Off-Campus • By third-year seminarian Ignatius Green

View the photo gallery by third-year seminarian Stephen Osburn

January 22, 2015 marked the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the historic Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion-on-demand in the United States. Every year hundreds of thousands of people gather for the March for Life in Washington D.C. for a peaceful protest that calls for an end to legalized abortion, and advocates for a culture of life. It has become a tradition each year for the St. Ambrose Society, St. Vladimir's pro-life student group, to rent a bus to transport seminarians, their families, and members of the wider Orthodox community, down to the March.

The March is the largest and the oldest annual civil rights protest in the world. Nearly half the people at the March for Life are under thirty, and most are there because of their faith. There are many Roman Catholics, many different Protestant groups, several rabbis and their congregations, and always a contingent of clergy and laity from the Orthodox Church.

The Orthodox Church does not see abortion as a merely "political" issue. For two millennia the Church has been uncompromising and clear in its teachingSeminary President Metropolitan Tikhon and Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield join the marchers on abortion. Life begins at conception. This means that taking the life of an unborn child through abortion is murder. We cannot keep this truth to ourselves. The Church is prophetic, calling all to repentance, calling us to "banish all evil from our hearts and wickedness from our laws." Every year at the March for Life, Orthodox Christians witness to our Church's teaching, and invite others to find healing in Christ and his Church. Instead of chanting slogans, we march through the streets of Washington D.C. chanting the hymns of the Church. We hold and venerate icons of the Mother of God, who carried our Lord in her womb. We remember that He has assumed and sanctified every part of our lives, including our days in the womb.

The March begins at the National Mall and ends at the Supreme Court building, but the Orthodox contingent always stops short of this final destination. We gather together as our hierarchs lead us in prayer for the innocent children who have been killed in abortion, and also for the repentance and healing of all who have made the tragic choice to have an abortion.

Seminarian Ignatius GreenThird-year seminarian Fr. Mark VairI have been to the March six times, this year as the St. Ambrose Society president. Two years ago I became a father, and this deepened my experience of the March more than I can say. God plants such fierce love in a parent's heart. As my wife and I raise our toddler son, and eagerly await the arrival of his sister this May, we intimately know the infinite value of every life. It is not an abstract assertion, but a lived truth.

As beautiful and joyful as this is, it also deepens my sorrow over the tragedy of abortion. We must allow the stark reality of the millions of aborted children to break our hearts, but we must also make it strengthen our resolve to act in obedience to our Church's teachings. Let us all pray earnestly that our judges, our lawmakers, and our president heed God's law, and put an end to all unjust and evil human laws.

For more information on the St. Ambrose Society, visit us on Facebook.

Hundreds of thousands of marchers participate every yearA Prayer for Sanctity of Life Sunday:
O Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son, Who art in the bosom of the Father, True God, source of life and immortality, Light of Light, Who camest into the world to enlighten it: Thou wast pleased to be conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary for the salvation of our souls by the power of Thine All-Holy Spirit. O Master, Who camest that we might have life more abundantly, we ask Thee to enlighten the minds and hearts of those blinded to the truth that life begins at conception and that the unborn in the womb are already adorned with Thine image and likeness; enable us to guard, cherish, and protect the lives of all those who are unable to care for themselves. For Thou art the Giver of Life, bringing each person from non-being into being, sealing each person with divine and infinite love. Be merciful, O Lord, to those who, through ignorance or willfulness, affront Thy divine goodness and providence through the evil act of abortion. May they, and all of us, come to the life of Thy Truth and glorify Thee, the Giver of Life, together with Thy Father, and Thine All-Holy and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.  Amen.

(From the petitions the Orthodox Church in America has blessed for the Sunday preceding January 22nd.)

For an excellent summary of the Church's teaching throughout history, see the amicus curiae brief filed with the Supreme Court on behalf of the Orthodox Church, which corrects and refutes many of Roe v. Wade's spurious claims about Christian history and teaching. It can be found online, and in pamphlet form, published by Conciliar Press (now Ancient Faith Publishing).

30 January 2015 • On-Campus

Let us who love their words come together with hymns
and honor the three great torch–bearers of the triune Godhead:
Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom.
These men have enlightened the world with the rays of their divine
doctrines.
They are flowing rivers of wisdom,
and have filled all creation with springs of heavenly knowledge.
They ceaselessly intercede for us
before the holy Trinity!

