At their meeting on July 24, 2017, the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of St. Vladimir’s Seminary affirmed that the Seminary, in its teaching of theology on the issues of marriage and human sexuality, is guided by the document titled, “Synodal Affirmations on Marriage, Family, Sexuality, and the Sanctity of Life,” originally issued by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) in 1992.

Additionally, during their Semi-Annual meeting on May 19, 2017, the full Board of the Seminary unanimously adopted another statement titled, “Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs Regarding Marriage,” which was also adopted by the Holy Synod in June 2016. The first paragraph of that document states that “The Orthodox Church in America teaches and maintains as a sincerely held religious belief that God has established marriage as a lifelong, exclusive relationship between one man and one woman, and that all intimate sexual activity outside the marriage relationship, whether heterosexual, homosexual, or otherwise, is immoral, and therefore sin,” and then goes on to cite several scriptural passages upholding that stated belief.

“These two statements, originally issued and adopted by the Holy Synod, provide the public with a clear articulation of the fundamental Orthodox Christian teaching regarding marriage and human sexuality, as well as a recognizable moral guideline,” said Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of the Seminary.

“And our Board’s recent actions regarding them assure that theological education at our school remains in alignment with the teachings of the Holy Orthodox Church,” he continued.

“Moreover,” Fr. Chad concluded, “our Board’s consistent adherence to the Holy Synod’s statements regarding marriage and human sexuality serves as a legal bulwark for the Seminary in matters of religious liberty.”

Specifically, the document titled, “Synodal Affirmations on Marriage, Family, Sexuality, and the Sanctity of Life” addresses a range of topics related to human sexuality and family life, within the tradition of the Orthodox Church, based in Holy Scripture. The “Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs Regarding Marriage” statement prohibits the use of church facilities for activities “contrary to and incompatible with sincerely held religious beliefs of the Church, including but not limited to, events, services, or receptions related to non-Orthodox sacraments (including weddings between persons of the same sex and related receptions), non-Orthodox worship services, and partisan political activities.” The statement also articulates fundamental beliefs of the Orthodox Church regarding marriage in terms that can be easily understood and applied by federal, state, and local government officials. According to the OCA’s website, the statement might dissuade “the necessity of probing inquiry or interpretation” by such officials, and might prevent them from transgressing “limitations imposed on them by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by related federal or state legislation, such as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993.”

Read the entire statement titled, “Sincerely Held Religious Beliefs Regarding Marriage” here.

Read the entire statement titled, “Synodal Affirmations on Marriage, Family, Sexuality, and the Sanctity of Life” here.

There’s an Ugandan proverb: “The path to your heart’s desire is never overgrown.”

Over the summer, seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield has been proving that maxim. Through recruitment efforts in both Nigeria and Uganda, he’s been clearing the path for more African students to attend St. Vladimir’s Seminary—fulfilling a desire recently arisen in his heart.

“African seminaries,” he noted, “which had been thriving under the Patriarch of Alexandria,” have lately been suffering and unable to continue to operate optimally due to the economic crisis in Greece.

“I want St. Vladimir’s to become an oasis for our African brothers during this time of hardship for them,” he explained, “and we look forward to building a stronger relationship with the Patriarchate in Alexandria as a result.

 “Moreover,” he continued, “we will be training these African students at our seminary, to afford them a certain stature due to a certain high standard of education, so that they can become faculty and clergy in their own countries, and can then help rebuild their struggling seminaries.”

As the result of his efforts, two students from Nigeria are enrolled for fall semester 2017: Fr. Chrysostom Onyekakeyah and Loveday Okafor. As well, one returning student from Gulu, Uganda, Simon Menya, will start his third year this fall as a seminarian in the Master of Divinity program.

Additionally, Fr. Chad further smoothed the way for future African students by meeting with key clergyman from Uganda during an extensive journey within that country July 25–August 5. He traveled with Seminarian Menya—who had returned home for the celebration of his marriage—and was also joined by Seminarian Cornelius Schuster, who served as Best Man at Seminarian Menya’s wedding. Father Chad’s most important meeting during his trip was with Metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, who resides in Kampala.

