Drawing on Scripture and the writings of the late Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann, Metropolitan Tikhon focuses on four essential areas, or “pillars,” of the Orthodox Christian Tradition—the Spiritual Life, Stewardship, Relations with Others, and Outreach and Evangelism. In each instance, Metropolitan Tikhon relates these four pillars, individually and collectively, to the overall life of the Church for clergy and faithful alike while considering the challenges facing the Orthodox Church in America as it continues to minister and witness well into the twenty-first century.
“The work I am releasing today is the product of prayer and reflection, as well as the consideration of input I have received from the Holy Synod, Metropolitan Council, clergy and individual members of the Orthodox Church in America over the past four years,” Metropolitan Tikhon said. “It was initially inspired by the theme of our 18th All-American Council which challenged us to respond to Saint Tikhon’s question: How do we expand the mission of Orthodoxy in North America?
Now, I am offering a framework which will further help guide the work of the Orthodox Church in America, her parishes, clergy, monastics, and faithful, not only during our discussions at the 19th All-American Council in Saint Louis, but for decades to come,” Metropolitan Tikhon concluded. “May the intercessions of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, whose memory we celebrate today, guide and inspire us on this journey.”
At the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople on Tuesday, May 22, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, and with the support of Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield, Archpriest Alexander Rentel personally delivered the Appeal on the Future of Pan-Orthodox Activity, drafted by seminarians of his elective class, CL342, “Contemporary Issues in Canon Law.” During the course of the meeting, His All-Holiness talked with Father Alexander about the Council in Crete and issues facing world Orthodoxy.
“It was a rare and unexpected blessing to be able to present my students’ Appeal to His All-Holiness in person,” said Fr. Alexander. “As can be seen from the text of the Appeal, the seminarians are full of zeal and enthusiasm for this cause.”
“The reception of the Council remains uncertain and divisive, placing communion amongst the local Churches of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church at risk,” the opening of the Appeal reads. “In the spirit of over fifty years of invested conciliar activity, and calling the events surrounding the Council to mind, we respectfully petition Your All-Holiness and all Primates of the Orthodox Churches to incline your ear and listen to our appeal.”
The Appeal goes on to address concerns and suggestions in the aftermath of the council. Fr. Alexander’s Canon Law students drafted its content after considerable effort and study over the course of the semester.
“Drawing upon our experience of attempting to work in a conciliar manner in this course, we greatly appreciate the difficult nature of conciliar work,” the students wrote. “The drafting of this appeal itself was a challenge for all of us. But we have learned that the conciliar process is a microcosm of the Christian life. Through it we learn how to better speak the truth to each other, challenge each other, compromise with each other, and forgive each other.”
Much planning went into the structure and content of Fr. Alexander’s class in order to prepare his students to carry out such an effort as well as to impart important perspectives to them through the course.
“I intended this class to be an interdisciplinary examination of the Orthodox conciliar movement from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century that led to the Holy and Great Council in Crete in 2016,” explained Fr. Alexander. “In this course, I sought to have the seminarians understand the theological presuppositions of the movement and measure them against the canonical tradition.”
The class began with lectures providing an overview of canonical tradition (methodology, sources, and the history). The class then shifted to a seminar format to discuss the theological underpinnings of the conciliar movement, its history, and the Council in Crete. Special attention was paid to the Council in Crete, its decisions, and message.
The course also incorporated a number of guest speakers who had expertise on particular aspects relating to the subject of the course. Prior to the beginning of the class, Fr. Alexander interviewed His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) of the Patriarchate of Moscow. During the class, His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of the Church of Greece participated via Skype and spoke to the class about the document from Crete on autonomy. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Professor Priest Anthony Roeber also spoke to the class on the Council in Crete from the perspective of the Antiochian Patriarchate and what the view of the Council was from a parochial level. Likewise, Priest Hyacinthe Destivelle, O.P., of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity participated in the class via Internet to discuss his book, The Moscow Council (1917–1918).
