A Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) student is determined to help strengthen the commitment of Orthodox Christians to compassionate ministry to the poor and suffering, and is looking for input to complete his research.
The heart of the work is a survey related to the focus of the study.
Help Fr. Theophan’s research by taking the survey here.
“Father Alexander Schmemann provides the inspiration for this project,” he stated. “In 1965, Father Alexander wrote about the need to replace the false ideal of ‘serving the parish’ with the concept of ‘the parish as servant.’”
Research results and analyses from The Servant Parish Project will be published on Fr. Theophan’s project page in draft form as they become available.
On Saturday morning, His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, archbishop of Washington and metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), presided at Divine Liturgy at Three Hierarchs Chapel. He was joined by clergy from among the student body, faculty, and Board of Trustees, including Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield, Assistant Professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies Archpriest Alexander Rentel, board member and Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Archpriest John Jillions, and Chair of St. Vladimir's Seminary Alumni Association Board Archpriest David G. Barr.
Commencement began at the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium following the Divine Liturgy, lunch, and a Molieben. After His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon officially opened the Commencement Exercises, Fr. Chad Hatfield welcomed the graduates and guests and offered a look back at what he called “a remarkable academic year” at the seminary. (Highlights of Academic Year 2017-2018)
Among the many distinguished guests were two representatives of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary leadership: Bishop-Elect and Alumnus Very Rev. Daniel Findikyan, who was recently elected primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and Priest Mardiros Chevian, the Dean of St. Nersess. Their presence was particularly meaningful at this Commencement, as 2018 marks the fiftieth year of cooperation between St. Vladimir’s and St. Nersess Seminaries. Additionally, at the 2018 ceremonies graduating seminarian Timothy Aznavourian became the first Armenian student chosen to deliver the Salutatory Address at a SVOTS commencement.
The Commencement Address was delivered by Dr. David Bradshaw, chair of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Kentucky. He spoke to the graduating class of the need to share, in particular, three beautiful aspects of Orthodox Christianity still largely unknown or misunderstood in the secular world: Orthodox worship, the wisdom and example of saints and monasticism, and forgiveness.
“If I have learned anything over the years that I have spent teaching, it is that our secular friends want and need this treasure,” he said.
Dr. Bradshaw was also one of three people who received honorary doctorates at the 2018 Commencement. St. Vladimir’s Seminary conferred the honorary doctorates to Dr. Bradshaw, composer Mitered Archpriest Sergei Glagolev, and Seminary Trustee Emeritus Protodeacon Peter Danilchick for their outstanding contributions to the Orthodox Church.
“Their contributions align so fittingly with important facets of St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s mission, namely, leadership and stewardship, academia, and the sacred arts,” said Fr. Chad when the honorary doctorates were announced earlier this spring. “As such, we could not be more pleased to honor these three distinguished individuals.”
Dr. Bradshaw was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity, Protodeacon Peter the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (D.H.L.), and Fr. Sergei the degree of Doctor of Sacred Music.
Following Dr. Bradshaw’s address and the conferral of degrees, graduate Dimitrios Nikiforos delivered the Valedictory Address.
“The day of commencement often finds us at a disorienting moment, standing at the crossroads of unfamiliar paths…” said Nikiforos. “However, today Christ tells us, through the Prophet Jeremiah, ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths; ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and I will give rest for your souls’ [Jer 6.16].”
Mr. Nikiforos concluded his address by thanking God, fellow seminarians and their families and spouses, the trustees, and donors to the seminary for helping make this achievement possible for the Class of 2018.
Student Council President Angelo Niqula then presented the St. Macrina Award for Excellence in Teaching, selected each year by student vote, to SVOTS Director of Music Robin Freeman
“This professor maintains a cheerful demeanor and a personal interest that not only keeps us from stagnating, but the fruits of her labor constantly show in the progress we have made in both the classroom and the chapel,” wrote one student, whose comments Niqula shared before presenting the award.
At the conclusion of the Commencement Exercises, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon offered closing remarks for the Class of 2018, sharing a moving story about a cheerful email he received from an eleven-year-old girl in the midst of her struggle with cancer, which she passed away from not long after sending the email.
“Even as she faced this tremendous physical suffering…and the reality of her own approaching death, she never lost the joy of living, nor did she grow bitter or angry,” said His Beatitude. “I only met her once, when I brought her communion, but her joyful example along with her Christ-like longsuffering confirmed for me that truly the glory of God is revealed in a human person—sometimes most brightly in the most trying of circumstances.”