“We spoke about theological education in Africa,” Fr. Chad related, “and I got his input on how St. Vladimir’s can better serve the needs of the faithful in his own Metropolitanate. We also spoke about a wide range of topics: everything from the education of local children through church-sponsored schools, to the Council of Crete. Of course, I had known about his episcopate for many years, because of my 16 years on the OCMC Board.”

During his Ugandan sojourn, Fr. Chad also visited major church communities and faith-based schools, teaching and preaching, observing and listening, and using his former experience as a missionary in South Africa to bond with native Ugandans. Moreover, he celebrated Seminarian Menya’s wedding—the first ever Orthodox Church marriage service in the Village of Gulu—and visited historic sites, such as Sir Samuel Baker Fort Patiko, dedicated to the abolishment of the African slave trade, and Murchison Falls National Park, home to the five biggest mammals in Uganda. (All of the St. Vladimir’s contingent accomplished the rigorous hike to the top of the falls!)

Father George Lakony—priest of three communities in Uganda: St. Basil Orthodox Church in the Gulu District; St. Nektarios Orthodox Church in Akonyi Bedo, Gulu; and St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Christian Community in Atwomo Village, Nwoya District—expressed his appreciation for Fr. Chad’s visit, by sending an email to the Seminary, which, in part, read (unedited):

Fr. Chad one can termed him as a walking Icons which instead of venerating, you simply greet, hug and talk to. Few days he was with us, we have already gathered lots of word to says about him following his holiness, humility, diplomacy, love and care. 

One cannot meet Fr Chad and then remain without positive change in his or her heart. This is because he is so practical and speak practical words of our Lord Jesus Christ that we all witness in him when he taught about marriage in the Orthodox Church, the Dormition fast in our churches and taught the students of Archangel Michael Orthodox high school the meaning of what Christ means and how to be his followers plus the Names of all the Angeles we know and their intercession. (Read Fr. George’s entire email here).

“I’m the one who met ‘walking icons,’” said Fr. Chad when he read the touching email, “and they are the Orthodox people in Uganda. It was my privilege and honor to be with them, and to plant seeds that I hope will mature into vocations for the priesthood, and that will ‘sprout’ future seminarians, both here in Yonkers and in Africa.

“We’ve started a ‘St. Cyprian of Carthage Fund’ to sponsor the seminary education of our African brothers—and sisters too, if possible—and already we have been blessed with a $10,000 donation to that scholarship fund,” he concluded.

Approximately 30,000 Ugandans claim Orthodox baptism, and ranks of clergy currently include 48 priests and 7 deacons: read more about the fascinating history of indigenous Orthodoxy in Uganda here.

If you wish to sponsor African scholarship through the St. Cyprian of Carthage Fund, please do so here.
View a photo gallery of Fr. Chad’s Uganda journey here.

A major benefactor of our seminary, John G. Rangos, Sr.—after whom the “John G. Rangos Family Building” on our campus is named—was recently honored by Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. On Thursday evening, July 27, 2017, the University’s “John G. Rangos, Sr. School of Health Sciences,” along with university President Ken Gormley, hosted an 88th birthday celebration for Mr. Rangos, who is also that school’s benefactor and co-founder.

Our Executive Board Chair, Alex Machaskee, and his wife, Carol, attended the celebration, as well as a private dinner following the event. Mr. Machaskee presented Mr. Rangos with a gift on behalf of the Seminary, and a cross from Mount Athos, as a personal token of thanks.

As part of the celebration, a special bust that was commissioned was unveiled to honor Mr. Rangos' extensive philanthropic support of Duquesne, which includes the naming endowment for the Rangos School, an endowed chair in health science ethics, and an endowed scholarship fund assisting students. Founded in 1990, the Rangos School offers undergraduate degrees in athletic training and health management, and graduate degrees in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, physician assistant studies, and a doctorate in rehabilitation science physical therapy. Programs emphasize both scientific and interpersonal aspects of clinical practice.

Mr. Rangos, a Greek American industrialist, has proven himself an outstanding philanthropist. In 2001 he was a lead donor in our Seminary’s campaign to construct the building on campus that bears his name and that houses our library, administrative offices, and auditorium. In 2016 the Board and Faculty of St. Vladimir’s Seminary conferred a Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa upon him, in acknowledgement of his generosity. Through his family foundation, “The John G. Rangos, Sr. Charitable Foundation,” he also supports myriad partners, associated with everything from cultural interests, to healthcare and research, to promotion of patriotic values.

