After 29 years as a faculty member at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Professor Paul Meyendorff will be retiring from his teaching position there as of June 30, 2016.  Meyendorff, who since 1997 has been the Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology at the Seminary, has worn many other hats during his time at the school, including acting as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Associate Editor at St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, and Editor of St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly.

Meyendorff’s presence at the Seminary is legendary. He arrived at St. Vladimir’s in 1959, as a boy, with his parents, Marie and Father John Meyendorff (Professor of Patristics and Church History and Dean of the Seminary from 1984–1992), and grew up within its confines, initially in New York City and later near its Yonkers campus. Upon receiving his Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir’s in 1975, and his doctoral degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1987, he immediately began his teaching career at the Seminary, focusing on the theology of liturgy and the practical implications thereof in parish settings.

In 2014, by student vote, he was recognized for his excellence in teaching and was presented with the Student Council’s “St. Macrina Award.” In 2016, he was selected by his fellow faculty to be guest speaker at Commencement Exercises, and in his address, he summarized the goal of seminary training as teaching students to respond “…faithfully and creatively to the questions being posed to us today, using a language and categories that contemporary humanity can receive and grasp.” On Commencement Day, he also received the silver St. Innocent Award from His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), for his service to the Seminary and to the Church.

In speaking about his upcoming move with his wife, Peggy, to Burlington, VT, Meyendorff noted, “It’s really ‘semi-retirement,’ because I’ll retain my position as Editor of the Quarterly—a job I’ve enjoyed over a period of 15 years. So, technically, I’ll still be a faculty member, though not a classroom professor.

“Additionally, I’ll be continuing my ecumenical work, another aspect of my professional career that began in the early 1990s, starting at the Faith and Order Commission at the National Council of Churches of Christ,” he remarked. “In fact, I have meetings already scheduled for the fall of 2016.” Those meetings include a Pan-Orthodox consultation on an ecclesiology statement prepared by the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Cyprus, October 5–13, and a session of the St. Irenaeus Orthodox-Catholic Working Group in Taize, France, November 1–6.

Meyendorff’s ecumenical work dovetails with his responsibilities as an advisor to the Department of External Affairs of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), a position he has held since 2000. Representing the OCA, he was a delegate to the 8th General Assembly of the WCC in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1998; was a consultant to the OCA delegation to the 9th General Assembly of the WCC, in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2006; and was a delegate to the 10th General Assembly, in Busan, Korea, in 2013.

His other extraordinary contributions to ecumenical work include his participation in consultations on baptism sponsored by the WCC’s Faith and Order Commission, held in Prague, Czech Republic, June 2000; Faverges, France, October 2001; Vienna, Austria, April 2004; and Geneva, Switzerland, November 2006. Additionally, he co-drafted a WCC Faith and Order Commission Study Document titled “Christian Perspectives on Theological Anthropology” at Geneva, in 2005.

Fellow faculty member Peter C. Bouteneff, professor of Systematic Theology at St. Vladimir’s, recalled Meyendorff’s expertise in ecumenical settings, saying, “One of the contexts I most enjoy being with Paul is at international meetings, both inter-Orthodox and inter-Christian.

“These meetings involve real complexity, both political and theological, and Paul never fails to make a significant contribution, emanating from his academic learning, diplomatic skills, and his deep sense of what the Church is and what it is for,” noted Bouteneff.  “As a result, he is widely—indeed, universally—respected for his opinions and insights. I’m happy to know that he will continue to contribute to these meetings, making the Seminary and the Church proud.”

Similarly, Brian Daley, S.J., recalled, “Professor Paul Meyendorff has been one of the anchors of our North American Orthodox-Catholic Consultation for 13 years, and we hope he will continue to be that for our Churches, as they work towards greater understanding and unity. 

 “His background as a liturgist and theologian, and as the personal heir to the rich Meyendorff family tradition of twentieth-century Orthodox theology, has made him an irreplaceable voice of learning, moderation, and balance in our conversations, as well as in the international dialogue of the German-based ‘St. Irenaeus Group,’ in which I have been privileged also to take part,” Father Daley continued. “Paul always speaks his mind seriously and honestly, is well-informed and reflective, and above all is gifted at hearing the positive, Christ-like tones in the voices of other people. 

“All of this,” noted Father Daley, “makes him the ideal companion in our Churches' search for what will build communion. I pray that retirement from teaching, and the serenity of Vermont, will enable him to keep on playing this crucial role in ecumenical dialogue.”

