In his first visit to St. Vladimir's Seminary, episcopal Board of Trustees member His Eminence Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC), presided over Vespers in the Seminary's St. Thomas Chapel, a space dedicated to the Malankara Orthodox students on campus. Joined by area clergy, Metropolitan Mar Nicholovos was greeted by our Dean and Professor of Patristics The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, who participated in a meeting after the service with His Grace.
"We spoke about ways in which to ensure that the education and formation we provide to Malankara students is of the highest possible level," summarized Fr. John, "and of ways in which we can be of further service to the Malankara church. I look forward to seeing our relationship grow and flourish in the years to come."
The Catholicos of The East and Malankara Metropolitan His Holiness Baselius Mar Thoma Paulose II appointed Metropolitan Mar Nicholovos to his post following the retirement of His Grace Metropolitan Mathews Mar Barnabas, whose last visit to St. Vladmir's was in October of 2011. The Malankara Church has 90 parishes and congregations in North America. Its ancient, apostolic roots harken back to the churches established by the apostle Thomas, who preached the Gospel in the state of Kerala, India. Also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox communion of over 3 million faithful.
Choirs from two local theological schools representing Eastern and Western Christendom will jointly present an a cappella concert titled “Magnificat: Hymns to the Mother of God from the East and West” on Monday evening, November 25, 2013, 7:30 pm, at St. Jean Baptiste Church, 184 East 76th Street, New York City. The Male Choir from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, of the Orthodox Church in America, will join with a Schola from St. Joseph's Seminary (Dunwoodie) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, in praise of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, who holds a place of honor in both traditions.
Music selections from the Orthodox tradition for the concert will illustrate the Eastern Church’s feasts dedicated to the Theotokos (Greek for “Mother of God”), while music from the Roman Catholic tradition will include time-honored hymns of laudation to the Virgin Mary, taken from ancient chant and from the classical period up until modern times, such as O Sanctissima by Beethoven (1770–1827) and Ave Maria by Biebl (1906–2001).
College Education Day, in honor of former seminary Dean Father Alexander Schmemann, will take place Saturday, October 5, 2013 on our campus. The day will feature both The Rev. Christopher Foley (alumnus, '06), currently rector of Exaltation of Holy Cross Church, High Point, NC, and The Rev. Joel Weir, a graduate of St. Tikhon's Seminary and currently rector of St. Stephen the First Martyr Orthodox Church, Crawfordsville, IN.
Both priests will speak about their transformative spiritual encounters with Fr. Alexander's writings, among them his book, For the Life of the World, which they claim set them upon the path to Orthodox Christianity and deepened their faith in Jesus Christ. The book, translated into at least 12 languages, celebrates its 50th year of publication. The first edition was printed in 1963 by the National Student Christian Federation.
The day is being arranged by Pdn. Joseph Matusiak, director of Admissions and Alumni Relations at St. Vladimir's, who is issuing special invitations to several Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) chapters on college and university campuses across the United States. "In this unique year," said Pdn. Joseph, "our Events Committee decided to dedicate what normally is Orthodox Education Day to the spiritual growth of college and university students.
"Although because of the growing interest in College Education Day we find that we will not be able to accommodate the general public to our campus for this special event, we will be podcasting the two talks by Fr. Christopher and Fr. Joel, and we hope our usual 'Ed Day' patrons will listen in to these moving presentations and keep us in thought and prayer on that day."
For more information, contact Pdn. Joseph at 914.961.8313 x328, or jmatusiak@svots.edu
Note: This event for college students is replacing Orthodox Education Day this year!
Download a PDF of the "For the Life of the World" Conference here.
Downlod a JPG of the "For the Life of the World" Conference here.
Download a PDF flier of all Fall 2013 Events at SVOTS here.
Email a JPG flier of all Fall 2013 Events at SVOTS here.
