Listen to the Keynote Address, "Our Common Father: Saint Cyril"
Listen to the concert, "Our Common Saints"

On the first Saturday in October, St. Vladimir's Seminary welcomed hundreds of friends and alumni to campus for its annual Orthodox Education Day.

"This year's theme, 'East Meets East,' was inspired by the diversity of our student body," remarked seminary Chancellor/CEO, The Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield. "At St. Vladimir's, Oriental and Eastern Orthodox students have been living, learning, and growing together in Christ for over fifty years."

Three Hierarchs Chapel served as the locus for the day's events. The day began with Sh'himo, a service comprising matins, 3rd hour, and 6th hour according to the Rite of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The Reverend Dr. Varghese M. Daniel, newly-appointed Sessional Assistant Professor of Malankara Studies at St. Vladimir's, presided alongside Malankara Orthodox seminarians, alumni, and friends of the seminary. In the afternoon, Coptic Orthodox students and friends led the community in prayer at a raising of incense service. The day concluded with Eastern Orthodox Great Vespers.

The Very Reverend Dr. John Anthony McGuckin presented the keynote address, "Our Common Father: Saint Cyril." Renowned author of 25 books, several of which are published by SVS Press, Father John is The Ane Marie and Bent Emil Nielsen Professor of Late Antiquity and Byzantine Christian History at Union Theological Seminary and Professor of Byzantine Christian Studies at Columbia University.

"We have preferred, because of political reasons, to relegate each other's traditions to poor apologetic representations," stated Fr. John. "We have to learn a dialogue of love and the truth of one another's traditions. We need to learn to love through prayer." Father John then went on to outline a brief history of St. Cyril and made the point that the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox traditions agree with much of the saint's theology. "It is not beyond us to restore the fallout of the last 1,600 years," he stated in closing.

Guests had the opportunity to explore a marketplace filled with Orthodox books and gifts and to eat their fill of barbecue, Indian cuisine, and delicious desserts prepared by the seminary community.

Workshops on topics ranging from Coptic iconography to a history of the dialogue between the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches filled the late afternoon hours. A lively book discussion group, co-moderated by Three Hierarchs Chapel member Vera Hubiak and third-year seminarian Dn. Shiryl Mathai, mulled over the message and themes in Way of the Ascetics, by Tito Colliander. Eight seminarians performed a concert of Orthodox music titled "Our Common Saints: Hymns of Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople, and Sebaste," under the direction of Hierodeacon Herman (Majkrzak), lecturer in Liturgical Music and director of Chapel Music at St. Vladimir's.

"The day was replete with opportunities to explore the relationship between the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, a relationship that is lived out daily at St. Vladimir's," commented the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, seminary Dean. "Our seminary is a unique community where priests and leaders from both traditions are molded and prepared for ministry. We are grateful for our long history with the Oriental Orthodox churches."

View a gallery of Orthodox Education Day photographs on the seminary's Facebook page.
View the 2015 Program Book
View the Concert Program

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Seminary alumnus the Very Reverend Stavrophor Rastko Trbuhovich (M.Div. ‘73) fell asleep in the Lord on September 30, 2015. The entire seminary community expresses its condolences to his wife, Protinica Victoria, his children, Sarah and Basil, and his extended family.

Father Rastko was the much beloved priest of Saint Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church in Lackawanna, New York, where he served for three decades.

“He saw everything, good, bad, serious or joyful, as reason to ‘Thank God,’ and of course he was right,” said fellow SVOTS alumnus the Very Reverend Laurence Lazar (M.Div. ‘73), Dean of Saint George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Southfield, Michigan, and close friend of Fr. Rastko. You can read Fr. Laurence’s reflection on Fr. Ratsko’s life and influence here, and a letter of sympathy from Bishop Irinej here.

