Every year, St Ambrose Society, a pro-life student interest group at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, makes a pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., in order to raise awareness for the protection of the unborn at the March for Life. This year, St. Vladimir’s contingent included more than a dozen representatives, including seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield. Many seminarians from St. Tikhon’s Seminary and Orthodox Christians from around the United States—as far away as Seattle, WA—joined together and marched alongside the group from St. Vladimir’s.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America OCA), gave the opening prayer before the March, calling all to remember the preciousness of life and the devastation wrought through the evil of self-love. He ended his message with an inspiring quote from St. Isaac of Syria, which encouraged selfless-love toward all, so that human beings, through their actions, would “be self-sacrificial love for all, and…conquer death.”
Following the opening prayer, the Orthodox faithful gathered together to sing a Molieben for the unborn, led by His Beatitude, who was accompanied by His Eminence Melchisedek, archbishop of Pittsburgh and the Diocese of Western Pennsylvania (OCA), and His Eminence Michael, archbishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey (OCA). Many fellow marchers stopped to participate in the prayers while our Orthodox group chanted and sang together and raised up icons and banners, as His Beatitude led us, and tens of thousands of other marchers, up to Capitol Hill.
At the conclusion of the March, members of our St. Ambrose Society met with seminarians from St. Tikhon’s and experienced the warm hospitality provided by Archpriest Valery Shemchuk and the faithful of St. Nicholas Cathedral. During that fellowship, Hieromonk Herman Majkrzak, a founder of the St. Ambrose Society and now a lecturer at St. Tikhon’s Seminary, spoke not only of the great sorrow that marks the March for Life—a movement in response to the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision—but also of the joy the March brings as it bonds Christians together in a love for life and in the care for the innocent in the womb.
In keeping with its pro-life commitment, St. Ambrose Society is planning to carry out donation drives for local women’s shelters and pregnancy crisis centers; to participate in upcoming 40 Days for Life local vigils; and to find ways to educate upcoming pastors on post-abortion counseling.
“Iota” is the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet—immortalized as such in the Gospel of Matthew, 5:18. IOTA also is the acronym for a newly formed body, the International Orthodox Theological Association, a network of over 150 members so far.
The inaugural meeting of IOTA will take place in Iaşi, Romania, January 9–12, 2019, and to begin planning for that gathering, two dozen scholars from around the world met in Jerusalem January 10–12, 2018, including a strong showing from St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Attending were President Archpriest Chad Hatfield; Dr. Peter Bouteneff, professor of Systematic Theology and co-chair of IOTA’s Dogmatic Theology section; Dr. Gayle Woloschak, professor of Bioethics and IOTA’s vice president, Trustee Frank Cerra, and Alumnus Archpriest Michael Oleksa.
"Jerusalem was the perfect setting for the first formal meeting of IOTA as plans are being made for the first conference to be held in Romania in January 2019,” observed Fr. Chad. “The link between Old World and New World is one important piece as this new association forms, and our seminary is taking a lead in building bridges on the international level."
IOTA was founded by Professor Paul Gavrilyuk, who teaches at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Long an active member of the Orthodox Theological Society in America (OTSA), Dr. Gavrilyuk saw the need for an international body that would, as IOTA’s mission statement indicates, “Facilitate an international scholarly exchange in the context of the Orthodox tradition.” Besides theologians, IOTA includes philosophers, historians, social scientists, political scientists, ethicists, biomedical scientists, and other professionals.
Professor Bouteneff noted, “I’ve long been in conversation with Paul about IOTA, and it was thrilling to be in Jerusalem to see his vision become our shared vision, and begin to take shape. There was palpable energy in the room, and a spirit of collegiality and hope. I think that the Iaşi meeting will be significant.”
Also present in Jerusalem were Catalin Jeckel from the Iaşi diocese, and Dn. Gheorghe Cristian Popa of Trinitas TV, a media outlet of the Romanian Patriarchate that produced a video about the Jerusalem meeting and the forthcoming Iaşi conference. The video has already been broadcast in Romania and is viewable here, with English subtitles.
IOTA is accepting paper proposals within any of its 25 sections, in preparation for the 2019 inaugural meeting: for details, see http://iota-web.org. The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2018.
