Our annual Missions Weekend will feature two fascinating speakers this year, especially in light of world events—one from South Korea, and one from Albania. A campus student-interest group, the St. Innocent Society, is sponsoring the presentations.

SOUTH KOREA

Metropolitan Ambrosios (Zographos) of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea will speaking on campus for our annual Missions Weekend, and will be sharing his extraordinary experiences in working with the faithful in Korea. He will give his free and public presentation at on Friday, October 20, 7 p.m. in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Building, and an open reception will follow.

“I look forward to seeing your seminary President, Fr. Chad Hatfield, face-to-face, and to the conversations with your students,” replied His Eminence, in response to St. Innocent Society’s invitation.

Metropolitan Ambrosios was born on March 15, 1960 on the island of Aegina in Greece. He was educated at theological institutions in Greece and the U.S. (Holy Cross School of Theology and Princeton Theological Seminary), and did postgraduate work at Princeton University, earning a Master’s degree in Church History and Art History.

On December 21, 1998, he was awarded a Doctorate Degree with distinction by the School of Theology of the University of Athens and on December 23 of the same year he departed to Korea to begin serving the Orthodox Church in Korea as Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Seoul and as Chancellor of the Holy Metropolis of Korea. (Read His Eminence's article on the history of the Korean Orthodox Church.)

On December 21, 2006, he was elevated to the Episcopacy as Bishop of Zela by the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In addition to many articles in various magazines, he has also published the following major studies and books: The Social Teachings of St. Gregory Palamas, Based on His 63 Homilies; The Contribution of St. Basil the Great to the Formation of the Monastic Ideal; and Iconography in the Liturgical life of the Medieval Greek Church.

ALBANIA

Nathan Hoppe, of Albania, will be speaking on Saturday, October 21, at 10 a.m. His presentation will also be in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium.

Nathan and his wife, Gabriela, are working to inspire, train, equip, and lead Albanians to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples in Albania. Their ministry is focused on seminary students, university students, and children. Nathan teaches the early church fathers at the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy and leads the ministry to students at the University of Tirana. Nathan also directs the Central Children's Office of the Orthodox Church of Albania, a ministry in which he works closely with Gabriela.

Nathan also represents the Orthodox Church of Albania at a number of international gatherings, including the official dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church and the dialogue with the Lutheran World Federation. Additionally, he serves on the steering committee of the Lausanne-Orthodox initiative (LOI), is a member of the Advisory Council for World Vision Albania, and is on the board of the Inter-Confessional Bible Society. Together Nathan and Gabriela lead a team of 25 Albanian Orthodox youth to Kosovo each year where they hold friendship camps for about 1,500 Muslim Albanian children. These camps are part of the social and philanthropic work of the Orthodox Church of Albania.

Nathan was born and raised in Colombia, South America, where his parents continue to serve as missionaries. He is a graduate of Wheaton College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. He has now served in Albania for more than 16 years. Gabriela, a native of Albania, is a graduate of the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy and the University of Tirana. She also holds a master's degree in Children's and Family Ministry from Bethel Seminary. In addition to her role in the Central Children’s Office, Gabriela devotes much time to her important responsibilities as wife, mother, and homemaker. The Hoppes have three children.

(Listen to part 1 and part 2 of an interview with Nathan about missionary work, in the podcast series "Send Me" on Ancient Faith Ministries (AFM); and also an interview with Nathan in the podcast series "Speaking the Truth in Love" on AFM.)

Photo credits: orthodoxkorea.org and OCMC.org

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There’s a saying: "A Bachelor’s degree holder is a consumer of knowledge; a Master’s degree holder is a user of knowledge; and a Doctoral degree holder is a contributor of knowledge." Our Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Program students, who recently gathered for their on-campus intensive July 16–22, evinced the truth of that adage.

The senior students, who comprise the Cohort of 2017, used their on-campus time to present their doctoral projects to fellow classmates, demonstrating the scope and depth of their learning over the past three years. (View a video interview with Father Timothy Chrapko, Cohort of 2017, speaking about his “amazing experience” in the D.Min. Program, and his senior project, here.)