Meyendorff’s work as a dedicated churchman will likewise continue. He labored on the Pre-Conciliar Commissions of the OCA’s 9th All-American Council (St. Louis, 1985); 10th All-American Council (Miami, 1992); 11th All-American Council (Chicago, 1995); 12th All-American Council (Pittsburgh, 1999); 13th All-American Council (Orlando, 2002); and 14th All-American Council (Toronto, 2005); as well as serving as a Consultant for the 15th All-American Council (Pittsburgh, 2008). And, he served on the OCA’s Metropolitan Council as an at-large delegate (having been elected to serve from 1992–1999 and again from 2008–2015).

But Meyendorff’s future value to Orthodox church life may well lie in his vast experience with Orthodox Christians from a multitude of jurisdictions—at home and abroad, and with seminarians in his classrooms as well as representatives of Orthodox Churches in ecumenical settings. He is sought out for his rare analytical perspective on Orthodox ecclesial affairs in North America that continue to have reverberating effects throughout the world—especially the OCA’s journey to autocephaly, or self-rule, granted to it by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1970. It was primarily for this work that the Saint-Serge Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2013.

In 2014 he was interviewed by Ancient Faith Radio on the topic, “Ecclesiology and Nationalism in the Postmodern Era,” which focused on the challenges of creating a united, territorial, non-nationalistic church in North America: one autocephalous, autonomous church that would reunite all Orthodox Christians in this country. “The important thing at this point,” he stated during that interview, “is to keep the conversation going, and to get out of the maze that we find ourselves in.

“The hope is that we can regain that vision and the urgency of the situation,” he noted. “All it would take is for all the bishops [in North America] to say, ‘Let’s get together; let’s form a local synod and present the Mother Churches with a fait accompli.’

“Historically, that’s how most instances of autocephaly took place,” he said. “Typically, they were a fact ‘on the ground’ and then were recognized—sometimes twenty, thirty years later. Actually, in the case of Russia, it was one hundred and fifty years after the de facto autocephaly of the Russian Orthodox Church that this was formally recognized by a council presided over by the Ecumenical Patriarch.”

When asked what he’d still like to accomplish for the Orthodox Church at-large if given an open door by the Spirit, he observed thoughtfully, “My work at the Seminary, for the OCA, and in ecumenical settings has blessed me with remarkable past, a remarkable overview of unprecedented and unexpected historical events in Orthodox ecclesial life.

“God willing, I would hope to be blessed with work in the future that would help the Orthodox Church to face the challenges of the twenty-first century, to transcend the limitations of ecclesial nationalism, and to speak to a world that needs to hear its message.”

Listen to Dr. Meyendorff’s podcast on Ancient Faith Radio, “Ecclesiology and Nationalism in the Postmodern Era.”

Read Dr. Meyendorff’s 2016 Commencement Address at SVOTS, and curriculum vitae.

The Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Cohort, Class of 2017, met on campus from June 19–25, 2016, for intensive study in two courses: “Ministry to the Sick and Dying” and “Ministry in a Secular Age.” For the greater part of the academic year Cohort members meet and study online, but they gather on-site bi-annually to engage in robust discussion with faculty and classmates about the day-to-day challenges of their pastoral ministries.

Daniel B. Hinshaw, M.D., and his wife, Jane (Carnahan) Hinshaw, M.D., designed their course about illness and dying in a way that helps students gain a deeper understanding of the kinds of suffering sick and dying people experience—physical, psychological, social, and spiritual. They build on skills and experiences students already have had, in order to make them even more effective in their ministries.

“Often, the subject matter we discuss is directly relevant to challenging situations within their parish ministries, and the give-and-take among us—faculty and classmates—may help identify more beneficial ways to help their parishioners,” they explained.

“Moreover, we have been impressed with the trust and camaraderie built up within this Cohort of very bright and dedicated students,” they continued. “One student admitted he was ‘dreading’ having a course about sickness and death, but later said he has been pleasantly surprised to find the course both helpful and enjoyable.”

The Very Reverend John A. Jillions, D.Min., Ph.D., who teaches the course about ministering in a secular age, similarly noted, “I'm conscious that students in this Cohort are already theologically trained and experienced pastors and church workers, so my course is designed to be a laboratory for wrestling with the difficult, unresolved questions they have about the world in which they serve, as well as the cross-pressures we human beings experience as we seek to live out our faith in Christ.”

