What tools do we, as Orthodox Christians, have to spiritually navigate the challenges and struggles of daily life in the modern world?
Join us Tuesday, May 19, for the free, interactive webinar, “The Healing Path Towards Christ” with Paul Karos, founder of Matrona Ministries. The discussion begins at 3 p.m. EDT (Duration: 90 minutes). Questions during the webinar are welcome.
About the Speaker
Paul P. Karos is the founder of Matrona Ministries, which offers services and programs for Orthodox spiritual growth designed for both clergy and laity. At age 8, he was diagnosed with with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease, that has now taken 98 percent of his vision. Karos has had an extensive 30-year career in the financial industry and has also performed and participated in a variety of ministries in the Orthodox Church—leading retreats for men’s groups, youth and family programs, and parish communities and councils; and leading pilgrimages to Mount Athos. He is trained as a Prepare/Enrich marriage facilitator and has worked in pre- and post-marriage counseling. In 2006, Karos began working with prison ministries, becoming involved in both Bible studies as well as one-on-one prisoner mentoring. He earned his Masters of Arts in Applied Orthodox Theology from The University of Balamand, Lebanon, through the Antiochian House of Studies, and also holds a B.S. of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. He and his wife, Cindy, have three children.
With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Archpriest Paul Lazor, an alumnus and former dean of students of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. Father Paul fell asleep in the Lord at a hospital near his home of Tobyhanna, PA on May 9, 2020 at the age of 80.
The funeral service for Fr. Paul will be live-streamed beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13, here.
“Father Paul was a beloved dean of students and professor,” said Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. “Truly, what a giant in the history of St. Vladimir's and in the lives of so many people whom his life and ministry touched. He will be deeply missed.”
The Very Rev. Paul Lazor, a native of Canonsburg, PA, was born on June 28, 1939. His grandfather and father, Galician immigrants and factory workers, were founding members of his home parish, St. John the Baptist in Canonsburg. Father Paul attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he obtained a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He graduated from St. Vladimir's Seminary with an M.Div. in 1964, and was married that same year to Natalia (Manturoff). Over the course of their marriage, Fr. Paul and Matushka Natalia were blessed with three children and six grandchildren.
Father Paul Lazor was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 1964 by Archbishop John (Shahovsky) of San Francisco, at the old chapel of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Father Paul served as a parish priest for thirteen years at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Church in Milwaukee, WI and Holy Trinity Church in New Britain, CT.
Even during his student years, Fr. Lazor's love and dedication toward the work of St. Vladimir's Seminary were evident. He was a member of three consecutive Seminary summer octets and served as ecclesiarch of the school's chapel. In 1969, he was asked to join the Seminary faculty on a part-time basis. In 1977, he was appointed as dean of students and became a full-time member of the Seminary's staff and a lecturer on the faculty. He taught regularly in the areas of liturgics, practical (pastoral) theology, liturgical theology, Church Slavonic, and Russian, and was appointed the John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology. He also served as priest and rector of the Seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel. He retired from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in June of 2007.
“Anyone who was a seminarian at St. Vladimir’s when Fr. Paul was dean of students will likely remember him in the choir or serving. He was always at services,” remembered Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Chancellor Archpriest Alexander Rentel. “He loved the services and believed in them, their power to bring us closer to God himself. He loved the services, but he also enjoyed the services. I learned so much from him about the services, organizing them, the underlying method beneath their structure, how to serve, but also just that enjoyment that I mentioned.
“I will always remember a quote, too, from him, which was really from his mother, whom he quoted frequently: ‘Any gift that comes from goodness has an inexhaustible source.’”
Seminary Alumna Matushka Robyn Hatrak was a student in Fr. Paul’s final class as St. Vladimir’s before his retirement from the Seminary.
“Fr. Paul was the heart and soul of St. Vladimir's Seminary,” she said. “He cared deeply about everything, and it showed in how he would pop in and talk to you whether you were baking cookies in the kitchen or you needed help with something in the Chapel. And he always made you feel loved and part of a big team.”
“He was a good priest and a good dean,” said fellow alumnus Fr. Gheevarghese John. “What I remember most are his ‘dos and don’ts’ of being a priest and how we are to conduct ourselves as pastors. Memory eternal!”
As an author, translator, and editor Fr. Paul produced numerous articles, tracts, booklets of liturgical services, and several introductions to books of other writers. His largest work is the book, Evening Worship in the Orthodox Church, an edited translation (with introduction) of three articles by Nicholas Uspensky. His article, "Pastoral Care Today," appeared in the St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly in 1996. On January 28, 2007, Fr Paul delivered the 23rd annual Fr. Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture, entitled: “A Personal Memoir,” in honor of Fr. Alexander.
