The Reverend Dr. Eugen J. Pentiuc, internationally renowned Old Testament scholar, will be honored Sunday, November 19, at a book launch celebrating the forthcoming publication of his latest work, titled, Hosea: The Word of the Lord that Happened to Hosea (Peeters Publishers). Father Pentiuc is both Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and Professor of Scripture and Semitic Languages at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Holy Cross Seminary and the famous biblical school, École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem, will co-host the fete on the seminary campus in Brookline, MA, in Dowd Hall at 1 p.m.

Father Pentiuc’s new monograph is published under the auspices of the École, under the meticulous direction of Father Olivier-Thomas Venard, O.P., and it represents the tireless work of a group of international biblical scholars. Father Pentiuc was the main author and team leader of the Hosea project.

Hosea is the second volume, after Philippians (Peeters, 2016), to appear in the newly created B.E.S.T. (acronym for La Bible en Ses Traditions =The Bible in Its Traditions) series, recently launched by the École. Creating a B.E.S.T. volume entails a collaborative online platform that brings together dozens of researchers and scholars, working across 29 categories of annotation: Jewish studies, patrology, Ancient Near East studies, archeology, liturgy, and so forth. The series’s new and expanded digital format continues the École’s mission to transmit the Scriptures to the general public; the École created the first Study Bible, La Bible de Jérusalem, also known as The New Jerusalem Bible, in 1956 (Cerf).

The new digital Study Bible offers the modern reader a fresh scriptural translation based on the Old Greek (Septuagint and second-century A.D. Jewish translations), Hebrew (Qumran and Masoretic), Syriac (Peshitta), and Latin (Vulgate) texts, accompanied by a wide variety of study notes divided into three sections: text, context, and reception. These notes cover various interpretive aspects: from mere textual, lexical, and literary glosses to sophisticated Jewish and Christian patristic and liturgical commentaries and theological treatises, and further including modern and secular forms of scriptural usage (e.g., literature, visual arts, music, dance, cinema and television). (View a video summarizing B.E.S.T. project, here.)

The layout for each volume in the B.E.S.T. series (See the Hosea volume layout, here.) attempts to imitate the Medieval Glossa Ordinaria (“Standard Gloss”), consisting of patristic annotations placed in the margins of the Latin Vulgate of Jerome. This ingenious layout emphasizes the polyphonic centrality of the biblical text as well as the irreducibility of the rich and multifaceted interpretations generated by the text in various communities of faith throughout the centuries.

In the Introduction to the new volume, Series Editor Father Venard writes of Father Pentiuc’s contribution: “The impulse given to our work by Professor Eugen J. Pentiuc, an internationally recognized West Semitist (Pentiuc 2001), has brought to the present writing its clearly philological contour, perseverance in formulating historical hypotheses throughout Hosea’s ancient prophecies (Pentiuc 2002), and an emphasis on the present-day relevance of Hosea’s teaching on the true personality of God, whose intimacy with the human being went even to the Incarnation (Pentiuc 2006).”

Dr. James C. Skedros, the Dean of Holy Cross, noted, “During four working summers between 2010 and 2016, as ‘researcher-in-residence’ at École Biblique in Jerusalem, Father Pentiuc, an internationally recognized biblical scholar and Semitist, has proved one more time his refreshing creativity, deep erudition, and passionate love for the Word of God. With this ecumenical-in-scope publication, Father Pentiuc has brought great honor to Holy Cross and to Orthodox biblical scholarship. Thank you, Father Eugen, for your tireless work and genuine dedication to our school!”

[revised and reprinted from the website of Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, with permission: http://www.hchc.edu].

more information about the B.E.S.T. series.

• B.E.S.T. Project official website: https://bibletraditions.org/
• Video about “The École Biblique (B.E.S.T.)”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZNigOlZ3Sg
• Video, titled, “Invitation by Olivier-Thomas Venard, O.P. to the Two Orthodox Seminaries in the USA”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZMgCo3DitU&t=27s
• Video of Father Eugen J. Pentiuc, “The Book of Hosea: From Iron Age to the Digital Age” (Talk at the Scripture and Theology 2017 Colloquium, Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto):
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT9yi8TKtUw&t=284s
• Video of Father Eugen J. Pentiuc, “Introducing the B.E.S.T. Digital Study Bible Project”:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQPVM23nnSg&t=1149s

With faith in Christ and in the hope of resurrection, we share of the passing away of our alumnus, His Grace Dr. Zachariah Mar Theophilos, Metropolitan of the Malabar Diocese, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, on Tuesday, October 24, 2017.

