"Outside of God, all facts are just interpretations. Without a noetic experience, our culture is the way it is." This observation formed the basis for Dr. Herman Tristram Engelhardt's recent lecture at St. Vladimir's, delivered on 23 February 2014 and sponsored by SVOTS' student-run St. Ambrose Society, the seminary's Pro-Life student interest group.

A professor of philosophy at Rice University and professor emeritus of medicine at Baylor, Dr. Engelhardt is 
widely considered the "godfather" of Orthodox bioethics. His lecture, entitled "Preaching the Word of the Lord: Being an Orthodox Christian in a Post-Christian Public Square, or, G.W.F. Hegel, Richard Rorty, and the Politically Reasonable Reconsidered," attempted to trace the causes of the falling away of American culture from Christianity and discussed the implications for Orthodox Christians' public approach to ethical violations such as abortion.

Arguing that the origins of secular culture lie in an Enlightenment attempt to replace the One God with "one reason," Dr.
Engelhardt asserted that the failure of secular culture lies in the fact that "one reason" cannot be achieved outside of One God. "The assumption was that there would be one rationality," he said. When the assumption turned out to be false, the consequence is post-modernity and a reduction of moral and ethical matters to "lifestyle choices."

And what are Orthodox Christians to do? Dr Engelhardt contends that we have recourse only to the Great Commission of our Lord: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations ... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). In order to prompt people to make right moral and ethical choices, we first have to bring them to the Truth by and according to whom such decisions ought to be made. The criterion for morality must be God.

Therefore, according to Dr. Engelhardt, Christians should not be afraid to make their faith public, preaching not just by moral exhortations but especially by living their faith visibly, and by opposing the "secular exorcism of God-oriented language from the public square," even if at the cost of social acceptance. Says Dr. Engelhardt, "It will be very hard for us to remain Orthodox Christians if we are not willing to be very strange people." 

The Trustees, Faculty, and Students of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary request the honor of your presence at the Commencement of the Class of 2014 on May 31. A 10:00 Prayer of Supplication in Three Hierarchs Chapel will be followed by Commencement Exercises at 10:30 a.m. in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium, John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building. 

Archbishop Job (Getcha), an archimandrite elected to lead The Patriarchal Exarchate for Orthodox Parishes of Russian Tradition in Western Europe in November of 2013, will be the Commencement speaker. Archbishop Job grew up as a Ukrainian Canadian, and studied Theology at St. Andrew's College, Manitoba. Later, he studied at the St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute, Paris, where he was awarded a doctorate, jointly with the Institut Catholique de Paris, in 2003. He has worked as a lecturer and professor of Church History, Liturgy and Canon Law at various academic institutions including St. Sergius, of which he was dean from 2005 to 2007; the Institut Catholique, the University of Fribourg and, since 2009, the Orthodox Center of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Chambesy, Switzerland. 

The archbishop has published The Typikon Decoded with SVS Press.

In addition, the St. Vladimir's faculty and Board of Trustees will award a Doctor of Sacred Music honoris causa to Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. A concert devoted to his music is taking place later in the day, in New York City at Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 31.

Visit our Commencement Exercises page

Ten of us seminarians departed from St. Vladimir's Seminary after lunch on Friday afternoon to travel to Jordanville, NY for a weekend of fellowship and spiritual nourishment at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, or ROCOR), where we were warmly received by the seminarians, monks, and staff at Holy Trinity. Once every semester the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement, or OISM, sponsors this type of weekend event at an Orthodox seminary. Holy Trinity welcomed students from St. Vladimir's as well as from Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Canaan, PA.

In his opening speech, Rector and Dean of Holy Trinity The Very Rev. Archimandrite Luke (Murianka) greeted us students and exhorted us to be faithful to Holy Tradition, thus ensuring its transmission in entirety to generations that will follow. The first talk was given by The Rev. Dr. Kevin Kalish, assistant professor of English at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA, who spoke on "The Language of the King James Bible." Graduating Holy Trinity seminarian Nicholas Kotar also gave a presentation on the subject, "Culture, Creation and Literature: A Christian's most important work?" 

In addition to participating in the regular services and meals of the monastery, we seminarians enjoyed several discussion sessions, as well as informal fellowship. What we seminarians always appreciate about OISM gatherings is the sense of shared unity and friendship, though we come from such a mix of cultural backgrounds and small "t" Orthodox traditions. In a highlight of the weekend, Holy Trinity hosts offered us visiting seminarians a tour of the monastery and its church, and we were all moved by the beautiful grounds and the cathedral interior with its magnificent iconography.