View a video of the January 10–12, 2018 IOTA meeting in Jerusalem here. View a related article on IOTA’s website here.
St. Vladimir's Seminary│Three Hierarchs Chapel,575 Scarsdale Road,10707,Yonkers,NY,US
Decades ago, masterpieces from the Orthodox musical tradition by composers such as Tchaikovsky and Bortniansky used to be sung regularly by average church choirs in both Russia and America. However, as choir membership in America dwindled in many parishes, the ability to sing challenging repertoire likewise diminished. Works from the past became mere museum pieces, and new works being created by gifted church musicians remained beyond the reach of many parish choirs. Both traditional and fresh compositions are often now heard only either in concert or on recordings.
St. Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale—a volunteer campus community choir—is making it part of their ministry to sing masterpieces of Orthodox music within liturgical services in Three Hierarchs Chapel. The Chorale plans bi-annually to invite the public to hear beautifully composed and arranged hymns in their proper setting: communal worship.
On Saturday, February 10, 2018, at 6:30 p.m., the Chorale will commence its “Orthodox Masterpieces” series by singing Great Vespers in Three Hierarchs Chapel, featuring select compositions by Archpriest Sergei Glagolev. Father Sergei is noted for his pioneering work in introducing English-language musical compositions into Orthodox Christian church services—inspired hymnography with a uniquely American sound. Following the liturgical service, fellow worshippers are invited to hear an educational talk by seminary faculty and to enjoy a light reception.
“No other place in America has woven together the study and practice of liturgy like St. Vladimir’s,” noted Robin Freeman, who is Director of Music at the Seminary. “Our understanding of the liturgy owes much both to liturgical theologians like Fr. Alexander Schmemann, who lived and taught here, and to musicians like David Drillock, who led the seminary community in the daily music of our chapel services.
“Our Orthodox Masterpieces series aims to continue this synthesis of the study and practice of Orthodox music and liturgy at St. Vladimir’s,” she explained, “allowing us not only to educate our own students and chapel community, but also to welcome friends, inquirers, donors, alumni, and all music lovers, regardless of their religious backgrounds.
“In addition to being liturgical and educational,” she concluded, “our bi-annual Masterpiece series presentation will offer an opportunity for evangelism, deepening the faith of Orthodox Christians and presenting the Orthodox faith to others.”
During Fall Semester 2017, four new priests had been added to the ranks of our Student Body and Alumni fellowship, as well as one new deacon. Additionally, one of our alumni, Fr. Basil Doroszkiewicz, was ordained to the episcopacy, and another alumnus, Fr. Nathan Preston, received the monastic tonsure. (View detailed listing below.)
We keep them in prayer as they continue in their ministries. Axios!
HOLY EPISCOPACY
His Grace Warsonofiusz (Fr. Basil Doroszkiewicz), Alumnus (M.Th. ’87) Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in Poland Monastic Life: Tonsured as Riasophore monk 8OCT80 at the Monastery of St. Onufry in Jabłeczna; received small schema 18DEC90 at St. Onufry Monastery, by the hands of the Bishop Abel of Lublin and Chełm, taking the name Warsonofius, in honor of St. Warsonofiusza Wielki; raised to the dignity of Igumen inn 1995; raised to the dignity of archimandrite on 18MAR04 Holy Diaconate: Ordained to the Holy Diaconate 9OCT80 at St. Onufry Monastery in Jabłeczna Holy Priesthood: Ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius, Metropolitan of Washington, all of America and Canada, Orthodox Church in America (OCA), 14SEPT83, while pursuing studies at St. Vladimir’s Seminary Holy Episcopacy: Elected by the Holy Council of Bishops of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Warsaw and Bielsko, with title of Bishop of Siemiatycze on 24AUG17; Ordained Bishop of Siemiatycze, Poland on Sunday, 8OCT17, the first episcopal ordination in the 586-year-old parish Current Ministry: Bishop of Siemiatycze, Poland Education and Professional Background: Doctor of Theology 2001, Christian Theological Academy, Warsaw. Most recently served as Chair of Orthodox Theology at the University of Bialystok; authored several monographs, including: In the shadow of Chalcedon, Byzantine monasticism from the mid-9th to the mid-15th century, and over 80 other scholarly articles; served as vice-president of the National Committee of the Bible Society in Poland for the 2011–2016 term; participated in the preparation of the ecumenical translation of the Bible, authoring the translation of the Book of Baruch and the Letter of Jeremiah
HOLY PRIESTHOOD