Troparion, Feast of the Three Great Hierarchs

View the photo gallery by Helen Mules

On January 30, 2015, the members of St. Vladimir's chapel community, faculty, staff, and students, gathered to celebrate the Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs—Ss. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom—patrons of Three Hierarchs Chapel. Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and the seminary's president and board chairman, presided over the festal Liturgy. Special guests The Very Rev. Dr. Steven Voytovich, dean of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and The Very Rev. Eric Tosi, secretary of the OCA, joined the chapel clergy for the service.

During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Tikhon ordained seminarians Stephen Osburn and John Edward as Subdeacon and Reader, respectively. He also stayed for the evening's event,  the 32nd Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Lecture.

"The liturgical superlatives ascribed to these pillars of the Church," said His Beatitude in his homily, "are almost overwhelming in their unrelenting reminder, to the rest of us mortal and fallen human beings, of the supreme perfection of life and brilliance of theology of these three exemplary saints...we might honestly look into our hearts and ask ourselves: are we so inspired?"

He answered his own question with an exhortation for his hearers, that they not "give in to despair when we uncover the passions within our own hearts, but to slowly weed them out one by one; not to be discouraged because we don’t seem to have control over our children and their behavior, but rather continually strive to love them and pray for them and not judge ourselves to be failures; not to be overwhelmed when we find it difficult to live in a community, whether it is our family, our seminary or our parish, but to find hope in the examples of the great saints who give expression to true community." (Read the full text of Metropolitan Tikhon's homily.)

Sporting team T-shirts, the St. Vladimir's Seminary Hierarchs traveled to sister school St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (STOTS) to play in the traditional winter basketball contest, on February 6 at 6:30 p.m. Prior to the game, seminarians from both institutions joined together in prayer at evening vespers. After the ball was thrown up, the Hierarchs battled with STOTS through four intense quarters, ending up victorious with a final score of 42–30. The game concluded in an exchange of handshakes, a group photo, and a communal meal.  (View the Facebook photo gallery by Sara Staff)

On-Campus • Three Hierarchs Chapel

Metropolitan Tikhon presiding at the Great Canon of St. Andrew of CreteOur campus community began Great Lent with Forgiveness Vespers, followed by a two-day retreat that included daylong lenten liturgical services punctuated by focused meditations.

Dr. Peter C. Bouteneff, associate professor in Systematic Theology, presented this year's meditations for the retreat. His theme was “How to be a Sinner.” 

Bouteneff said, “I was always struck by the challenge of understanding myself as ‘the chief among sinners’ [I Tim 1:15], but doing so without becoming either prideful or neurotic.

“What are the implications of giving myself that title of ‘sinner’? Is there still a part of me that is good and worthy of care?” he questioned in his exploration. “Why do the fathers experience such liberty, and even joy, in their self-condemnation — something we glimpse in the beauty of the penitential services of the first week of Lent?”

 His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), presided at the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, during the retreat. Chapel clergy, including ordained seminarians, had the privilege of serving with him.

By Martha Carlisle

On Bright Saturday, the student-run St. Herman Society for Orthodox Ecology sponsored a Campus Beautification Day, intending to make the entire campus reflect the luster of the festal season. With substantial help from Matushka Robyn Hatrak, wife of the Reverend Dn. Gregory Hatrak of SVS Press, the St. Herman Society was able to expand the event to involve seminary families, especially children. While adults planted flower bulbs and picked up trash, children played sports on the front lawn and practiced ballet and crafts in the Bashir Auditorium.

Seminary spouses were impressive multi-taskers; many parents patrolled the grounds with a child in one hand and a trash bag in the other! The beautiful weather added to the joy of the day, and the attendance dwarfed that of previous Campus Beautification events. Inspired by the success of the event, the St. Herman Society looks forward to more events in the same, family-friendly pattern. Christ is Risen! (Photos by John Nieuwsma, Mat. Robyn Hatrak, and Olga Kirilchenko)

On Thursday, October 1, 2015, on the feast of the Protection of the Theotokos, the Divine Liturgy in Three Hierarchs Chapel was celebrated according to the rubrics of the Romanian Orthodox Church for the first time in the Chapel's history. Father Eugen Pentiuc, St. Vladimir's professor of Scripture and Semitic Languages, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Hellenic College Holy Cross, presided at the celebration of the liturgy and offered the homily.

