With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Great Economos Antony Gabriel, an alumnus of St Vladimir’s Seminary (M.Div. ’62). Fr Antony Gabriel’s priestly ministry spanned six decades, four parishes and a host of Antiochian Archdiocesan organizations. He reposed in the Lord on Wednesday, November 2, in Tucscon, AZ, at the age of 82.

Fr Antony was born in Syracuse, New York. He attended St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) immediately before its relocation from its former housing at Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan to the present campus in Yonkers, NY. He studied under foundational SVOTS professors such as Fr Alexander Schmemann, Fr John Meyendorff, Dr Veselin Kesich, and Dr Nicholas Arseniev, and shared a room with Fr Thomas Hopko for a time. Upon the occasion of his retirement in 2015, Fr Antony reflected on his time at St Vladimir’s Seminary in an article for the Antiochian Archdiocesan website, describing daily life in the early days of the Seminary in many poignant and humorous vignettes.

After graduating St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in 1962, Metropolitan Antony Bashir ordained him to the holy priesthood and Fr Antony began his first parish assignment at St George Church of Phoenix, Arizona. Fr Antony later served St Elias Church of Sylvania, Ohio and founded St George Church of Cicero, Illinois before serving at St George Church of Montreal, Quebec, which he pastored for more than 30 years.

In Montreal, he facilitated the welcomes and relocations of Lebanese refugees from their homeland's "uncivil war," as Fr Antony called it, in the 1980s. He did the same for Syrian refugees fleeing the war in their homeland in the 2010s. St George Church doubled in size to 1,000 families during his tenure, and he helped establish St Mary Church in Montreal.

In 1976, Fr Antony was a founding member and the first chaplain of The Order of Ignatius of Antioch. He also organized the Department of Conventions and Conference Planning, created the Antiochian Heritage Foundation, and lectured on Antiochian Church history at the Antiochian House of Studies.

Fr Antony often accompanied Metropolitan Philip Saliba to the Middle East. Sayidna Philip led the celebrations of Fr Antony's 50th anniversary in the holy priesthood in 2012. Fr Antony retired from active ministry in 2015 and moved to Tucson, Arizona.

Funeral services are pending. Please keep Fr Antony in your prayers for the departed and his wife, Kh. Lynn, and their family in your prayers for the living. 

May the memory of Fr Antony Gabriel be eternal!

This article was adapted and reprinted from Antiochian.org.

On October 22, over one hundred teens and parents gathered at St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) for a Teen Society of Orthodox Youth Organizations (SOYO) retreat, hosted by St Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Brooklyn, NY.

Fr Nicholas Belcher (M.Div. '05, former lecturer on Antiochian Liturgics) gave the primary talk for the retreat, encouraging the teens in living out their faith with the support of a “matrix” of godly friends, teachers, and spiritual advisors. Fr Nicholas is Chair of the Youth & Young Adult Ministry Task Force for the Antiochian Archdiocese, former Dean of Students at Hellenic College Holy Cross, and an experienced counselor and speaker for youth programs and events.

Following the main talk, ten SVOTS seminarians from the Antiochian Archdiocese and three from the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) shared their experiences at the Seminary with the teens. The male and female seminarians who spoke represented a diverse cross-section of the SVOTS student body and several of the degree programs offered at St Vladimir’s Seminary. Students introduced themselves, talked about the daily routine at Seminary, and discussed their decision-making process in coming to study at St Vladimir’s.

Dn Joseph Thornburg (3rd year, M.Div.), reemphasized Fr. Nicholas Belcher’s earlier point about cultivating a “matrix of people you can go to, who can speak into your life, and pray with you through the difficult choices” in discerning a possible vocation in Church ministry.

“When you’re doing the thing that God wants you to do, he creates the path for you,” Fr Nicholas Fine (3rd year, M.Div.) remarked, encouraging the teens to seek out their future paths with trust in God.

After a lively discussion with SVOTS seminarians, the retreat participants enjoyed lunch on the seminary grounds and participated in various service projects to help beautify the campus. Service projects included picking up trash along the roadside bordering the campus, as well as putting together furniture.