His Grace, a member of St. George Orthodox Church, Chengaroor, was born on September 16, 1952, to Mr. MP Chandapillai and Mrs. Achamma Chandapillai, Manjanamkuzhiyil, Puthussery South Post, Kallupara, Thiruvalla. He had his early education in local schools at Kallupara, and college education at Marthoma College, Thiruvalla. After taking his Bachelors Degree in Science (BSc Maths) from the University of Kerala, he enrolled in the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam, for theological studies. After earning his Graduate Degree in Sacred Theology (GST) there, he earned the Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree at the Senate of Serampore University. After taking his M.Th. there, he completed research studies on the topic, "The Bible and the Holy Land, Past and Present," at St. George College, Jerusalem. He earned his Doctor of Ministry degree at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in 1998; his doctoral thesis was titled, "Strengthening Prayer Life in Indian Orthodox Syrian Christian Parishes in America."

His Grace was widely travelled in the Gulf and European countries. He received the order of Deacon from His Grace Yoohanon Mar Severios in 1977. On May 15, 1991, His Grace Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilose Metropolitan ordained him a Priest at St. George Orthodox Church, Chengannur. He served the Church as fulltime General Secretary of MGOCSM from 1999 onward and held the post of Warden, Student Centre, Trivandrum and Kottayam, Visiting Faculty of St. Basil Bible School, Sasthamcotta, and Governing Board Member of Thadakam and Manganam Ashrams.

When His Grace was studying at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, he offered his pastoral services at some of the parishes of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Diocese. His Grace was instrumental in the strengthening of the MGOCSM (youth ministry department) of the Malankara Church, when he served as its General Secretary.

His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos conveyed the prayerful condolences of the clergy and faithful of the Northeast American Diocese. Memorial prayers were offered at all of the MOSC parishes in the Diocese of Malabar in India. Additionally, prayers were held at St. Basil Orthodox Church, St. Thomas Orthodox Church, and St. Gregorios Orthodox Church in New York and New Jersey.

Let us keep the newly departed Metropolitan in our prayers, especially the grieving Diocese of Malabar. May the memory of His Grace Dr. Zachariah Mar Theophilos, be eternal!

Many Orthodox Christians are familiar with decrees, proclamations, canons, and doctrines promulgated by the major Ecumenical Councils of the Church and other local synods. But they rarely wonder: "Who drafted the texts I'm reading? What method did the drafter use?”

To answer those questions Archpriest Alexander Rentel, assistant professor of Canon Law at St. Vladimir's Seminary, is offering a course to seminarians Spring Semester 2018 titled, “Contemporary Issues in Canon Law.” The class will provide seminarians an opportunity to study conciliar theology and the conciliar process that began in the twentieth-century and led to the Council in Crete in 2016. After this reflection, the class will become hands-on and seminarians will collaborate on drafting a message from a mock council.

In this, they will work with a visiting expert, the Reverend Dr. Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian, who assisted the drafters of the Message and Encyclical promulgated by the Council of Crete (June 19–26, 2016). This practical work will allow the seminarians to ensure the “lost art” of notating proceedings and drafting accurate statements of conciliar meetings. Funding for the guest lecturer is provided by a grant award from the Ganister Orthodox Foundation Fund, a fund of the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania.

“Church councils and synods formulate dogmatic teachings and canons for two reasons,” said Fr. Alexander. “One, to fight against heresies and schisms; and two, to promote the common and unifying tradition of the Church found in Scripture and patristic writings.

“Clergy and laity—since the inception of the Church—have depended on these formulations for many reasons,” he explained, “including, clear knowledge, pastoral direction, church order, and liturgical guidance.

