Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), recently appointed Fr. Mardiros Chevian (SVOTS Class of '76) to serve as the new Dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, New York. Father Mardiros will be returning to the institution in which he worked in 1981 as the Director of Recruitment and Programs, and then later, as the Seminary's Rector. "Although I have enjoyed immensely being the Dean of St. Vartan Cathedral for the past nineteen years, I am excited to return to St. Nersess and direct the expanded mission of the seminary at its new campus," said Fr. Mardiros.

The St. Nersess November 15 announcement noted that as the new Dean, Fr. Mardiros will oversee plans to expand the Seminary's mission by moving the community to a new campus location in Armonk, NY, in 2014. The new five–and–a–half–acre Armonk campus is about sixteen miles north of the existing seminary location, and will allow for St. Nersess to continue its historic and close relationship with St. Vladimir's.

The SVOTS Academic Catalog explains that for years, "students at St. Nersess Seminary have taken their M.Div. degree at St. Vladimir's Seminary. With the revision of St. Vladimir's M.Div. curriculum beginning in 2007, a further step towards greater collaboration was taken, whereby the courses offered by the faculty of St. Nersess count for credit at St. Vladimir's. In this way, students of St. Vladimir's can benefit greatly from the remarkable range of courses offered by the distinguished faculty of St Nersess."

The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, dean and professor of Patristics at St. Vladimir's Seminary, expressed enthusiasm about the new St. Nersess Dean. "We have long valued our special relationship with St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, working together to enrich all of our students and their educational pursuits. We are very pleased with the appointment of Fr. Mardiros, an SVOTS alumnus, and look forward to many positive developments during his tenure."

The St. Nersess website outlined the goals of Fr. Mardiros and his administration as they move forward:

• Continuing education of current priests, through planned educational and training workshops
• Offering support & training for Armenian priests from abroad who need assistance with acclimation and acculturation and are destined to serve in the North American dioceses
• Transforming St. Nersess into a center for theological research for exchange faculty and students from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem
• Strengthening the Armenian education of our American born seminarians through longer study in our seminaries in Armenia and Jerusalem
• Introducing an undergraduate program that would combine local college study and courses, worship, and residence at St. Nersess Seminary
• Continuing and expanding the fifty year tradition of summer youth programs, retreats, and altar server programs

"I want to challenge and inspire students who want to pursue the Armenian priesthood," noted Fr. Mardiros. "Even if a young American–born Armenian does not have a good command of the Armenian language, he will learn it....he must be confident and comfortable in his ministry as an Armenian priest. In addition to academics, it is important for a priest to be able to transmit what he knows and demonstrate strong leadership skills." 

St. Vladimir's Alumnus The Very Rev. Aaron Archer ('97) fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday morning, November 15, 2012. Funeral services and the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at Holy Transfiguration Church, Pearl River, NY, on Sunday evening and Monday morning, November 18 and 19. Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, November 18; the Burial Service for a Priest will begin at 6:00 p.m. His Grace The Rt. Rev. Michael, bishop of New York and New York and New Jersey, will preside at the Divine Liturgy, Monday, November 19, at 9:30 a.m.

Born in Decatur, AL on December 23, 1943, Father Aaron was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood by His Eminence The Most Rev. Dmitri (Royster) in May 1995 and June 1996 respectively. Father Aaron graduated with his Master of Divinity from St. Vladimir's in 1997 and went on to serve in many parishes of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, including St. John the Baptist Church, Spring Valley, NY, and St. Ireney Chapel at Saints Cosmas and Damian Adult Home, Staten Island, NY. In July 2001, he was attached to Three Hierarchs Chapel at St. Vladimir's Seminary while pursuing theological studies. 

Often we report here on the work of the alumni association and its work on behalf of and for our alumni. This month we would like to feature some of the great work of our alumni. When Fr. John Behr was installed as our dean he challenged the faculty, staff, students and alumni of St. Vladimir's to "Engage the World with Orthodox Christianity." Obviously here on campus we primarily supply our students with tools to engage the world; when they graduate and begin their work in the vineyard of Our Lord, this engagement begins. Our most recent graduating class definitely has taken up this call to engagement. Of our six graduating priests, four have gone straight into the mission field serving in existing or newly created missions in New York, South Carolina, Texas, and Florida. Below is a brief list of those parishes with links to their Web and Facebook pages. We encourage you to check out and support the work of these wonderful priests, their families, and their newly established Orthodox Communities. 