Read a biography of John G. Rangos, Sr., originally printed in NEO Magazine, here.

Archpriest John H. Erickson, our former Dean and the Peter N. Gramowich Professor of Church History Emeritus, will be “coming home” to our campus on Friday, October 27, to deliver the 2017 Annual Florovsky Lecture. The lecture, which honors another former Dean of our seminary, Archpriest Georges Florovsky, is being sponsored by The Orthodox Theological Society of America (OTSA), which will be meeting on our campus October 26–28.

Father John will speak on the topic, “Orthodoxy, 1917–2017: Searching for a ‘Usable Past’.” He will consider past models of engagement between Orthodox Christians and society that may prove useful in today’s world. The lecture, which will be held in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Building at 7:30 p.m., is free and open to the public, and a reception will follow.

Father John has a plentitude of accomplishments as a scholar, author, ecumenical officer, and advisor on church affairs, given his expertise in canon law and church history, and music. His books include Orthodox Christians in America (OUP), The Quest for Unity: Orthodox and Catholics in Dialogue (SVS Press and U.S. Catholic Conference), and The Challenge of Our Past: Essays in Orthodox Church History and Canon Law (SVS Press); as well, he co-edited five volumes of liturgical music (SVS Press).

Please join us in hearing Fr. John’s incisive analysis of the past, and his hopeful application of history for today, and beyond!

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Our annual Missions Weekend will feature two fascinating speakers this year, especially in light of world events—one from South Korea, and one from Albania. A campus student-interest group, the St. Innocent Society, is sponsoring the presentations.

SOUTH KOREA

Metropolitan Ambrosios (Zographos) of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea will speaking on campus for our annual Missions Weekend, and will be sharing his extraordinary experiences in working with the faithful in Korea. He will give his free and public presentation at on Friday, October 20, 7 p.m. in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Building, and an open reception will follow.

“I look forward to seeing your seminary President, Fr. Chad Hatfield, face-to-face, and to the conversations with your students,” replied His Eminence, in response to St. Innocent Society’s invitation.

Metropolitan Ambrosios was born on March 15, 1960 on the island of Aegina in Greece. He was educated at theological institutions in Greece and the U.S. (Holy Cross School of Theology and Princeton Theological Seminary), and did postgraduate work at Princeton University, earning a Master’s degree in Church History and Art History.

On December 21, 1998, he was awarded a Doctorate Degree with distinction by the School of Theology of the University of Athens and on December 23 of the same year he departed to Korea to begin serving the Orthodox Church in Korea as Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Seoul and as Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Korea. (Read His Eminence's article on the history of the Korean Orthodox Church.)

On December 21, 2006, he was elevated to the Episcopacy as Bishop of Zela by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In addition to many articles in various magazines, he has also published the following major studies and books: The Social Teachings of St. Gregory Palamas, Based on His 63 Homilies; The Contribution of St. Basil the Great to the Formation of the Monastic Ideal; and Iconography in the Liturgical life of the Medieval Greek Church.

ALBANIA

Nathan Hoppe, of Albania, will be speaking on Saturday, October 21, at 10 a.m. His presentation will also be in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium.

Nathan and his wife, Gabriela, are working to inspire, train, equip, and lead Albanians to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples in Albania. Their ministry is focused on seminary students, university students, and children. Nathan teaches the early church fathers at the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy and leads the ministry to students at the University of Tirana. Nathan also directs the Central Children's Office of the Orthodox Church of Albania, a ministry in which he works closely with Gabriela.

Nathan also represents the Orthodox Church of Albania at a number of international gatherings, including the official dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church and the dialogue with the Lutheran World Federation. Additionally, he serves on the steering committee of the Lausanne-Orthodox initiative (LOI), is a member of the Advisory Council for World Vision Albania, and is on the board of the Inter-Confessional Bible Society. Together Nathan and Gabriela lead a team of 25 Albanian Orthodox youth to Kosovo each year where they hold friendship camps for about 1,500 Muslim Albanian children. These camps are part of the social and philanthropic work of the Orthodox Church of Albania.