“For example,” he remarked, “these formulations help us answer questions like: What do we believe about the divinity of Jesus Christ?, How does the priest perform an inter-faith marriage?, or, How do we celebrate Annunciation within the Great Fast?.”

Father Alexander Rentel will be the course instructor and facilitator of all class work. He participated in the Council of Crete as a member of the Press Office of the Ecumenical Patriarch. Father Nicolas, who is a research associate at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (Paris, France), and a priest in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, will collaborate with Fr. Alexander for the last three classes. He will introduce the process of drafting a conciliar message and will then oversee the drafting of such a message by the students. Father Nicolas was also a member of the Press Office of the Ecumenical Patriarch at the Council of Crete.

“Through this course,” Fr. Alexander concluded, “we want to ensure that future church leaders know how to record church proceedings and how to apply church decrees, and I am wonderfully heartened by the fact that we will have Fr. Nicolas—an expert in this field—teaching our seminarians.

Our well-known and much-loved alumnus, The Mitered Archpriest Michael Margitich, Pastor Emeritus of Saint Seraphim of Sarov Cathedral, Santa Rosa, CA, fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday, November 11, 2017—Veterans Day. Father Michael was born in Shenandoah, PA, on November 29, 1928, to William [Vasili] and Anna Margitich, émigrés from Carpatho-Russia. His father was a cantor in Uzhorod before coming to the U.S. He attended Saint Vladimir’s Seminary and Columbia University, New York, NY concurrently, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1953.

He married the former Eleanor Gogats on June 14, 1952, at his home parish of the Holy Assumption, Clifton, NJ. On July 18 of the following year, he was ordained to the priesthood in Cumberland, RI, by His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri [Magan] and was assigned to All Saints Church, Hartford, CT, where he served for one year before becoming a US Air Force Chaplain in 1954. He achieved the rank of full colonel after serving for 30 years.

Father Michael served at several Air Force bases, including Parks AFB, Pleasanton, CA; Weisbaden AFB, Germany; and Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS, where he was able to procure and move an Air Force base chapel for use by the Orthodox community. He was next assigned to Saigon, Vietnam in 1966–1967, and later Lowry AFB, Denver, CO; Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL; Hickam AFB, Honolulu; Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA; Maxwell AFB, Bellevue, IL; Andrews AFB, Washington DC; and Hanscom Field, Lexington, MA. At each of these facilities he provided liturgical services for Orthodox military personnel, as well as counseling and pastoral care for those who found in him a good and loving father. He always made an effort to establish friendships with local Orthodox clergy wherever he was posted.

Following his retirement from the military on November 11, 1984, in Massachusetts, Father Michael and Matushka Eleanor moved to Kingston, MA, to oversee the budding Mission of Saint Mark of Ephesus in the Diocese of New England. Very quickly, he was able to acquire a church building, no longer being used by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston, and oversaw the growth of the mission. In 1989, the Margitiches moved to Santa Rosa, CA to be near family. He was assigned by His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of the West to serve as chaplain for the Nuns at the Monastery at Point Reyes, CA. He also served as the Confessor for the Nuns at Kazan Skete, Santa Rosa, CA after the repose of Archimandrite Dimitri. In 1990, he was named Rector of the Protection of the Holy Virgin Parish, Santa Rosa, where he organized the funding, design and construction of Saint Seraphim Church in 1996. While he retired as Rector on December 31, 1998, he continued to serve, counsel, work and support the parish in every way possible during its critical years of growth.

Father Michael was preceded in death by his brothers Archpriest John, Deacon Joseph, and Steven. He is survived by his wife, Matushka Eleanor; daughter Irene [Nevis]; son Archpriest Lawrence Margitich [Ann]; son Mark [Gina]; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; brothers Emil, George, and Basil; and sisters Helen and Ann. He was loved by many and will be missed by all.

The Funeral Service for a Priest will be celebrated at Santa Rosa’s Saint Seraphim Cathedral on Tuesday, November 14, at 6:00 p.m. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the cathedral on Wednesday, November 15, at 9:30 a.m., followed by interment at Healdsburg Cemetery. Donations in Father Michael’s memory may be made to Saint Seraphim Cathedral, 90 Mountain View Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95407-8201.

May Father Michael’s memory be eternal!