The Reverend Dr. Varghese M. Daniel has been appointed to the faculty of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary as Sessional Assistant Professor of Malankara Studies, effective for the academic year 2015-2016. In addition to teaching courses, Father Varghese will also oversee St. Thomas Chapel, a space dedicated to worship for the Malankara Orthodox students on campus.

“We’re delighted to have Fr. Varghese teaching at St. Vladimir’s,” said the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, seminary Dean. “His classes in the history, language, liturgy, and patristics of the West Syriac tradition will provide a strong foundation for the theological study and future ministries of our Malankara seminarians.”

After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, History, and Political Science at Osmania University in Hyderabad, India in 1995, Fr. Varghese earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree at Serampur University in Calcutta, India in 2001, and his Graduate in Sacred Theology degree at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam, India in 2000. In 2008 he completed a Master of Bioethics degree from Katholic University in Leuven, Belgium and was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Divinity in Melbourne, Australia in 2009. From 2010–2013, Father Varghese was a post-doctoral research fellow at the Yale School of Divinity in New Haven, Connecticut.

“Father Varghese brings a wealth of pastoral experience to his new position,” added the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield, seminary Chancellor/CEO. “As the founding vicar of not one, but two, parishes, he has firsthand knowledge of the mission field that lies before our Malankara graduates."

Father Varghese currently serves as the President and Vicar of St. John’s Orthodox Church in Orangeburg, New York.

Upon his appointment as a new faculty member, Fr. Varghese said, “I consider it a great privilege to become part of one of the most prominent Orthodox theological faculties in the world. It provides me with enormous energy and I look forward to enlightening my students through academic and ecclesiastical scholarship so they can be ‘fishers of men’ in the 21st century. Indeed, this new academic and spiritual expedition will be my personal pilgrimage, too.”

“Father Varghese comes with the highest recommendation from His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC),” continued Fr. John Behr. “We have worked continually with His Grace to ensure that the education and formation we provide to Malankara students at St. Vladimir’s is of the highest possible level.”

The seminary currently has nine Malankara students enrolled in degree programs: seven students from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and two from the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America, which is under the Holy See of Antioch and All the East. Other Oriental Orthodox churches represented by the student body this year include the Armenian Apostolic Church (7 seminarians), the Coptic Orthodox Church (3 seminarians), and the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch (1 seminarian).

Also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox communion of over 2 million faithful, with 30 dioceses all over the world. The Northeast American Diocese is comprised of more than 50 parishes.

The Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America has approximately 60 parishes and congregations in North America. Its ancient, apostolic roots hearken back to the churches established by the apostle Thomas, who brought the Gospel of Christ to India.

Seminary Alumnus the Reverend Dr. John Tavlarides (D.Min., '96) fell asleep in the Lord on September 21, 2015. The entire seminary community expresses our condolences to his wife, Presbytera Harriet, and his family.

Father John was the Presiding Priest Emeritus of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, D.C., where he faithfully served for nearly six decades. He graduated from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1953, and was ordained to the priesthood shortly after.

Father John pursued graduate theological studies at several notable institutions, including General Theological Seminary in New York, New York, and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Father John served the faithful of Saint Sophia Cathedral as an assistant priest from 1956-1960, and then subsequently led the community as Cathedral Dean from 1960-2011.

Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming on the website of Saint Sophia Cathedral.

View photo galleries by Jasmine Yedigarian and Glen Mules

Professor Predrag Matejic, curator of the Hilandar Research Library and director of the Resource Center for Medieval Slavic Studies, presented the third annual Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lecture at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary on Monday, September 14, 2015.

“Father John was known as an outstanding and warm scholar, encouraging younger scholars in their work and able to answer almost any question—however arcane or obscure,” said St. Vladimir's Dean, the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr. “As such, it is very fitting that we have the honor this evening of hearing from another scholar, Dr. Predrag Matejic, who also has such a reputation: for encouraging scholars across the world in their study of Slavic Christianity and for being able to answer the most obscure questions pertaining to Byzantino-Slavic Christianity.”

