Dr. Gythiel's faith, historical training, and familiarity with 13 languages made him uniquely suited for the difficult work of translating theological-historical works about Eastern Christianity. Fourteen of his translated books were published since 1985. Some of his well-known SVS Press translations have included: Dragon's Wine and Angel's Bread, by Gabriel Bunge; Despondency: The Spiritual Teaching of Evagrius Ponticus on Acedia, by Gabriel Bunge; Woman and the Salvation of the World: A Christian Anthropology on the Charisms of Women, by Paul Evdokimov; and Theology of the Icon, by Leonid Ouspensky
Services were held Monday, May 19th at St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral, Wichita, KS, followed by a graveside interment at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Preston, KS, on Tuesday, May 20th. Editor-in-Chief of SVS Press, The Rev. Dr. Benedict Churchill, attended the funeral on behalf of St. Vladimir's Seminary.
The seminary community expresses its deepest sympathy’s to Dr. Gythiel’s wife, Dana. Memory Eternal.
“Love comes first in our church life, and foremost—love for Christ,” said the newly installed bishop in his remarks. His Grace received his Masters of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir’s over twenty years ago, submitting his thesis on “The Formation of the Canon of Scripture.”
Chancellor/CEO The Very Dr. Chad Hatfield, who attended the celebratory banquet for His Grace, noted, “I was deeply impressed with Bishop Mark's banquet remarks, which revealed his clear understanding of the missiological challenge that lies ahead for his diocese. He spoke well of his SVOTS formation, recalling words from both Fr. John Meyendorff and Fr. Alexander Schmemann. I look forward to working with him as he takes up his archpastoral role in Eastern Pennsylvania.”
From the end of April to mid-May, seminary faculty member The Very Rev. Alexander Rentel participated in three different events regarding Canon Law, in his capacities as assistant professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and as secretary of the Statute Revision Task Force of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). His work at the three events exhibited the range of his expertise and experience—from academic support to careful consideration of the pastoral application of the canonical tradition.
From April 22–25, he met with the Statute Revision Task Force at the Dormition of the Mother of God Orthodox Monastery, Rives Junction, Michigan, under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Nathanael of the Romanian Episcopate, OCA. At their Spring 2013 meeting, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the OCA had charged the Task Force with a revision of the OCA Statute, and the Task Force had met once before, in Phoenix, Arizona, to initiate that work. At this more recent meeting, the Task Force continued the painstaking work of reviewing and revising the current statute.
Father Alexander remarked, “Such work poses enormous challenges, not the least of which is how to articulate canonical concepts in statutory language. For example, how do you define a parish in a way that satisfies the Church’s understanding and legal expectations?”
Then, on May 6, Fr. Alexander traveled to Sweden to participate in a final dissertation seminar at the Center for Theology and Religious Studies, Lund University, which centered upon a thesis by Ph.D. candidate David Heith-Stadte, “The Rudder of the Church: An Eighteenth Century Greek Orthodox Theology of Canon Law.” Father Alexander served as an outside reader and examiner for the dissertation, which considered the great canonical compilation of St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite, The Pedalion, or, The Rudder. The two-hour long seminar was convened by Mr. Heith-Stadte’s advisor, Prof. Stephen Borgehammar, and it included other students and recent graduates from the Center.
“David has already done wonderful work,” said Fr. Alexander, “in placing the compilation of The Rudder in its contemporary context, which has enabled him to uncover and explain the theological presuppositions of St. Nikodemos.”
“Mr. Heith-Stadte’s next step will be to revise his dissertation further, publish it in a limited edition, and then make a public defense, where those who acquire a copy of his published text can also attend and ask questions,” explained Fr. Alexander.
Organized by the Volos Academy for Theological Studies, and under the leadership of Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzides, director of the Academy, together with the staff of the Academy, the conference dealt with a number of canonical issues in the modern world, including the interpretation and application of the canons. His Eminence, The Most Reverend John (Zizioulas), Metropolitan of Pergamon, opened the conference and conveyed the greetings of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. His Eminence, The Most Reverend Ignatius, Metropolitan of Volos and Dimitriades, in whose diocese the conference was held, attended most of the sessions and frequently contributed to the lively comments after presentations.