“The class, in other words, heard a wide perspective of thought on the Council,” added Fr. Alexander.
The class concluded with an in-class project of drafting a course message. This portion of the class was led by Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian, who assisted the drafters of the Message and Encyclical promulgated by the council in Crete, and who is an expert in Orthodox Christianity and geopolitics and the parish priest at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in New York City.
“It was my intention that the seminarians have an opportunity to work in a collaborative, conciliar manner so as to have that experience, but also to have a sense of what kind of work goes into the drafting of such texts. I assigned the topic and monitored the progress, but Fr. Nicholas and the seminarians drafted the Appeal. I have read the Appeal and fully support its content.”
The students’ efforts culminated fittingly with the delivery of the Appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarch after the conclusion of the semester.
“His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel reminded the class in the presentation that the initiation of any Pan-Orthodox activity is a ministry particular to the Ecumenical Patriarch. Hence the seminarians addressed the Appeal to His All-Holiness first in light of this unique role the Ecumenical Patriarch has, and then also to the Most-Blessed Primates of the Most-Holy Local Orthodox Churches in order to encourage them.”
Fr. Alexander is thankful that his vision and planning for the Canon Law course has led to such a unique and fruitful experience for his students, many of whom graduated in the Class of 2018 and all of whom will undoubtedly carry this experience with them in their varying work for the Church after seminary.
“My work for this class would not have been possible without the strong support of Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. I note also that Fr. Nicholas Kazarian has been a wonderful collaborator. Above all, I am proud of my students for the work that they accomplished.”
Funding for one guest lecturer in this course, Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian, was provided by the Ganister Orthodox Foundation Fund. Read a paper by Fr. Nicolas, titled, “The Crisis of Orthodox Multilateralsim: A Challenge for Pan-Orthodox Conciliarity "in the forum blog," Public Orthodoxy,” here.
Saint Vladimir’s Seminary has signed a concordat of cooperation with Saint Andrei Saguna Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Sibiu, Romania in an effort to encourage future student and faculty exchanges and other collaborations between the two institutions.
The agreement was signed Monday at the Faculty in Sibiu by Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS), and Priest Nicolae Chifar, the dean of Saint Andrei Saguna Faculty of Orthodox Theology. The signing of the agreement was attended by His Eminence Laurentiu [Streza], archbishop of Sibiu and metropolitan of Transylvania, who blessed the agreement between the two institutions. SVOTS Director of Web Services Alexandru Popovici, a native Romanian, and teachers of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology were also present.
"It is important for us to understand that signing this agreement is only a beginning, and with the help of God we believe that this agreement will evolve and change,” said Fr. Chad. “It is very important for us, those studying theology as a minority in different cultures, to have strong ties with the theological faculties of the mother countries, where Orthodoxy is well rooted in the culture of those countries.”
At the signing, His Eminence Laurentiu awarded Fr. Chad the “Sagunian Cross for Priests" and welcomed him back for future visits to Sibiu. Fr. Chad presented His Eminence and members of the Faculty with books published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press.
President of SVOTS Archpriest Chad Hatfield traveled to Romania along with the Seminary’s Director of Web Services Alexandru Popovici, a native of Romania, to officially present the gift to Pro Vita.
“This is a huge amount of money for our institution,” said Fr. Nicholas Tanase, Pro Vita’s founder. “We are honored to have been chosen by St. Vladimir’s as the 2017 Giving Tuesday partner.”
Pro Vita provides assistance including healthcare and education to families in need. The organization encourages the well-being of family units being torn apart by economic stress, and often prevents the heartbreaking decision by a desperate mother to abort her unborn child. Currently, Pro Vita provides housing and food for 428 people, 312 of whom are children.
According to Fr. Nicholas, the #GivingTuesday money will be used to complete four housing projects.
“Because of the money, we will be able to use these houses three to four months earlier than we initially anticipated,” he added.
Fr. Nicholas greeted the SVOTS delegation at the orphanage in Valea Screzii Village Saturday (Pro Vita also has a presence in the surrounding area and in Valea Plopului). Upon arrival, Fr. Chad and Popovici had lunch with more than 300 children.