“And it was a reminder to me,” he continued, “that there is no work that is more necessary than caring for our broken and hurting fellows, all of whom, like us, are made in the image and likeness of that glory.”
“I have this as a source of inspiration in my own life, and I hope that you also can find such inspiration in your own journeys.”
During Spring Semester 2018, three new priests have been added to the ranks of our Student Body and Alumni fellowship, as well as three new deacons. Additionally, Alumnus and faculty member Fr. Daniel Findikyan was elected primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.
Ordinations, receptions, and elevations from Fall Semester 2017 can be viewed here. Three members of the Class of 2018 were ordained before the start of Fall Semester 2017. Details from their ordinations can be found here.
We keep them in prayer as they continue in their ministries. Axios!
HOLY PRIESTHOOD
Priest Andrew Cannon (M.A. 2016) Jurisdiction: Diocese of the South, Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained by His Eminence, the Most Reverend Alexander, Archbishop of Dallas and the South and the Bulgarian Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), in St. John of the Ladder Orthodox Church, Piedmont, SC, 9APR17 Holy Priesthood: Ordained to the Holy Priesthood 10MAR18 at St. Basil Mission, Wilmington, NC by the hand of His Eminence, the Most Reverend Alexander, Archbishop of Dallas and the South and the Bulgarian Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Current Ministry: Assistant Pastor, St. Basil Mission in Wilmington, NC Education and Professional Background: Studied Classics at Furman University, Greenville, SC; consultant at Writing & Media Lab, Furman University
Priest Thomas Zaid Totonchy (M.Div. 2016) Jurisdiction: Archdiocese of the Western United States, Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch Holy Priesthood: Ordained April 21, 2018 at St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church, Orange, CA
by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, patriarchal vicar of the Archdiocese of the Western United States Current ministry: Assigned as rector at St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church, Orange, CA Education and Professional Background: California-area youth minister from 2016 to 2018, Archdiocese of the Western United States, Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch; served as sub-deacon and youth minister at St. Ignatius of Antioch, Portland, OR, before attending St. Vladimir’s Seminary
Priest Anthony Westerman, Alumnus (M.Div. ’10) Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church of North America (AOCANA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained by His Grace Anthony, bishop of the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest (AOCANA),, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Canton, OH, 21JAN18 Holy Priesthood: Ordained on Bright Monday, 9APRIL18 at St. George Orthodox Christian Church, Fishers, IN, by His Grace Anthony, bishop of the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest (AOCANA). Current ministry: Assistant Priest of St Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church in Greenwood, IN Educational and professional background: Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2004, Political Science and Government, Western Kentucky University; Board Certified Chaplain (NAVAC); Military Police Officer, United States Marine Corps, 1997-2003; served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; Currently Chaplain Candidate Program Officer, United States Navy
HOLY DIACONATE
Deacon Gregory Erik Potter (3rd-year Seminarian, M.Div. program) Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained 29APRIL18 by His Grace John, bishop of the Diocese of Worcester and New England (AOCANA), at St. George in Norwood, MA Current ministry: Student parish assignment at St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Brooklyn, NY Educational and professional background: B.A. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University. Shortly thereafter, he was received into the Orthodox Church, and chanted, taught Sunday school, and studied at church while working at Starbucks for seven years
Deacon Herman Fields, (2nd-year Seminarian, M.Div. program) Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church of North America (AOCANA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained by Metropolitan Joseph, Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Little Falls, NJ, 21JAN18 Current ministry: Student parish assignment at St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, under the mentorship of Rector, Fr. Michael Elias; member of St. Innocent's Society and St. Moses the Black Society Student Interest Groups Educational and professional background: M.A., Oxford, Theology; St. Stephen's Certificate in Theology from the Antiochian House of Studies; worked in IT for ten years, as a web developer and project manager; moved to St. Vladimir's from Sweden, with wife, Anna, and children, Julia and Jacob
Deacon George Katrib, Alumnus (M.Div. ’14) Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church of North America (AOCANA) Diaconate: Ordained by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, Houston, TX, 28JAN18 Current ministry: Youth Director, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Houston, TX Educational and professional background: Bachelor’s Degree (BA) 2008, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL
ELEVATION
Very Rev. Dr. Daniel Findikyan, Alumnus (M.Div. 1989) Jurisdiction: Armenian Church of America, Eastern Diocese of America Holy Priesthood: Ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag, eleventh primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America in 1997 in New York, NY Elevation to Doctor of the Church: Elevated to the rank of Vartabed (doctor of the church) in 2006 in Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), Armenia Elevation to Primate: Elected twelfth diocesan primate by 116th Diocesan Assembly of Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America 4MAY18 IN West Harrison, NY; Confirmed as primate 8May18 by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; Enthroned 8May18 at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, New York, NY Current Ministry: Primate of Eastern Diocese of America of the Armenian Church of America Education and Professional Background: Doctor of Liturgical Studies, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, Italy; Master of Arts degree in Musicology, City University of New York, Master of Divinity, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, Armonk, NY; Master of Divinity, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY. Currently the director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), New York, NY; professor of Liturgical Studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, Armonk, NY; professor of Armenian Studies, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY; president of the Society of Oriental Liturgy; visiting pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Charlotte, NC, from 1998 to 2005; author of more than 60 scholarly articles and books
Alumnus Archpriest Vadim Pogrebniak, 80, fell asleep in the Lord on the afternoon of the Leavetaking of Pascha, Wednesday, May 16, in Shoreline, WA. Fr. Vadim was Pastor Emeritus of Saint Spiridon Cathedral, Seattle, WA, and former Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of the West.