[The content of this story was originally published on oca.org.]

The Board of Trustees of St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary has resolved to open the search for the vacant position of the Academic Dean of the Seminary.

St Vladimir’s is a graduate theological school that is chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York. The Seminary’s degree programs are registered by the New York State Education Department and accredited nationally by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. The Seminary serves Christ and his Church through education and scholarship by preparing future priests and church leaders, continuing the task of theological reflection and scholarship, and providing expertise and resources for the Church and the world.

From its establishment in 1938, St Vladimir’s Seminary has been committed to maintaining the highest levels of theological scholarship and pastoral formation, to advancing a pan-Orthodox vision for the Church in this country, and to addressing the challenges of life in the contemporary world.

The Position

The Academic Dean of the Seminary is the Chief Academic Officer, whose primary responsibilities are to lead and supervise the faculty and to oversee all academic activities of the Seminary, under the supervision of the President of the Seminary. The Academic Dean is appointed by the Board of Trustees and reports directly to the President of the Seminary.

Those considered for the position of Academic Dean will 1) be active participants in the sacramental life of the Eastern Orthodox Church, 2) possess the academic credentials necessary for appointment at the rank of Professor on the Seminary faculty, 3) possess demonstrated ability to manage academic faculty and promote their development and productivity, and 4) have the skills necessary to advance the academic mission and current programs of the Seminary as well as to develop new programs to meet the needs of the Church and the world in the 21st century.  The Academic Dean works with the President, the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, and students in continual support of the official mission of the Seminary:

St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary serves Christ, his Church, and the world through Orthodox Christian theological education, research, and scholarship, and the promotion of inter-Orthodox cooperation. In this way, the Seminary prepares students for ministry as bishops, priests, deacons, lay leaders, and scholars so that they may build up Orthodox communities, foster Church growth through mission and evangelism, teach the Orthodox faith, and care for those in need.

Experience and Personal Attributes

The Seminary seeks applications from qualified respondents with the following experience and characteristics:

•  Deep acquaintance and experience with the theological tradition of the Orthodox Church

•  Willingness and ability to support productive relationships among the various Orthodox jurisdictions and the wider Christian sphere

•  A desire to embody the values of the Seminary and the ability to express a compelling vision for its life and purpose

•  The capacity to build effective relationships and cultivate a supportive and productive learning environment for faculty, staff, and students

•  An established reputation for academic excellence

Application

Information about St Vladimir’s and its programs is available at www.svots.edu.  Qualified applicants should send a letter of interest addressing their background and experience as these relate to the position description to His Beatitude, The Most Blessed Tikhon, Orthodox Church in America, P.O. Box 675, Syosset, NY  11791-0675 or by email to deansearch@oca.org by January 31, 2018.  Please include your statement of intent, Curriculum Vitae and three references.  The Search Committee will request further documentation from candidates as necessary.

The review of applications will begin as they are received on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Our seminary was very well represented at the 2017 Annual Conference of the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion (OCAMPR), held November 2–4 at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Cultural Center, Somerset, NJ. Among the several faculty members in attendance was the Very Reverend John Behr, D.Phil., holder of The Father Georges Florovsky Distinguished Professorship of Patristics at St. Vladimir’s, who had been invited to offer a theological perspective on the conference theme: “Resiliency: Body, Mind, and Spirit.”

Other faculty members present included the Reverend Adrian Budica, supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education; Gayle Woloschak, Ph.D., professor of Bioethics; and Albert Rossi, Ph.D., director of Counseling and Psychological Services. Father Adrian led a workshop titled, “Burning Bush: Can a Caregiver Be both ‘on Fire’ and ‘not Consumed?’,” and he co-led another workshop titled, “Healing and Transformation in Jungian Psychology and Orthodox Christianity,” with seminary alumnus the Reverend Sean Levine, Chaplain (Major) U.S. Army. Father Adrian also co-led a meeting of Orthodox Chaplains with Sarah Byrne Martelli, currently a Doctor of Ministry student at the seminary and a Board Certified Chaplain at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Woloschak participated in a workshop titled, “Orthodox Medical Missions around the World,” and Dr. Rossi led a workshop titled, “Becoming a Healing Presence.” (Read the full Conference Program here.)