Father David Wooten and his family left St Vladimir's to found  Holy Apostles Mission in Miami Florida. Holy Apostles is the only OCA all-Spanish language parish outside the Diocese of Mexico. On July 1st, Fr. David chrismated over 30 adults and children. 

Father David Bozeman and his family moved to Waxahachie, Texas outside of Dallas, to found St. Nektarios Mission. St. Nektarios is presently without a permanent home, but already, Fr. David and his family, and their parish community worship in parishioners' homes for daily vespers during the week and for the full cycle of services on the weekend. 

Father David Poling and his family have stayed in the Yonkers area, but they travel each weekend to Oneonta, New York where they serve St. Innocent Mission. St. Innocent's is a community that has grown out of a group of faithful who have been worshipping at nearby Holy Myrrhbearers Monastery. In addition to regular services Fr. David has started a book study for the faithful and for students at the nearby by State College of New York—Oneonta. See a video of Fr. David, just after his ordination at the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection in New York City, here.

Father James Bozeman and his family moved to Beaufort, South Carolina, seventy miles south of Charleston, to continue the work of the newly established St. James Mission. On July 1st, under the leadership of Fr. James, the parish held its first Divine Liturgy at the Beaufort Arsenal Museum. Prior to that, the mission community had met in homes. While their borrowed space is only available to the community on Sunday mornings, the mission already has a full schedule of services. 

Please join us in praying for all of our alumni, and especially those and their families who are serving missions throughout our Church. 

On June 28, 2012, Father Vladimir Misijuk (SVOTS ’91) successfully defended his doctoral dissertation at Warsaw’s Christian Theological Academy. The title of his dissertation is “Spiritual Guidance in Orthodox Monasticism.”

Father Vladimir is the associate pastor at the parish of the Holy Dormition, Bialystok, Poland. Father Vladimir received his Master of Divinity from the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Warsaw and his Master’s Degree from the Christian Theological Academy. Father Vladimir completed a Master of Theology at St. Vladimir’s under Protopresbter John Meyendorff in 1991, with a thesis titled, “Spiritual Guidance in the Egyptian Desert in the 4th and 5th centuries."

Father Vladimir was a founding member of the Fellowship of Orthodox Youth in Poland. He served Syndesmos, The World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth, for over a decade: first as a member of the Board of Administration and later as the General Secretary of the fellowship. He has also been active within the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) and the World Council of Churches (WCC). Father Vladimir has also translated many of Metropolitan Kallistos’ (Ware) works into Polish.

Father Vladimir’s doctoral thesis, which was supervised by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Sava of Warsaw, studied the issue of spiritual leadership in the Orthodox Church, with a strong focus on the development of spiritual guidance in the early Church.

“Analysis of the ministry of spiritual guidance in the early centuries of the Church can become a reference point in the consideration of the contemporary understanding of this ministry, especially in the context of contemporary physical, psychological, and spiritual problems of the human person,” said Fr. Vladimir.

Father Vladimir lives in Bialystok with his wife, Tatiana, and seven-year-old daughter, Nina. May God grant Fr. Vladimir and his family many healthy and profitable years!

More than thirty-five St. Vladimir's Seminary alumni, representing twelve graduating classes, as well as friends and prospective seminarians, gathered at St. Joseph Church, Wheaton, Illinois for a Bright Friday dinner sponsored by the SVOTS Alumni Association. Archpriest Alexander Rentel, assistant professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies at the seminary, together with Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak, director of Alumni Relations, joined the group for an evening of prayer, fellowship, and good food. 

Father Alexander gave a short presentation on the current state of the seminary and spoke about exciting programs and projects planned for the future. Protodeacon Joseph spoke briefly about the plans of the Alumni Association for the upcoming 75th Anniversary Year commemorating the founding St. Vladimir's (2013). Protodeacon Joseph also thanked the alumni for their good work in supporting the seminary, especially in terms of identifying young men and women interested in a seminary education, and he reported an increase in inquiries and applications to the seminary for the coming academic year over last year. 

The dinner was facilitated by the rector of St. Joseph Church, Archpriest John Matusiak, with help and support from the parishoners of the parish.

While a student at St. Vladimir's, Archpriest Steven Voytovich recorded a number of services celebrated in the Seminary chapel during the Great Lenten journey and Pascha of 1990. He has offered them in prayerful remembrance of Protopresbyter John Meyendorff, dean of the seminary (1984–1992).

Click here to listen! 

Father Steven invites you to share your reflections by commenting on Soundcloud, or posting on the SVOTS Facebook Page.

