Seminary alumnus Pdn. Keith Russin reposed in the Lord on Thursday, October 26, 2017. Protodeacon Keith attended St. Vladimir’s Seminary from 1968 to 1971, and graduated with the Master of Divinity degree. He was assigned to Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Orthodox Church in America) for many years, and he retired from serving only a few years ago. He also owned and operated the Simon S. Russin Funeral Home in Plains, PA. He was attached in retirement to the Monastery Church of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk, South Canaan, PA.
Protodeacon Keith’s M.Div. thesis at St. Vladimir’s was a study on Father Alexis Toth, now canonized, and he published an article based on his thesis titled, "Father Alexis G. Toth and the Wilkes-Barre Litigations" in St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly (vol. 16, no. 3 [1972]: 128–149). He used to humorously say that his thesis and article “made the case” for Father Alexis to be recognized as a saint.
He also enjoyed a career as a librarian in Connecticut before taking over his family's funeral home business. Additionally, Pdn. Keith wrote a "Guide of the Holy Resurrection Cathedral" which details the architecture and history of the parish and is available in the seminary library: (https://svots.waldo.kohalibrary.com/app/work/54955).
Protodeacon Keith is the cousin of Harrison Russin, a Dean’s Fellow and Lecturer in Liturgical Music at the Seminary.
Memory Eternal!
The Funeral Service will be celebrated at Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre, PA at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the cathedral at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 2. Interment will follow at Fern Knoll Burial Park, Dallas, PA.
Our alumnus, the Very Reverend George Rados, pastor emeritus of Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Potomac, MD, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday evening, October 15, 2017. Father George was a member of the graduating Class of 1961.
Counted among Father George’s accomplishments during his long tenure at Ss. Peter and Paul was the creation of a temple that is architecturally and artistically inspiring. In 2011 the Potomac Patch published an article about the luminous iconography created by Leonidas Diamantopoulos, for which Fr. George had arranged, and about the decade-long architectural endeavor that Fr. George had completed during his time as rector. (Read “A Potomac Priest’s Labor of Love.) In that same article, Fr. George was quoted as saying, “I always wanted to be in a profession that helped people—certain intimacy with priesthood and people. Absolutely fulfilling.”
For his work as a loving pastor and insightful overseer of Christ’s flock, our seminary community is grateful, and we commend our Father in Christ to the Almighty God, as we mourn the loss of his presence from our midst.
His funeral will be held at Ss. Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church, 10620 River Road, in Potomac Maryland, on Monday and Tuesday, October 23–24. His Grace Bishop ALEXANDER will preside.
The schedule of services is as follows:
Monday, October 23
1:00pm – 6:00pm Wake
7:00pm The Funeral Service (for a Priest)
Tuesday, October 24
10:00am Divine Liturgy, Followed by the Funeral Service
Seven members of our seminary community, including President Archpriest Chad Hatfield and Trustee Carla Ann Newbern Thomas, M.D., recently participated in the 24th Annual Ancient Christianity Conference of the Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black, a Pan-Orthodox organization which endeavors to make the Orthodox faith available to the African American community. The theme of the conference, which was held October 6–8, 2017, in the Mother of God Joy of All Who Sorrow Orthodox Church, Princeton, NJ, was “Closer to Christ, Closer to Each Other.”
His Eminence the Most Reverend Michael, archbishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, Orthodox Church in America, gave the keynote at the gathering, which attracted more than 100 participants. His Grace the Right Reverend Thomas, bishop of the Diocese of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of America, was among the other speakers. (See the Brotherhood’s website for a detailed schedule of the conference.)
Four of our seminarians sat on the “Young Orthodox Preacher’s Panel”: 2nd-year students Anthony Davis and Dn. Simon Menya, and 1st-year students Loveday Okafor and Fr. Chrysostom Onyekakeyah. Father Chad gave a presentation on the newly established St. Cyprian of Carthage fund, which supports African students at St. Vladimir’s, as well as news about the budding relationship between the Seminary and the Patriarch of Alexandria. Dr. Thompson was the organizer and coordinator of the conference. Additionally, Bettye Malone, a long-time member of Three Hierarchs Chapel on the seminary campus, attended the gathering.