Fr. Vadim attended St. Vladimir's Seminary from 1973 until 1976 in the Theological Division, the predecessor of what is now the seminary’s Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program. He also studied at St. Tikhon’s Seminary in South Canaan, PA.
In 1980, Father Vadim assumed the pastorate of Saint Spiridon’s, from which he retired on December 31, 2007. Earlier, he served parishes in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he was widely known for his expertise in the field of liturgical music and choral conducting.
Father Vadim is survived by his beloved wife, Matushka Helen, their sons Kyrie and Deema, and his sister Donya Platoff. Online condolences may be sent in care of the Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home.
The Funeral Service will be celebrated at Three Hierarchs Romanian Orthodox Church, 6402 226th Street SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA on Monday, May 21 at 6 p.m. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 22 at 9 a.m., followed by interment at Edmonds Memorial Cemetery, Edmonds, WA. A repast will follow at the church.
May Father Vadim’s memory be eternal!
Sections of this article have been reprinted from OCA.org.
In the face of a clergy shortage affecting all Orthodox Christian jurisdictions in North America, St. Vladimir’s Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield sat down to discuss the future of vocations and the vision for the seminary moving forward.
Fr. Chad was recently interviewed by Adam Lowell Roberts of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America’s Department of Missions and Evangelism. In this two-part interview, Fr. Chad addresses the clergy shortage and also details SVOTS’ Vision 2020, a plan for the future of formation and education at the seminary, which could take effect as early as fall 2018.
A group of renowned scholars and artists took part in a three-day symposium over the weekend at St. Vladimir’s Seminary as they worked to explore sacred arts both in historic and new, possibly groundbreaking ways.
“’Sacrality,’ ‘the sacred,’ ‘arts,’ and ‘Sacred Arts’ show up in a lot of different fields and disciplines, often without definition…and a lot of these terms are taken for granted,” said Dn. Evan. “So, what we wanted to do was to try to bring a truly interdisciplinary group of scholars and artists [together] to discuss this.”
Among those presenting papers were historians of Byzantine and Armenian art and architecture Charlie Barber, Annemarie Weyl Carr, and Christina Maranci; musicologist Peter Jeffery; musicologist and theologian Margot Fassler; Orthodox priest, composer, conductor, and musicologist Ivan Moody; iconographer George Kordis; poet Nicholas Samaras, theologian and Roman Catholic priest Richard Viladesau; and Professor Schneider.
“Getting scholars and practitioners of this caliber to reflect on fundamental themes isn’t easy,” said Dr. Bouteneff. “It is a testimony to the level and character of the people assembled here that they contributed so thoughtfully, enthusiastically, and brilliantly, to the theme of sacredness in the arts. We realized together that we have here the potential of offering something new and useful to Christian reflection on theology and the arts."
Dr. Bouteneff added that one of the goals of the Sacred Arts Initiative is the future publication of a book based on the papers presented at this recent symposium.
On Saturday, the first-year Master of Divinity (M.Div.) students gathered in the Seminary Refectory for a lunch and debrief of their prison ministry experience this year. They were joined by Priest Paul Tolve, Director of Pastoral Care, Westchester Correctional Facility (Valhalla, NY) and Priest Adrian Budica, director of Field Education and Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) supervisor, who led their CPE101/Prison Ministry this year.
First-year Seminarian Chris Evans prepared a delicious three-course meal for all attending, offering his more than thirty years of experience as a chef as hospitality to his peers and mentors. The group then reflected on the meaningful experience they had visiting inmates, interacting with the correctional officers and reflecting together in the CPE-like group.