Father John recounted some of the wide-ranging topics he discusses with students: social justice, human rights, fundamentalism vs. relativism, inter-religious relationships, and gender and sexuality—issues which assail pastors daily. One of his main goals is to help students become adept at doctoral-level research in ministry, looking at an issue from all sides and deeply reflecting upon it.

“The D.Min. classroom functions as a protected space for full exploration of controversial topics,” he noted. “I'm struck simply by the range of questions the students are investigating, and their willingness to look at the difficult questions their own pastoral realities present.”

Students interested in the Doctor of Ministry Program may view full details of the program here, and contact Program Director the Reverend J. Sergius Halvorsen  shalvorsen@svots.edu. The Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies offers need-based financial aid for Doctor of Ministry Students.

VIEW A VIDEO OF D.MIN. STUDENTS EXPERIENCES!

From June 13–18, 2016, the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY, accompanied by the Reverend Dr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in Armonk, NY, was received by the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II, headquartered at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in the Republic of Armenia. One result of the visit was a collaborative agreement signed between St. Vladimir’s and Gevorkian Theological Seminary, which provides for an exchange of faculty and students, courses of study, and library books, and which arranges for St. Nersess Seminary to serve as an intermediary between the two schools.

“The purpose of my visit,” said Fr. John, “was for me to better understand the academic program offered at Gevorkian Seminary and to discuss further the possibilities of collaboration between Gevorkian Seminary and St. Nersess and St. Vladimir's seminaries.

“The Deans of all three of our schools first met in April when the Very Reverend Garegin Hambardzumyan of Gevorkian Seminary was visiting the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church in America and stopped by on our campus,” explained Fr. John.

“In return, during my trip to Armenia,” he continued, “I met with the faculty of Gevorkian Seminary—particularly about the possibilities of online instruction for our respective students—and I addressed a select group of their students about the nature and task of theology; as well, I met with Bishop Gevork Saroyan, the episcopal overseer of all theological schools in Armenia.”

The highlight of Fr. John’s visit was his meeting with His Holiness Karekin II, during which the two spoke about matters of theological education and methods to improve communication and collaboration between their seminaries. Father John presented the Catholicos with an icon of St. Vladimir holding his seminary’s campus Chapel of the Three Hierarchs, and he received in return a translation of The Prayers of St. Gregory of Narek and a book about the Armenian Church from His Holiness.

“It was truly impressive to hear of the Catholicos’s work in building up the Church in Armenia over the last decades,” noted Fr. John, “especially the thoughtful and purposeful attention he has given to theological education—making it possible for his young theologians to study abroad before coming back to Armenia as faculty members.”

Additionally, Fr. John was able to visit the Matenadaran Library, where he was shown exhibits of ancient Armenian manuscripts, including many very beautiful illuminations. He was given a digital copy of the Armenian manuscript containing the works of St. Irenaeus—a church father who has served as a major source for his own academic work. He also met with Bishop Yesnik (Petrosian), the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Bible Society, and discussed issues regarding the translation of Scripture and the need to promote the reading of Scripture.

He also was able to visit famous pilgrimage sites, such as the Khor Virap Monastery near Mount Ararat, where St. Gregory, the Illuminator of Armenia, spent 14 years imprisoned in deep cave-well; and the Geghard Monastery in the mountains to the east of Erevan, which is a recognized spiritual and cultural center that houses a seminary, a library, and a manuscriptorium. The main church of Geghard Monastery was built in 1215, and in the following century two “cave churches” cut directly into the stone mountain were added; UNESCO lists the monastery as a world heritage site.

“The trip occurred because of the initiative of Fr. Mardiros,” said Fr. John. “He made all the preparations and arrangements, and was an extremely gracious host and guide. Since this was the first time in the history of St. Vladimir’s Seminary that one of its Deans was able to make an official visit to Armenia, I am so grateful to Fr. Mardiros for his making my visit not only possible but incredibly fascinating and fruitful.”

SVS Press is attending the conference, "Tradition, Secularization, Fundamentalism: Orthodox/Catholic Encounters." Every three years, Fordham's Orthodox Christian Studies Center sponsors and produces the Patterson Conference on Orthodox/Catholic Dialogue. 

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary is still accepting students into its newly forming Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) cohort. Currently, the cohort consists of 7 priests, chaplains, and missionaries from four countries, and it can still accommodate 4 more students.

