• Learn more about St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s 2019 #GivingTuesday Campain

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) is partnering with a recent graduate this Giving Tuesday to benefit Orthodox Christian faithful in Uganda. The Seminary will tithe 10% of the funds raised on Giving Tuesday, December 3, to its select non-profit partner for 2019: The Northern Uganda Self-Sufficiency Project.

The Seminary teams up with a non-profit each year during its #GivingTuesday campaign. Last year, SVOTS partnered with the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Kerala Flood Relief Project.

This year’s partner, The Northern Uganda Self-Sufficiency Project, was initiated under His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah of Kampala and All Uganda, and continues to grow under the leadership of His Grace, Bishop Silvester Kisitu of the Diocese of Gulu and Eastern Uganda. Priest Simon Menya, a native of Uganda who graduated from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2018, has been assisting His Grace and is working to help bring the Project’s goals to fruition.

Its plan was formed out of a desire to see a thriving Orthodox Christian community in Northern Uganda no longer dependent on financial assistance from the Orthodox Church of Greece (which slowed dramatically due to the financial crisis in Greece) and elsewhere. In that region of Uganda, which suffered from civil war for over twenty years until 2008, extreme poverty is widespread, and Orthodox priests must work multiple jobs to provide what little they can for their families and parishes. The Project aims to establish an Orthodox Church community in Northern Uganda that will become financially self-sufficient through a variety of initiatives and eventually support other Ugandan communities trying to do the same. Initiatives include acquiring land to support a church, school, agricultural program, and small businesses (40 hectares of land were recently acquired); establishing a health center; and implementing Orthodox youth and adult education programs.

• View Details of the Northern Uganda Self-Sufficiency Project

The members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) will gather at the Chancery for their Fall Regular Session from Tuesday, November 12 through Friday, November 15, 2019. In addition to the address of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and the other normal agenda items of the Holy Synod, a special feature will be a Synodal Divine Liturgy at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary.

On Wednesday, November 13, at 9 a.m., on the Feast of Saint John Chrysostom, the members of the Holy Synod will join His Beatitude in celebrating the Divine Liturgy to commemorate the seventh anniversary of his election as the fifth primate of the Orthodox Church in America. This will be one of the few occasions on which the Holy Synod will concelebrate the Divine Liturgy during the course of their meeting.

"Our concelebration will be a wonderful opportunity for all the bishops to celebrate the Holy Mysteries together, something typically we are only able to accomplish at All American Councils," said Metropolitan Tikhon.

One of the major agenda items of the Fall Session will be the plans for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of both the Granting of Autocephaly and the Glorification of Saint Herman of Alaska in 2020. It is anticipated a schedule of anniversary events will be announced at the conclusion of the meeting.

Special guest Michelle Moujaes with Faithtree Resources visited the Seminary’s St. Juliana Society (SJS) Monday evening.

Moujaes is the founder of Faithtree, a pan-Orthodox group of clergy and lay people from diverse backgrounds and professions who have developed Orthodox materials to aid in ministry.

On Monday, she gave her presentation, “Building Life-Changing Relationships: A woman’s guide to amazing relationships with herself, others, and God" to members of SJS.

She said a lot of good things,” said second-year Seminarian Asha Mathai. “It was a great talk!”

In her discussion, Moujaes emphasized five points in building relationships effectively:

• Know your audience;
• Identify common values and goals;
• Have clear rules of engagement;
• Utilize the church's toolbox;
• Practice.

When conflicts occur, she advised each person to be the first to apologize, reminding the group of Christ’s words on the cross, “Father, forgive them,” and that Christ did not say “Blessed are the peacekeepers,” but, rather, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

The Wives’ Program on campus was formalized in 2007 to help strengthen the formation of clergy families. In 2010, the fellowship took the name of the St. Juliana Society. Women’s fellowship events and programs on campus also include women seminarians. Read more about women’s fellowship on campus and past events here.

On Friday, November 1, the Syriac Orthodox seminarians studying at St. Vladimir's Seminary were invited to a special meeting with His Holiness, Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the patriarch of Antioch and all the East of the Syriac Orthodox Church (SOC). His Holiness hosted the seminarians at the Mor Aphrem Center in Paramus, New Jersey, where the seminarians joined the patriarch for Evening Prayer and discussion.

All seven of the Syriac Orthodox seminarians currently studying at St. Vladimir’s made the trip to Paramus: Subdeacons Jake Jacob, Daniel Hanna, and Basil Paul; Readers Basil Mathai and Subin Shaji; and Asha Mathai Ammai (One of the Malayalam titles for a priest's wife) and Rahul Thomas. The meeting was also attended by His Eminence, Mor Dionysius John Kawak, patriarchal vicar for the Eastern United States.