The July issue of Wonder, a monthly publication of the Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministries of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), features contributions from four St. Vladimir's Seminary alumni authors. The articles, centered around the theme "A Vision of the OCA in the 21st Century," explore the identity and purpose of the Church as it ministers in the unique and challenging environment of the American continent. Alumni authors in the issue include The Very Rev. Michael Koblosh, SVOTS '68, "Orthodoxy Is Not Here By Accident"; The Very Rev. Eric Tosi, SVOTS '96,"Anna and the Church"; Dr. Peter Bouteneff, SVOTS '83 and associate professor of Systematic Theology, "Growing From Our Ethnic Roots"; and Mr. Andrew Boyd, SVOTS '12, "Just the Church."
"Taking inspiration from successful OCA youth magazines from previous decades, the editors of Wonder have a vision," explained Managing Editor and OCA Youth Director Andrew Boyd. "We seek to offer our youth and young adults thought–provoking content from a variety of original sources—professors, bishops, priests, lay–leaders, monastics, and other students. Through this means, we hope to encourage them to critically engage their faith rather than simply being passive bystanders."
The thirty–seven online issues have addressed a wide range of topics, from Christians in the workplace to reflections on the Divine Liturgy. Articles are aimed at stimulating discussion, and are also intended to be used as supportive material for those engaged in campus and young adult ministry. Some of the pieces are complemented by accompanying discussion questions, and are available as downloadable PDFs. To find out more about Wonder, contact Editor Dn. Jason Ketz (SVOTS '12) at wonder@oca.org.
The Very Rev. Dr. Michael Kovach, the last surviving member of the first graduating class of St. Vladimir's Seminary in 1943, fell asleep in the Lord on Friday morning, July 12, 2013, at Mount Joy Hospice and Community Care, Mount Joy, PA. He was 94 years old.
After his marriage to the former Olga A. Hubiak (+2011), he was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood, going on to serve the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America (Metropolia) for 27 years and the Orthodox Church of America for 42 years. He also spent 26 years on the faculty at Millersville University, having earned his Ph.D. in American History from the University of Pittsburgh. Most recently, he was attached to Christ the Saviour Church, Harrisburg, PA.
Father Michael was commissioned during WWII as a U.S. Army Military Chaplain, as the first Orthodox chaplain in the Army. In 2011, he was honored at the Seminary's annual campus open house, Orthodox Education Day, which that year celebrated the theme, "For God and Country." The day honored Orthodox Christian serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, especially military chaplains.
Services for Fr. Michael will be as follows:
Sunday, July 14, visitation at Christ the Saviour Church, Harrisburg, PA, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., at which time the Funeral Service for a Priest will be celebrated
Monday, July 15, visitation will resume at 8:00 a.m., followed by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m., followed by interment at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery Cemetery, South Canaan, PA.
In lieu of flowers, contributions for the establishment of a religious education fund may be sent to Christ The Saviour Church, 5501 Locust Lane, Harrisburg, PA 17109. More information may be found on the Website of the Orthodox Church in America.
St. Vladimir's Seminary Assistant Professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies and The John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology Fr. Alexander Rentel, has recorded his "Travelogue and Final Reflections" featuring the recent SVOTS trip to Turkey, Greece, and Mt. Athos. Accompanied by the Orthodox Church in America's Diocese of the South Chancellor The Very Rev. Marcus Burch, Dean and Professor of Patristics The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, and Rufus Behr, Fr. Alexander and eleven students spent over two weeks on a pilgrimage and study tour in the historic heart of Byzantine Christianity.
Writes Fr. Alexander, "This trip afforded us the opportunity to visit the great centers of Hellenic Orthodoxy: Constantinople, Thessalonika, Mt. Athos, and Athens. All along the way we enjoyed warm hospitality, an opportunity for pilgrimage, the fellowship of each other, and the enormous fun of sightseeing and travel. Students were able to take part in this trip at a low monetary cost due to the generous benefactions of two anonymous donors who are great friends of the Ecumenical Patriarch and wished to help make possible this trip. Needless to say, the Seminary—and all of us who went on this trip—thank these two donors for their generosity.