The conference also was notable for its international participation of canonists and scholars. Among the leading modern scholars were Dr. Spyridon Troianos, The Rev. Grigorios Papathomas, Dr. Theodore Yangou, Dr. Vlassios Pheidas, and Dr. Ioannis Konidaris.
After years of hard work, the Arvo Pärt Project at St. Vladimir's Seminary—headed by Associate Professor of Systematic Theology Dr. Peter Bouteneff and Assistant Professor of Liturgical Music Dr. Nicholas Reeves—is making a big splash both in major media, and on campus. In anticipation of the events taking place in late May and early June, in Carnegie Hall and other venues, articles about the concerts have appeared online in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. In addition, the Times will be publishing a print article in its Arts & Entertainment section on Sunday May 18, 2014.
The series of concerts and panel discussions focused on Pärt's work is bringing the composer himself to New York for the first time since 1984. To increase awareness of the Project and prepare the seminary community for the upcoming concerts, Dr. Bouteneff and Dr. Reeves hosted a campus presentation on May 4 which focused on the connection between Maestro Pärt's music and his faith.
The evening opened with a performance of Arvo Pärt's hymn Bogoroditce Djevo (Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos), performed by the St. Vladimir's Seminary Chorale. Dr. Reeves then presented the history of the Arvo Pärt Project, expressing his enthusiasm at the success of the collaboration between the composer and St. Vladimir's, which among other things has shed new light on the spiritual sources of Pärt's work.
An exploration of the universally-felt spiritual force of Pärt's music and its roots in his Orthodox Christian faith followed. Dr. Bouteneff illustrated the "two voices" (melody and triad, suffering and consolation) of Pärt's "tintinnabuli" compositional method, as Dr. Reeves played Für Alina, Pärt's first piece using this original technique. Assistant Professor of Music at Amherst College Dr. Jeffers Engelhardt then offered a thought-provoking meditation on whether the "tintinnabuli" method is transferrable, or if it is inseparable from, and necessarily tied to, his personal religious and ethical practice.
Among the other speakers were ECM Records representatives Sarah Humphries and Tina Pelikan, who spoke on the long relationship of Arvo Pärt with ECM records and their excitement about the project. Finally, St. Vladimir's Trustee Anne Glynn Mackoul announced that thanks to generous gifts, the Board of Trustees would be able to make it possible for all seminarians and their spouses to attend the May 31st Carnegie Hall concert.
Gabrielle Kushlan is a second-year M.A. student. Intrigued by the collaboration between St. Vladimir's and the mythic Estonian composer, she attended Dr. Bouteneff's public course "The Music and Faith of Arvo Pärt" in Spring 2013, and is looking forward to the upcoming concert series.
Interested in supporting the Project?
The Arvo Pärt Project will continue its work after this season's concerts. There are publications, lectures, and conferences planned, and we value your prayers and your financial support. If you have any questions about how and why to donate, please contact Dr. Reeves and Dr. Bouteneff, at: info@arvopartproject.com.
Dr. Peter Bouteneff, associate professor of Systematic Theology, served as a panelist in a discussion which followed the musical portion of the event, which was sold out for weeks prior to the concert. "This evening revealed something miraculous," noted Dr. Bouteneff. "The church-musical traditions of the Greek and the Slavic worlds, though vastly different in how they actually sound, bring you to the exact same place. When the music of either tradition is sung beautifully and reverently, with attention to the text—as it was this evening—our spirit is brought directly to the praise and thanksgiving to God, in his Son and Spirit."
The panel discussion following the concert focused on the spiritual, devotional, and musical dimensions of Orthodox Christian liturgical music, and how it serves as a vehicle for formation and praxis. Noted Director Robin Freeman, "In an insightful comment, Orthodox priest and panelist Fr. John McGuckin said his reaction on hearing the music was primarily 'liturgical'. Although we were performing in a concert setting, Fr. John could not help but anticipate the priest's prayers and liturgical actions while he listened to the music. This highlights the critical link between Orthodox music and liturgy—you can't separate Orthodox music from the prayers and actions of the Liturgy itself."