Priest Antony (Mina) Andrews, Alumnus (M.A. 2014) Jurisdiction: Coptic Orthodox Church, Patriarchate of Alexandria, Egypt Holy Diaconate: Ordained by His Grace Bishop David, Diocese of New York & New England, in St. Mary & St. Mena Coptic Orthodox Church, Cranston, RI, 31JAN16 Holy Priesthood: Ordained by His Grace Bishop David, Diocese of New York & New England in St. Mary & St. Antonios Coptic Orthodox Church, Ridgewood (Queens), NY, 17SEPT17 Current Ministry: St. Mary & St. Antonios Coptic Orthodox Church, Ridgewood (Queens), NY Education and Professional Background: B.S. in Management with Accounting Concentration (New Jersey Institute of Technology); Project Support Specialist for one year at Public Service Electricity & Gas (PSEG); Master of Arts and Continuing Education, Master of Divinity, St. Vladimir’s Seminary; Doctor of Ministry Candidate, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Priest Peter Fermeglia, Seminarian (Special Course of Study 2017–2018) Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Holy Priesthood: Father Peter, born Charles Sergio, was raised in the Roman Catholic faith. He was received as a priest by Vesting, by His Eminence the Most Reverend Benjamin, Archbishop of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West, during the Divine Liturgy for the Nativity of Our Lord at Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Francisco, 25DEC17. Current ministry: Parish assignment at Sts. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Jersey City, NJ, under the mentorship of Rector, Archpriest Joseph Lickwar Educational and professional background: B.A. in Philosophy, Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception; M.Div., Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, LI; Ordained to the Diaconate, May 1, 1988, in the Seminary Chapel of the Immaculate Conception; and to the Priesthood, May 28, 1988, in St. James Cathedral, Brooklyn, by His Excellency, Bishop Francis J. Mugavero, D.D.; ministry has included parish work, hospital chaplaincy, and music directorship
Priest Christopher Moore, 3rd-year Seminarian (M.Div. program) Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Diaconate: Ordained by His Grace the Right Reverend Paul, Bishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest, in Three Hierarchs Chapel, St. Vladimir’s Seminary, 1APR17 Priesthood: Ordained by His Grace the Right Reverend Paul, Bishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest, in Three Hierarchs Chapel, St. Vladimir’s Seminary, 21NOV17 Current ministry: Student parish assignment at Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, South River, NJ, under the mentorship of Rector, Archpriest David F. Garretson; student leader of the St. Innocent Mission Society, under the auspices of the Student Council Educational and professional background: B.M. in Music Composition; Administrative Assistant at Evangelical Baptist Missions organization; Woodwind Performer and Private Lessons Teacher; missionary with Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) since 2012
Priest Jeremiah Phillips,3rd-year Seminarian (M.Div. program) Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA) Diaconate: Ordained by His Grace Nicholas, Bishop of Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, D.C., and assistant to Metropolitan Joseph, Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, in St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, Bridgeport, CT, 11DEC16 Priesthood: Ordained by His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph, Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, in St. Andrew Orthodox Church, Riverside, CA, 26NOV17 Current ministry: Student parish assignment at St. George Orthodox Church, Little Falls, NJ Educational and professional background: B.A. in Graphic Design and Digital Media from California Baptist University in 2009; General Services Department of Provident Savings Bank in Riverside, CA
HOLY DIACONATE
Deacon John Black, Special Student, Liturgical Music Studies Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Diaconate: Ordained by His Eminence the Most Reverend Mark, Archbishop of Philadelphia an Eastern Pennsylvania, Holy Trinity Church, Pottstown, PA, 16DEC17 Current ministry: Attached to Holy Trinity Church, Pottstown, PA, under the omophorion of Archbishop Mark Educational and professional background: Bachelor of Arts in Music from Lebanon Valley College, PA, where he studied music education, composition, and percussion; studied liturgical music at St. Vladimir's Seminary and also completed the Diaconal Formation Program offered through St. Tikhon’s Seminary; served as choir director in NYC area, NJ, and PA; assisted in arranging and typesetting for the Department of Liturgical Music of the Orthodox Church in America from 2005–2009
MONASTIC TONSURE & ELEVATIONS