Nathan was born and raised in Colombia, South America, where his parents continue to serve as missionaries. He is a graduate of Wheaton College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. He has now served in Albania for more than 16 years. Gabriela, a native of Albania, is a graduate of the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy and the University of Tirana. She also holds a master's degree in Children's and Family Ministry from Bethel Seminary. In addition to her role in the Central Children’s Office, Gabriela devotes much time to her important responsibilities as wife, mother, and homemaker. The Hoppes have three children.

(Listen to part 1 and part 2 of an interview with Nathan about missionary work, in the podcast series "Send Me" on Ancient Faith Ministries (AFM); and also an interview with Nathan in the podcast series "Speaking the Truth in Love" on AFM.)

Photo credits: orthodoxkorea.org and OCMC.org

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There’s a saying: "A Bachelor’s degree holder is a consumer of knowledge; a Master’s degree holder is a user of knowledge; and a Doctoral degree holder is a contributor of knowledge." Our Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Program students, who recently gathered for their on-campus intensive July 16–22, evinced the truth of that adage.

The senior students, who comprise the Cohort of 2017, used their on-campus time to present their doctoral projects to fellow classmates, demonstrating the scope and depth of their learning over the past three years. (View a video interview with Father Timothy Chrapko, Cohort of 2017, speaking about his “amazing experience” in the D.Min. Program, and his senior project, here.)

The junior students, who make up the Cohort of 2019 and are now one year into their D.Min. studies, held lively and mutually beneficial interchanges during their classroom sessions: “Liturgical Life and Pastoral Ministry,” taught by Dr. Grant White, assistant professor of Liturgical Theology; and “Ministry in a Secular Age,” taught by the Very Reverend Dr. John Jillions, associate professor of Religion and Culture. (View a video interview with Chaplain Sarah Byrne-Martelli, Cohort of 2019, speaking about how her D.Min. experience has nourished and emboldened her faith, and has equipped her with “a new framework for thinking about ministry in this age,” here.)

The Very Reverend Dr. J. Sergius Halvorsen, director of the Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry Program, particularly remarked on the seniors’ presentations, saying, “I was not entirely sure what to expect of the Cohort of 2017, since they’re the first group of students to go through our D.Min. ‘hybrid format,’ taking classes both online and on campus.

“Of course, I had read all of their proposals,” he went on, “but this was my first chance to hear about their research and to see how they are concretely developing new models of ministry, and, I have to say, these projects were truly inspiring: they are tackling some of the most pressing problems that we face in the Church today.”

Father Sergius noted that the seniors’ projects covered a wide range of topics, from the opioid epidemic and addiction recovery, to new models for catechesis and Christian formation. Each student, he said, addressed an aspect of pastoral care immediately relevant to his or her own ministry, and sure to benefit the Orthodox Church at large.

As examples, Father David Subu, pastor of St. Mary Orthodox Church, Falls Church, VA, recently returned from a trip to Romania, during which time he researched the intersection between Orthodox Christian spirituality and addiction recovery: he interviewed Floyd Frantz, an OCMC missionary who had been working in that field there for many years, and observed what is possible in rehabilitation, including real-life discussions with people struggling with addiction.  And stateside, Father Alcuin Kellerhouse, a licensed counselor and priest in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, is currently offering Substance Use Disorder (SUD) presentations—both online and in person—as part of his D.Min. research, in order eventually to develop a training program to equip clergy and lay ministers with the skills necessary to help those suffering from addiction.

Other final projects, such as the one by Father Timothy Chrapko, associate priest at St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, concentrate on personal spiritual development. His project, which centers on the study of the anaphora in the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, seeks to help parishioners grow in their faith and understand what it means to be an Orthodox Christian, and to engage in genuine worship and reshape their worldview, based on their encounter with Christ within the liturgy.

“Our D.Min. graduates,” Father Sergius concluded, “will continue to ask the ‘hard questions,’ perform detailed research and analysis, and ultimately share their findings with the larger Orthodox Church in order to assist everyone who labors to build up the Body of Christ.”

Protodeacon Peter M. Danilchick, who with his wife, Tanya, established The Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies, which offers need-based financial aid for D.Min. students, also expressed the encouragement he felt as he witnessed the progress of both cohorts.