The junior students, who make up the Cohort of 2019 and are now one year into their D.Min. studies, held lively and mutually beneficial interchanges during their classroom sessions: “Liturgical Life and Pastoral Ministry,” taught by Dr. Grant White, assistant professor of Liturgical Theology; and “Ministry in a Secular Age,” taught by the Very Reverend Dr. John Jillions, associate professor of Religion and Culture. (View a video interview with Chaplain Sarah Byrne-Martelli, Cohort of 2019, speaking about how her D.Min. experience has nourished and emboldened her faith, and has equipped her with “a new framework for thinking about ministry in this age,” here.)

The Very Reverend Dr. J. Sergius Halvorsen, director of the Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry Program, particularly remarked on the seniors’ presentations, saying, “I was not entirely sure what to expect of the Cohort of 2017, since they’re the first group of students to go through our D.Min. ‘hybrid format,’ taking classes both online and on campus.

“Of course, I had read all of their proposals,” he went on, “but this was my first chance to hear about their research and to see how they are concretely developing new models of ministry, and, I have to say, these projects were truly inspiring: they are tackling some of the most pressing problems that we face in the Church today.”

Father Sergius noted that the seniors’ projects covered a wide range of topics, from the opioid epidemic and addiction recovery, to new models for catechesis and Christian formation. Each student, he said, addressed an aspect of pastoral care immediately relevant to his or her own ministry, and sure to benefit the Orthodox Church at large.

As examples, Father David Subu, pastor of St. Mary Orthodox Church, Falls Church, VA, recently returned from a trip to Romania, during which time he researched the intersection between Orthodox Christian spirituality and addiction recovery: he interviewed Floyd Frantz, an OCMC missionary who had been working in that field there for many years, and observed what is possible in rehabilitation, including real-life discussions with people struggling with addiction.  And stateside, Father Alcuin Kellerhouse, a licensed counselor and priest in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, is currently offering Substance Use Disorder (SUD) presentations—both online and in person—as part of his D.Min. research, in order eventually to develop a training program to equip clergy and lay ministers with the skills necessary to help those suffering from addiction.

Other final projects, such as the one by Father Timothy Chrapko, associate priest at St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, concentrate on personal spiritual development. His project, which centers on the study of the anaphora in the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, seeks to help parishioners grow in their faith and understand what it means to be an Orthodox Christian, and to engage in genuine worship and reshape their worldview, based on their encounter with Christ within the liturgy.

“Our D.Min. graduates,” Father Sergius concluded, “will continue to ask the ‘hard questions,’ perform detailed research and analysis, and ultimately share their findings with the larger Orthodox Church in order to assist everyone who labors to build up the Body of Christ.”

Protodeacon Peter M. Danilchick, who with his wife, Tanya, established The Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies, which offers need-based financial aid for D.Min. students, also expressed the encouragement he felt as he witnessed the progress of both cohorts.

“These students and graduates will eventually ‘go forth’ and serve the Church in new, creative, and effective ways of ministry because of their participation in the D.Min. program at St. Vladimir’s,” he said.

“The retreats, workshops, and symposiums that they organize and lead—which are encouraged by the terms of the scholarships—are a visible manifestation to the Church of their learning and commitment to ‘give back,’” he remarked. “And, this, of course, is a necessary obligation of the holder of a doctorate: to create knowledge and to contribute knowledge by passing it on.”

View a full listing of the Cohort of 2017’s D.Min. final project titles, here.
View a video interview with Father Timothy Chrapko, Cohort of 2017, here.
View a video interview with Chaplain Sarah Byrne-Martelli, Cohort of 2019, here.

 The Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies offers need-based financial aid for Doctor of Ministry Students. Recipients of funding from the Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies agree to give special diocesan and/or parish workshops and/or seminars in their particular areas of pastoral study. At least one such workshop or seminar shall be given by each scholarship recipient in each year they receive aid from this endowment.

Photo credits: Adrienne Soper

The Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, The Father Georges Florovsky Distinguished Professorship of Patristics here at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, will be receiving the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from St. Athanasius College-University of Divinity, in Melbourne, Australia, in August 2017. The Chancellor of the University of Divinity, His Grace Dr. Suriel, bishop of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions, and an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, will confer the honorary degree.

“Father John will receive the honorary doctorate for his exceptional contribution to patristic theological scholarship and demonstrated commitment to building partnerships across the theological world, including with the University of Divinity through St. Athanasius College,” noted the University’s website. “The Doctor of Divinity (DD) is the highest academic honour the University bestows and is our oldest continuing award, founded in 1910.”