“Many of those children were with their mothers who had come to Pro Vita to escape an abusive environment or needed help after electing not to have an abortion,” said Fr. Chad. “It is remarkable to see how many people are positively impacted by the work and vision of one priest,” said Fr. Chad.
In addition to the GivingTuesday partnership, the Seminary’s chapel community has remained in contact with the Pro Vita Association for around a decade. The community has collected clothing and other items to donate to the organization in the past.
Romanian media outlet TRINITAS TV broadcast a story about the SVOTS delegation’s visit and donation to Pro Vita. Watch it below.
St. Vladimir's Seminary,575 Scarsdale Road,10707,Yonkers,US
This year’s Orthodox Education Day (OED) is a special one. Join us as we celebrate not one, but two fiftieth-year commemorations: fifty years of OED and fifty years of St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press!
On Saturday, October 6, we are hosting activities and lectures all day, starting at 10am, to celebrate these two milestones in the history of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Highlights will include a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with the relics of St. Innocent and the Boston Byzantine Choir, public lectures, children and teen’s activities, food, music, book sales, a Keynote Address by John Maddex of Ancient Faith Ministries, and a special first-hand look back at the history of SVS Press and OED led by former Press Director Theodore Bazil and Professor Emeritus David Drillock.
The address by Mr. Maddex will be particularly relevant as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of SVS Press, which was founded in 1968 and remains the most active publisher of Orthodox Christian literature in the English language. Maddex is CEO of Ancient Faith Ministries, which operates both Ancient Faith Radio and Ancient Faith Publishing, another major publisher of Orthodox works.
Admission to Orthodox Education Day is free. We hope you are able to celebrate with us! Please do spread the word and share the flyer at your parishes and with your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. May the mission of OED Day and SVS Press—spreading the Gospel—continue to bear much fruit for our Lord!
A new website is preserving and resurrecting hundreds of lectures delivered by illustrious teachers and brilliant theologians of the Orthodox Church in the twentieth century. St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) launched the new site, digi.svots.edu, this June.
The project is a combined effort by St. Vladimir’s Seminary and the Virginia H. Farah Foundation. The website makes available for the first time in digital format older, analog recordings of renowned professors and guest lecturers from SVOTS past and present, including Fr. Alexander Schmemann, Fr. John Meyendorff, Fr. Thomas Hopko, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, Sophie Koulomzin, Jaroslav Pelikan, Veselin Kesich, Fr. Paul Lazor, Fr. John Erickson, Metropolitan Philip Saliba, Fr. John Breck, George Cronk, David Drillock, Fr. John Behr, Serge Verhovskoy, and many others.
“It is our dream to share with the world the voices of illustrious Orthodox Christian speakers and theologians who shed light on important aspects, historical moments, and even spiritual movements of the Orthodox Christian Church in the twentieth century, especially in North America,” said Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield, who is also among the dozens of speakers whose recordings are featured on the new website.
Between the early 1970s and the late 1990s, cassettes of many class lectures, seminars, and institutes held on the campus of St. Vladimir's Seminary were often accessed by library patrons. However, as audio technology rapidly advanced and the public began to discard their cassette players, use of the library's cassette collection languished, and important voices once heard in the Orthodox Church were silenced.
Funding from the Virginia H. Farah Foundation for this digitization project brought to life and light the voices of these Orthodox Christian luminaries, helping to spread their ever-relevant words "to the ends of the world" (Ps 19.4). Moreover, the Foundation's funding for this initial project provided a solid basis for SVOTS library staff to build future digital collections—another important step in a continuing endeavor to keep pace with advancing technologies.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of this project,” said Eric Namee, president of the Virginia H. Farah Foundation. “Personally, I was deeply affected by a talk given by Fr. Alexander Schmemann when I was a young man. It’s a privilege to help make Fr. Alexander’s voice, and the voices of so many other great teachers, accessible to everyone.”
