His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph, archbishop of New York and metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA), presided over the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy and ordination service. Saint Vladimir's Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield and Dn. Joseph's fellow Antiochian seminarians from St. Vladimir's were also present.
The Rev. Dn. Joseph Thornburg is in his second year at St. Vladimir's, studying in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program. He and his wife, Marina, are parents to Isaac and Ella. Their home parish is St. Andrew Orthodox Church in Riverside, CA.
May God grant the newly ordained Dn. Joseph and his family many years! AXIOS!
Pictured: (Back, left to right) Dr. Ionut-Alexandru Tudorie and Dr. John Barnet; (Front, left to right) Mr. Alexandru Popovici, Fr. Aetios (Nikiforos), Fr. Chad Hatfield, Dr. Konstantinos Delikostantis, and Dr. Peter Bouteneff
On Friday, St. Vladimir's Seminary warmly welcomed to campus Very Rev. Grand Ecclesiarch Aetios (Nikiforos) and University of Athens Professor of Religion Emeritus Dr. Konstantinos Delikostantis. The two guests are in the country traveling with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on His All-Holiness's apostolic visit to the United States.
The distinguished guests met with seminary faculty and staff and toured the chapel and library. Father Aetios and Dr. Delikostantis were particularly impressed by the work happening in the Fr. Georges Florovsky Library. They also discussed the possibility of more seminarians from the Ecumenical Patriarchate studying at St. Vladimir's in the future.
Dr. Delikostantis taught comparative religion and philosophy of religion at the University of Florina from 1990–2001. That year, he took up a position at the University of Athens to teach systematic theology. Dr. Delikostantis is the author of many articles and books on theology, philosophy, education, and culture. He currently serves as director of the First Patriarchal Office of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
The St. Vladimir's Seminary community bids a fond farewell to Ramon Contreras, a member of the Seminary's Plant Maintenance team. Ramon entered retirement on Friday, October 29, 2021.
For sixteen years, Ramon has been a wonderful member of the Seminary team, working to help maintain and beautify campus daily.
"He is a man of many talents and an incredible work ethic, but we will above all miss his warm friendship we've enjoyed for so many years at St. Vladimir's," said Seminary President Fr. Chad Hatfield. "We offer our prayers and best wishes as he enters his well-deserved retirement."
Seminary staff gathered for a farewell party on Ramon's final day.
Becoming a Priest was shot and directed in 2021 by Sarah Werner, SVOTS' chief marketing officer, and edited by Caleb Rexford. It features Alumnus Priest Peter Runyon, who was completing his degree at St. Vladimir's at the time, offering a powerful reflection on his journey to Orthodox Christianity and the priesthood.
"This film was created to help inspire those who are discerning their call to service in the Church, whether through priesthood or lay leadership," said Werner. "We hope Fr. Peter's words touch everyone's hearts as they did ours while we were filming it.
"Thank you, Byzanfest, for including Becoming a Priest in this year's film festival! We are so honored to be a part of it."
From October 30 to November 8, Byzanfest will stream Becoming a Priest and other short and feature-length films inspired and produced by Eastern Orthodox Christians around the world on YouTube. You can also access the stream through the Byzanfest website.
Established in 2014, Byzanfest is an international film festival dedicated exclusively to Orthodox Christian cinema. Byzanfest organizers aim to stream and screen the very best Orthodox stories each year with the world.
Fr James Parnell baptizes a soldier in the Gulf of Aden June 28, 2021.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Amanda Stock)
The Rev. James Parnell graduated cum laude from St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program in 2013. The title of his M.Div. thesis could serve as an abstract of the story of his life and ministry before and after seminary: Growing from Dragon to Man: A Parish Resource for Reintegrating Orthodox Soldiers and Veterans Returning from War.
Today, Fr. James is rector of All Saints Orthodox Church, Hartford, CT, where he was assigned shortly after graduation. He is also a chaplain in the Connecticut Army National Guard, assigned to the 1-102nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain) headquartered in New Haven, CT, and chief of chaplains for the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, focusing on the spiritual care of those suffering from Moral Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress, Substance Abuse, Acute/Chronic Pain, and Long-term Mental Illness.
Father James was born and raised in Little Rock, AR, in a devout Southern Baptist home. He joined the Army shortly after the attacks on September 11, 2001 and began training as an Arabic linguist. He met his wife, Holly (also an Army veteran), while studying at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. Father James and Mat. Holly were married in 2007 and have five children: Samuel, Ariane, Eleanor, Sean, and Ingrid.
In June of 2021, inspiring U.S. Army photos made the rounds on social media showing Fr. James baptizing a soldier in the Gulf of Aden, between Yemen and the Horn of Africa. We caught up with Fr. James to ask him about the story behind the images and his devotion to serving those who serve.
The Rev. Dn. Anthony, a seminarian of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA), is in his second year studying in St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program. He holds a master’s degree in English language and literature from San Diego State University and a doctoral degree in English and medieval literature and culture from the University of Victoria.