This is the first time the University will have awarded an honorary degree since it attained university status, and the first time the degree of Doctor of Divinity will have been awarded since 2008. The ceremony will be held at the SAC Eporo Tower Campus, 285 La Trobe St., Melbourne on Tuesday, August 22, 7:30 p.m.

Grab a bag of popcorn: it’s movie night on our campus, Sunday, September 24, 7 o’clock. We’ll be screening Becoming Truly Human, a fascinating documentary that explores the rise of the “Nones,” i.e., those who check “none of the above” on religion surveys.

Multiple research groups report that the number of Nones had risen from roughly 6% of the U.S. population in the 1990s to 25% as of 2015. However, little research existed on this growing demographic—until now.

The film offers a cinematic portrait of eight Nones, each of whom shares his or her journey from religious affiliation to religious non-affiliation. The film hears from the Nones, both individually and as a group, as they share views about religion, God, the afterlife, and much more, thus offering a rare opportunity to listen in on a conversation that most religious adherents would never be invited into. (Teaser: one of the Nones, Basil, shares how his quest for spiritual wholeness ultimately leads him from religious non-affiliation to another level of spirituality.)

On hand for the screening will be writer/director Dr. Nathan Jacobs. Jacobs is president of 5 SEES, one of the production companies involved with the film. Vice President of 5 SEES, Sarah Werner, will also be present at the showing.

“Our research has found that because Nones are outside of religious circles, they rarely voice their thoughts on religion or even have the opportunity to do so,” said Jacobs. “It’s a powerful experience for these Nones to hear what others are thinking and know they are not alone.”

Becoming Truly Human is the first feature film about America’s religiously unaffiliated, and North America’s first Orthodox Christian feature film. The film will begin its semi-theatrical release on August 22 via TheatriCast with marketing and promotion by Aspiration Studios. Freestyle Digital Media will handle the digital release of the film (Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, and so forth), beginning September 2017. DVD and Bluray sales will be handled by Ancient Faith, beginning October 2017.

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Dr. Alice-Mary Talbot will present the fourth annual Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lecture on our campus, Friday, September 15, at 7 p.m. Dr. Talbot is the Director Emerita of Byzantine Studies, Dumbarton Oaks, a prestigious research institute of Harvard University, located in Washington, D.C., and is also Editor of the Byzantine Greek series, Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library.

Her presentation is titled after her forthcoming book, Varieties of Monastic Experience in Byzantium, 800–1453. During her lecture she will highlight some of the findings of her research in two areas: 1) the many ways one could be a Byzantine monk, and 2) the continuing tensions in Byzantium between the eremitic (solitary living) and coenobitic (community living) forms of monasticism.

Dr. Talbot is one of the world’s foremost scholars of Byzantium, the Roman Empire in the eastern Mediterranean which endured for almost a thousand years after its eclipse in the west, until the fall of its capital, Constantinople, to the Ottoman sultan in 1453. Her contribution to the study of middle and late Byzantine social and religious history in general, and women and religious culture in Byzantium in particular, has been immense.

Dr. Talbot is one of the editor/ translators of Holy Men of Mount Athos (Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library 40), a book that presents the Lives of Euthymios the Younger, Athanasios of Athos, Maximos the Hutburner, Niphon of Athos, and Philotheos—five holy men who lived on Mount Athos at different times, from the 9th to the 15th centuries; all were known for their asceticism, clairvoyance, and, in most cases, the ability to perform miracles. The book illuminates both the history and the varieties of monastic practice on Athos, individually by hermits as well as communally in large monasteries. The Lives also demonstrate the diversity of hagiographic composition and provide important glimpses of Byzantine social and political history.

Dr. Talbot first met Protopresbyter John Meyendorff when he coincidentally and suddenly substituted for another member of her Ph.D. dissertation committee, while she was earning her degree in Byzantine and Ottoman History at Columbia University in New York. “I was thrilled that he was on the jury for my Columbia dissertation defense in 1970, and I was able to benefit from his comments in my revision of the thesis for publication,” she remarked.

And, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Talbot to our campus! Please join us for this fascinating free and public lecture, with open reception following.

Read an oral history interview with Dr. Talbot regarding her association with Dumbarton Oaks, undertaken by Jeanne-Nicole Saint-Laurent.