Hieromonk Nikodhim (Father Nathan Preston), Alumnus (M.Div. 2007) Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA), Albanian Archdiocese Tonsured as Riasophore Monk: Tonsured by His Eminence the Most Reverend Nikon, Archbishop of Boston and the Diocese of New England and the Albanian Archdiocese, at St. John Chrysostom Albanian Orthodox Church, Philadelphia, PA, 23SEPT17, following the conclusion of the archdiocesan assembly Current Ministry: Rector, St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church, Jamaica Estates, Queens Borough, NYC; Administrator of the Department of Pastoral Life, OCA
Mitered Archpriest Leonid Kishkovsky, Alumnus (M.Div. Studies 1964–1967) Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Elevation: Elevated to the dignity of Mitered Archpriest by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, by the hand of His Eminence the Most Reverend Michael, Archbishop of New York of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, on behalf of the Holy Synod, at the Church of Our Lady of Kazan, Sea Cliff, NY, 22OCT17 Current Ministry: Rector, Our Lady of Kazan, Sea Cliff, NY; Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations for the OCA
Photo credits: Nichalaus Mueller, Alexandru Popovici, Mat. Sophia Sokolov, Fr. Dimitrie Vincent, Diocese of Eastern PA, Orthphoto.net, Parish of Our Lady of Kazan
Archpriest John Behr, the Father Georges Florovsky Distinguished Professor of Patristics at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, has published a new critical edition and translation of Origen’s On First Principles, together with a lengthy introduction, which is sure to become a significant new resource in the fields of dogmatic theology, church history, and patristic studies. The book is published by Oxford University Press, as part of their Oxford Early Christian Texts series.
Origen’s On First Principles, written around AD 220—230, is one of the most important, and controversial, of early Christian writings. It provided a frame of reference for many of the debates in the following centuries. Saints Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian included lengthy passages of it in their Philokalia—almost of third of Origen’s On First Principles, in total. But it also provoked controversy when written; further debate when translated into Latin by Rufinus at the end of the fourth century; and was the subject, together with its author, of condemnation in the sixth century. The edition and English translation that remained standard for the twentieth century was based on this condemnation, together with statements reportedly coming from the work.
However, through a careful examination of the original work and its structure, Fr. John argues for a different understanding of the text, with significant implications for how the text is to be read and for how the character of theology in the early Christian tradition is to be understood. He argues for a more sympathetic understanding of Origen’s work, viewed through the lens of the liturgical worship of the Church, a timeless celebration of the eternal Eucharistic offering and sacrifice. Within that context, Fr. John claims, readers can see the accusations made against Origen in his own time and thereafter in a new light.
“Origen of Alexandria has always been a perplexing figure, for the centuries that followed him just as much as for our own,” noted Fr. John. “I have proposed a different structuring to the work,” he went on, “and in doing so suggest, in the introduction, that Origen should be read in a different key altogether, that is, an apocalyptic key.
For example, Origen’s alleged belief in pre-existent intellects descending into ranks of increasingly dense bodies via a pre-cosmic fall—“ideas that were (rightly!) anathematized in the sixth century” remarks Fr. John—do not actually occur within the work. “I argue,” Fr. John explained, “that Origen was not ever talking about pre-existent souls falling into bodies, a mythology based in his supposedly wild allegory, as he is usually caricatured, but rather about our participation, even now, in the eschatological liturgy, expounded by an ‘apocalyptic’ reading of Scripture that is intrinsic to the proclamation of the gospel from the beginning.”
Re-reading Origen’s densely layered writing, Fr. John painstakingly works through the text, to see it in the framework of the ancient patristic and scriptural worldview, in order to view it in its original context. He uncovers a worldview in which the heavenly and the earthly coexist together, in a dimension outside of historical time and divided space. In doing so, he not only offers readers a better understanding of Origen’s text (akin to Scriptural apocalyptic literature) but also the heart of understanding early Christian theology—and the methods employed therein—and, for that matter, the nature of Christian theology altogether.