Father Eugen served in Romanian and English and was assisted by Fr. Adrian Budica, supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education and director of Field Education, together with two Romanian seminarians, Bogdan Neacsiu and Alexandru Popovici; Bogdan and Alexandru chanted the responses in Romanian and English, using Romanian melodies.

"With the occasion of this feast of the Mother of God, our community enjoyed a special moment: two of our professors, along with two of our students, celebrated the liturgy in Romanian for a historic first. The pan-Orthodox character of our institution was elevated today to a new level," noted the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO.

The liturgy is another indication of St. Vladimir's growing relationship with the Romanian Orthodox community; in February of 2013, a cooperative agreement was signed between St. Vladimir's and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at the University of Bucharest.

Read the article (in Romanian) by the Romanian Patriarchate's Basilica News Agency

On Monday, September 28, 2015, St. Vladimir's hosted Mr. Samer Laham, director of the Department of Ecumenical Relations and Development (GERD) for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and all the East. Mr. Laham was the featured speaker at the Tuesday, September 29 presentation,"Syria in Crisis," at the Museum of the City of New York. 

After sharing a video introduction to the humanitarian crisis in Syria, Mr. Laham outlined the magnitude of the situation. Nine million people have been internally displaced, while three million Syrian refugees have fled to other countries. Most water, electricity, medical, education services have been damaged or put out of service, and half of all school-aged children have dropped out. The Church has lost thousands of its people, and a large number of Christian villages and churches have been destroyed.

There are glimmers of hope, however. The Patriarchate of Antioch's philanthropic arm has launched emergency plans in response, and has been able to aid over three million people, thanks to a partnership with the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC). The distribution of food, household items, emergency housing, cash donations, is ongoing, and Mr. Laham emphasized that the Patriarchate will continue to stay in their homeland and minister to all those in need, regardless of their religion.

On the afternoon of Friday, October 23rd, ten students from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary drove amidst brilliant autumn colors to Pennsylvania for a weekend of fellowship and reflection as part of the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement (OSIM). St. Tikhon's Seminary in South Canaan, PA, welcomed 30 students from St. Vladimir's Seminary, Holy Cross/Hellenic College in Brookline, MA, Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, Christ the Savior Seminary in Johnstown, PA, and St. Herman's Seminary in Kodiak, AK. 

Taking as its theme "Expanding the Mission of the Orthodox Church," the OISM weekend with a molieben on Friday evening, celebrated by Archpriest Steven Voytovich (SVOTS '99), dean of St. Tikhon's Seminary, in front of icons from many of the participating schools. Later that evening, Archimandrite Sergius, the Abbot of St. Tikhon's Monastery, spoke to the students on the need to foster one's spiritual life through sacraments and prayer. "You can't give what you don't have" was a reminder to everyone present that "seeking Christ" is the only root from which Church communities can grow.

Saturday's events began with Divine Liturgy for St. Demetrius and a short Panikhida. After breakfast, students toured the seminary grounds, museum, bookstore, and monastery church, learning about the history of St. Tikhon's Seminary and its student life. Shortly before noon, the students participated in a discussion session with Dr. David Ford from St. Tikhon’s Seminary, in which they shared ideas for parish growth, mission, and evangelism. Archpriest John Reeves from State College, PA, led the second session, wherein students reflected on principles of church growth that can be applied in a multitude of contexts. The day ended with Vigil, a business meeting, and more time for fellowship and discussion around an evening bonfire. Many seminarians remained through Sunday for celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the monastery church. 

Coming after a week of mid-terms, the OSIM event was a welcome opportunity for students to refocus on their relationship with Christ and develop relationships in Christ with all those gathered. Our seminarians extend their enthusiastic thanks to the OSIM Student Board for organizing, and St. Tikhon's Seminary for hosting, a blessed and inspirational event.