Father Paul also served in several capacities in church-wide ministries on both the diocesan and national Church levels. He was a frequently invited speaker at retreats and conferences sponsored by Orthodox parishes and institutions throughout the United States (including Alaska) and Canada. He also lectured at Orthodox theological institutions in Russia and Slovakia.
The funeral and burial services for Fr. Paul will be kept small and private due to ongoing COVID-19-related restrictions. His family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to St. Vladimir's Seminary.
Patricia Knutson, a graduate of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, reposed in the Lord on May 6, 2020 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD due to complications from the COVID-19 virus. She was 71 years old.
Patricia Joan Knutson was born February 20, 1949 in Vermillion, SD to Palmer and Stella (Knudson) Knutson. She attended Wakonda School and graduated in 1967. She was active in chorus and band. Knutson loved music and was a gifted pianist. She earned a Master’s Degree in speech pathology from the University of South Dakota. She worked in the Black Hills region and in the Iowa School System.
Knutson was an avid reader and loved to travel. Trips to Norway, Russia, Romania, and China were her joy. During these years she became interested in Orthodoxy and eventually converted. She completed an M.A. at St. Vladimir’s in 1991.
In recent years, Knutson suffered from early onset dementia and had been living in a nursing home since February 2019.
Due to COVID-19-related gathering restrictions, Knutson’s family held a private burial. A grave-side service was conducted by a local priest, Fr. Sava Leida, very soon after her repose. She was buried next to her parents in a rural cemetery not far from her parental home. Knutson’s family will host a celebration of life service at a later date to celebrate her life with family and friends.
Condolences and flowers may be sent via Wass Funeral Home, Beresford, SD.
Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) is pleased to announce that 30 scholarships are now available to anyone who would like to attend the 2020 Pan-Orthodox Music Symposium, with the theme of “Music as Liturgy,” which will be held as an online event from Thursday, June 11 through Saturday, June 13, 2020. The Symposium is a joint effort and sponsored by the Seminary’s Institute of Sacred Arts and The International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM).
Each scholarship will cover the complete cost of registration for one Symposium attendee. To download an application, click HERE. The deadline to apply has been extended to May 15. Winners will be announced Friday, May 29.
*(NOTE: Applying for a scholarship will NOT automatically register you for the symposium. Registration for the event should also be completed at orthodoxmusicsymposium.org/registration. Scholarship winners will be reimbursed for any registration costs incurred.)
Exploring the theme of "Music as Liturgy," the Symposium will feature masterclasses, workshops, liturgical worship, and presentations. The Symposium will feature three days of remote singing, engaging dialogue, and learning from experts in the field of liturgical music - and from each other. The 2020 Symposium will provide fellowship and discourse with other directors, hymnographers, composers, singers, chanters, readers, youth directors, church school teachers, musicians, musicologists, and those interested in Orthodox liturgical music.
Join the over 100 people from around the world who have already registered for the Symposium.
About the Institute of Sacred Arts
The Institute of Sacred Arts at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary explores the intersection of human creativity and holiness. With a theology that is holistic, and a liturgy that unites multiple artistic disciplines and all the human senses, the Orthodox Christian tradition is ripe for the exploration and celebration of the sacred arts. Since its founding in 1938, St. Vladimir’s Seminary has fostered the study of icons, music and liturgy. The Institute of Sacred Arts serves to extend the Seminary’s mission in exploring the mutual relationship between theology and the arts by contributing to the work of people and institutions that practice and reflect on the sacred arts, engaging people and institutions of all backgrounds with Orthodox artistic tradition, and inspiring wider public interest in spirituality and the arts.
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.
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, April 29, we are continuing our latest round of 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 10 p.m. Monday, April 27, so register soon if you plan on joining us!
This latest webinar presentation will feature Archpriest Peter Baktis, D.Min., and his project, “Creating an Orthodox Missiological Narrative.” He will present a one-hour webinar exploring how we can better communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ. He asks, “Has the Orthodox Church communicated an authentic, transparent narrative to post-modern existential questions? How do contemporary people hear the language that is commonly used in Orthodox Christian discourse?”
Father Peter Baktis is rector of Mother of God Joy of All Who Sorrow, Princeton, NJ; and a recent graduate of the Doctor of Ministry Program. He is a former Army Chaplain, serving for over 25 years, and represents the Orthodox Church in America at the Interfaith Convening Table of the National Council of Churches. Father Peter is also the current president of the Military Offices Association of America in New Jersey and serves on various national and local boards.
Plans for the 2020 Pan-Orthodox Music Symposium have been reconfigured to a global online format on Thursday, June 11 through Saturday, June 13, 2020.
The event, cohosted by St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) and the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) will explore the theme of “Music as Liturgy” with masterclasses, keynote presentations, and workshops.