His Holiness welcomed the seminarians and blessed them, wishing them great progress in their studies. During the discussion, the seminarians asked His Holiness questions related to the theology and tradition of the Syriac Church.

 Related Stories:

• Three Hierarchs from Syriac Church visit Seminary
• Seminary graduates 22 students; Honorary doctorate awarded to Syriac patriarch, trustee

His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Department of External Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate and prolific writer and composer, visited St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS) Monday. His Eminence met with members of the Seminary community and discussed two of his monumental series published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS Press).

Metropolitan Hilarion has been a great friend of the Seminary for many years. His Eminence has spoken many times before at SVOTS, including at the 28th annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture. He also helped with the Seminary’s 2011 performance of St. Matthew Passion, composed by His Eminence himself, and has authored numerous books published through SVS Press, most recently the five-volume Orthodox Christianity series and the landmark series Jesus Christ: His Life and Teaching, of which the second of six planned volumes is due out soon.

His Eminence spoke about the two series with members of the Seminary community Monday, and later signed copies of his books for seminarians, faculty, and staff.

“I am grateful for many years of cooperation [with SVS Press], and I look forward to new possibilities.” said His Eminence.

“I will try to offer some shorter books,” the Metropolitan then joked, after pointing out that his best-selling SVS Press book is Prayer: Encounter with the Living God, a relatively small title compared to the sizeable volumes of his two recent series.

At the conclusion of Metropolitan Hilarion’s talk, SVOTS President Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield presented Metropolitan Hilarion with two gifts on behalf of the Seminary community: a set of SVS Press books and an extraordinary hand-written letter from famous Russian Orthodox composer Aleksandr Grechaninov (d. 1956).

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, Armonk, NY, celebrated fifty years of collaboration with a special event Friday, October 11, on SVOTS’ campus.

• St. Vladimir’s & St. Nersess Seminaries: A Timeline of Collaboration

The event began with Vespers at Three Hierarchs Chapel celebrated according to the Armenian rite. SVOTS/St. Nersess Alumnus His Grace, Bishop Daniel Findikyan (M.Div., 1989), primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and president of St. Nersess Seminary, then delivered the annual Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lecture, titled, “The Sacrament of Theological Education: St. Vladimir’s and St. Nersess Seminaries at 50 Years”.

“I should like to propose that the fifty-year collaboration of St. Vladimir’s and St. Nersess Seminaries illustrates the sacred, ecclesial, and truly sacramental essence of the theological enterprise, understood in its broadest, most Orthodox sense,” said His Grace. “And if that is true, then our half-century of common work in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ has great implications for us in this room, for Orthodoxy, for the Body of Christ, and, I think, for the world.”

Listen to Bishop Daniel’s lecture in its entirety below.

The celebration was also attended by St. Nersess Dean Rev. Mardiros Chevian, SVOTS President Very Rev. Chad Hatfield, SVOTS Academic Dean Dr. Ionut-Alexandru Tudorie, and faculty, staff, seminarians, alumni, and friends from both institutions.

“It is remarkable for someone like me, who wasn’t around fifty years ago, to encounter so many alums from both St. Vladimir’s and St. Nersess…who come and tell me stories,” said Fr. Chad, “and most of those stories also conclude with reminiscence of life-long friendships. And I think that’s one of the most important things about what we’re doing here tonight.”

A formal relationship between SVOTS and St. Nersess began in 1968, when negotiations with SVOTS resulted in St. Nersess becoming a satellite institution. Over the coming decades, the two seminaries formalized (and later revised) a joint Master of Divinity (M.Div.) curriculum. In 2004, the partnership resulted in the launch of the Treasures of the Armenian Christian Tradition Series (AVANT) through St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press. In 2016, the schools once again renewed their commitment to work together, this time via an Inter-Seminary Agreement of Collaboration signed along with Gevorgyan Seminary in Vagharshapat (Echmiadzin), Armenia. At present, seminarians studying at St. Nersess take approximately forty percent of their course load at St. Vladimir’s.

“We remain as committed as any two institutions in the entire Orthodox world to seeing this breach between the so-called ‘Oriental’ and the so-called ‘Eastern’ ended,” added Fr. Chad. “And this seminary is recommitting itself to building a fire once again under that particular topic, because the truth of the matter is we are living in a time in which we cannot tolerate our unhappy divisions.”

The celebration continued with a reception following the lecture Friday evening and a special fellowship event Saturday on the campus of St. Nersess, organized and sponsored by the St. Nersess Alumni Association.