Prior to the beginning of the lecture, the Board of Trustees and Faculty of St. Vladimir’s bestowed a Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa, on His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and on His Eminence the Most Reverend Joseph, archbishop of New York and metropolitan of All North America of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

“We have the great honor today of being able to bestow the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, not upon one, but two worthy recipients—two leading hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in this country—the President and Vice President of the Board of Trustees of St. Vladimir’s Seminary,” continued Fr. John. “Both hierarchs, although only appointed to their positions in recent years, have distinguished themselves through many years of ministry. Your Beatitude and Your Eminence, you truly honor us today by your presence and acceptance of the degree to be awarded.”

In the citations read aloud by Dr. Peter Bouteneff, professor of Systematic Theology, His Eminence was praised as a “true pastor of pastors” and “a leading voice among the hierarchs,” while His Beatitude was commended for his commitment to securing the future and stability of theological education in North America, with a particular interest in the spiritual formation of clergy.

After receiving the Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, His Eminence expressed his gratitude to the Board of Trustees and Faculty. “St. Vladimir’s has a long history of educating leaders and theologians,” he said. “Many of our hierarchs have come to us with a firm foundation, imparted to them by St. Vladimir’s Seminary. I pledge to do all I can during my tenure to maintain and enhance this relationship.”

In his acceptance speech, His Beatitude remarked, “Our church in North America, as His Eminence so clearly stated, is composed of people from various backgrounds, all of us struggling to be united in Christ. It is at institutions like St. Vladimir’s that that effort—striving for unity in Christ—is actualized.”

Following the bestowal of the honorary doctorates, Dr. Matejic gave his presentation, titled “Byzantium, the Slavs, and the Rise of the Russian Orthodox Church.” Dr. Matejic focused on three historical periods of Slavic Orthodoxy: the conversion of the Slavs and the establishment of the Glagolitic alphabet; the rule and influence of Simeon I the Great of Bulgaria; and the immediate effects of the fall of Constantinople in 1453 on the Russian Orthodox Church.

Dr. Predrag Matejic is the curator of the Hilandar Research Library and the Director of the Resource Center for Medieval Slavic Studies at Ohio State University. This invaluable resource began in the 1960s, when the monks of Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos invited Dr. Matejic’s own father, Fr. Mateja Matejic, to come to catalogue every treasure in the monastery. It is now the largest collection of medieval Slavic manuscripts on microfilm in the world.

On Friday, September 11, 2015, the Board of Trustees and Faculty of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary bestowed a Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa, upon His Holiness Irinej (Gavrilovic), archbishop of Peć, metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci, and patriarch of Serbia.

“Ever since its inception, St. Vladimir’s Seminary has worked hand-in-hand with the Serbian Church,” said St. Vladimir's Dean, the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, after welcoming the standing room only crowd. “We have long had a Serbian Hierarch on our Board of Trustees, and some of our most beloved faculty members have been from the Serbian Church, especially our beloved former Professor of New Testament, Veselin Kesich.”

“It is His Holiness’ lifelong commitment to the discipline of theology, to teaching and research, while pastoring his flock, working to bring peace after many years of conflict, and to ensuring that the spiritual and cultural treasures of the Serbian Church remain a living and powerful witness, that we celebrate this evening,” concluded Father John.

After the bestowal of the Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa, His Holiness offered a brief address, titled, “Theology as a Hope for the Future of the Church."

“True theology—through patristic and liturgical foundations—offers a vision of cosmic transfiguration,” remarked His Holiness. “We cannot train theologians without opening up their eyes to all aspects of existence, and this cannot be done without a sound theological foundation. The Holy Eucharist demonstrates that the Church exists for the whole of creation and not just for itself; therefore, seminaries should be open to all human concerns of everyday life.

“The Church is the work of God in history: within itself, it must be a reflection of the Triune God,” His Holiness continued. “The Church receives the tragic, sinful experiences and failures of men. In order to save the world the Church must pass through the reality of death. This is what real saints do; without this, there is no salvation.