O marvelous depth of wonders!
Those who were hard-hearted in understanding and wandering in vain,   
rejoice now in the holy Church,
for this is the day of Vladimir.
Christ our God reigns, and has found another Paul,
setting him as faithful prince in his land,
for by holy baptism he has enlightened his people!
—Aposticha for the Feast of St. Vladimir

On the weekend of October 31–November 1, 2015, the community of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) gathered to honor its heavenly patron, the Great and Holy Prince Vladimir, by commemorating the translation of his holy relics to Three Hierarchs Chapel.

In November 2013, a delegation from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, led by His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Philip, archbishop of Poltava and Myrhorod, presented the community with the relics of St. Vladimir and a rare Book of Gospels. The precious gifts were presented on behalf of His Beatitude Vladimir (Volodymyr), metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, who reposed in 2014.

“When St. Vladimir’s Seminary was founded in 1938, the decision was made to give our seminary a missionary saint as its patron,” said seminary Chancellor/CEO the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield. “The presence of St. Vladimir’s relics are a constant reminder that we too are called to carry out the Great Commission.”

Vladimir Sviatoslavich the Great was the prince of Novgorod, the grand prince of Kiev and ruler of Kievan Rus’ from 980 to July 15, 1015. St. Vladimir introduced Orthodox Christianity to the Kievan Rus’ in the year 988. Orthodox Christians around the world have organized events in 2015 to commemorate the 1,000th year anniversary of the blessed saint’s repose.

“It is a great blessing to have relics of our patron saint, and the ‘transfer’ of the relics has given us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this feast annually and combine it with an early Thanksgiving community meal, remarked seminary Dean the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr. “The presence of St. Vladimir amongst us constantly reminds us of the missionary purpose and character of all that we do together, on behalf of the Church and for the Church.”

The weekend’s events began with a beautiful vigil on Saturday evening, sung antiphonally by the St. Damascene and St. Cassia chapel choirs. His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and president of the seminary, presided at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. Concelebrating were His Grace Bishop Alexander, bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese of the OCA, and His Grace Bishop John, bishop of Naro-Fominsk and administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA (Moscow Patriarchate).

“St. Vladimir’s Seminary was always intended to have a missionary focus, and this is why St. Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, was chosen as its heavenly patron,” commented His Beatitude in his Sunday morning homily. “As the seminary has evolved and changed, it has always kept this missionary focus. It has always remained an apostolic seminary.”

The community continued its joyous celebration that evening with a cherished—and delicious—St. Vladimir’s tradition: a pre-Nativity Fast Thanksgiving dinner. Seminarians, faculty, and staff, and their families, enjoyed a delightful feast prepared by Chef Nat Fasciani.

By seminarian Daniel Greeson

The St. Ambrose Society, a St. Vladimir's pro-life student organization, held a public seminar on November 13, 2015. The event featured Maryl Turchi, the Executive Director of Life Options Center, a Yonkers crisis pregnancy center, and Keri Landeche, the Northeast Regional Coordinator of Students for Life of America.

Maryl Turchi provided wonderful insights into the daily realities of directing a crisis pregnancy center. Her years of service to young expectant mothers and fathers searching for advice and care were evident as she shared poignant stories, articulate advice, and a convicting message. The question and answer session with Mrs. Turchi was especially helpful. She described what it's like to be the one answering the call of upset and anxious clients: how she guides them to see the ramifications of their decisions, and encourages them with solutions they hadn't previously considered.

Maryl's practical counsel was particularly edifying for those preparing for the priesthood. Questions ranged from how poverty and instability impact families, to how new priests can connect and partner with crisis pregnancy centers when they enter new parishes.

Keri Landeche gave a presentation on the work of Students for Life of America, a group active on many college campuses. She shared the nuts and bolts of how the organization gets up and running, promotes itself, and how it equips young college students to engage with their peers. It was heartening to hear Miss Landeche's expression of hope, that the millennial generation will be able to turn the tide in America towards pro-life convictions.

The seminar ended with a joint panel featuring Mrs. Turchi and Miss Landeche. The combination of Mrs. Turchi's years of experience and Miss Landeche's work on the forefront of millennial pro-life activism made for a rich discussion. As these issues continue to be at the forefront of civic discussion in our country, it was very beneficial to have two pro-life veterans representing two different age groups commenting on the current struggles.