“These students and graduates will eventually ‘go forth’ and serve the Church in new, creative, and effective ways of ministry because of their participation in the D.Min. program at St. Vladimir’s,” he said.

“The retreats, workshops, and symposiums that they organize and lead—which are encouraged by the terms of the scholarships—are a visible manifestation to the Church of their learning and commitment to ‘give back,’” he remarked. “And, this, of course, is a necessary obligation of the holder of a doctorate: to create knowledge and to contribute knowledge by passing it on.”

View a full listing of the Cohort of 2017’s D.Min. final project titles, here.
View a video interview with Father Timothy Chrapko, Cohort of 2017, here.
View a video interview with Chaplain Sarah Byrne-Martelli, Cohort of 2019, here.

 The Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies offers need-based financial aid for Doctor of Ministry Students. Recipients of funding from the Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies agree to give special diocesan and/or parish workshops and/or seminars in their particular areas of pastoral study. At least one such workshop or seminar shall be given by each scholarship recipient in each year they receive aid from this endowment.

Photo credits: Adrienne Soper

The Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, The Father Georges Florovsky Distinguished Professorship of Patristics here at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, will be receiving the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from St. Athanasius College-University of Divinity, in Melbourne, Australia, in August 2017. The Chancellor of the University of Divinity, His Grace Dr. Suriel, bishop of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions, and an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, will confer the honorary degree.

“Father John will receive the honorary doctorate for his exceptional contribution to patristic theological scholarship and demonstrated commitment to building partnerships across the theological world, including with the University of Divinity through St. Athanasius College,” noted the University’s website. “The Doctor of Divinity (DD) is the highest academic honour the University bestows and is our oldest continuing award, founded in 1910.”

This is the first time the University will have awarded an honorary degree since it attained university status, and the first time the degree of Doctor of Divinity will have been awarded since 2008. The ceremony will be held at the SAC Eporo Tower Campus, 285 La Trobe St., Melbourne on Tuesday, August 22, 7:30 p.m.

Grab a bag of popcorn: it’s movie night on our campus, Sunday, September 24, 7 o’clock. We’ll be screening Becoming Truly Human, a fascinating documentary that explores the rise of the “Nones,” i.e., those who check “none of the above” on religion surveys.

Multiple research groups report that the number of Nones had risen from roughly 6% of the U.S. population in the 1990s to 25% as of 2015. However, little research existed on this growing demographic—until now.

The film offers a cinematic portrait of eight Nones, each of whom shares his or her journey from religious affiliation to religious non-affiliation. The film hears from the Nones, both individually and as a group, as they share views about religion, God, the afterlife, and much more, thus offering a rare opportunity to listen in on a conversation that most religious adherents would never be invited into. (Teaser: one of the Nones, Basil, shares how his quest for spiritual wholeness ultimately leads him from religious non-affiliation to another level of spirituality.)

On hand for the screening will be writer/director Dr. Nathan Jacobs. Jacobs is president of 5 SEES, one of the production companies involved with the film. Vice President of 5 SEES, Sarah Werner, will also be present at the showing.

“Our research has found that because Nones are outside of religious circles, they rarely voice their thoughts on religion or even have the opportunity to do so,” said Jacobs. “It’s a powerful experience for these Nones to hear what others are thinking and know they are not alone.”

Becoming Truly Human is the first feature film about America’s religiously unaffiliated, and North America’s first Orthodox Christian feature film. The film will begin its semi-theatrical release on August 22 via TheatriCast with marketing and promotion by Aspiration Studios. Freestyle Digital Media will handle the digital release of the film (Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and so forth), beginning September 2017. DVD and Bluray sales will be handled by Ancient Faith, beginning October 2017.

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Dr. Alice-Mary Talbot will present the fourth annual Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lecture on our campus, Friday, September 15, at 7 p.m. Dr. Talbot is the Director Emerita of Byzantine Studies, Dumbarton Oaks, a prestigious research institute of Harvard University, located in Washington, D.C., and is also Editor of the Byzantine Greek series, Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library.

Her presentation is titled after her forthcoming book, Varieties of Monastic Experience in Byzantium, 800–1453. During her lecture she will highlight some of the findings of her research in two areas: 1) the many ways one could be a Byzantine monk, and 2) the continuing tensions in Byzantium between the eremitic (solitary living) and coenobitic (community living) forms of monasticism.