His Grace, Bishop Mark [Forsberg], former Bishop of Boston, fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, January 8, 2018. Bishop Mark was consecrated to the episcopacy on November 10, 1979. He served the Orthodox Church in America’s Albanian Archdiocese, succeeding His Grace, Bishop Stephen [Lasko], and the Diocese of New England. After his retirement in the mid-1980s, he served in a variety of other capacities.
Additional information and the service schedule will be posted as they become available on the Orthodox Church in America's website, here.
Our seminary’s oldest living alumnus, the Very Reverend Paul Shafran (Class of 1945), was honored on Saturday, October 28, 2017, along with his gracious wife, Matushka Mary, in celebration of the 70th anniversary of Fr. Paul’s ordination to the Holy Priesthood, the couple’s 70th wedding anniversary, and their faithful service to the Church. Although the celebratory event for the Shafrans was held in October, the actual anniversary date of Fr. Paul’s ordination is December 28, and their wedding anniversary date is November 27.
During the fall celebration, which took place at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Church, Trenton, NJ, where Fr. Paul served as pastor for more than five decades and now is Pastor Emeritus, the couple was presented with a surprise gift: the announcement of an endowed seminary fund established in their name: “The Very Reverend Paul and Matushka Mary Shafran Endowment.” The endowment will provide funds to benefit all aspects of student life at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. (Learn more about the inception of the Shafran Endowment, here.)
Among the 135 guests on hand to honor the Shafrans were the Very Reverend Joseph Lickwar, chancellor of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, Orthodox Church in America; Fr. Paul and Mat. Mary’s family members, and current and former parishioners; and several clergy, including the Reverend Volodymyr Chaikivskyi, current rector in the Trenton parish. Also on hand were many well-wishers from St. Vladimir’s Seminary, including seminary President the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield; Senior Advisor for Advancement Theodore Bazil; Trustee Emeritus Anthony Kasmer and current Trustees Tatiana and Jeff Hoff; and visiting seminarians. His Eminence the Most Reverend Michael, archbishop of New York City and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, could not attend due to an unexpected archpastoral responsibility. In his stead, Fr. Lickwar presented Fr. Paul and Mat. Mary with gramotas signed by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and members of the Holy Synod of Bishops, commending their 70 years of service to the Church and their 70 years of marriage. He also read two letters from Archbishop Michael, similarly commending the couple.
The celebration began with Divine Liturgy and was followed by a banquet in the parish’s “Daria Hall.” Speakers feting Fr. Paul and Mat. Mary included the Very Reverend Daniel Skvir, a long-time friend of the Shafrans, who also served as Master of Ceremonies, and Fathers Joseph Lickwar, Volodymyr Chaikivskyi, and Chad Hatfield. Numerous parishioners, family members, and other guests spoke during the “open mic” segment of the program, offering both humorous and tender vignettes about the Shafrans. (View the full program here, which includes a handwritten note from Protopresbyter Thomas and Mat. Ann Hopko on the occasion of Fr. Paul’s 65th anniversary of ordination.)
In his remarks, Fr. Chad praised Fr. Paul and Mat. Mary for their dedication to St. Vladimir’s Seminary, to their parish, and to the Church, prior to announcing the establishment of the endowed fund in the Shafrans’ name. Calling Fr. Paul “the gold standard of the conduct of a priest,” Fr. Chad commended him for blending “the theological with that which is practical” throughout his ministry and for loving his people. These traits, Fr. Chad noted, are the “marks of a great priest.” (View a video of Fr. Chad’s full remarks here.)
Father Paul has served the Seminary for more than 60 years. During the deanship of the Very Reverend Dr. Georges Florovsky [1949–1955], he served as Instructor of Liturgics at St. Vladimir’s, beginning in 1951. Now a Trustee Emeritus of the Seminary, Fr. Paul also accomplished much in his capacity as a Board of Trustees member over the decades. (He is the Seminary’s longest-serving Trustee.) He was instrumental, for example, in acquiring two important collections for the seminary library: part of Fr. Florovsky’s private collection and the personal library of Archimandrite Anthony Repella. He and Mat. Mary continue to be generous supporters of the Seminary.