"When Fr. John and I first conceived of this trip, we had in mind the importance that travel had in our formation. As is well known, travel broadens horizons and allows for the appreciation of different perspectives, and is an essential part of any formation....we wanted to give our students similar opportunities..." Read the rest of Fr. Alexander's "Travelogue and Final Reflections."
accompanied by SVOTS alumnus and Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America's Diocese of the South The Very Rev. Marcus Burch, SVOTS Dean and Professor of Patristics The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr and his son Rufus, - See more at: http://www.svots.edu/content/diary-pilgrimage-constantinople-and-mt-athos#sthash.pAr2I95F.dpuf
This trip afforded us the opportunity to visit the great centers of Hellenic Orthodoxy: Constantinople, Thessalonika, Mt. Athos, and Athens. All along the way we enjoyed warm hospitality, an opportunity for pilgrimage, the fellowship of each other, and the enormous fun of sightseeing and travel. Students were able to take part in this trip at a low monetary cost due to the generous benefactions of two anonymous donors who are great friends of the Ecumenical Patriarch and wished to help make possible this trip. - See more at: https://www.svots.edu/voices/faculty/travelogue-and-final-reflections#sthash.r8ySQ9L7.dpuf
This trip afforded us the opportunity to visit the great centers of Hellenic Orthodoxy: Constantinople, Thessalonika, Mt. Athos, and Athens. All along the way we enjoyed warm hospitality, an opportunity for pilgrimage, the fellowship of each other, and the enormous fun of sightseeing and travel. Students were able to take part in this trip at a low monetary cost due to the generous benefactions of two anonymous donors who are great friends of the Ecumenical Patriarch and wished to help make possible this trip. - See more at: https://www.svots.edu/voices/faculty/travelogue-and-final-reflections#sthash.r8ySQ9L7.dpuf
This trip afforded us the opportunity to visit the great centers of Hellenic Orthodoxy: Constantinople, Thessalonika, Mt. Athos, and Athens. All along the way we enjoyed warm hospitality, an opportunity for pilgrimage, the fellowship of each other, and the enormous fun of sightseeing and travel. Students were able to take part in this trip at a low monetary cost due to the generous benefactions of two anonymous donors who are great friends of the Ecumenical Patriarch and wished to help make possible this trip. - See more at: https://www.svots.edu/voices/faculty/travelogue-and-final-reflections#sthash.r8ySQ9L7.dpuf
Dean and Professor of Patristics The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr recently journeyed to Egypt as the guest of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria. The SVOTS dean was accompanied by His Grace Bishop Suriel of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions. Bishop Suriel is familiar with St. Vladimir's Seminary; during his years of ministry in North America in the 1990s he studied towards a Masters degree on the Yonkers campus and has served as a guest lecturer at the seminary's Eastern–Oriental Orthodox Symposium. In March of this year, Bishop Suriel visited the Seminary to discuss a cooperative relationship between SVOTS and St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Theological College in Donvale, Victoria.
In Egypt, Father John spoke on "Orthodox Theological Education in the Twenty-First Century" at the "Theological and Ecclesiastical Institutes Seminar," called by Pope Tawadros to explore the spiritual formation of theological students. Held at the Anaphora Institute, a retreat and training center near the desert road between Cairo and Alexandria, the seminar featured talks by eminent Coptic bishops, clergy, and scholars.
such as the keep built by the Emperor Justinian." During the conference, Bishop Suriel arranged for Fr. John and Pope Tawadros II to meet. "For over an hour we discussed issues pertaining to the Coptic Church, St. Vladimir's Seminary, theological education, and how we might cooperate in future endeavors," said Fr. John.
"From the time I arrived and was warmly greeted and escorted through customs 'VIP style' in Cairo," added Fr. John, "my host Bishop Suriel could not have been more thoughtful and gracious. In one marvelous day, for instance, we visited the Egyptian Museum with its extraordinary collection of antiquities; the Coptic Museum in Old Cairo, with its amazing collection of very early frescoes; the various churches of Old Cairo including the famous Hanging Church; and finally, the 'Sound & Light Show' at the Pyramids of Giza. He also traveled with me after the conference to the monasteries in the desert of Scetis. At Baramous Monastery I spoke to the monks for several hours about my recent work on the themes of life, death, and our humanity." As the political situation became increasingly tense over the course of Fr. John's stay in Egypt, Bishop Suriel arranged for Fr. John to depart on an earlier flight, ensuring his safe passage to the Cairo airport.
