There was a robust exchange of ideas between seminarians and professors when the best student papers of the 2020 spring semester were showcased Friday at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary’s (SVOTS) second biannual Academic Symposium.
Seminary faculty nominated five papers to be featured during the Symposium, some of which will be selected for publication the St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly (SVTQ).
“The Symposium was a marketplace of ideas,” said second-year Master of Arts student Deacon Basil Paul who presented a paper entitled, “Refugee Crisis and Pastoral Care: Towards a Eucharistic Missiological Paradigm.” “Critical reflections and questions which emerged in and through the Symposium will considerably aid the process of my spiritual growth,” he continued.
Romanian academic Dr. Mihail Mitrea presented the keynote address, “Saintly Models of Hesychasm: Hesychast Elements in Philotheos Kokkinos’ Lives of Contemporaneous Saints.”
“It was a special opportunity and privilege to be part of the Symposium,” said second-year Master of Divinity student Subdeacon Daniel Hanna, who presented the paper, “The Concession in 1 Corinthians 7:6.”“The most helpful aspect was the Q&A after the presentation,” he continued. “This gave me an opportunity to understand the strengths and weaknesses of my paper and to view it from an angle otherwise unknown to me.”
“The goal of the Symposium is to foster intellectual exchange and academic excellence among students by providing a platform at the beginning of every semester to present and discuss the best academic work done by students in the previous semester,” said SVOTS Academic Dean Dr. Ionuţ-Alexandru Tudorie.
“I hope you never lose your voice,” said SVOTS President Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield in his opening remarks at the Symposium. “I hope you keep on producing this kind of work and I hope that you will never hesitate to put your voice into the arena,” he continued.
SVOTS plans to host the Academic Symposium twice every academic year. Although the Symposium is currently an intramural event, the Seminary plans to invite other Orthodox seminaries to participate in the future.
On Tuesday His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon spoke to the seminarians at St. Vladimir’s Seminary via Zoom. As the seminarians gathered in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium on campus, His Beatitude spoke on seminary life and the spiritual life, with reference to the current pandemic situation.
“The impact on your seminary studies has been quite significant and has disrupted the manner in which more or less everything has traditionally been done….” said His Beatitude. “However, I commend [Seminary President] Fr. Chad, [Academic Dean] Dr. Tudorie, and [Spiritual Formation Director] Fr. Nicholas [Roth] for the excellent and detailed protocols that they have established for the proper and safe functioning of the Seminary for the upcoming semester.”
His Beatitude continued, “I am sure that, like me, all of you had moments of sorrow and feeling the impact of the isolation, but also moments when you were energized and inspired by the grace of God. It is not easy to bear both of these realities in ourselves at the same time, but I encourage you to continue to make this effort and to support one another as fellow citizens of this seminary community.”
Read His Beatitude’s full address to the seminarians here.
As Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude is the ruling hierarch of both stavropegial seminaries, St. Tikhon’s in South Canaan, PA, and St. Vladimir’s, as well as the president and chairman, respectively, of those seminaries’ Boards of Trustees. His Beatitude plans to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at both seminaries later this semester.
St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) has opened the 2020 edition of the annual St. Matthias Merit Scholarship Essay Contest. The competition is a small part of the school’s ongoing efforts to help its students afford the costs of theological education and formation.
The essay contest is open to current seminarians only. Past winners of the contest are not eligible to enter. The winning student will see $3,000 in award money added to his or her scholarship fund to help pay for tuition at SVOTS.
The St. Matthias Merit Scholarship Essay Contest award is offered each academic year, thanks to the generous contributions of a family of anonymous donors. These donors also choose the topic of each essay contest and select the winner.
Requirements for this year’s contest are as follows:
Essay Topic: Although the American Bill of Rights prohibits Congress from making laws abridging freedom of speech, it does not prevent the culture from abridging that freedom. Reference Matthew 7:13-14 and the life of St. John Chrysostom to help young Christians approach “speaking the truth in love” when those around us may not be open to—or may even be hostile toward—what the Church teaches.
Submission Instructions: Entries for the 2020 St. Matthias Merit Scholarship Essay Contest must have a title and may not exceed 750 words. Entries should be submitted in PDF format—double-spaced and conforming to SVS Press House Style—to Ann Sanchez at aks@svots.edu. Essays must be submitted by October 1, 2020, the Feast of the Protection of the Holy Theotokos.