"As our interaction with inmates concluded, we miss the actual practical experience [of ministering to real people] on a regular basis, as we did in the prison," said Seminarian John Thetford.
Others echoed that feeling with a hope for more opportunities of authentic pastoral engagement with each other and learning.
"I am blessed to continue Fr. Nicholas Solak's ministry at the correctional facility", said Fr. Adrian Budica. "The process-discussion in the classroom is something I also cherish much, as I learn with and from the seminarians and their individual experiences with inmates. I believe that the most powerful and lasting learning takes places when it is initiated by the student from their own personal experiences, including struggles.”
Fr. Adrian and the seminarians reflected together on themes such as pastoral authority, boundaries, obedience, compassion fatigue, counter-transference and use of self, humility, and other themes as they arose organically from their ministry with inmates.
St. Vladimir’s Seminary is committed to continuing the CPE process-model, which proved effective in these groups for both pastoral formation and pastoral competence (skills of ministry), as well as continuing parish field education.
Rome-based Catholic filmmaker Robert Duncan took part in a special, public screening of his documentary Faces Among Icons on Sunday at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, followedby a panel discussion about the renewal of Orthodoxy in Russia.
The film, recently released by Catholic News Service (CNS), chronicles the rebirth of the Russian Orthodox Church following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Duncan directed and helped produce the documentary.
Before the start of the film, Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield thanked both Duncan and the Roman Catholic Church for making the film, which is of great interest to Orthodox Christians.
Fr. Chad joined Duncan and third-year Seminarian Priest Christopher Moore for the panel discussion following the film screening. Several members of the general public and seminary community in attendance raised questions about, among other topics, ecumenical dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, the nature of church-state relations in Russia, and how the Orthodox Church there is addressing social ills.
Listen to the panel discussion in its entirety below.
An opportunity to transform your ministry for the better might sound too good to be true, but that is exactly what St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program was set up to be. And its most recent graduates want you to see fruits of the D.Min. program for yourself.
On Wednesday, May 9, we are hosting the second of three webinars featuring D.Min. graduates presenting their final projects. These webinars—free and open to the public—are meant to give people a taste of what the D.Min. program offers and what it can do for your ministry.
Registration ends at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, so register soon if you plan on joining us!
The third webinar presentation will feature Subdn. Gregory Abdalah, D.Min, and his project, titled, “The Church of Today: Youth, Liturgy, and Community.”
“Our youth are often referred to as ‘the future of the church.’ While a nice sentiment, this outlook ignores their role and place within the Church’s here and now,” said Subdn. Gregory. “We will look at the role community plays within the lives of our youth, contrasting the definition of community offered by the world with that which the church offers.”
Registrants will be emailed a link to join the webinar via computer or phone.
Seminarians from the Patriarchate of Alexandria helped make for a particularly memorable celebration of the feast day of St. Mark the Evangelist, the patron saint of the Venerable Church of Alexandria.
On Wednesday, the seminary community observed the Divine Liturgy for the feast according to rubrics and languages commonly used for the Divine Liturgy in Africa. The Liturgy was led by first-year Seminarian Archimandrite Chrysostomos Onyekakeyah from Nigeria and third-year Seminarian Deacon Simon Menya from Uganda; Seminarian Loveday Okafor, also from Nigeria, sang the responses during the Liturgy. All three students belong to the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa.
During his sermon, Fr. Chrysostomos pointed out that sermons in Nigeria are usually much longer than sermons typically given in Orthodox churches in America. Sermons he delivers back home can be up to an hour in duration, and members of the congregation sing, dance, and clap for thirty minutes or more.
Speaking about the importance of the feast day, Fr. Chrysostomos reminded the congregation that, though it is important to glorify saints like St. Mark, we too often glorify them but forget that we should also strive to be like them. It is our duty to, like the saints, become the salt and light of the earth.
According to Church tradition the Apostle and Evangelist Mark is considered to be the founder and first bishop of the Alexandrian Church. Saint Mark is believed to have arrived in Alexandria in AD 43, traditionally observed as the year the Alexandrian Church was founded.
Next year, the seminary anticipates even more students enrolling from the Patriarchate of Alexandria, due to the closure of many seminaries in Africa because of financial crises. St. Vladimir’s Seminary has established the St. Cyprian of Carthage Fund for African seminarians who would not be able to attend St. Vladimir’s Seminary without financial support. Read more about the initiative on the St. Cyprian of Carthage Fund page.