“Building on the successes of the students in the first D.Min. cohort, who began studies in the fall of 2014 and will graduate in the fall of 2017, our Doctor of Ministry program continues to bring together clergy and laypersons of diverse backgrounds with world-class faculty,” explained the Reverend Dr. J. Sergius Halvorsen, director of the program. “And, within these focused gatherings, we address the critical issues of Orthodox Christian ministry today.”

Students in the new cohort will begin an online orientation program July 18, 2016, and will start taking their first hybrid courses—online—in late August 2016. The fall schedule includes a one-week on-site intensive in October on the Seminary’s campus in Yonkers, NY. The newly formed cohort is scheduled to graduate in the fall of 2019. 

Prospective students who have completed a Master of Divinity degree and have at least three years of experience in ministry may apply to be in the new cohort. The Admissions Committee will consider complete applications as late as July 1. For further information, including an Application Packet, information on Tuition and Fees, Financial Aid, and an Academic Calendar, please see the D.Min. Program Page on the seminary website, or contact Program Director Fr. Sergius Halvorsen at shalvorsen@svots.edu.  The Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies offers need-based financial aid for Doctor of Ministry Students. 

CELEBRATE ST. VLADIMIR’S DAY! Please join us in celebrating the feast of our patron, the Holy and Great Prince Vladimir! RSVP by July 5 to events@svots.edu. 

VESPERS 5:00pm, with a BBQ TO FOLLOW*

*Rain location: John G. Rangos Family Building

Event sponsorships are always welcome!

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On June 13, 2016, the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, together with the Reverend Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, departed for Armenia at the invitation of His Holiness Karekin II, supreme patriarch and catholicos of All Armenians. Fathers John and Mardiros will be visiting the seat of the worldwide Armenian Apostolic Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to discuss the possibilities of inter-seminary collaboration between Gevorgyan Theological, St. Nersess, and St. Vladimir's seminaries.

“I am very excited to visit Armenia, Holy Etchmiadzin, and especially His Holiness Karekin II,” remarked Father John. “Our relationship with the Armenian Church and St. Nersess Seminary goes back almost half a century, yet this is the first time that a Dean of St. Vladimir’s has been given opportunity to visit Armenia. I am very thankful to Fr. Mardiros for making this trip possible, and I am eager to explore various ways of further collaboration.”

During this historic visit, Fr. John will be received by His Holiness, whom he first met in 2010, when His Holiness and St. Vladimir’s Seminary both received awards from the International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations, headquartered in Moscow. Father John will also meet with the Very Reverend Garegin Hambardzumyan, dean of Gevorgyan Theological Seminary—who initially visited St. Vladimir’s Seminary in April 2016—and will address current seminarians and meet other faculty members of that seminary.

“While I am there, I also hope to visit the Matenadaran Library in Yerevan, which has the sole extant manuscript of St. Irenaeus of Lyons in the Armenian language, translated in sixth century from the now lost Greek original” remarked Fr. John, a renowned scholar of the works of Irenaeus. “I will soon begin working, together with our alumnus Paul Saieg, on a new edition of the works of St. Irenaeus for Oxford University Press.”

“The Christian tradition in Armenia is extremely ancient, and very rich in its theological, monastic, and spiritual life, as well as its art and architecture,” continued Fr. John. “Visiting Armenia is sure to be a blessing and enriching experience, as we will be treading the ground upon which two of Christ’s disciples, St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew, walked, as well as the great illuminator, St. Gregory the Enlightener, who converted the King of Armenia to Christianity in AD 301.”

More details and photos regarding Father John’s trip will be forthcoming.

SVS Press will be setting up a mobile book store at the Diocese of the South Assembly, Orthodox Church in America, in Wilmington, North Carolina.

This summer our Dean, the Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, will lead an intensive study unit at the St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Theological College in Donvale, Australia. More information is available here.

On June 13, 2016, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the Reverend Mardiros Chevian, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary Dean, will accompany SVOTS Dean, the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the spiritual and administrative headquarters of the worldwide Armenian Church. The purpose of the visit is for Fr. John to better understand the academic program offered at Gevorgyan Seminary and to further discuss the possibilities of inter-seminary collaboration between Gevorgyan, St. Nersess, and St. Vladimir's seminaries, including an exchange of faculty and students, courses of study, and library books.

While in Etchmiadzin, Fr. Behr will also have the opportunity to meet with the Vehapar, the dean and faculty of the seminary, and address the seminarians. Read more about the visit on the St. Nersess website.