Against the backdrop of civil strife, The Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology Paul Meyendorff traveled to the Orthodox Theological Seminary and Academy in Kyiv, Ukraine, for a meeting of the Working Group on Orthodox Theological Education. Representing both the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, he participated in extensive discussions about the restructuring of theological education in Ukraine in general, and at the Academy in particular. On February 17, Professor Meyendorff presented a paper on baptismal ecclesiology to students and faculty of the Academy, after which he answered questions from students for nearly an hour.

Participants at the meeting were greeted warmly by Metropolitan Antonij, rector of the Academy and currently the administrator of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He participated in the opening session, at which he presented a report on the current state of theological education in Ukraine and shared his hopes for the future—including greater cooperation with other Orthodox theological institutions.

headquarters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, violence broke out in the center of the city, less than a mile away. On Tuesday night, participants were kept awake all night by the sound of explosion and gunfire. As the violence grew worse, the gates to the compound were shut, trucks were parked across access roads, and students were forbidden to leave the grounds.

"On Thursday morning, just prior to leaving," Prof. Meyendorff reported, "I attended a memorial service for the dozens of people killed." In addition to praying for the dead, Metropolitan Antonij called for a cessation to the violence—a call that went unheeded as the violence on Thursday only increased. Though relieved to be home, Dr. Meyendorff asks for all to pray for those he left behind.

The Working Group has been meeting annually since 2010 and last year gained official recognition from many Orthodox Churches, including the Patriarchates of Constantinople, Moscow, Serbia, and Romania, and the Churches of Finland, Poland, and the OCA. The aim of the group is to help the churches to raise the quality of theological education as well as to develop common standards. This will allow for the mutual recognition of degrees and make possible exchanges of faculty and students. 

(Photo credits: kdais.kiev.ua)

When Seminarian Fr. Gabreil Alemayehu of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church met St. Vladimir's Seminary's Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Rhetoric, The Rev. Dr. Sergius Halvorsen, two years ago at the Festival of Young Preachers, it changed the course of the student's life.

"He was finishing up his studies at Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts," remembers Fr. Sergius. "We talked at the festival, and I suggested that he apply to St. Vladimir's for advanced study. This year, Fr. Gabreil returned to the festival as our school's participant." (Read Fr. Gabreil's reflections and view his homily on YouTube.)

St.Vladimir's Seminary, a National Partner of the Academy of Preachers that sponsors the Festival of Young Preachers, annually presents a strong showing at the festival, and this year was no exception. Besides Fr. Gabreil, two seminary alumni participated in the event, held in Indianapolis, Indiana: The Rev. Lucas Rice (SVOTS '11), rector of St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Sioux City, Iowa, and an Academy of Preachers alum, delivered a sermon to the entire Festival during one of the plenary sessions; while the Youth Director for the Orthodox Church in America, Andrew Boyd (SVOTS '12), presented a sermon, "Do You Want to be Healed?"

Father Sergius, using an icon of the Nativity, led a workshop on sacramental preaching and the use of imagery in preaching. "One of the most effective ways to preach is to use words to craft images in the mind of the hearer," he noted. "It was a great opportunity to offer some of these young preachers exposure to an Orthodox Christian approach to homiletics."

More than 100 homilists from various Christian traditions, from high schoolers to seminarians to those already active in pastoral ministry, offered presentations to a panel of trained speakers. In his role as an evaluator, Fr. Sergius listened with a "homiletics prof's ear" and offered constructive feedback at the end of each presentation. 

Read Fr. Gabreil's reflections on the festival in Seminarians Speak.

Watch the YouTube of Fr. Gabreil's homily.

In a presentation centering on Christian identity, Archimandrite Zacharias, a monk of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Tolleshunt Knights by Maldon, Essex, England, inspired an audience of more than 100 people with what he termed “domestic theology”—that is, “simple things” in church life that bear profound consequences. Father Zacharias, a disciple of Father Sophrony (of blessed memory) who was a disciple of St. Silouan of Mount Athos, emphasized the importance of each Christian becoming a living Temple of God, but in particular, priests.