Several videos of the lectures given at the conference may be found on the Facebook page of the Brotherhood of St Moses the Black.
Khouria will both meet with our campus women’s group, the St. Juliana Society, in a private group setting, and speak to the broader seminary community in an open presentation Sunday evening, October 15, 6 p.m., on the topic: "Orthodox Christian Aesthetics: Facets and Features.” We also welcome those outside the seminary community who have an interest in liturgical vesture and aesthetics to attend the open informal campus talk.
Hundreds of friends and alumni attended our annual open house, Orthodox Education Day, which this year had the timely theme, “Modern Martyrs: Christians of the Middle East and North Africa.” Explicating the theme in an informative keynote address was the Reverend Dr. George Parsenios, associate professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary, and sessional professor of New Testament at St. Vladimir’s.
In his presentation titled, “Dying, and Behold, We Live: Martyrdom in the New Testament,” Fr. George focused on texts of St. Paul and the Gospel of St. John that connect suffering to being in Christ. Father George emphasized how the actions of both ancient and modern martyrs continue to teach us that “the meaning of life is death,” and that living the Resurrection requires carrying the Cross. He gave his presentation in front of an impressive and emotionally evocative photo wall that displayed images of newly martyred Christians in the Middle East and North Africa.
“It’s a great tragedy in contemporary Christianity,” Fr. George noted, “that so many people are taken away by the prosperity gospel in which they’re promised that God wants to put you in a mansion and make you happy and make you never suffer anything.
“It’s a great tragedy because when life brings its inevitable suffering, that faith falls apart,” he observed. “That faith can’t sustain you in the depths of life’s difficulties.
“But our faith begins in the pit of hell, when Christ descended into Hades and brings up all the dead,” he continued. “That’s where our faith begins, and when our faith begins there—when your faith begins in the pit of hell—you understand that the Light shines in the darkness, and so when the darkness comes, we know where the Light is. Only by understanding this, can we begin to contemplate that the meaning of life is death."
Several other activities connected to the day's theme included: two workshops, one led by seminary alumnus Father Abraham Wassef, speaking about recent slayings of Christians in North Africa and the resulting effects on Coptic parishes in North America, and another led by the nuns from All Saints Monastery, talking about their healing ministry for victims of human trafficking; a book signing by Dr. Christine Chaillot of her latest work, The Dialogue between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches; a kid-friendly activity area led by Matushka Jenny Mosher, and teen talks and activities led by Fr. John Hopko; and liturgical services with special prayers for contemporary martyrs.
A select mixed choir led by Robin Freeman, who is the Director of Music at the Seminary, will be performing pieces taken from a forthcoming SVS Press CD titled, “Every Day Will I Bless Thee,” as well as some traditional hymns.
Last fall on November 29, 2016, people from around the world gave generously to St. Vladimir's Seminary’s #GivingTuesday campaign—$127,800! (#GivingTuesday follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and its annual place on the calendar reminds people globally to give to non-profits and charitable causes.) Our school in turn gave 10% of what it received to IEIRA, an online university in Guatemala that gives hope and a future to Orthodox youth from Hogar Rafael Ayau and San Miguel de Lago orphanages.
This year, our seminary will once again participate in #GivingTuesday, scheduled for Tuesday, November 28, and once again, it will be tithing 10% of the total funds raised to our select non-profit partner for 2017: Pro Vita Association for the Born and Unborn in Romania, an organization that provides healthcare and education to family members in need. Pro Vita encourages the well being of family units being torn apart by economic stress, and often prevents the heartbreaking decision by a desperate mother to abort her unborn child.
“We can impact an incredible number of people if we give to St. Vladimir’s Seminary on #GivingTuesday, November 28,” said Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of the seminary. “If we can raise $100,000 on #GivingTuesday, our alms will not only help seminarians in here in New York but also families in Romania.”