To close out the day, the group celebrated an early Vespers service in Three Hierarchs Chapel, with the teens joining seminarians in reading and chanting.

Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) is now partnering with Ancient Faith Radio to share homilies recorded live during services on campus, in a new podcast called Give Me a Word, Homilies from Three Hierarchs Chapel.

Featured clergy include SVOTS Faculty, honored guests, and students. The podcast is set to be released weekly, offering an opportunity for the wider SVOTS community and alumni to stay in close communion with life here at the Seminary.

Give Me a Word is available to stream via Ancient Faith Radio, or via the Apple Podcasts app.

Click here to listen

St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) has announced Seminarian Dn Silouan Parchert as the winner of the 5th Annual St Matthias Merit Scholarship Essay Contest.

Seminarians were invited to submit essays for the contest in September 2022. After careful deliberation, the panel of anonymous donors awarded the $3,000 scholarship to Dn Silouan for his essay, titled “God is Greater than our Hearts”.

READ THE WINNING ESSAY

The essay topic for this year’s contest centered around the potential issues that arise from modern parenting trends towards a “friend” relationship with their children, as opposed to the more traditional “authority figure” relationship. Respondents were asked to discuss the implications of both parenting styles, and to consider what kind of counsel they might give if asked for advice on this matter in the future. Participants were asked to frame their responses in light of the passage from 1 John 3.18–20, 

Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

The panel of donors gave specific feedback and praise for each essay submission, and expressed their appreciation for the efforts of all the participants. The decision to award Dn Silouan with the scholarship was thoughtfully made based on several points, especially for his understanding that “a parent can do all that is meet and right as a Christian parent should and be painfully rejected by their own child”. Dn Silouan invites Christian parents to take comfort and inspiration from Christ in prayer, writing,

He knows the pain of giving His very life as an offering, only to be betrayed and abandoned. If we align ourselves with our Savior, then we, as parents, can be strengthened as we set limits, model virtue, honor freedom, and above all pray for our children. Lord, give us strength!

Dn Silouan expressed his gratitude for the St Matthias Merit Scholarship, underscoring how much he and his whole family appreciate the additional support. 

“My family and I are incredibly blessed to be receiving this scholarship. We are very grateful for the donors who are helping to fund my education here at St Vladimir’s Seminary,” wrote Dn Silouan. “I also appreciate the opportunity to think deeply about a pastoral matter with which many clergy and leaders within parishes are confronted: how to advise parents on boundary setting vs. leniency, and other difficult parenting topics.”

Dn Silouan is a first-year seminarian in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program at St Vladimir’s Seminary, and is projected to graduate in May 2025. He was ordained a deacon in July 2020, after completing the OCA Diaconal Vocations Program. All Saints of North America Orthodox Church, in Albuquerque, NM is Dn Silouan’s home parish; he is currently attached as a deacon at Three Hierarchs Chapel on the St Vladimir’s Seminary campus. Dn Silouan and his wife, Mat. Emilia, have three children, Colin, Brendan, and Sebastian.

Congratulations, Dn Silouan!

About the St Matthias Merit Scholarship Essay Contest

The St Matthias Merit Scholarship Essay Contest is offered annually, thanks to the generous contributions of a family of anonymous donors. These donors also select the topic of the essay contest each year and develop thorough and thoughtful criteria to determine the winner.

The contest 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.

Previous winners: 

• Sophia Theodoratos
• Andrew Kayaian
• Alexander Earl
• Theodore Mantzikos

God is Greater than our Hearts, by St Vladimir’s Seminarian Dn Silouan Parchert, was chosen as the winning entry of the 5th Annual St Matthias Merit Scholarship Essay Contest. The anonymous donors who sponsor the contest each year asked participants to reflect on the potential issues that arise from modern parenting trends towards a “friend” relationship with their children, as opposed to the more traditional “authority figure” relationship. Respondents were asked to discuss the implications of both parenting styles, and to consider what kind of counsel they might give if asked for advice on this matter in the future, in light of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John’s instruction to know that “God is greater than our hearts” in 1 John 3.18–20.