“Our identity as members of the body of Christ is of far greater importance than any other identity,” he began, “Many tragedies in the Church are due to the fact that we simply are not aware of our identity as members of Christ’s body.”

Father Zacharias noted several ways to acquire “traces of the presence of Christ in our hearts, so that we begin to build the Temple of God”: invoking Jesus’ name incessantly; bearing a humble and contrite spirit; never judging or condemning others; exchanging our lives for God’s life in the Divine Liturgy; and daily hastening to meet the Coming Christ, living eschatalogically and awaiting the Age to Come. “All of these inscribe (that is, circumcise) our hearts with a trace of Jesus," he observed.

He also stressed the greater responsibility of priests, stating that they must “work in secret to fill their hearts with the Holy Spirit, in order to transmit a living word to the souls of the people they meet.” “Priests are not just celebrants of sacraments,” he said. “We are comforters of souls. Our destiny is to give a word to make people understand their identity within the wondrous body of Christ.”

 Hear Fr. Zacharias’ entire presentation on Ancient Faith Radio.

A new fresco of St. Panteleimon donated to St. Vladimir's Seminary by iconographer Kathryn Pritchett Gulov graces the atrium of the John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building. The icon, modeled after a 12th century fresco in the Monastery of St. Panteleimon in the village of Nerezi, Macedonia, was offered to the Seminary as her way of saying "thank you."

In 2010 Kathryn earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design from the University of Michigan. Over the summers of 2009, 2010, and 2011, she attended St. Vladimir's iconography workshops in Applied Iconology, learning the traditional egg tempera Russo-Byzantine method. Recognizing her talent, instructor Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko encouraged her to pursue deeper study in iconography and church arts. With the assistance and recommendations of Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr and Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, Kathryn entered the full time three-year program for iconographers at St. Tikhon's Orthodox University in Moscow, Russia.

"I am extremely grateful to the Seminary for having offered the summer iconography courses," Kathryn reflects. "I would not be where I am today without St. Vladimir's. Protodeacon Nazari helped prepare me for going to school in Russia, where I not only learned about writing an icon but also about the Russian culture and language."

Kathryn is finishing her third year at St. Tikhon's, studying monumental art: frescos, mosaics, and icons. "Apparently I am the first American to attend," she exclaims. "It is very humbling being surrounded by so many exceptionally talented and hard working artists. While here, I also met, fell in love with, and married my husband Pavel Gulov, who is in the same program."

Saint Tikhon's in Moscow and St. Vladimir's plan to collaborate significantly in the next few years. Last October during an extended trip to Russia, Fr. Chad Hatfield and Fr. John Behr met with members of St. Tikhon's faculty to discuss cooperation in the creation of an Institute of Sacred Arts, with the goal of enabling more talented students like Kathryn to excel in their chosen fields. 

Read more about St. Panteleimon

Nielsen Professor of Late Antiquity and Byzantine Christian History at Union Theological Seminary and Professor of Byzantine Christian Studies at Columbia University.

Father John noted that Lossky’s book is “enduringly fascinating,” and that its publication signaled a significant moment in Orthodox Christian theology. He also emphasized the organic and conciliar process of theology, observing that "Our historians, philosophers, liturgists, exegetes, canonists, educationists, pastors and theologians, all have their part to play in making the future of Orthodox thought: but so too do our children even in their lisping faith, as do the aged and uneducated, the liberal and the illiberal, the ethnic and post-ethnic, and the Old Calendarists as well as the New."

The lecture was preceded by an academic convocation at which Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Dr. John Barnet, representing the Seminary's Board of Trustees and faculty, awarded Fr. John a Doctor of Divinity degree honoris causa. In conferring the honor, The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr called Fr. John “one of the most prolific Orthodox theologians alive today.” Professor Barnett, reading the citation stated that his “works on the great Fathers have given us verbal icons, portraying each figure in all the complexity of their humanity and history, allowing us to see God at work in them, and their theology as a living witness of this grace.”

In addition to the standing room only crowd, the lecture was attended by special guests: His Grace David, bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York and New England; His Grace Seraphim, former bishop of Sendai, Japan, Orthodox Church in America (OCA);  and Helmar Nielson, former member of the Board of Trustees for Union Theological Seminary, New York City. A public reception followed.