After Bishop Suriel's March visit to St. Vladimir's, first–year Coptic seminarian Mina Andrews explained his contribution to the Coptic Church. "He is a pioneer in the establishment of the first accredited Coptic Seminary in the diaspora. His Grace's vision has been very much influenced by the late Pope Shenouda III and His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and his work is not only recognized in his diocese but in the church at large."
Dr. Daniel Hinshaw, visiting professor of Palliative Care at St. Vladimir's Seminary, wrapped up his two week summer course titled "Suffering and the Nature of Healing," with a discussion of the Orthodox Christian understanding and teaching regarding sin, suffering, and death. "Feebleness, sickness and pain bring out the character of people," he noted. "For Christians, suffering and death are an opportunity for kenosis, the emptying of ourselves." Much of this same material is covered in Dr. Hinshaw's new SVS Press release, also titled Suffering and the Nature of Healing.
In the first week, the class learned about the nature of suffering and the role of the health care provider, while in week two they explored the deeper possibilities for healing, even in the context of death. Informal afternoon seminars complemented the morning classes; students viewed and discussed the theme of suffering in film, music, and literature. Dr. Jane (Carnahan) Hinshaw, a Clinical Instructor of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Health System and staff psychiatrist at the Mental Health Clinic at Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Medical Center, added input and helped guide the discussions.
"I wanted to challenge the students to think about how Orthodox Christianity can more effectively interface with secular health care," noted Dr. Hinshaw. As a physician, Dr. Hinshaw believes there are areas where modern health care practices intersect with traditional Christianity and the Church's understanding of health, but also important ways in which today's practices diverge from Orthodox teaching, and he encouraged the class to discern between the two.
"The value of a course like this is measured not only in the readings and assignments," noted Seminarian Ian Abodeely (course participant), "but also in the sharing of the incredible experiences that Dan and Jane have gone through in their lives as doctors and Orthodox Christians...all the readings of the course were expertly crafted to provide us with a new perspective." (Read more student feedback here.)
As a Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School, Dr. Hinshaw provides outpatient palliative care services at the University of Michigan Geriatrics Center. His clinical research interests are focused on end–of–life issues and the use of complementary medicine in the relief of pain. Drs. Daniel and Jane Hinshaw have both committed their lives to studying and offering palliative and hospice care not only in the U.S. but also in Romania, Uganda, and Ethiopia.
Seminary Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr recently traveled to Vree University (VU) in Amsterdam, Netherlands to participate in the colloquium "Orthodox Diaspora: a Place in–between—a Place of Encounter—a Place for Theology." Hosted by the Amsterdam Centre for Eastern Orthodox Theology, the gathering of scholars explored themes in the newly released title Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology, by The Rev. Dr. Andrew Louth. Father Andrew, professor of Patristic and Byzantine Studies at Durham University, England, is currently visiting professor at VU University Amsterdam and a member of the Dutch Centre for Patristic Research (CPO). He also authored the SVS Press book Greek East and Latin West and is the general editor for SVS Press's The Church in History series.
From Holland Fr. John then journeyed to Cairo, Egypt, as the guest of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, to participate in the "Theological and Ecclesiastical Institutes Seminar," which was called by His Holiness to explore a diverse range of topics, including: the role of monasteries in theological education; the spiritual formation of theological students; methods and means of instruction; and the history of religious institutions in the Coptic tradition. Held at the Anaphora Institute, a retreat and training center near the desert road between Cairo and Alexandria, the seminar featured talks by eminent Coptic bishops, clergy, and scholars. Father John presented the topic, "Orthodox Theological Education in the Twenty-First Century."
"It's been a joy to be able to participate in summer conferences this year in Italy, Amsterdam, and Cairo," noted Fr. John. "I have been engaged on a scholarly level in each venue, certainly, but beyond that, participating in each conference has allowed me to represent St. Vladimir's Seminary. I have been reminded once again of the impact the Seminary continues to have in Orthodox communities abroad."
