Dr Harrison Russin conducts the choir at Three Hierarchs Chapel
The Orthodox Church in America (OCA)'s latest installment in its series on vocations features a conversation with the musical directors of both St. Vladimir's and St. Tikhon's Orthodox seminaries. In The Vocation of Music, St. Vladimir's Assistant Professor of Liturgical Music Dr. Harrison Russin and St. Tikhon's Director of Music Benedict Sheehan discuss questions including why Orthodox sing in church and what the Church can do to inspire more people to become Orthodox musicians.
At one point in their discussion, Dr. Russin observes that so much of Orthodoxy's liturgical and spiritual tradition comes from the early desert practice of singing the psalms.
So this is where I always start: singing the psalms is always our entry into the liturgical, spiritual, and ascetical life of the church. The very act of singing demands tasks that are the perfect training ground for spiritual warfare. In order to sing well, we have to let go. We have to listen to others, we have to be obedient to the director and to the sound of the choir. We can’t sing too loudly or too softly. The fundamentals of most singing techniques are about relaxing and singing without tension, breathing with solid but free breath. I think these are all reasons why singing the psalter is part of the foundation of the Orthodox experience.
The Orthodox Christian Leadership Initiative (OCLI) held its National Orthodox Advanced Leadership Conference for the fifth year running at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, September 17–19, 2021.
The event, which allowed in-person and online participants this year, drew More than 100 people representing four countries, nine Orthodox jurisdictions and even non-Orthodox, and twenty-three states across the United States. Nearly half of the participants joined the conference onsite, and participants from Australia and India joined in the middle of the night!
“My first time, and I thought this conference was amazing!” said one conference-goer. “It was very well organized, a lot of great information was given, and I enjoyed meeting so many people.”
The fifth annual edition of the conference, with its focus of “Generously Investing in Emerging Leaders,” featured ordained and lay speakers from multiple jurisdictions and organizations: Fr. Kosmas Kallis and Steven Christoforou from Y2AM, Christina Andresen (Orthodox Christian Fellowship) Anna Kallis (Telos Project), St. Vladimir’s Doctor of Ministry candidate Fr. Elias Dorham, Michelle Moujaes (Faithtree Resources), St. Vladimir’s Seminary Alumna Katrina Bitar (YES North America), and Fr. Timothy Hojnicki (St. Raphael School).
“We had nearly equal representation from men and women among our younger emerging leaders, seasoned lay leaders, and clergy which allowed for such an enriching experience and exchange of insight and ideas,” said OCLI Executive Director Hollie Benton (SVOTS’ class of 1999). “We have so many creative and hard-working servant leaders whose ministries support mentoring, making early life transitions, and hearkening to God’s call with a spirit of generosity rooted in responsibility and gratitude to all that our Lord has provided!”
OCLI planned an online follow-up event for participants and will make videos of the conference presentations available for them.
About OCLI
The Orthodox Christian Leadership Initiative exists to nurture and empower Orthodox Christian servant leadership. It is a national initiative to increase generosity, servant leadership, and social outreach by clergy and laity of all jurisdictions working together nationally, regionally, and locally.
Originating from the Orthodox Vision Foundation and its annual Orthodox Advanced Leadership Conferences beginning in 2017 and hosted at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, OCLI was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in October 2018.
Saint Vladimir’s Seminary is hitting the road and heading to Cleveland this fall. On Saturday, October 2, 2021, we’re hosting the special educational event, Orthodoxy & Evangelism, at St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral.
The event will feature the launch of the new book, The Evangelical Theology of the Eastern Orthodox Church (SVS Press), and a talk by the book’s author, Dr. Bradley Nassif. The day will also feature two other keynotes, by Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield and Very Rev. Dr. Eric Tosi, and a Q&A panel discussion with all three speakers on Orthodox Christian missiology and evangelism.
Orthodoxy & Evangelism is free to attend in person OR online, and begins at 10 a.m. EDT. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees.
Orthodoxy & Evangelism will support the education of seminarians at St. Vladimir’s. As you register, consider offering a gift and help raise $30 thousand to go toward forming priests, missionaries, teachers, and other servants for the Church. More information is included on the donation form.