Brent Gilbert (SVOTS '04) has been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study in Athens, Greece for the 2011/12 Academic Year. The fellowship will fund research for Brent’s dissertation, titled “The Image of God, Greek Medicine and Trinitarian Polemic in Gregory of Nyssa’s De Hominis Opificio.” Brent’s dissertation investigates the influence of the ancient Greek medical tradition upon the theological debates of the fourth century, particularly St. Gregory of Nyssa’s polemic against Eunomius.

Brent will be conducting his research at the Gennadius Library, the Byzantine collection of the America School of Classical Studies at Athens. He will also be a Student Associate Member at the school. He will be embarking on this endeavor with his wife Rachel and children Max, Zelda, and Theo. We wish the entire Gilbert Family safe travels and success in this endeavor.

Father Rauno Pietarinen will soon begin a one year assignment in Ivalo, Finland, on the Barents Sea,  ministering to the Sami or Laplander native peoples of far Northern Finland.  The native Skolt Sami People have been Orthodox since the 16th century when St. Trifion evanglized, planted churches and founded the Monastery of Petsamo.

We wish Fr. Rauno and his family a safe, healthy and peaceful year of ministering to the natives of Finland.

Many graduates of St. Vladimir's fondly remember Dr. Veselin Kesich, not only as a fellow alumnus but also as professor emeritus of New Testament at the seminary, who taught at our school from 1953–1991. Professor Kesich celebrated his 90th birthday recently, having been born March 12, 1921. His son Gregory, a newspaper reporter, wrote a touching tribute to him in The Portland Press Herald, titled "The View from 90 Includes More Than a Few Surprises." The newspaper piece attests to Professor's unflagging and deep concern for people—all people (even Lindsay Lohan!)—and his equal concern that they minister to each other and to their communities.

Fellow alumni who had the privilege of studying under Professor Kesich may remember his underlying intimation that the Holy Scriptures have the ability to vivify lives, contemporary lives, which may seem on the surface far removed from biblical writings. He steeped his students in the New Testament, so that they might discern its truth and power amidst cultural influences that either coincided with it, or diverted from it. Professor Kesich was apt to have students compare the Gospel of John with The Bhagavad Gita, or to write a critique of the film "Jesus of Nazareth,"or to draw to their attention the Christian virtues he found in the characters in the popular film "Rocky." To sharpen the discernment of his students, he demanded memorization of New Testament passages and in-depth elucidation of texts.

Professor Kesich is a 1953 graduate of St. Vladimir's Seminary and holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University. He has authored several SVS Press books, including The Passion of Christ (1965); The Treasures of the Holy Land (with his wife Lydia, 1985); The First Day of the New Creation (1982); The Gospel Image of Christ (1991); and Formation and Struggles: The Birth of the Church AD 33–200 (2007), as part of the press's The Church in History series. His works have been translated into several languages.

During the momentous occasion of Dr. Kesich's 90th year, we're calling upon former students of his to send him a congratulatory note or belated birthday message. You may write to Professor Kesich at: 15 Piper Road, Apt. C 301, Scarborough, Maine 04074.

St. Vladimir’s Seminary community is praying for the souls of two departed alumni, Fr. Theodore Ziton and Annette Milkovich.

Fr. Theodore, who studied in the Master of Divinity program at St. Vladimir's from 1951-1954, is formerly of St. George Cathedral in Wichita, Kansa s (1963–66) and was retired from St. George Church in Canton, Ohio. He fell asleep in Christ this past Friday, April 8th.

He is the father of Fr. Stephen Ziton, formerly of St. Mary Church in Wichita, and was preceded in death by Khouriya Vivian.

Annette, who earned her Master of Arts degree from the seminary in 1980, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, April 10th. Annette attended al l  ou r campus functions and activities for more than 40 years, and she also established The Very Rev. Michael and Matushka Anna Dziama Scholarship Fund, in memory of her parents and for the benefit of seminarians. 

Annette was the  beloved wife of 60 years of Zoran Milkovich, an alumnus of St. Vladimir's Seminary, the first president of the St. Vladimir's Theological Foundation, and a member of the seminary Board of Trustees for many years. She also is the mother of Lisa Madara and grandmother to Nicholas, Daniel, Anthony and Erika.

She was a member of the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs / Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America [FROC/FOCA] and other Church-related organizations. For over 20 years she taught in the Teaneck, New Jersey school district.

May the memory of Fr. Theodore and Annette be eternal!

Details about services scheduled for Fr. Theodore may be found here, on the Website of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese; details about services for Annette may be found here, on the Website of the Orthodox Church in America.