faculty, a campus and library tour, meals in the refectory with current students, class observations, and an admissions discussion covering programs, tuition, and housing. On Sunday evening, the prospective students joined current students for an excursion to downtown Scarsdale.
The event provided an immersive look into the academic, community, and spiritual life at St Vladimir’s Seminary. This was the first Open House for Director of Admissions, Zach Mandell, since joining St Vladimir’s Seminary as an employee this summer. “First and foremost, I wanted to ensure that the prospective students and their families were warmly welcomed, and to give them a chance to immerse themselves fully into campus life during their stay,” said Zach. “Seminary, of course, is more than just school. It’s community, it’s social life, it’s serving one another, it’s worshipping together, it’s striving towards a common cause - to serve the Church of Christ. And of course, for so many it is a huge sacrifice. I hope that this Open House gave an honest impression of what it is to attend St Vladimir’s Seminary, and that it helped in their journey of discernment. It was a great group of prospective students. They asked fantastic questions, brought so many different experiences to the table, and even after only two or so days, there was sorrow in their parting. I certainly hope to see them here as students sooner than later!”
Admissions season for the 2025-2026 academic year will begin on February 1, 2025. The next open house will be during the Spring 2025 semester (tentatively scheduled for President’s Day weekend). All are welcome to attend; to express interest or to inquire further about applying to study at St Vladimir’s Seminary, please contact Zach Mandell at zmandell@svots.edu.
Fr Philip and Kh. Kathryn Rogers both come from clergy and convert families. Fr Philip's family became Orthodox in 1987, with the rest of the EOC (Evangelical Orthodox Church), and Kathryn's family became Orthodox in 1998 from the Episcopal Church. The two met while they were students at the University of South Carolina. Following Fr Philip's graduation, they were married and moved to St Vladimir's Seminary. After completing seminary with a Master of Divinity in 2007, the Rogers were asked to move to Lafayette, Louisiana, where Fr Philip became the pastor of Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church (Antiochian Archdiocese). In addition to his duties there, he served as the Camp Director for Camp St Thekla from 2007–2016. In Louisiana, Kathryn finished her nursing degree and worked as an RN in the ER and ICU. In 2015 Fr Philip was assigned to serve at St John Orthodox Church in Memphis, Tennessee. Kathryn now works as a nurse in a pediatric endocrinology clinic. In September 2018 they met their daughter Margaret Elizabeth; she was officially adopted on June 17, 2019.
I was born in northwest Indiana in Gary. When we became Orthodox I was 5 years old, so I don’t have any memories of other versions of Christianity. My father was part of the group that came into the Church with Fr Peter Gillquist and the other Evangelical Orthodox; he was the youngest of the bunch. He is a historian by hobby and has recorded a lot of the history of the first people who were coming into the Faith.
Our family eventually moved to Aiken, South Carolina. I attended the University of South Carolina and met my wife there, earning degrees in Religious Studies and History. My wife is the second daughter of Fr Stephen Freeman, so we were both clergy kids and grew up knowing all the ins and out of that!
I have worn lots of random hats! But thank God they are all great and they all flow together in beautiful ways.
Fr Philip, Kh. Kathryn, and their daughter, Margaret Elizabeth
About my parish
It’s providential and serendipitous that the parish I ended up in has the same background as my father, and so is connected in a way with my boyhood parish. Founded by the well-known Orthodox evangelist Fr Peter Gillquist of blessed memory, St John started as a small community where people lived near each other in the neighborhood for extended community life. After its beginnings, the parish eventually bought and moved into an old Presbyterian church in midtown Memphis. The building is 100 years old, and when the parishioners took out the pipe organ at the back of the church, it opened up into a beautiful apse, almost like it was created to be an Orthodox church originally!
Now the whole space is filled with iconography. Every inch of wall space has been covered with icons so it’s a beautiful place to pray. The parish started with 30 people and now our average attendance is 200+!
The St Matthias Merit Essay Scholarship has been offered annually at St Vladimir’s Seminary since 2018, thanks to the generous contributions of a family of anonymous donors. These donors select the topic of the essay contest each year and develop thorough and thoughtful criteria to determine the winner. For this year's 7th Annual Contest, second-year seminarian Dn Jonathan Reavis (M.Div. ‘26) was chosen to receive the $3,500 scholarship for his essay, “Faith Amidst Uncertainty: Parenthood as a ‘Yes’ to God’s Earth.”
This year's essay topic was as follows:
After carefully reviewing their child's first year of public education, the child's parents adjusted their budget and started teaching their son at home. (Refer to the2023 St Matthias Essay prompt for background.) As a decade passed, it became evident that homeschooling had definitely led to positive outcomes for their child and family.
In this decade, homeschooling is harder on the family budget. Yet, homeschool enrollment is rising rapidly as more and more parents hope for and work towards successful outcomes for their children and families. However, increasingly more couples are no longer wanting to have children.
Essay Question: What comfort is there in hoping and laboring for the best outcome of one's children when one can choose an easier lifestyle by avoiding them? In answering the question, include Proverbs 16: 2-3 and limit your essay to 750 words.
Dn Jonathan’s essay made a compelling case for faith in God through family. In his opening he referenced the letters of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor imprisoned by the pre-WWII Nazi regime, writing, “For Bonhoeffer, marriage is not only a means of sanctification, but also a commitment to work with God in the world — to labor in faith against hopelessness. ... How he described marriage, however-- as a 'token of confidence in the future'-- rang true to my experience, and I applied this understanding to parenthood." He expanded his thesis by pointing to the Annunciation and the Garden of Gethsemane and concluded with Proverb 16:1-3.
The scholarship committee thanked all of the contestants for their effort in submitting high-quality essays, saying, “Thank you again for allowing us to provide this essay scholarship. Every year it is a bounty of thoughtful insights that we welcome and hope it is of benefit to all who participate and assist in its fruition.”
Dn Jonathan Reavis and his family came to St Vladimir’s Seminary in Fall 2023 from Kansas City, MO. He is a member of the Orthodox Church in America, Diocese of the South.
The St Matthias Merit Essay Scholarship is one of many offerings by the Seminary to help its seminarians graduate tuition debt-free as they go forth to serve the Church. SVOTS also administers need-based tuition grants, need-based scholarships, merit scholarships, continuing education grants, and matching grant opportunities for seminarians. These are made possible thanks to many benefactors who have graciously given funds to St Vladimir’s.