She continued, "St. Simeon's Prayer, for example, may evoke many things for the Orthodox worshipper: the Vespers service in which it is sung, the Trisagion Prayers that come next, or perhaps simply the end of the day and the darkening of the sky. For us, these songs are not just music, they are part of the rhythms of our daily prayers and spiritual lives."
Concert-goers who were unable to obtain tickets for the event were invited to a free "dress rehearsal performance" on Tuesday, April 29, hosted by St. Vladimir's neighbor, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle. Holy Trinity and it's rector, The Very Rev. Nicholas Anctil, enjoy a close relationship with St. Vladimir's; the Axion Estin Foundation, which exists to increase the knowledge and use of quality Byzantine Music in the United States, is headquartered at Holy Trinity.
In fall 2012 St. Vladimir's Seminary began requiring all incoming Master of Divinity students to complete one full unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), as a means to strengthen their pastoral abilities. Students who have successfully completed their CPE training from the spring 2014 forward and have demonstrated need, may apply for the funding.
"I am delighted to be part of the team that supports and encourages students in their CPE pastoral formation," said Dr. Gerich.
CPE training focuses on active listening, reflection, and reevaluation in pastoral care settings. SVOTS seminarians are required to complete 400 hours of hospital visitation and related self-reflection under a certified supervisor, and besides earning one full CPE unit from an accredited CPE program for their work, they may simultaneously earn six academic credits towards their Master of Divinity degree.
"Twelve students are set to complete their CPE unit in 2014," said the Seminary's Director of Field Education, Dr. Albert S. Rossi.
"And, seminarian placements for this summer will include a really diverse mix of institutional cultures," he continued. "We'll have seminarians training at New York Presbyterian Hospital in White Plains, NY; Beth Israel Hospital in New York City; Wartburg Adult Care Community in Mount Vernon, NY; and two out-of-state placements in New Jersey and Washington State."
"Because of our students' superb training in New York metro chaplaincy settings, we are becoming known as a seminary that offers a CPE credential with integrity, among CPE supervisors nationwide," Dr. Rossi concluded.
Read about the CPE experience of alumnus Fr. Adrian Budica, who currently serves as a chaplain and ACPE Supervisory Candidate at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, a member of the Mount Sinai Health System, NYC, in this year's Annual Report.
The Very Rev. Eric G. Tosi is the Secretary of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Before going to seminary he served as an officer in the U.S. Army. He has been a parish priest in Billings, Montana and Las Vegas, Nevada, and is the former Chair of the Department of Evangelization of the OCA. He is completing his doctoral thesis for a Doctor of Ministry on Evangelism in the Orthodox Church, at Trinity College, University of Toronto, and currently manages the OCA's Parish Mentorship Program at St. Vladimir's Seminary. We asked him to update us about this program, and the role it plays in a seminarian's preparation for ministry.
Fr. Eric, from your perspective as an experienced parish priest, an educator, and a church administrator, what are the chief goals of an Orthodox theological education?
Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko wrote in his article "Theological Education and Modernity" that the task of Orthodox theological education is twofold: "to affirm and explain the Orthodox Christian faith, and to assist believers in applying and practicing the faith in their daily lives." The formal education at St. Vladimir's seeks to impart the first task through its rigorous theological education program.
The second task is always a bit of challenge. So many of our students come with such a variety of experiences from such diverse backgrounds, that the task of applying the faith takes on unique challenges. It is through, in part, the Parish Mentorship Program that such challenges are approached.
How has the Parish Mentorship Program developed in the last few years?
This program has always sought, with hierarchical input, to place seniors into local parishes with experienced clergy. Clergy then serve as mentors in the practical pastoral aspects of parish life and ministry. In some instances, the relationships have been very strong, establishing lifelong bonds between the graduating seminarian and the mentor.