God is Greater than our Hearts 

What is our ultimate aim for our children? Do we want them to be hard-working and  productive members of society as adults? Or better yet, do we want them to be saints? And if we  desire sanctity for our children, as all Christian parents should, how do we foster and facilitate  growth in Christian virtue? All discussion of parenting must begin with these fundamental  questions. It is only with the end in mind that we can properly begin to discuss questions of  Christian parenting.

No one would argue that limitations are necessary for daily living. Most adults have  responsibilities and therefore make sacrifices for higher purposes, beyond immediate desires. For  the Orthodox Christian, asceticism–the practice of self-denial–is how we attain purification from passions and communion with Christ. According to Orthodox parenting expert Dr. Philip  Mamalakis, “[w]e venerate our children as icons of Christ by respecting them as persons as we  set limits with them.”  If we want our children to be saints, then restrictions aren’t optional; they  are necessary for the acquisition of virtue.

Some freedom and leniency is also necessary for children, the degree to which will  depend largely on maturity. Children need to practice virtue as an act of free will. If we, as  parents, overly restrict our children, then we deprive them of opportunities to act generously,  kindly, lovingly, etc. Virtue needs to be trained, and not coerced.

It is here that we get to the heart of an important pastoral question: How much stock  should we put in being liked or friended by our children? It is important to remember that children are not given to us for our fulfillment. Even if we work at maintaining a peaceful household in accordance with St. Paul’s exhortation (Rom 12.18), we shouldn’t expect that our  children will always be friendly with us; to demand such is narcissistic on our part.

Even with the recognition that good parents set boundaries, lead by virtuous example, and honor free-will, there is real pain when our children turn away from us. Parents can take  solace in 1 John 3.20: “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all  things.” In other words, if we experience pain because of our children’s rejection, God is greater  than our pain, and He understands our intentions. Children will break our hearts by rebelling and  acting in ways contrary to the Gospel and our wishes. Christ knows our pain, and he knows  rejection. He knows the pain of giving His very life as an offering, only to be betrayed and abandoned. If we align ourselves with our Savior, then we, as parents, can be strengthened as we  set limits, model virtue, honor freedom, and above all pray for our children. Lord, give us  strength!

Dn Silouan is a first-year seminarian in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program at St Vladimir’s Seminary, and is projected to graduate in May 2025. He was ordained a deacon in July 2020, after completing the OCA Diaconal Vocations Program. All Saints of North America Orthodox Church, in Albuquerque, NM is Dn Silouan’s home parish; he is currently attached as a deacon at Three Hierarchs Chapel on the St Vladimir’s Seminary campus. Dn Silouan and his wife, Mat. Emilia, have three children, Colin, Brendan, and Sebastian.

Last month, in a joint ceremony honoring His Holiness, Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the primate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) of India, several distinguished SVOTS faculty members were also honored by the announcement of faculty chairs, sponsored by long-standing endowments. These faculty awards are a major first step toward SVOTS' goal of creating faculty chairs in the various academic disciplines represented at the Seminary (and other disciplines as SVOTS looks to expand its faculty).

“The creation of faculty chairs, with support from our endowments, will give us more freedom to do other things in addition to expanding the faculty and supporting related programs and degree programs we offer,” Fr. Chad Hatfield, President of Seminary, explained.

He then announced the following honors: SVOTS Academic Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie has been named Peter N. Gramowich Professor of Church History; Dr. Peter C. Bouteneff is Kulik Professor of Sacred Arts and Systematic Theology; The Rev. Dr. Bogdan Bucur is John Meyendorff Associate Professor of Patristics; The Rev. Dn. Dr. Vitaly Permiakov is Alexander Schmemann Assistant Professor of Liturgical Theology; Dr. Harrison Russin is Prokofiev Assistant Professor of Liturgical Music; and finally The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield himself was named Skvir Professor of Pastoral Theology.