“Also, although we build up to a fever pitch on the actual day of #GivingTuesday, folks can give beforehand (here) if it’s more convenient for them, and we’ll simply count those funds in our final total,” Fr. Chad remarked. “In fact, I want to thank Holy Ghost Russian Orthodox Church in Bridgeport, CT, as the first parish to give to #GivingTuesday 2017, with their give of $1,000.
“As we launch our campaign,” he continued, “I’d like to encourage other parishes and individuals to join in the spirit and raise funds for our seminary operations and student services. A multitude of resources may be found on our website’s #GivingTuesday 2017 Toolkit.
“Thanks to all our friends and alumni in advance, and let the fun and spirit of giving reign!,” he concluded.
(Parish groups, teen groups, alumni, and friends may find especially helpful sections on pages 3–6 of our #GivingTuesday 2017 Toolkit, entitled, “Be a Star!,” “Parish Bulletin Blurbs,” “Rally Your Troops!” and “Serve Coffee.”)
Our entire seminary community mourns the falling asleep yesterday, October 2, 2017, of His Grace Antoun, retired bishop of the Diocese of Miami and the Southeast of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA). His Grace was a member of the graduating Class of 1962 of St. Vladimir's Seminary, when the seminary campus was in New York City.
This evening, immediately following Daily Vespers in Three Hierarchs Chapel, seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield will lead the community in the Trisagion prayers for the repose of the newly departed Father in Christ, and the seminary Byzantine Choir will sing the responses.
From September 21–24, 2017, Orthodox Vision Foundation (OVF) sponsored an Advanced Leadership Initiative Conference entitled, “For the Life of the World” at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. It has been called by many of the pre-selected 65 attendees “historic” and “groundbreaking.” They were welcomed to the program by Co-Trustee of OVF Charles Ajalat, and Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. The goals of the Conference were: to build advanced leadership skills and deeper faith and bonding among the attendees, to improve Orthodox ministries, to mentor younger Orthodox, and to help those who, one day in their life, might want to transition from the profit to the non-profit world. In a two-hour reflection session, the attendees unanimously expressed that they were excited, joyous, and inspired by what they experienced at the Conference.
Speakers at the Conference included committed Orthodox CEOs and current and former executives and professionals, including: the President of Chick-fil-A, Inc.; the CEO of Kinder Morgan (one of North America’s largest energy infrastructure companies); one of the top 10 business bloggers in the U.S. and former CEO of Thomas Nelson (the world’s largest Bible publisher); a former VP of Planning for Exxon Mobil Asia-Pacific; and great theologians, major philanthropists, and heads of Orthodox schools and colleges, including a former dean of the University of Minnesota Medical School, who had been part of a $1.2 billion capital campaign and who taught fundraising at the Conference. Corporate communications was taught by the recently retired head person in that area for Koch Industries. The CEOs of three major Orthodox charities presented their future goals, obstacles to achieving them, and planned solutions, for critique by attendees. There was also a talk on the role of the laity in the Church by a lay person experienced in that area, a talk on transitioning from the profit to the non-profit world by an expert in that area, and a talk by a bishop of the Church, who had headed an ecclesial external affairs office in Washington, D.C. Two bishops, an archbishop and a metropolitan, offered prayers and remarks.
Participants in the conference, who represented 27 cities, were as equally exciting as the speakers. Statistically, 90% were laity; one-third were female; 20% were 40 years old and under; and approximately 30% were from each of the three largest Orthodox jurisdictions, as well as ones from other jurisdictions. Among the outstanding participants were many philanthropists and executive directors of philanthropic organizations; a 29-year-old founder and CEO of an early detection cancer start-up (which has procured $65 million of equity investment and was one of Forbes's "30 under 30 in Healthcare"); key educators and church leaders; the "Bible Answer Man"; an executive of a major golf club manufacturer; CEOs of equity capital firms; book publishers; a manufacturing firm, real estate firm, and construction firm; media, marketing, and internet specialists; prominent lawyers from major firms; and prominent doctors, engineers, and consultants.