Our entire seminary community thanks Fr. Paul and Mat. Mary for their service and support, and wishes them many blessed years!
View a gallery of photos of the celebration, taken by: Irakli Chikhladze, Fr. Chad Hatfield, Tatiana Hoff, Mat. Sandy Kopestonsky, and Nina Shafran.
View several videos of interviews with Fr. Paul and Mat. Mary, describing their life-long ministry here. The videos are part of the “Gift and Grace: Stories of Orthodox Clergy and Their Wives” series, a project of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, OCA, created by the Very Reverend John Shimchick.
Do you wish to donate to the “The Very Reverend Paul and Matushka Mary Shafran Endowment”? You may do so directly online here; just indicate your intent in the “Designation” category in the drop-down menu at the bottom of the donation page. Or, you may make a pledge to the fund here; simply download and complete the form, and mail it to the Seminary as indicated.
Archpriest Alvian Smirensky, 88, and his wife, Matushka Helen [Kefeli] Smirensky, 84, fell asleep in the Lord in adjoining beds at Albany Medical Center within hours of one another on Sunday morning, December 10, 2017.
Father Alvian received his diploma from St. Vladimir's Seminary in June 1957. His diploma was retroactively "upgraded" to the Master of Divinity degree in 1976, as were the diplomas of many of the Seminary's earlier graduates. Father Alvian then came back to St. Vladimir's as a part-time student in 1991, and graduated with the Master of Theology degree in May 1995. His thesis was "Matrimonial Legislation in Imperial Russia."
Father Alvian was born on May 11, 1929 in Harbin, China to Sophia and Nicholas Smirensky. He attended elementary school in Japanese-occupied Manchuria. With conflict increasing between Japan and China, Alvian emigrated with his mother, Sophia, in September 1939, where they settled in San Francisco. He graduated from Saint Ignatius High School in San Francisco in 1948 and later from the Merchant Marine Academy. He served as a naval officer in the Korean Conflict from 1951-1954 on the Destroyer USS John A. Bole. He retired from military service with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. After service in Korea, he moved to New York City to attended St. Vladimir’s Seminary from 1954-1957, and was ordained as a priest in the Russian Orthodox Church on September 13, 1958. Father Alvian served in the U.S. Naval Reserve as a chaplain and as a parish priest in a number of locations, including Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church in Meriden, CT; the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Wayne, NJ; Saint Basil’s Orthodox Church in Maplewood, NY; Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Cohoes, NY; and Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Albany, NY. When Father Alvian retired from parish service, he became attached to the Holy Wisdom Temple, New Skete Monastery. He also served in State government, retiring in 1991 as Director of Information Services for the New York State and Local Retirement Systems.
Matushka Helen was born on November 3, 1933 in Prague, Czechoslovakia to Michael and Elizabeth Kefeli. Helen and her extended family lived in Prague through the German occupation and World War II. They left Prague prior to the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia and lived in a series of displaced persons camps in Germany until November 1949, when, with the sponsorship of the Tolstoy Foundation, Matushka Helen emigrated to the United States with her family and settled in Nyack, NY. She received an undergraduate degree from Barnard College in 1957 majoring in Russian Regional Studies. Later in life, after many years of working in libraries, Matushka Helen completed her Master of Library Science degree in 1985 at SUNY Albany’s School of Library Science. She was a member of the Beta Phi Mu International Library and Information Studies Honor Society. She was employed as a cataloger at SUNY Albany and retired as a senior librarian from the New York State library in 1996. She served as the New York State Library’s representative to the CONSER Operations Committee for a number of years. Matushka Helen loved to read and knit afghans for family and friends and for sick and abused children. She knitted more than 160 afghans.
The Funeral for Father Alvian and Matushka Helen will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by Divine Liturgy at 11:00 a.m. at New Skete Monastery, 273 New Skete Lane, Cambridge, NY. Interment will follow in the New Skete Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be in their memory to the National Health Law Program (www.healthlaw.org) or to New Skete Monasteries (www.newskete.org). To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.gariepyfuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are with the McClellan-Gariepy Funeral Home, Inc., Salem.