May God grant all SVOTS faculty members many, many years!

Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) will hold its 1st Annual Academic Symposium on October 27-29, 2022. 

The keynote address is open to the public for in-person and online attendance on Oct. 27, 2022 at 7:00 PM EDT, hosted in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium. The address, given by The Rev. Canon Maxwell E. Johnson, PhD, is entitled: Lex orandi est lex credendi: Alexander Schmemann’s Liturgical Theology in Ecumenical Context. The remainder of the symposium is private, attendance is by invitation only.

Professor Johnson describes his upcoming talk in the following words: 

This lecture will provide, first, an overview of Alexander Schmemann's approach to liturgical theology, especially his use of the formula "lex orandi est lex credendi" and his articulation of the Ordo as the basic underlying structure and theology of liturgy, in relationship to the classic articulation of "ut legem credendi lex statuat supplicandi'' of Prosper of Aquitane. The second part will focus on how some contemporary liturgical theologians have used Schmemann's approach to articulate positions which, while seeming to build on him, may actually have misunderstood him. The lecture will conclude with a focus on ecumenism and suggest a new line of liturgical theology and liturgical theologians.

The 1st Annual Academic Symposium at SVOTS focuses on Liturgy and Theology. Seminary Faculty will interact with leading voices in the liturgical studies field from around the world, and have plans to build upon this event by participating in other exchanges, as well as to publish more work in the academic sphere which contributes to Orthodox theological viewpoints on matters of liturgics, patristics, Church history, and biblical studies.

Speakers presenting during the in-house portion of the symposium include Metropolitan Job (Getcha), Fr Thomas Pott, Nina Glibetic, Dn Daniel Galadza, Stig R. Frøyshov, Dn Vitaly Permiakov, Dn Mark Roosien, and Fr Arsenius Mikhail. Portions of the Symposium will be recorded and published on the SVOTS Youtube channel after the conclusion of the event.

About Professor Maxwell Johnson:  

The Rev. Canon Maxwell E. Johnson is a noted scholar, author and teacher, as well as professor of liturgical studies at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN. An ordained Lutheran minister, Dr Johnson has a doctorate in theology, with an emphasis in liturgical history, from Notre Dame; he also has master’s degrees in theology from St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN, and from Notre Dame. In addition, he has a Master of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA.

Some of Dr Johnson's main research interests include the origins and development of early Christian Liturgy, with a special focus on the early history of the rites of Christian initiation, the early eucharistic liturgy, and the feasts and seasons of the liturgical year. He has published important translations of patristic works from Greek into English, including St Cyril of Jerusalem’s Lectures on the Christian Sacraments, published by SVS Press in 2017.

Watch the keynote address recording

May God grant many blessed years to the St Vladimir's Seminary alumni and students who were recently ordained! Axios!

HOLY PRIESTHOOD

Priest Nicholas Fine

(3rd-Year Seminarian, M.Div. Program)

Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 12SEPT21 by His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph at St Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, Brooklyn, NY
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 25SEPT22 by His Grace, Bishop John (Abdalah) at St Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, Bridgeport, CT
Current Ministry: Virgin Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, Yonkers, NY
Educational and Professional Background: B.A. in Bible and Theology from Multnomah University, Portland, OR

Priest Basil Puthukkunnathu Mathai

(M.Div., ‘20)

Jurisdiction: Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 19MARCH22 by the hand of His Eminence, Mor Titus Yeldho at St Ephrem Cathedral, Malankara Archdiocesan Headquarters, Old Tappan, NJ
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 8OCT22 by His Eminence, Mor Titus Yeldho at St Ephrem Cathedral, Malankara Archdiocesan Headquarters, Old Tappan, NJ
Current Ministry: Serves at St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church of White Plains, NY (Bronxville, NY); MGSOSA Northeast regional clergy advisor
Educational and Professional Background:  B.A. in history & international affairs from the University of Georgia; M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Boston College; currently teaches history at a high school in Newark, NJ

Priest Anthony (Gaelan) Gilbert

(M.Div., ‘20)

Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 24OCT21 by His Grace, Bishop Basil at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral, Wichita, KS
Holy Priesthood: Ordained 16OCT22 by His Grace, Bishop Basil at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral, Wichita, KS
Current Ministry: St Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY

Educational and Professional Background: Adjunct professor of literature and history at Hellenic College-Holy Cross, Brookline, MA; department chair and associate professor of arts and humanities at the University of Saint Katherine, San Marcos, CA; headmaster at Christ the Savior Academy in Wichita, KS; Ph.D. in English and medieval literature and culture from the University of Victoria; M.A. in English language and literature from San Diego State University

HOLY DIACONATE

Deacon Geevarghese (Renish) Abraham 

(2nd-Year Seminarian, M.Div. Program)

Jurisdiction: Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC)
Holy Diaconate: Ordained 20AUG22 by His Grace, Youhanon Mar Demetrios at Ss Peter and Paul’s Orthodox Church, Parumala, Kerala, India
Educational and Professional Background: Assistant professor of English at St Stephen's College, University of Delhi (on sabbatical); Ph.D. in English studies and M.A. in English literature from the University of Delhi; B.A. in English language and literature from Catholicate College, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India

Do you feel called to serve the Church, either in ordained ministry, academia, or another vocation? Explore that calling at St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s on-site Open House, October 14–16! 

Register to Attend In-Person

Prospective seminarians are invited to take a closer look at the spiritual, academic, and residential life at St. Vladimir’s. Pray in the chapel, attend classes, speak with Seminary professors, and enjoy our beautiful campus. 

Prospective students will be responsible to cover transportation (to and from the Seminary) and lodging expenses (2 nights). Meals will be provided by the Seminary.

Fall Open House Schedule

Friday, October 14
By 3:30 pm - Arrivals
4:00 pm - Welcome Remarks by President & Academic Dean
5:00 pm - Dinner

Saturday, October 15
7:30 am - Continental Breakfast
8:30 am - Campus & Library Tours
9:30 am - Full-Time Faculty and Degree Programs Presentation
11:30 am - Tuition & Financial Aid
12:00 pm - Lunch & Group Discussion with Current Seminarians
1-3:00 pm - Discussion and Q&A Session with Faculty Members
3:15 pm - Meeting and Discussion with Spiritual Formation Director
4:00 pm - Admissions and Q&A Session
5:00 pm - Dinner
6:00 pm - All-Night Vigil

Sunday, October 16
9:00 am - Divine Liturgy
11:00 am - Brunch and Closing Remarks
12:30 pm - Departure

Lodging Options:

1. Book your room via this link for discounted rate at Hampton Inn & Suites (559 Tuckahoe Road Yonkers, NY 10710)
2. Other hotels in the area   
3. Airbnb

On October 3, 2022, at 5 p.m. EDT, Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) will serve a Panikhida for His Eminence, Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia, on the 40th day of his repose (August 22, 2022). The Panikhida will take place in the Three Hierarchs Chapel at St Vladimir’s, and is open to the public. The Panikhida will also be livestreamed.

Immediately following the Panikhida, at 5:30 p.m. EDT, via the same livestream, The Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield, His Eminence, Archbishop Alexander (Golitzin), and Dr Peter Bouteneff will share personal remembrances of Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) and reflect on his relationship with the Seminary and SVS Press.

Click the registration button below to register and gain access to the livestream link.

Register Now

About Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware)

His Eminence, Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia, authored, among many other works, the immensely popular The Orthodox Way, published by St Vladimir's Seminary (SVS) Press, and the Seminary was blessed to have him speak on campus on multiple occasions.

In September 2011, the Seminary Board of Trustees and faculty bestowed upon Metropolitan Kallistos an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in recognition of the many gifts His Eminence contributed to the Orthodox Church and to Christians worldwide.

For many years following his retirement as a university lecturer, Metropolitan Kallistos continued to publish and to give lectures on Orthodox Christianity, traveling widely. He was considered by many to be one of the most important Orthodox Christian theologians of his generation.