“The reality of the COVID-19 pandemic has required us to abandon the in-person format, but the number of registrants has been quite amazing, and we wanted to find a way to deliver an outstanding musical experience in spite of current circumstances,” said Protopresbyter Ivan Moody, chair of the ISOCM board.
Registration is open for the Symposium and nearly 100 participants have already registered for the three-day event open to choir directors, singers, chanters, composers, musicologists, church school educators, clergy, youth leaders, and readers interested in developing their liturgical music skill sets from the comfort and safety of their homes.
Choral Leadership
(Dr. Tamara Petijevic – Serbian Orthodox Church)
Introduction to Liturgical Conducting
(Robin Freeman – Orthodox Church in America)
Advanced Liturgical Conducting
(Dr. Peter Jermihov – Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia)
Byzantine Chant for Beginners
(Amy Hogg – Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese)
Advanced Byzantine Chant
(John Michael Boyer – Greek Orthodox Archdiocese)
Composing in the Orthodox Context
(Nazo Zakkak – Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese)
Engaging Young People with Music
(Maria Sheehan – Orthodox Church in America)
Each masterclass will provide participants with 6+ hours of concentrated learning over three days, while additional workshop sessions will explore other themes for application in parish life:
Introduction to liturgical theology
Training for reading and chanting
Arranging settings for voices
Achieving a unified choral sound
Para-liturgical activities
The spiritual dimension of the church musician
“By evolving this gathering to an online format, we’re able to provide a wide range of church music offerings – in some ways we’re doing even more than we could have in person!” said Dr. Peter Bouteneff, professor of systematic theology and director of the Seminary’s Institute of Sacred Arts. “This event will benefit singers, choir directors, and composers seeking to ‘up their game.’”
The complete schedule also includes a keynote presentation by Dr. Susan Ashbrook Harvey on the Symposium theme of “Music as Liturgy,” and a keynote presentation by Father Ivan Moody exploring the Symposium theme from an alternate perspective, “Liturgy as Music.”
Attendees will also have an opportunity to join virtual coffee chats exploring current trends in liturgical music, sing in a music reading session of new compositions written honoring the noted American Orthodox composer, the Archpriest Sergei Glagolev, and participate in a virtual Akathist service to the miracle-working icon of the Sitka Mother of God.
Scholarships are available to offset the registration fees, with information and applications available here.
Seating is limited for some of the masterclasses, so early registration is encouraged. All presentations will be in English. The updated and expanded schedule, presentation abstracts, speaker biographies, along with registration details are available at www.orthodoxmusicsymposium.org
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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
Saint Vladimir’s Seminary is providing some online resources for faithful Orthodox Christians who have to worship from home this Holy Week. Below, you will find access to recordings of Holy Week services, prayer resources, video reflections from faculty. Check back regularly for updates.
A number of resources may also be found on the website of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), here.
These audio recordings were taken during Holy Week at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2004. Professor Emeritus David Drillock directed the choir. The recordings were made by Peter and Patricia Bouteneff with the help of Serge Ossorguine.
Holy Week begins on Holy Monday, April 13, and concludes with the celebration of Pascha on April 19.
St. Vladimir's Seminary will be closed for business on the following days:
Holy Thursday, April 16, 2020
Holy Friday, April 17, 2020
Bright Monday, April 20, 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all services at the Seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel are suspended until further notice. The Seminary is operating with remote or isolated staff.
“Airy and spacious and inviting.” The description of a painting? Actually, it is one of the ways that the newly launched website (www.instituteofsacredarts.com) of the Institute of Sacred Arts (ISA) at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary has been described. This new home for the Institute, whose mission is to “explore the intersection of human creativity and holiness” has many features to help the viewer understand the mutual relationship between theology and the arts.
“I wanted the website to convey that there is exciting activity happening at St. Vladimir’s regarding the arts,” said Institute Director and St. Vladimir’s Professor Dr Peter Bouteneff. “The website features a lot of material coming out of our events surrounding music, visual arts, liturgy, with a lot of exciting video content,” he said.
Viewers will want to stay current with the site to find out the latest about the Institute’s upcoming events, including next June’s Pan-Orthodox Music Symposium.
About the ISA
The Institute of Sacred Arts at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary explores the intersection of human creativity and holiness. With a theology that is holistic, and a liturgy that unites multiple artistic disciplines and all the human senses, the Orthodox Christian tradition is ripe for the exploration and celebration of the sacred arts. Since its founding in 1938, St. Vladimir’s Seminary has fostered the study of icons, music and liturgy. The Institute of Sacred Arts serves to extend the seminary’s mission in exploring the mutual relationship between theology and the arts by: contributing to the work of people and institutions that practice and reflect on the sacred arts; engaging people and institutions of all backgrounds with Orthodox artistic tradition; inspiring wider public interest in spirituality and the arts.