“It is important today to move from mimicking tradition and recycling theology to opening our ears, so that we may hear what the Spirit says to the Church. All of this was the task of Father Georges Florovsky, Father Alexander Schmemann, and Father John Meyendorff,” he said further. Patriarch Irinej then exhorted the crowd to “remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7).

His Holiness also recalled the long relationship between St. Vladimir’s Seminary and the Serbian Orthodox Church. “Serbian students look upon St. Vladimir’s with admiration; it is one of the most important seminaries in the theological world.” He also praised the members of the Serbian Orthodox community for their board service to St. Vladimir’s, including Alex Machaskee, Executive Chair of the Board of Trustees.

In his closing statement, His Holiness noted, “Theology in our times must continue to bear witness to the mystery of Christ, the transformation of the salvation of the world, and the catholicity of the Church.”

Patriarch Irinej presented the seminary with an icon of the recently canonized American-Serbian saints, St. Mardarije and St. Sebastian of San Francisco. “Our younger generation can take the example of St. Sebastian, born in San Francisco,” His Holiness said. “He opened new avenues of dialogue for the Church and the world, and demonstrated that any child in this country can achieve holiness.”

In response to Patriarch Irinej’s remarks, St. Vladimir's Chancellor/CEO, the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield, said, “Thank you for reminding us of the close ties between St. Vladimir’s and the Serbian Orthodox Church.” Father Chad then presented His Holiness with a rare gift: a copy of the famous “Fond du Lac Circus” photo. The photograph, taken in 1900 at the consecration of Reginald Heber Weller as Bishop Coadjutor of Fond du Lac, includes three North American saints: St. John Kochurov, Missionary to America and First Hieromartyr, under the Bolshevik Yoke; the newly canonized St. Sebastian of San Francisco; and St. Tikhon, Patriarch and Confessor of Moscow and Enlightener of North America.

At the conclusion of the academic convocation, His Beatitude The Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and President of the seminary, said, “We give thanks to God for the great witness that you and your Church have offered to the universal Orthodox Church throughout the centuries.

“We pray that the Lord will continue to strengthen you as you continue to be the witnesses of the resurrection in a world that is filled with darkness, suffering, war, and persecution,” His Beatitude continued. “And, we pray that you will continue to be an inspiration to all of us.”

Special guests in attendance at the Academic Convocation included:

His Grace Bishop Mitrophan (Kodic), bishop of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America

His Grace Bishop Maxim (Vasiljevic), bishop of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America

His Grace Bishop Justin of Zhicha

From the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade: Professor Predrag Puzović, Dean; Professor Bogoljub Šijaković, Professor of Philosophy; Assistant Professor Marko Vilotić, Assistant Professor of Philosophy

Professor Dejan Ristić, Serbian Orthodox Seminary of Prizren

Archimandrite Hilarion of the Monastery of the Holy Archangels Gabriel and Michael in Draganac, Kosovo, Serbia

Father Slavisa Sanjic from Paris

Mirjana Zivkovic, Consul General, Republic of Serbia

Read the full text of the Patriarch's address
Listen to the audio on Ancient Faith Radio
View the photo gallery by Jasmine Yedigarian
View the photo gallery by Glen Mules

What do a Fulbright scholar, an iconographer, a missionary, a butcher, a nun, and a high school teacher all have in common? They are all part of the 2015 incoming class here at St. Vladimir's Seminary.

We marked the beginning of our 2015-2016 academic year with orientation and welcome activities for thirty new students on August 27. Hailing from six countries and representing ten Orthodox jurisdictions, our incoming class includes fifteen students in the Master of Divinity program, eight students in the Master of Arts program, and four students in the Master of Theology program. They hope to use their seminary education to serve the Church as priests, deacons, teachers, missionaries, canon law experts, and military chaplains.