May the memory of Fr. Alvian and Matushka Helen be eternal.
During the week of Sunday, December 3, 2017, St. Vladimir’s Seminary joins in a momentous celebration: the 100th anniversary of the enthronement of Metropolitan Tikhon as Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus, which occurred exactly on December 3, 1917. Metropolitan Tikhon’s remarkable legacy included not only his extremely difficult labor as head of the Church of Russia from 1917—at the start of the Bolshevik Revolution—until his repose in 1925, but also his earlier ministry as head of the Russian Orthodox Diocese in North America in the early 20th century.
The Church of Russia glorified him as a saint in 1989, and Orthodox Christians of the many jurisdictions in North America equally venerate him. During his tenure in North America, he envisioned a future Orthodox Church in the New World, that would include all the national Orthodox communities—Russian, Arabic, Greek, Serbian, Romanian, et cetera—united in one Archdiocese.
St. Tikhon’s legacy is especially meaningful to us here at St. Vladimir’s.
From its beginning in 1938, our school has been guided by the same vision for Orthodox unity and evangelical fervor that St. Tikhon embraced. In our classrooms, in our refectory, and in our chapel, seminarians from all Orthodox jurisdictions interact, converse, sup, and pray together. Our communal life mirrors a unified Orthodox Church with one common goal: to shed abroad the light of Christ. We have the privilege of living daily, experiencing hourly, the hopes and dreams of this humble, gentle saint.
Here are seminary-related resources that celebrate the legacy of St. Tikhon—his life and prophetic wisdom:
On October 1, Archpriest Chad Hatfield, seminary President, spoke about Patriarch Tikhon’s bold vision to the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in Connecticut (FORCC), a pan-Orthodox group committed to working toward unity and sharing the gospel. On the occasion of their 24th Anniversary Banquet, Fr. Chad reminded them of St. Tikhon’s commitment to an ethnically diverse yet united Orthodox Church and of his passionate desire for a strong evangelical witness to and in America. (Listen to his entire presentation about St. Tikhon and Orthodox unity here.)
On December 2, the spiritual head of our school and Board Chair, Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America, addressed the Bishops Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, in Moscow, honoring St. Tikhon’s foresight and loving leadership. (Read his insightful remarks here.) (View a video of his remarks here.)
On December 3, the Seminary Chorale performed a concert titled “Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs,” in Three Hierarchs Chapel in honor of St. Tikhon’s enthronement and the restoration of the patriarchal system of church governance that had been abolished by Tsar Peter the Great two centuries earlier.
(View a video of the Chorale working hard to prepare for the concert, under the direction of Mat Robin Freeman, Director of Music at the Seminary.)
Holy Father St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Enlightener of North America, pray to God for us!
Today, December 4 (November 21 on the Julian Calendar) marks the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of the Enthronement as Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus of St. Tikhon (née Ioann Belavin), who now bears the title of “Patriarch of Moscow and Apostle to America.” His enthronement restored the patriarchal system of church governance that had been abolished by Tsar Peter the Great two centuries earlier.
On October 1, 2017, Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, addressed members of the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in Connecticut (FORCC), a lay group committed to pan-Orthodox cooperation, on the occasion of their 24th Annual Benefit Banquet. In his presentation, Fr. Chad used the writings and evangelical vision of St. Tikhon, regarding a united Orthodox presence in the New World. We are sharing Fr. Chad’s talk on the occasion of this momentous anniversary; you may listen to the podcast here.
Fr. Chad encouraged the faithful to ask: “What can I do set in action and motion the steps that need to be taken in order to complete his vision? What can I do to make a faithful witness? What can I do to join the saint who loved America, and literally gave his life for her? What can I do to serve the Church as he served the Church here, serving it in the name of our Lord—and who has called us to unity in Christ?
“Ask in your prayers what needs to be done by you individually, and corporately through gatherings like this one,” he encouraged. “Ask yourselves what our various churches and parishes can do, our dioceses, our archdioceses, our metropolitanates, to achieve an end to the division and brokenness that the events of history have created and we now live with and accept.
“Pan-orthodox unity: truth or fiction?,” he concluded. “If we do nothing else, we can utter the words, ‘Holy Tikhon, pray unto God for us.’”