Other alumni represented were Chaplains Clio Pavlantos, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; and Beryl Knudsen, Danbury Hospital. Additionally, several current seminarians and their wives observed the conference proceedings.

​All the presentations will be available soon on Ancient Faith Podcasts.

On Sunday, December 3, at 7 p.m., the St. Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale will take listeners on a musical spiritual journey by presenting a concert titled, “Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs.” The event, to be performed in Three Hierarchs Chapel on the seminary campus, will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the election and enthronement of Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow. The program will include music of the Orthodox Christian Church, selected from the daily and festal liturgical cycles.

A select mixed choir led by Robin Freeman, director of Music at the seminary, will be performing some pieces taken from a forthcoming SVS Press CD titled, “Every Day Will I Bless Thee,” as well as some traditional hymns. Listen to the “Hymn to the Theotokos” from the CD, below:

The chorale previously performed this same concert in October at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Danbury, CT, to a sold-out crowd.

"We are thrilled to have another chance to perform this program, this time in the very heart of our campus,” said Director Freeman. “It will be a joyful evening!"

Tickets prices are: Adults $15 ($20 at the door); Seniors $10 ($15 at the door); Children & Young Adults, up to age 18, free. Proceeds will benefit the Three Hierarchs Chapel Renovation Project. A reception will follow the concert.

For more information please email: mailto:events@svots.edu.

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The 35th Annual Father Alexander Schmemann lecture will focus on the centenary anniversary of the enthronement of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow. Dr. Scott Kenworthy, seminary alumnus (M.A. ’96) and associate professor of Comparative Religion at Miami University, Ohio, will be our guest lecturer. The title of his address is: “St. Tikhon of Moscow (1865–1925) and the Orthodox Church in North America and Revolutionary Russia.” The lecture will be part of an Academic Convocation that includes the Commencement Ceremony for graduating Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) students. The graduating students, who comprise the Cohort of 2017, are the first group ever to have been enrolled in the hybrid D.Min. model, which includes both online courses and on-campus classroom intensives. (View a full listing of the names of Cohort of 2017 and the titles of their final D.Min. project titles, here.)

Dr. Kenworthy came to Miami in 2001 as a post-doctoral fellow with the Havighurst Center, receiving his Ph.D. in History from Brandeis University during the first year of the fellowship. His research interests focus on the history and thought of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, particularly in modern Russia.

Dr. Kenworthy’s first book was The Heart of Russia: Trinity-Sergius, Monasticism and Society after 1825 (Oxford University Press, 2010), which won the 2010 Frank S. and Elizabeth D. Brewer Prize of the American Society of Church History. Currently, he is writing a biography of Tikhon Bellavin (1865–1925), who became patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution. He is also working on a book on the controversy on the Name of God in early 20th-century Russia and Mt. Athos.

Dr. Kenworthy was a Senior Fulbright Scholar in Romania, where he taught in the Faculties of Orthodox Theology at the University of Babes-Bolyai in Cluj-Napoca and the University of Bucharest. He has also had fellowships with the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Kennan Institute (Woodrow Wilson Center), the International Research and Exchanges Board, and the Social Science Research Council.

The free and public lecture will be held Tuesday, January 30, 2018, at 7 p.m. in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of The John G. Rangos Family Building. A public reception will follow.

Download a PDF of the flyer.
Download a PNG of the flyer.

In September, a new poll from NBC News and The Wall Street Journal reported that 7-in-10 Americans viewed race relations in the United States as “poor.” The poll revealed that 28% of the public, including 24% of white and 40% of black Americans, stated that race relations are “very bad,” with another 42 percent of all respondents calling them "fairly bad.”

Heartbreaking news.

But here at St. Vladimir’s a new student interest group is addressing the problem: the St. Moses the Black Society endeavors to foster meaningful conversation on race in the Orthodox Church today and to introduce the Orthodox Christian faith to black communities in America. The society, which began to take shape Spring Semester 2017, now officially takes its place alongside four other student-led interest groups, all under the umbrella of our Student Council.