Attendees also viewed the screening of the Orthodox full-length professional film Becoming Truly Human and heard a brief introduction of the film—which is directed toward millennials and “nones"—from its director/star. (The film was released by the Antiochian Archdiocese and was made available September 6 to Amazon’s 66 million subscribers. It is also on iTunes, GooglePlay, Xbox, and Vudu. A second distribution company, who distributed Scorsese’s recent film, Silence, is also distributing Becoming Truly Human in many of its 1,000 venues.)
“The work of OVF supports primarily the Orthodox Church, particularly in feeding & equipping the homeless & poor, sharing the world-view of Orthodox Christianity, church governance, education & launching new ministries. Email: mailto:info@orthodoxvisionfoundation.org.”
NOTE: His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), made his first archpastoral visit to the Seminary upon the beginning of the new Academic Year on Sunday, September 24, and addressed the seminary community and OVF participants after presiding at the Divine Liturgy. Read more about His Beatitude's visit.
Mr. Forster said he had felt drawn to write about SVS Press ever since he had attended a Board of Trustees meeting on the seminary campus several years back, accompanied by the publisher of In Trust, Jay Blossom. He explained, “Although I was familiar with SVS Press because of its Popular Patristics series, I was not prepared for how much the press actually puts out into the world!”
In his article, Mr. Forster states, “The press meets an important need in the Orthodox community, and it has become the face of St. Vladimir’s Seminary to many outside Orthodoxy. [Read the full article online here.]
In fiscal year 2017 the press topped $1M in sales and published 20 new titles. Recently released this summer were 7 volumes:
Exodus: St John Maximovitch Leads His Flock out of Shanghai (Orthodox Profiles, Vol. 9), by John B. Dunlop: Translations of previously unpublished primary resources—letters, memoirs, interviews, and newspaper articles from key figures and eyewitnesses—record the journey of then Father John Maximovitch and his émigré flock from Shanghai, to the Philippines, and onward to the U.S.
Touch and the Healing of the World, by Dr. Daniel Hinshaw: A practicing physician and consultant in Palliative Care Medicine explores the simple yet profound healing power of touch, drawing on a wide range of sources: from icons, church fathers, and Scripture, to recent findings in modern medicine.
Churchianity vs. Christianity, by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom: One of the most prominent Orthodox voices of the modern world challenges readers to move beyond mere “Churchianity”—a word coined by C.S. Lewis—to a true and living faith, in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Christianity and the Roman Empire from Nero to Theodosius, by Paul Allard: The author presents details of the official persecution of Christians in the first four centuries of the early church, and poses a theory to explain its cause.
After God: Morality and Bioethics in a Secular Age, by H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr.: This volume provides a hopeful spark of light within what appears to be a dark prophetic vision—a light to which believers may turn, as church and society clash over cultural, religious, political, and social tenets.
The success of SVS Press this past year was in part due to a generous, unprecedented major gift that established an endowment for the press in January 2017. A percentage of the endowment’s proceeds now annually help the press expand its acquisitions by supporting editorial and marketing efforts. The press’s success, said Priest Ignatius Green, who is Production & Rights Manager and Editor at SVS Press, also continues to depend on smaller gifts, particularly subventions, which can propel either an individual volume or a series of volumes toward the light of day.
Currently, remarked Fr. Ignatius, SVS Press is welcoming subventions for the translation of a 6-volume set by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokalamsk, bearing the series title, “Jesus Christ: His Life and Teaching.” Also, noted Fr. Ignatius, the press has already published 4 of the 5 volumes of Metropolitan Hilarion’s previous 5-volume “Orthodox Christianity” series, and is now seeking a subvention for the fifth volume. The press will also be seeking subventions in the future for a new edition of the very popular volume by Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann, For the Life of the World, as well as a book titled, Monasticism in Egypt, and a book of meditations on the Holy Week services in the Orthodox Church. (Potential sponsors of subventions may contact Fr. Ignatius directly: ignatius@svots.edu or 914.961.8313 x317.)
Browse full descriptions of SVS Press’s most recent releases here.