The Orthodoxy & Evangelism event is being held in partnership with St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral (Cleveland, OH), St. Luke the Evangelist Antiochian Orthodox Church (Bainbridge, OH), and St. Innocent Orthodox Church (Olmsted Falls, OH).
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Dr. Bradley Nassif, professor of biblical and theological studies at North Park University in Chicago, is an Orthodox Christian scholar known especially for his ecumenical involvement and active role in Orthodox evangelism. Raised in the Orthodox Church as a Lebanese-American, Dr. Nassif also spent some time worshipping in the Evangelical tradition in his youth. His experience in both realms has made him a pioneer in Orthodox-Evangelical relations. His life experience, combined with his knowledge of Orthodox faith and history, places him in a unique position from which to articulate the Orthodox faith to a diverse audience.
Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfieldis president of St. Vladimir's Seminary. An exceptional lecturer and professor of pastoral theology, Fr. Chad has served in the mission field in South Africa, Alaska, and Guatemala as well as in parish ministry in the United States. His experience in various pastoral, teaching, and administrative roles, spread over more than forty years of ordained ministry, are now blended into his ministry of seminarian formation at St. Vladimir’s.
Very Rev. Dr. Eric Tosiis assistant professor of pastoral theology at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, chairman of the Commission on Missions and Evangelism for the Diocese of New York and New Jersey (Orthodox Church in America), and rector of St. Gregory the Theologian Church in Wappingers Falls, NY. Father Eric possesses a wealth of diverse experiences and knowledge as a priest and educator. In addition to his current ministries, he was secretary of the OCA, longtime chairman of the OCA’s Department of Evangelization, a mission priest in Billings, MT, and parish priest in Las Vegas, NV. Father Eric also served as a captain in the U.S. Army and held other positions in the business world.
ORTHODOXY & EVANGELICALISM is made possible by our gracious hosts and sponsors.
HOSTING PARISHES
St. Luke the Evangelist Antiochian Orthodox Church
(Bainbridge Township, OH)
St. Innocent Orthodox Church
(Olmsted Township, OH)
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral
(Cleveland, OH)
EVENT SPONSORS
Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society of Sts. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral
(Cleveland, OH)
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
(Parma, OH)
$1,500
Alex Machaskee, D.H.L.
The Honorable Catherine Fuller
$2,500
St. Innocent Orthodox Church
Insurance Systems Group & the Herzak Family
We also offer sincere gratitude to Dr. Bradley Nassif, author of The Evangelical Theology of the Orthodox Church; The Rev. Remus Grama, pastor of St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Cathedral; The Rev. Matthew Thurman, pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Orthodox Church; Mrs. Maca Tyler; Mrs. Erin Susick; and the Lady’s Auxiliary of St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral for their tireless efforts in the Lord’s vineyard and diligent work to make this event possible.
Grant, O Lord, a prosperous and peaceful life, health, salvation, and furtherance in all good things to these Thy servants, and preserve them for MANY YEARS!
Sponsoring Dn. Nicholas were St. Vladimir's Seminary President Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield and Dn. Nicholas' fellow Antiochian seminarian Rev. Thomas Miller. Several other seminarians from St. Vladimir's were present at the Divine Liturgy and ordination.
May God grant many years to the newly ordained Dn. Nicholas Fine and his family! AXIOS!
With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Deacon Michael Bishop, who fell asleep in the Lord suddenly on September 19.
Deacon Michael had served at Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in Baltimore, MD since his ordination to the diaconate there in 2007. He was also a member of the Bishop's Council of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA. Deacon Michael was awarded the dignity of wearing the double orarion in 2018.
The Rev. Dn. Michael graduated from St. Vladimir's Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 1992. He also held a bachelor's degree in sociology from Merrimack College, North Andover, MA.
His is remembered for his kindness, warmth, and love for serving the Holy Church.
Saint Vladimir's Seminary is partnering with the Orthodox Christian Leadership Initiative once again for the 5th Annual National Orthodox Advanced Leadership Conference. We are delighted to bring together emerging and seasoned leaders—clergy and laity, men and women, younger and older—for important conversations as we share in the life and work of the Church. Let’s make this an enriching experience, encouraging one another in Christ!