A new cooperative effort was established last year between the Chancery and St. Vladimir's Seminary. This level of cooperation has helped graduating students develop a relationship with the Chancery as well as with their mentor priests, and we hope this will also endure throughout their time of ministry.
Have there been any other changes?
We added a monthly reflective class, in which assignments honed the students' skills in understanding parish dynamics, theological reflections on ministry, and understanding practical applications of ministry. We've encouraged seminarians to reflect on the work of a priest, and to discuss the ministry issues that arise. Classes often became a sounding board for their experiences of the preceding month. The readings augment and integrate their experience.
We've also been emphasizing the pastoral and reflective approach. The students are required to complete 100 hours of contact time over two semesters, including participation in the liturgical life of the parish, preparing and preaching three sermons each semester, teaching youth, teen and adult classes, attending a parish council meeting and the annual meeting, and doing two pastoral visitations each semester at nursing homes, hospitals, or homes. All of these were done under the supervision and guidance of the mentor priest.
Which parishes have participated this year?
The OCA Parish Mentorship Program is grateful to the people and pastors of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Jersey City, NJ, Christ the Savior Church in Paramus, NJ, Christ the Savior Church in Southbury, CT, Holy Transfiguration Church in New Haven, CT, and Holy Trinity Church in Yonkers, NY for their participation in this year's Mentorship program. The students have received invaluable life lessons that will always be a part of their ministry.
~Dn. Alessandro Margheritino
"I feel incredibly blessed to have been mentored by Fr. Joseph Lickwar, a priest with an amazing amount of experience, and patience to match. I also greatly enjoyed our Friday meetings and comparing experiences with the other seminarians. It allowed all of us to get a look inside other parishes—in some cases, vastly different than our own assignments—and gave us the benefit of seeing different parts of the veritable cornucopia of parishes that is the OCA."
~Fr. Nicholas Roth
"Fr. Vladimir's mentoring was vital to my future as a hospital chaplain as he was able to share his pastoral care experience and his knowledge of resources in the greater community."
~Beryl Knudsen
"I think Beryl's experience this year is best summed up in a letter I received on April 18, 2014. I do not know the man; he stopped when Beryl and I were in the office. He wrote: 'Last Autumn upon returning from Southbury, I stopped by the church for the purpose of offering a simple prayer in memory of my late wife Judith. You and your assistant (Beryl) received me with much kindness, sympathy and caring, during a time that I felt very heartbroken. I wish to thank you both.'"
~Fr. Vladimir Aleandro
"I enjoyed the monthly discussions led by Fr. Eric, where we had the opportunity to discuss real and concrete pastoral issues."
~Dn. Kyle Parrott
"I believe that our parish has benefited more than the student (seminarian Joshua Schooping), especially when the student has a family and they have participated along with the intern in the worship, educational opportunities, and parish activities."
St. Vladimir's Seminary is now accepting applications from priests, chaplains, and other professionals in ministry who want to earn an accredited Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree, through a new hybrid program that combines online coursework with on-campus intensive training. In the coming months the seminary administration will begin reviewing applications to admit 15 students into the first cohort of the new program, set to commence fall semester 2014. There also will be an on-campus orientation this summer.
The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) approved the hybrid D.Min. program in fall 2012, and more recently, on March 21, 2014, the State of New York's Office of College and University Evaluation also granted its approval. Additionally, The Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies, a fund set up by The Rev. Protodeacon Peter M. Danilchick and his wife, Tanya, will help support qualified D.Min. students with their tuition, through need-based scholarships.
The Very Rev. Dr. J. Sergius Halvorsen, assistant professor of Homiletics and Rhetoric at St. Vladimir's and the program's director, observed, "Receiving authorization for the D.Min. from New York State is a great accomplishment for everyone at St. Vladimir's Seminary, and I'm extremely happy to complete this stage of initial planning and authorization. Now our world class D.Min. faculty can begin the essential work of strengthening the ministry of priests, chaplains, and others involved in institutional and professional ministry."