The contest is one of many offerings by the Seminary to help seminarians graduate tuition-debt free as they go forth to serve the Church. SVOTS also administers need-based tuition grants, need-based scholarships, merit scholarships, continuing education grants, and matching grant opportunities for seminarians. These are made possible thanks to many benefactors who have graciously given funds to the Seminary.
To help more seminarians receive their education and formation, consider making a donation by visiting the Seminary’s Give Now page and selecting “Seminarians Education Assistance Fund” as your designation.
Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) welcomes 41 new seminarians for the 2020-2021 academic year—one of the largest incoming classes in recent memory. The first day of classes began on Monday, August 24.
“This large incoming class is reflective of the strength of our new faculty and interest in our degree programs,” says Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, president of SVOTS. “While other seminaries are dealing with decline in enrollment and denominational support, we are seeing increasing interest in in-person residential programs, which is unique to us,” he said.
Commenting on the need for in-person classes, Fr. Chad added, “We simply cannot form an Orthodox priest in front of a computer screen.”
The incoming class hails from five countries—the United States, Ukraine, Uganda, Romania, and the Republic of Georgia—16 different Orthodox jurisdictions, and two non-Orthodox churches. Three of the first-year seminarians are women (7% of the group).
“I came to St. Vladimir’s out of admiration for its well-known history, its concern for mission in North America, and its continued influence on the study of patristics,” said first-year M.Div. seminarian Alexander Earl (Orthodox Church in America). “I hope St. Vladimir’s will prepare me for a dynamic ministry that balances the pastoral and the academic, and provides the space, support, and resources to hone my own academic productivity and rigor,” he continued.
Here is a breakdown of the incoming class by jurisdiction:
Orthodox Church in America (9)
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (8)
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (5)
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (3)
Romanian Patriarchate (2)
Armenian Apostolic Church (2)
Other Eastern Orthodox Jurisdictions:
American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA [Ecumenical Patriarchate] (1)
Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa (1)
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (1)
Ukrainian Orthodox Church [Moscow Patriarchate] (1)
Georgian Apostolic Church (1)
Other Oriental Orthodox Jurisdictions
Coptic Orthodox Church Archdiocese of North America (1)
Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of New York & New England (1)
Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch (1)
Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church (1)
Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church (1)
Non-Orthodox Churches
Roman Catholic Church (1)
Melkite Greek Catholic Church (1)
Nineteen of those students are enrolled in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program; eight in the Master of Arts (M.A.) program; four in the Master of Theology (Th.M.) program; and 10 in the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program.
Counting the incoming class, the Seminary’s total student body is 92 (including continuing and non-degree seminarians) from a total of seven different countries.
Before the start of the new academic year, the Seminary held four days of orientation to welcome and fully acclimate the incoming class to seminary life. Among other orientation events, a Molieben service of supplication was served on the first day followed by welcoming remarks by Fr. Chad and Academic Dean Dr. Ionut-Alexandru Tudorie. Dr. Tudorie also introduced the full-time Faculty, the degree programs, and the academic life of the Seminary. The newly appointed Director of Spiritual Formation, Fr. Nicholas Roth, made two presentations, “On Living in Community” and “Creating and Maintaining Healthy and Holy Rhythms.”
May the intercessions of Mary the Theotokos, Great and Holy Prince Vladimir, and all the saints be with these seminarians as they begin their new academic year in service to Christ!
As St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) prepares to welcome one of its largest incoming classes in recent memory this fall, the Seminary is also excited to welcome several new faces to its faculty and staff.
“The enthusiasm and energy with which our new hires have started their work here has been uplifting for the entire Seminary community,” said SVOTS President Fr. Chad Hatfield.
The excitement that comes with the new additions is also accompanied by sincere gratitude to those faculty and staff members who have moved on from St. Vladimir’s over the previous year, most recently Robin Freeman, who had been serving as the Seminary’s director of music.
“We wish Robin and her family well as they transition to a new chapter,” said Fr. Chad. “She contributed greatly to the Seminary during her years in the Advancement Department and as music director. She will be missed.”
Harrison Russin, the Seminary’s lecturer in liturgical music, is directing musical activities at SVOTS following Freeman’s departure.
“Any period of transition is a challenge,” said SVOTS Academic Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie. “And there have been some excellent individuals who are no longer part of the Seminary, but the opportunity in this change is that we are able to incorporate great new, fresh voices into our mission to serve our seminarians and the entire Church even more effectively.”
“We have been able to bring in a good number of distinguished scholars already in my short time as academic dean, and I am excited about the future trajectory of St. Vladimir’s.”