The event may be attended IN PERSON or ONLINE. Click below to register, view the conference schedule, and learn more.
The Orthodox Christian Leadership Initiative exists to nurture and empower Orthodox Christian servant leadership. It is a national initiative to increase generosity, servant leadership, and social outreach by clergy and laity of all jurisdictions working together nationally, regionally, and locally.
Originating from the Orthodox Vision Foundation and its annual Orthodox Advanced Leadership Conferences beginning in 2017, the Orthodox Christian Leadership Initiative was established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in October, 2018.
Representative of many jurisdictions and vocational backgrounds, the Board of Directors is committed to supporting leadership development in service to God and neighbor. We affirm what our youngest board member states, "Just as Orthodoxy takes practice and work, cultivating and inspiring leadership in the Church should be an ongoing exercise."
Members of the renowned Tronos Psaltic Group from the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest performed Byzantine chant live from St. Vladimir’s Seminary on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. The concert at Three Hierarchs Chapel also included performances by the Seminary's Byzantine choir and sextet.
"We were enveloped in prayer through your incredible, incredible way of presenting the Byzantine tradition," Seminary President Fr. Chad Hatfield said as he addressed the members of Tronos following their performance. He also praised the seminarians who performed during the evening, speaking of how proud their performance makes the Seminary community.
The Seminary's Byzantine Choir was led by Seminarian Dn. Nicholas Fine, and Dr. Harrison Russin, assistant professor of liturgical music, conducted the sextet.
Tronos Psaltic Group is among the most well-known Byzantine choirs in Romania. Tronos was created in 1997 at the initiative of Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, the protopsaltis of Bucharest’s Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helena. The name “Tronos” was given to the group in 2007 by His Beatitude, Patriarch Daniel. Over its more than twenty-year history, the choir has recorded several albums and performed Byzantine sacred music at venues throughout the world.
Members of the renowned Tronos Psaltic Group from the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest will offer a special performance of Byzantine chant live from St. Vladimir’s Seminary! The concert—free to attend online—takes place on Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at 7 p.m. EDT.
Tronos Psaltic Group is among the most well-known Byzantine choirs in Romania. Tronos was created in 1997 at the initiative of Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, the protopsaltis of Bucharest’s Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helena. The name “Tronos” was given to the group in 2007 by His Beatitude, Patriarch Daniel. Over its more than twenty-year history, the choir has recorded several albums and performed Byzantine sacred music at venues throughout the world.
Giving thanks to God, the St. Vladimir's Seminary community is celebrating the ordination of Dr. Vitaly Permiakov, the Seminary's ecclesiarch and assistant professor of liturgical theology, to the rank of deacon in the Orthodox Church. The Rev. Dn. Vitaly was ordained through the hand of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon at Three Hierarchs Chapel on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14, 2021.
Dn. Vitaly joined St. Vladimir's as a full-time faculty member in August 2020, following an extensive search for a gifted scholar to fill the liturgical theology professorship, a historically prominent position at the Seminary. Already in his short tenure at the Seminary, he has become an integral part of the Seminary's academic and spiritual life, also taking on the role of ecclesiarch at Three Hierarchs Chapel and co-editing the new-look St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly.
Dn. Vitaly Permiakov was born to a Russian family in Riga, Latvia, and relocated to the United States in 1999 after completing his undergraduate studies at the Latvian Academy of Culture in Riga. He went on to earn a masters degree in humanities from the University of Texas at Dallas, then entered St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary with the blessing of late Archbishop Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas (OCA) (d. 2011). After finishing seminary, Dn. Permiakov enrolled in a doctoral program in Liturgical Studies at the University of Notre Dame, where in 2012 he defended his dissertation on the history and origins of the Byzantine rite for the consecration of churches.
Dn. Permiakov taught at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville, NY) from 2011 to 2020 before joining St. Vladimir's Seminary as assistant professor of liturgical theology.
He was tonsured to the ecclesiastical rank of reader in 2002 and ordained subdeacon on the Feast of Annunciation in 2021; both took place also at three Hierarchs Chapel.
May God grant the Rev. Dn. Vitaly many years! AXIOS!