A project that combines research at the doctoral level with the intentional application of pastoral theory in pastoral ministry will comprise the final phase of the program.
"Pastors today face immense challenges," emphasized Fr. Sergius. "The depth and intensity of suffering and spiritual darkness in the lives of the people Facing such serious challenges, there has never been a greater need for excellence in pastoral ministry."
Program applicants must have at least three years experience in ministry subsequent to their first theological degree; be currently serving in a position of ministry; and be capable of doing doctoral level academic work.
St Vladimir’s Seminary Press is pleased to announce an agreement with Seraphim Six Productions to begin offering downloadable off-prints of its music publications, previously available only in hard-copy bound books. Immediately available is PASCHA: The Resurrection of Christ. The press is looking forward to making additional volumes available soon, including the Ledkovsky GREAT VESPERS and The Feast of the NATIVITY of Christ. Customers will be able to purchase and download individual titles within each volume licensed to their parish, without the necessity of purchasing an entire book.
Fr. Benedict Churchill, Editor in Chief of SVS Press, said, “We at St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press are delighted that, thanks to today’s technology and the cooperation of Seraphim Six Productions, we are able once again to offer some of our historical and seminal music publications, and to make it possible for all to acquire, at a reasonable price, legal, clean, high-resolution prints instead of unauthorized photocopies of photocopies of photocopies. We believe that our model of making available individual compositions will be welcome, since it is no longer necessary to buy the whole book in order to have the particular pieces you or your choir may want. We hope that this partnership will be of value to Orthodox church musicians in their ministry and their mission.“
Seraphim Six began offering downloadable Orthodox liturgical sheet music on their website in November 2011. Last fall the website was revamped to enable additional publishers to begin offering their titles. PSALM Music Press was the first publisher to begin licensing downloads of their titles through the Seraphim Six website in November 2013. “This web-based sales model affords Orthodox church musicians the opportunity of purchasing excellent editions of sheet music and having it immediately available for download and use,” said Alice Hughes, partner in Seraphim Six. “We are working to make quality liturgical music more readily available for parishes and missions across the country. This agreement with SVS Press expands our current offerings, making these out-of-print titles once again available to a new generation of liturgical musicians.”
Please visit the press's website www.svspress.com for additional ordering information.
Seminary administrators, alumni hierarchs and clergy, and seminarians gathered at the St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY, last week to participate in funeral services for St. Vladimir's Seminary's Board of Trustees Vice President and Vice Chairman, His Eminence The Most Reverend Philip (Saliba), archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. A 1965 graduate of the seminary, Metropolitan Philip reposed in the Lord on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 after a brief illness, at age 82.
On Wednesday, March 26, our seminary Dean, The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, and Chancellor/CEO, The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, presided at a panikhida (memorial service), with the seminary's male Octet singing responses. Both Frs. John and Chad spoke of their memories of Sayidna Philip and expressed their sorrow at his repose.
On Friday, March 28, His Beatitude The Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and President and Chairman of St. Vladimir's Board of Trustees, presided at another panikhida, attended by area OCA clergy, many of whom joined with seminarians and other alumni to sing responses. In his remarks at the conclusion of the service, His Beatitude said: "The Church here in North America has lost an outstanding pastor and inspired visionary who made evangelization and Christian witness the cornerstone of his episcopal ministry."
Services for Metropolitan Philip continued through the weekend, concluding with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday. Former Board of Trustees Executive Chair Anne Glynn Mackoul (for whom Metropolitan Philip served as a friend and mentor), joined Fr. Chad and SVS Press Marketing and Operations Manager The Rev. Dn. Gregory Hatrak, in representing the Seminary. In the afternoon, his body was taken to the St. Ignatius Church at Antiochian Village in Ligonier, PA, where vigil with Gospel readings and periodic Trisagion Prayers was kept until interment at the Village on Monday, March 31.
His Eminence was a beloved leader among the 8 bishops, 167 alumni clergy, and more than 300 alumni total who serve in the Antiochian Archdiocese in North America and throughout the world. Memory Eternal!