The Seminary’s new academic year begins Monday, August 24.
Dr. Ionut-Alexandru Tudorie, academic dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS), has a clear vision for the Father Georges Florovsky Library. "I want St. Vladimir’s Seminary to be a hub for Orthodox scholars. Relating to this goal, we have been working to grow and put more resources into the Seminary’s Father Georges Florovsky Library. Having the best research library possible is an important piece in attracting the best scholars to St. Vladimir’s."
The Library at SVOTS has always been considered one of the Seminary’s greatest assets, with over 230,000 volumes in holdings ranging from the sixteenth to the twenty-first centuries. It has been called the “richest library of Eastern Christian holdings in the Western Hemisphere” by Dr. James Billington, the former Librarian of Congress (1987-2015). In addition to serving the students, faculty, and alumni, the Library is now used by scholars from all over the world, and many outside patrons are requesting use of library materials.
Today, a reimagining of the Library’s interior, a significant expansion of its serials and databases, and a plan to create a “marketplace of ideas” for students to hone their research and writing skills will make the Library an even greater academic resource for seminarians and outside scholars alike.
The Library recently increased its holdings in academic databases. It has acquired access to the JSTOR database, which includes a wide range of periodicals in the field of humanities. The Library continues to make available to students the ATLA Religion Database, the major database for religious study. The Library’s collection of printed serials is also being evaluated with plans to acquire more titles. Since 2018, students and members of the public have also had access to hundreds of recordings of old lectures and talks through digi.svots.edu. Thanks to a grant from The Virginia H. Farah Foundation , the old analog recordings of renowned figures—including Frs. Alexander Schmemann, John Meyendorff, and Thomas Hopko, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, Sophie Koulomzin, Jaroslav Pelikan, and many others—were digitized and made available for free.
This summer, Dr. Tudorie’s vision for the Library received a boost with the addition of a new librarian, Yale Divinity School graduate Danielle Earl. With extensive experience at academic libraries, Danielle has already implemented innovative ideas so that every resource and aspect of the Library will be fully integrated into seminarian life.
She is transforming one of the library meeting rooms into what is being called “The Lyceum,” a sort of “marketplace of ideas.” Students will be able to schedule times at The Lyceum to discuss their academic research and receive assistance with their papers from more experienced students, so that the quality of those papers will be at a truly graduate level. Groups of students will also meet at The Lyceum to hear faculty members discuss their particular research interests, further synthesizing community life at the Seminary.
“The Library is here to serve seminarians and their needs and interests,” said Earl. “We want them to explore Orthodoxy by bringing Orthodoxy to them at different levels, whether that be through The Lyceum or a lecture sponsored by the Library.”
Earl has also devoted a room for cataloguing and organizing the Library’s holdings of rare books and papers, including the papers of former St. Vladimir’s deans, Frs. Georges Florovsky and Alexander Schmemann. Once cataloguing and digitization is completed, students will be able to either request photocopies of the rare books and papers or view them online.
The Library’s holdings of rare books includes The Ostrog Bible, the first printed Bible in the Slavic script (1581), which was donated to the Seminary by Archbishop John of San Francisco. There is also the Gospel of St. Matthew in the Alaskan language of Aleut, translated by St. Innocent of Alaska (1840), and other rare books and manuscripts in Arabic, Russian, Armenian, Georgian, and French.
“The Library is supposed to be not just the library of SVOTS but the archival library for the Orthodox Church in America,” says Danielle Earl. “We want to live up to our name and build on that reputation. At the same time, we want the Library to present Orthodoxy in America and not just American Orthodoxy.”
In short, the library at St. Vladimir’s is taking on new life. The library will continue to serve its diverse community—seminarians, faculty, staff, researchers, and those interested in the Orthodox tradition at large—with renewed vision. Only by doing so can Dr. Tudorie’s vision of a “pan-Orthodox hub” be realized, bringing St. Vladimir’s into the next phase of its life as a premier seminary for Orthodox education, mission, and research.
To learn more about the Father Georges Florovsky Library and its services, visit the Library’s website.
With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Archpriest Michael Keiser, an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Father Michael, 73, reposed in the Lord on August 15, 2020, the Dormition of our Most Holy Theotokos.