The president of the newly organized society is Anthony Davis, a seminarian in the Orthodox Church in America, Diocese of the South, and the faculty advisor is Professor Peter C. Bouteneff. Comprising the society are 10 students, among them three African-American seminarians and three African seminarians.

Seminarian Davis revealed upcoming plans for the budding society.

“First of all,” he said, “I led our initial meeting focused around the scriptural verse, Matthew 28:18–20, in which Jesus directs his disciples to go forth to all other nations, baptizing them and teaching them. I reminded society members that we are supposed to reach out not only to people who look like ourselves; we’re supposed to reach out to everyone.

“Second, we’re going to build our ministry on prayer, especially prayer to some of the African saints,” he noted. “We hope to schedule Akathist services to ask intercession of holy fathers and mothers like St. Moses the Black and St. Mary of Egypt.

“Third,” he explained, “we hope to minister in facilities like Emmaus House of Harlem, rubbing shoulders with people from black communities, and introducing them to the Orthodox faith.”

The society takes its inspiration from the Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black, a national pan-Orthodox organization that desires to make the Orthodox faith available to the African American community and to help the broader Church in realizing this goal. In fact, several members of the St. Moses Society participated in the Brotherhood’s 24th Annual Conference held October 6–8, 2017, in Princeton, NJ, which was titled, “Growing Closer to Christ, Growing Closer Together,”. Seminary Board of Trustee member, Carla Ann Newbern Thomas, M.D., spearheaded and organized that national conference, and seminary president, Fr. Chad Hatfield, led the seminary community contingent. (Read related story, which includes photo of St. Vladimir’s attendees.)

View videos of St. Moses the Black Society members Seminarian Sacristan Anthony Davis and Seminarian Deacon Simon Menya, as they explain how important the daily liturgical life in Three Hierarchs Chapel is to their spiritual formation.

“We’re ‘mission minded’ here at St. Vladimir’s,” says Archpriest Chad Hatfield, seminary president, “and that becomes most evident during each annual “Missions Weekend” held on our campus.

“This year, visiting speakers Metropolitan Ambrosios of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea and Nathan Hoppe of Albania presented riveting accounts about their respective mission fields,” he noted.

“Additionally, SVS Press has just launched its Orthodoxy & Missions series, with the newly released title Into All the World: An Orthodox Theology of Mission, by Fr. Edward Rommen,” he continued, “and, as series editor, I look forward to several exciting volumes to follow.” (Order the book here.)

Missions Weekend was sponsored by a student-led interest group at St. Vladimir’s, the “St. Innocent Society,” under the umbrella of the Student Council. The president of the society is 3rd-year Seminarian Dn. Christopher Moore, and Fr. Chad is the faculty sponsor. Both are experienced as missionaries: Dn. Christopher and his wife Jennifer were formerly missionaries in Mongolia, and Fr. Chad and his family served as missionaries in South Africa during the period of apartheid. Missions Weekend is also made possible by the Missions Institute of Orthodox Christianity at Hellenic College Holy Cross; Fr. Chad serves on the Board of that institute.

"Missions Weekend 2017 went extremely well!,” remarked Dn. Christopher. “It was a joy reconnecting with His Eminence Metropolitan Ambrosios, whom my family had spent time with and learned from while living in Seoul for three weeks, back in January 2015.

“His Eminence's lecture on mission was fascinating,” he said, “and it highlighted a mission methodology contained in 16 articles drawn from the life and writings of St John Chrysostom, thus providing patristic foundations for our continued Orthodox missionary call. (Listen to the podcast in the “Voices from St. Vladimir’s” series of Ancient Faith Ministries.)

“Moreover, Nathan Hoppe, a friend and fellow OCMC missionary,” he explained, “helped us get practical with the missionary call that Metropolitan Ambrosios put forward by asking: ‘What next? How are we individually and communally going to properly respond to the inherent call that all Christians receive from Christ at their baptism to "Go forth and make disciples of all nations”?’”

“The combination of lectures gave us food for reflection and action,” he concluded, “and I think the St. Innocent Society will have much to dialogue about in response to these talks, so I thank our esteemed and experienced lecturers and all others who made Missions Weekend 2017 a success!"

Read about upcoming activities planned by the St. Innocent Society