LINKS

• Read the citation from the Academic Convocation
• Read the text of the 31st Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture
• Listen to the lecture on Ancient Faith Radio
• View the photo gallery by Leanne Parrott Photography
• Order Fr. John McGuckin’s books from SVS Press

You are the light of the world.
A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Gospel reading, January 30

Hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) presided over the ordinations of two third-year seminarians in a joyous celebration marking The Feast of the Three Great Hierarchs—Ss. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom—patrons of St. Vladimir's Seminary Chapel. His Beatitude The Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America, ordained Alessandro Margheritino to the Holy Diaconate, and His Eminence the Most Rev. Nikon, archbishop of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese, ordained Dn. Nicholas Roth to the Holy Priesthood. After the Liturgy, Chapel clergy and visiting priests blessed the administrative buildings, dormitories, and apartments of students, faculty and staff.

"It was a wonderful day, and I was glad to be able to share it with Dn. Alessandro," said the newly-ordained Fr. Nicholas, who has been serving this year at Ss. Peter and Paul in Jersey City. "I am excited about beginning my ministry and look forward to laboring in the vineyard with the support of Mat. Mary."

Prior to his arrival on campus, Fr. Nicholas served as a Captain in the Army. His military years commenced when he enlisted as an infantryman in 2001, and subsequently deployed overseas for three separate assignments: Iraq from 2005–2006, and again from 2007–2008 after being commissioned a Second Lieutenant; then Afghanistan from 2009–2010. An active participant in community life, Fr. Nicholas has served as a sacristan at Three Hierarchs Chapel, a representative on Student Council, and as the liaison to the Council for the St. Herman of Alaska Student Ecology Group.

Deacon Alessandro has been ministering at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church in New Haven, CT this school year. "St. Vladimir's forms us with theological, liturgical and pastoral training. But no matter how 'prepared' you might feel, when led to the Altar through the Holy Doors, standing before the Holy Gifts for the first time, you feel a great sense of unworthiness. Then you realize more than ever that it is only with God's grace and the prayers of the faithful that you can begin your ministry."

Born and raised in Palermo, Italy, Dn. Alessandro hails from Ohio, where he is a faithful member of St. Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church (OCA) in Columbus with rector The Rev. Matthew Moriak. He has served in short-term missions with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) and the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) in Albania, Kenya, and Louisiana. The president of Student Council, he holds a B.A. in International Relations – Political Science from the University of Palermo, Italy, and is married to Anna, an iconographer originally from Moscow, Russia. Deacon Alessandro and Anna are expecting their first child at the beginning of April.

Metropolitan Tikhon's homily referred to the Gospel reading from Matthew 5. "We have the comfort of knowing that the Lord desires to dwell within us....Not only saints and bishops, but every Christian is called to reveal the light given to us at our baptism and chrismation. We can do this in whatever place we have been planted, with whatever personality we have been given."

Clergy joining Metropolitan Tikhon and Archbishop Nikon included: The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, Dean; The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO; The Very Rev. Dr. John Jillions, OCA Chancellor; The Very Rev. Joseph Lickwar, Ss.Peter and Paul Church, Jersey City, NJ; The Very Rev. Michael Westerberg, Holy Transfiguration Church, New Haven, CT; The Very Rev.Eric Tosi, OCA Secretary; SVOTS Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology The Very Rev. Dr. Harry Pappas; The Very Rev. Marcus Burch, Chancellor (OCA Diocese of the South); SVOTS Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Rhetoric The Very Rev. Dr. Sergius Halvorsen; SVS Press Editor-in-Chief The Rev. Dr. Benedict Churchill; and The Rev. James Parnell, All Saints Church, Hartford, CT. In addition to ordinand Dn. Nicholas, four deacons participated: Protodeacon Joseph Matusiak, The Rev. Dn. Gregory Hatrak, The Rev. Dn. Scott Miller, and The Rev. Dn. Kyle Parrott. 

The St. Ambrose Society at St. Vladimir's Seminary sponsored a free, public lecture on February 23, Sunday, 3:30 pm, in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium on campus. “Preaching the Word of the Lord: Being an Orthodox Christian in the Post-Christian Public Square,” was presented by Dr. Herman Tristram Engelhardt, who holds doctorates in Medicine (Tulane University, 1972) and Philosophy (University of Texas, 1969). Dr. Engelhardt's principal research has been in the area of bioethics, and his major contribution to Orthodox ethics is his book, The Foundations of Christian Bioethics. He is presently Professor of Philosophy at Rice University and Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, both in Houston, Texas.