The Very Rev. Michael Keiser served in the holy priesthood for forty-four years before he retired to Eustis, FL. He was proistamenos at St. Antony Orthodox Church in Tulsa, OK and chair of the Department of Missions and Evangelism of the Antiochian Archdiocese (AOCANA). Father Michael spent almost all of his years of ministry working primarily in small congregations, planting or restoring them. He studied at Nashotah House Seminary and St. Vladimir's Seminary (1974-1976) and mentored seminary students at Oral Roberts Unviersity. He was also responsible for overseeing the planting and preparing of new congregations of non-Orthodox Christians in the United Kingdom for the Patriarchate of Antioch. He authored several books including A Beginners Guide to Prayer.
He is survived by Kh. Angelina and their children and grandchildren.
Condolences may be sent to the family at AMKeiser@aol.com, and funeral service information will be posted as it becomes available.
Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) is collecting funds to be donated toward recovery efforts in Lebanon, following the deadly explosion in Beirut August 4.
Anyone donating to St. Vladimir’s Seminary should write “Beirut” in the memo line if writing a check or in the comment section if donating online. Checks may be sent to the Seminary at 575 Scardsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707. Funds raised will be added to the Antiochian Archdiocese relief fund for Beirut. You may also donate to the relief fund directly by visiting the Archdiocese website.
The blast Tuesday resulted in dozens of deaths, thousands of injuries, and catastrophic damage to many homes, businesses, and churches. Orthodox churches including St. George Cathedral in downtown Beirut and St. Nicholas Church in Ashrafiyah suffered severe damage. The explosion also badly damaged the Beirut archdiocese headquarters, where St. Vladimir’s Alumnus Metropolitan Elias (Audi; Class of ’69) resides, as well as St. George Hospital. His Eminence was reported safe.
The Seminary community extends its prayers to all those affected by the explosion.
With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of two members of the Seminary’s extended family: Protopresbyter Boris Bobrinskoy, 95, and Archpriest Joseph Allen, 77. Father Boris fell asleep in the Lord Thursday, August 6 and Fr. Joseph the following day, on August 7.
The Very Rev. Joseph Allen, Th.D., was an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary and SVS Press author. In 1966, he had the distinction of being the first man ordained by His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip of thrice-blessed memory. For several years, Fr. Joseph guided the pastoral theology programs at St. Vladimir's and Holy Cross School of Theology, while serving as director of Theological and Pastoral Education of the Antiochian Archdiocese. He also founded the Antiochian House of Studies. Father Joseph retired from all of his ministries in 2019.
The Very Rev. Boris Bobrinskoy, a fellow SVS Press author, was one of the towering figures of twentieth-century Orthodox theology. He was also a frequent visitor and lecturer at St. Vladimir’s, received an honorary doctorate from the Seminary in 2003, and delivered a Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture. Born in 1925 to Russian parents who migrated to France after the 1917 Revolution, Fr. Boris was one of the last of the generation of great Russian émigré theologians—of the era of Frs. Georges Florovsky, John Meyendorff, and Alexander Schmemann. He served as dean and professor at his alma mater, St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris. Father Boris was also rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Paris for many years before retiring from active ministry.
Funeral and burial information for Frs. Boris and Joseph have not yet been announced.
Videos featuring the keynote presentations, a dedication honoring the Archpriest Sergei Glagolev, and Symposium highlights are now available to watch from this summer’s successful 2020 Pan-Orthodox Music Symposium.
Highlights from the 2020 Pan-Orthodox Music Symposium
The event, co-hosted by St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS), its Institute of Sacred Arts (ISA), and the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM), represents the results of a creative collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was one of only a handful of global musical events which took place, in an online format. The Symposium gathered over 210 participants from twelve countries June 11-13, 2020.
Additional resources and presentations from this year’s Symposium will be featured in an upcoming volume of the ISOCM’s online journal. Plans are being explored for future music gatherings hosted by St. Vladimir’s Seminary and the ISOCM, including next year’s ISOCM conference in Joensuu, Finland, June 7-13, 2021. The Seminary is also hosting its own music conference June 4-6, 2021.
About the International Society for Orthodox Church Music
Founded in 2005, the ISOCM seeks to provide an open platform for musicians, musicologists, singers, and composers that encourages dialogue, the exchange of information and ideas, and inspires cooperation. The Society sees the promotion of communication between East and West as one of its priorities and hosts biannual conferences, at the University of Eastern Finland on its Joensuu campus. The Society also hosts regional symposia and gatherings elsewhere throughout the world to help create opportunities for collaboration and the sharing of knowledge in the field of Orthodox liturgical music.
For more information about the ISOCM, visit: www.isocm.com