In partnership with the Foundation, SVOTS Web Services Director Alexandru Popovici converted around 500 cassettes held in the Seminary’s Father Georges Florovsky Library to digital format, making their contents accessible and portable not only to a new generation but also to a global audience.
“It was a long but very rewarding process,” Popovici explained. “I spent more than six months working to digitize the tapes and to build the online platform which hosts the recordings. It was worth it, knowing that those incredible resources will be available for many more people.”
Access to the recordings on digi.svots.edu is free but requires registering for a free account. To register and learn more about the project, visit digi.svots.edu.
About the Virginia H. Farah Foundation
The Virginia H. Farah Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation dedicated exclusively to the work of the Orthodox Christian Church. The Foundation looks for creative projects and programs that serve as catalysts for progress in the Church and have a lasting impact. Its grant recipients are engaged in all areas of Church life, from humanitarian efforts and missionary labor to education and scholarly work. The Foundation’s goal is to facilitate the work of organizations and projects that will help spread the Orthodox Christian message while carrying out the work of the Church in the world.
Eight students have been accepted into the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) and will form the 2021 D.Min. Cohort.
Comprised of clergy, chaplains and ministry professionals from six different jurisdictions, this cohort brings a new level of diversity and pastoral experience to the program.
"One of the great strengths of the D.Min. program is the community of teachers and learners that come together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Church today,” noted Fr. Sergius Halvorsen, D.Min. program director. “The diversity and expertise of the students in the 2021 Cohort will foster an outstanding learning experience. I can't wait to begin working with this group!"
This is the third cohort of students that have entered the Doctor of Ministry since it was revived as a hybrid program in 2014. Combining online learning and brief onsite intensives, the hybrid program allows students to complete their studies while living and working at home. Financial aid is available through the generosity of the Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies.
The 2021 Cohort will begin their work with a mandatory six-week orientation program starting in mid-July. Coursework will begin in September.
Limited space is still available in this cohort. Potential students who hold a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree and have at least three years of ministry experience are encouraged to apply for the D.Min. program. For additional information, contact D.Min. Program Director Fr. Sergius Halvorsen.
Will you be at the 19th All-American Council (AAC) this July? Or will you be in the St. Louis area around that time? Meet us there for an Alumni and Friends Reception!
The SVOTS event will be held from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, July 24. at St Louis Union Station Hotel, the venue for AAC.
St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) has narrowed down the number of candidates for the position of Academic Dean, and a final decision is expected to be made soon.
The seminary’s Board of Trustees convened in May to discuss the final candidates.
“There is no doubt that the final candidates represent strong qualifications,” said Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield. “They come with extraordinary gifts and achievements that would benefit the seminary greatly.”
“I want to thank His Beatitude and the members of the Academic Dean Search Committee for their labors in getting to this final stage in the process,” added Fr. Chad.
The Search Committee was tasked with finding a visionary and inspiring Academic Dean with the skills, energy, and experience to advance the academic mission and current programs of the Seminary as well as to develop new programs to meet the needs of the Church and the world in the 21st century. The new dean will serve as the Chief Academic Officer, whose primary responsibilities are to lead and supervise the faculty and to oversee all academic activities of the seminary, under the supervision of the seminary’s President. The Academic Dean is appointed by the Board of Trustees and reports directly to the President.
Eighth Day Books,2838 E. Douglas,67214,Wichita,KS,US
We’ve added another great event to the Seminary’s weekend in Wichita. After Jazz Night June 1, join us at a young adult gathering at Eighth Day BooksSaturday, June 2. The event will feature President of St. Vladimir’s Seminary Archpriest Chad Hatfield. Snacks and drinks will follow. Eighth Day Books has specialized in classic books across the disciplines of art, science, and the humanities since 1988, and has collaborated with SVOTS in the past. Most recently, Eighth Day hosted a book signing featuring SVS Press author Edith Humphrey. The young adult gathering begins at 7:30 p.m. Contact Matushka Robyn Hatrak for more information.