Deacon Anthony has held several teaching roles, including 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; and headmaster at Christ the Savior Academy in Wichita, KS.
Odysseus [Ulysses] Recognized by His Dog (Theodoor van Thulden, c. 1630)
Argus the Watcher, by St. Vladimir's Seminarian Theodore Mantzikos, was chosen as the winning entry of the 4th Annual St. Matthias Merit Scholarship Essay Contest. The anonymous donors behind the St. Matthias Merit Scholarship asked seminarians to reflect on the relationship between Ulysses and his dog, Argus, in Homer's Odyssey, and to relate it to the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7.24-30 and Christ's exhortation to "watch" in Mark 13.33-37.
Met. Tikhon and Theodore Mantzikos at SVOTS' Commencement Exercises, May 15, 2021
Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) has announced Seminarian Theodore Mantzikosas the winner of the 4th Annual St. Matthias Merit Scholarship Essay Contest.
The contest was opened to current SVOTS students at the beginning of the 2021 fall semester. For his winning entry, titled, “Argus the Watcher”, Mantzikos had $3,000 in award money added to his scholarship fund.
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 Online Open House, October 14-15!
Registration for this Open House is Now Closed.
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, and speak with Seminary professors—all virtually, of course.
Fall Open House Schedule
Thursday, October 14
7:30am –Matins (Antiochian Archdiocese) 8:30am – Welcome 8:45am – Message from President Archpriest Chad Hatfield & Academic Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie 9:15am – Modern Era Missiology (Class Session) with Archpriest Chad Hatfield 12:00pm – Lunch 2:00pm – History of the Church until the Great Schism (Class Session) with Dr. Tudorie 5:00pm – Vespers (Antiochian Archdiocese)
Friday, October 15
7:00am – Matins (Orthodox Church in America)
9:00am – Virtual Campus Tour 10:00am – Virtual Library Tour 10:30am – Tuition & Financial Aid Info Session 12:00pm – Lunch 1:00pm – Meet St. Vladimir’s Seminary Faculty 2:00pm – Q&A 3:00pm – Admissions Info Session 4:00pm – Closing Remarks
The Online Open House is a perfect way to experience the life of a seminarian before applying to study at St. Vladimir’s. The Seminary will begin accepting applications for the 2022-2023 Academic Year in February.
Theregistrationperiod for the Fall Online Open House ends Tuesday, October 12.
Questions about the Online Open House or applying to St. Vladimir’s Seminary? Email admissions@svots.edu.
Fr. Christopher serving at Holy Ascension Orthodox Church
On September 12, 2021, St Vladimir's Seminary Alumnus Fr. Christopher Eid was elevated to the dignity of archpriest. The elevation took place by the hand of His Grace, Bishop Thomas at Holy Ascension Antiochian Orthodox Church, West Chester, PA, where Fr. Christopher serves as priest.
In his remarks after concluding the elevation, Bishop Thomas noted that this dignity is granted not based upon tenure (having served in the capacity of the priesthood for ten years) but rather due to a priest’s ability to lead and be a priest other priests can look up to.
A native of Syria, Fr. Christopher was raised in an Orthodox home among the clergy members of his family. He attended and served at the Bosra Horan Archdiocesan Chancery Church of St. George in Syria before moving to the United States. While working full-time after arriving in America, Fr. Christopher also attended the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center, obtaining a bachelor of science degree in international criminal investigation.
After completing this professional training, he established a career in executive protection security and investigation. However, his love for the Church compelled Fr. Christopher to leave his job. With the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip of thrice blessed memory, he enrolled at St. Vladimir's seminary and completed his Masters of Divinity degree in May of 2010.
Remembering his time at St. Vladimir’s, Fr. Christopher noted that “because of my years of education at St. Vladimir’s, I have been equipped to quench the spiritual thirst of those seeking Christ. Continuing on the same path that the Master of Divinity program encouraged us to follow, I am committed to working with all Orthodox Christian organizations in order to serve the future of Orthodoxy, whether they be children born into the faith or and those who will be coming home through mission and outreach work.”
Father Christopher married Khouria Katarina (née Jegdic) in October of 2010, and in 2011 he was ordained to the holy diaconate and holy priesthood.
Father Christopher's priestly ministry has taken him to several parishes throughout the U.S. Immediately following ordination in 2011, Fr. Christopher was given a temporary assignment to serve alongside Fr. Elias Bitar of blessed memory at St. George Orthodox Church in Little Falls, NJ, before moving to Houston, TX, to serve at St. George Orthodox Church. Father Christopher served in Houston from December 2011 to December 2014. He was then assigned as dean of St. George Cathedral in Charleston, WV, a position he held for almost four years. In 2018, Fr. Christopher was assigned to Yonkers, NY, to become the priest at Virgin Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church. In September 2020, he was assigned as the priest of Holy Ascension Antiochian Orthodox Church.
While serving as a full-time priest, Fr. Christopher began attending the Eastern Christian Focus Doctor of Ministry Program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He is expected to graduate with his doctoral degree in May 2022.
May God grant The Very Rev. Christopher Eid and his family many years!