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Metropolitan Kallistos Ware’s modern classic, The Orthodox Way, is now available in a new edition from St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press.

The book—which has for decades served as a popular introduction to Orthodox Christianity for those outside Orthodoxy and deepened the faith of many already in the Church—is the second release in SVS Press’ Classics Series. It features a new foreword by Very Rev. Dr. John Behr.

The Orthodox Way, first published in 1979,is a general account of the doctrine, worship, and life of Orthodox Christians. It raises the basic issues of theology: God is hidden yet revealed; the problem with evil; the nature of salvation; the meaning of faith; prayer; death and what lies beyond. In so doing, it helps to fill the need for modern Orthodox catechism. Yet this book is not a mere manual, a dry-as-dust repository of information. Throughout the book, Metropolitan Kallistos shows the meaning of Orthodox doctrine for the life of the individual Christian. Doctrinal issues are seen not as abstract propositions for theological debate but as affecting the whole of life.

The Orthodox Way (Classics Series, Vol. 2) may be purchased in paperback and hardcover editions at SVSPress.com or by calling 800-204-BOOK (2665).

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS), Yonkers, NY, and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, Armonk, NY, are preparing to celebrate more than fifty years of collaboration on Friday, October 11.

Those five decades include several milestones. A formal relationship between the two seminaries began in 1968, when negotiations with SVOTS resulted in St. Nersess becoming a satellite institution. Over the coming decades, the two seminaries formalized (and later revised) a joint Master of Divinity (M.Div.) curriculum. In 2004, the partnership resulted in the launch of the Treasures of the Armenian Christian Tradition Series (AVANT) through St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press. In 2016, the schools once again renewed their commitment to work together, this time via an Inter-Seminary Agreement of Collaboration signed along with Gevorgyan Seminary in Vagharshapat (Echmiadzin), Armenia. At present, seminarians studying at St. Nersess take approximately forty percent of their course load at St. Vladimir’s. 

At the formal celebration October 11 on the campus of St. Vladimir’s, Alumnus Bishop Daniel Findikyan (M.Div., 1989), primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, will deliver the annual Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lecture, titled “The Sacrament of Theological Education: St. Vladimir’s and St Nersess Seminaries at 50 Years”. The Meyendorff Lecture will follow Vespers celebrated according to the Armenian rite at Three Hierarchs Chapel.

The special, 50th anniversary event replaces SVOTS’ annual Orthodox Education Day this year, and is free and open to the public. More information may be found in the events section of SVOTS’ website.

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon presided at services Saturday and Sunday as the Seminary community celebrated the Feast of the Glorification of St. Innocent, Metropolitan of Moscow, Enlightener of the Aleuts, and Apostle to the Americas (October 6).

The celebration began with festal All-Night Vigil at Three Hierarchs Chapel Saturday. At the Vigil, His Beatitude spoke about St. Innocent.

We give thanks to God for raising up this saint in our midst, St. Innocent, as a shepherd who tended his flock in our own times, and in our own lands. The history of all the Orthodox Churches sojourning through North America invites all to share in the celebration of this hierarch as one who valiantly and faithfully served the Church as a missionary and bishop, that is to say, one who both sowed the Word of God and served as one who harvested the bountiful crop. Additionally, his physical labors, literally constructing Church buildings, assured the presence of Orthodox Christianity on this continent to this very day. May his missionary zeal, his faith in Christ, his willingness to do hard work be not only the subject of our commemoration, but an inspiration for each of us in all that we do laboring for the most holy Church of Christ.

Read His Beatitude’s message in its entirety at OCA.org.

The following day, His Beatitude presided at celebration of the Divine Liturgy, joined by clergy from among the faculty and student body.

With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Rev. Dr. Thomas (Athanasios) Parthenakis of Erie, PA, who fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, October 3, 2019 following a battle with cancer.

Father Thomas was a professor of American history at Gannon University in Erie for 36 years before retiring in 2007 to become a priest. He graduated from St. Vladimir’s Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 2010. On January 2, 2011, at 69 years of age, he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, Ithaca, NY by the hand of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, bishop of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit. Father Thomas was assigned to St. Catherine’s, where he served until his retirement as pastor in June of 2017. He and his wife, Presbytera Cathy, then moved back to Erie to be near family. Father Thomas would often serve at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, New Castle, PA when the parish’s pastor was away.

The Funeral service for Fr. Thomas will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 4376 West Lake Road, Erie, PA. Burial will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Fr. Thomas' name to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 4376 West Lake Road, Erie, PA 16505 or the A.N.N.A. Shelter, 1555 East 10th Street, Erie, PA 16511. 

May the memory of Fr. Thomas be eternal!