Join next year's incoming class! Please visit https://www.svots.edu/admissions to learn how.

What was the first week like for our new seminarians? Hear first-week impressions from: Patrick and Stefan.

View the photo gallery on Oca.org

Seminary Chancellor/CEO the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield recently delivered the keynote address at the international Orthodox youth festival  titled "Attaining Conciliarity," hosted at the Monastery of the Annunciation's Academy in Suprasl, Poland. Sponsored by SYNDESMOS—the World Fellowship of Orthodox Youth, and hosted by the Orthodox Church of Poland, the gathering marked the first time since 1998 that youth from the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) had participated in such an event.

Father Chad introduced his international audience to the OCA in his talk, "The Conciliar Model of the OCA: The Dream of Saint Tikhon." The SVOTS Chancellor noted that "good connections were made with international youth, several of whom expressed an interest in attending St. Vladimir's in the near future. I was impressed with the theological maturity of so many of the participants, and the expressions of gratitude for the leadership of [former St. Vladimir's Dean] Protopresbyter John Meyendorff in the early years of SYNDESMOS."

St. Vladimir's was also represented at the gathering by the Very Reverend Vladimir Misijuk of Bialystok, Poland, an alumnus who spoke on "Attaining Conciliarity: The Task of our Daily Life." Father Vladimir is a former SYNDESMOS General Secretary.

Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak, director of Admissions and a former SYNDESMOS employee, explained that SYNDESMOS and St. Vladimir's have a long and storied relationship. In the 1980s and 1990s, SVOTS regularly sent representatives to international youth events such as the Consultation of Theological Schools. Former deans Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann and Protopresbyter John Meyendorff were instrumental in founding SYNDESMOS in the early 1950s.

"We hope that with Fr. Chad's participation," said Archdeacon Joseph," the Seminary can assist in mapping out a future for the fellowship. SYNDESMOS represents both the OCA's heritage and its potential; it is a venue and vehicle for sharing with this new generation, what we've received from our 'giants of the past.'"

During the festival, participants also attended services for the Great Feast of the Dormition at the Monastery of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Zweirki, and celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the Orthodox Youth Fellowship of Poland, presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and His Eminence Archbishop Jacob of Bialystok. Pilgrimages were also made to the famed monastery at Grabarka, Saint Mary Magdalene Cathedral in Warsaw, and the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Monastery in Zwierki, where the relics of the Holy Child-Martyr Gabriel of Zabludow are enshrined.

"This trip showed me how Orthodox Christians from vastly different backgrounds—personally, nationally, from majority churches, from minority churches, and with widely differing opinions—can come together as the one Body of Christ, united by love in the Holy Spirit, strengthening the life of the whole Church," commented OCA representative William Kopcha.

Other youth movements represented included: the Orthodoxer Jungenbund Deutschland from Germany, the Transfiguration Brotherhood and the Kazan Youth Organization from Russia, the Brotherhood of Orthodox Youth from Slovakia, Nepsis from Romania, and the French Orthodox youth organization, ACER-MJO.

(Adapted from the Oca.org report by Andrew Boyd)

“East Meets East” is the theme for St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary’s annual Orthodox Education Day on October 3, 2015. The seminary’s yearly open house and fall festival will celebrate the relationship between the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox churches, and explore the history of their dialogue.

Renowned author and scholar The Very Reverend Dr. John Anthony McGuckin will give the keynote address, “Our Common Father: Saint Cyril." Father John is The Ane Marie and Bent Emil Nielsen Professor in Late Antique and Byzantine Christian History at Union Theological Seminary, and Professor of Byzantine Christian Studies at Columbia University.

The day will be filled with Oriental and Eastern Orthodox church services; workshops on related topics such as Coptic iconography; a liturgical music concert; and a marketplace filled with international cuisine and Orthodox books and gifts. Three Hierarchs Chapel and the seminary bookstore will be open to the public throughout the day.

Admission to the grounds and events is free.