Dr. Talbot is one of the world’s foremost scholars of Byzantium, the Roman Empire in the eastern Mediterranean which endured for almost a thousand years after its eclipse in the west, until the fall of its capital, Constantinople, to the Ottoman sultan in 1453. Her contribution to the study of middle and late Byzantine social and religious history in general, and women and religious culture in Byzantium in particular, has been immense.

Dr. Talbot is one of the editor/ translators of Holy Men of Mount Athos (Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library 40), a book that presents the Lives of Euthymios the Younger, Athanasios of Athos, Maximos the Hutburner, Niphon of Athos, and Philotheos—five holy men who lived on Mount Athos at different times, from the 9th to the 15th centuries; all were known for their asceticism, clairvoyance, and, in most cases, the ability to perform miracles. The book illuminates both the history and the varieties of monastic practice on Athos, individually by hermits as well as communally in large monasteries. The Lives also demonstrate the diversity of hagiographic composition and provide important glimpses of Byzantine social and political history.

Dr. Talbot first met Protopresbyter John Meyendorff when he coincidentally and suddenly substituted for another member of her Ph.D. dissertation committee, while she was earning her degree in Byzantine and Ottoman History at Columbia University in New York. “I was thrilled that he was on the jury for my Columbia dissertation defense in 1970, and I was able to benefit from his comments in my revision of the thesis for publication,” she remarked.

And, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Talbot to our campus! Please join us for this fascinating free and public lecture, with open reception following.

Read an oral history interview with Dr. Talbot regarding her association with Dumbarton Oaks, undertaken by Jeanne-Nicole Saint-Laurent.

Read the laureation of Dr. Talbot, given by Dr. Tim Greenwood, upon the occasion of the bestowal of the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, upon her at the University of St. Andrews.

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Harrison Russin, lecturer in Liturgical Music here at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, and Mother Seraphim, choir director at The Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA, co-led a music workshop and retreat for young adults ages 18–29 at the monastery, June 23–25, 2017. Their weekend effort culminated in the singing of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, and an afternoon public concert, which attracted more than 70 people. Videos of both the Divine Liturgy and afternoon concert are available on-line.

Harrison remarked, “It was inspiring for me to work with a group of young, enthusiastic musicians and to explore a shared love for music and the church. My wife and I have hosted singing events in our on-campus apartment over the past year, and some of the music we sang at the Monastery was music we enjoy singing there for fun—I hope that the participants and the audience realized how joyful music can be, both within worship and as a social activity.”

Among the musical selections learned by the participants were liturgical works by G. L’vovsky and N. Kedrov, Sr., in addition to pieces by American composers, including Archpriests Sergei Glagolev and Igor Soroka, Mark Bailey, and Monk Martin.  Other sacred music included 16th-century English polyphony by W. Byrd, T. Tallis, and O. Gibbons, and 19th-century American shape note hymns by W. Walker and J. Christopher.

“In the past, families and friends enjoyed singing together for recreation and fellowship, but this practice has become rather rare in our current day of recorded digital music, often listened to by personal headphones,” said Mother Christophora, abbess of the Monastery, in reflecting on the impact of the workshop.  “Singing is helpful for one’s emotional and spiritual health, known to relieve anxiety and stress, and fellowship among young Orthodox Christians can be enhanced by time spent together singing.  Knowledge of their faith will also be enhanced by learning to sing liturgical services, and parish choirs will benefit from the youth attending such workshops and returning home with new skills and new music.”

“In the early documents of the vision for the monastery, it is stated that a guesthouse would be built to offer traditional hospitality and that the monastery would especially reach out to youth who want to learn more about their Orthodox Faith,” Mother Seraphima added. “Coincidentally, the day after the concert, work began at the monastery for the building of a new guesthouse, ‘Tabor House,’ which will supplement the original, now aging, guest facilities.”

In related news, two one-day workshops for youth ages 18 through 25 are being planned for later this summer—on Saturday, July 29 and Saturday, August 19.  Interested persons should contact Mother Seraphima at omtchoirdirector@gmail.com to register.  There is no charge to attend the workshops, but space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

Story composed using text and photos from The Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration, used with permission.