Read the laureation of Dr. Talbot, given by Dr. Tim Greenwood, upon the occasion of the bestowal of the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, upon her at the University of St. Andrews.

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Harrison Russin, lecturer in Liturgical Music here at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, and Mother Seraphim, choir director at The Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA, co-led a music workshop and retreat for young adults ages 18–29 at the monastery, June 23–25, 2017. Their weekend effort culminated in the singing of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, and an afternoon public concert, which attracted more than 70 people. Videos of both the Divine Liturgy and afternoon concert are available on-line.

Harrison remarked, “It was inspiring for me to work with a group of young, enthusiastic musicians and to explore a shared love for music and the church. My wife and I have hosted singing events in our on-campus apartment over the past year, and some of the music we sang at the Monastery was music we enjoy singing there for fun—I hope that the participants and the audience realized how joyful music can be, both within worship and as a social activity.”

Among the musical selections learned by the participants were liturgical works by G. L’vovsky and N. Kedrov, Sr., in addition to pieces by American composers, including Archpriests Sergei Glagolev and Igor Soroka, Mark Bailey, and Monk Martin.  Other sacred music included 16th-century English polyphony by W. Byrd, T. Tallis, and O. Gibbons, and 19th-century American shape note hymns by W. Walker and J. Christopher.

“In the past, families and friends enjoyed singing together for recreation and fellowship, but this practice has become rather rare in our current day of recorded digital music, often listened to by personal headphones,” said Mother Christophora, abbess of the Monastery, in reflecting on the impact of the workshop.  “Singing is helpful for one’s emotional and spiritual health, known to relieve anxiety and stress, and fellowship among young Orthodox Christians can be enhanced by time spent together singing.  Knowledge of their faith will also be enhanced by learning to sing liturgical services, and parish choirs will benefit from the youth attending such workshops and returning home with new skills and new music.”

“In the early documents of the vision for the monastery, it is stated that a guesthouse would be built to offer traditional hospitality and that the monastery would especially reach out to youth who want to learn more about their Orthodox Faith,” Mother Seraphima added. “Coincidentally, the day after the concert, work began at the monastery for the building of a new guesthouse, ‘Tabor House,’ which will supplement the original, now aging, guest facilities.”

In related news, two one-day workshops for youth ages 18 through 25 are being planned for later this summer—on Saturday, July 29 and Saturday, August 19.  Interested persons should contact Mother Seraphima at omtchoirdirector@gmail.com to register.  There is no charge to attend the workshops, but space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

Story composed using text and photos from The Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration, used with permission.

Protodeacon Gregory Hatrak fell asleep in the Lord the evening of July 1, 2017, at the age of 46. Protodeacon Gregory most recently served as Director of Marketing and Operations for St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press (SVS Press) and Bookstore.

“We are most grieved by Pdn. Gregory’s sudden falling asleep in the Lord,” said Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of St. Vladimir’s. “This is both a profound personal and professional loss to our school, and we are keeping our beloved Protodeacon, his wife, Matushka Robyn, and his parents and family members in our prayers.”

Born December 22, 1970, in Minersville, PA, Pdn. Gregory is the son of Archpriest Michael and Matushka Valeria Hatrak. His love for assisting in the liturgical services began at age three, when Pdn. Gregory started serving in the altar with his father in the church of Ss. Peter and Paul, a parish of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), at which Fr. Michael served as rector.

Throughout his youth, Pdn. Gregory was a member of the Boy Scouts. During his years at Minersville High School, he played the saxophone in the marching band, and, beginning at age 16, he also worked as a volunteer firefighter for the Minersville Rescue Hook and Ladder Company. Upon high school graduation in 1988, he attended St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA, and eventually obtained a Bachelor of Theology degree through a joint program between the seminary and Marywood University in Scranton, PA.

After his graduation from the seminary, Pdn. Gregory worked on the grounds of St. Tikhon’s Monastery and eventually became the Manager of St. Tikhon’s Seminary-Monastery Bookstore. During his nearly 15 years of employment at the seminary-monastery, Dn. Gregory also resumed his work as a dedicated volunteer firefighter, this time for the Lake Ariel Fire Company.

Pdn. Gregory married his wife Robyn (née Alexander) on October 19, 2008. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by then Bishop Tikhon (now His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the OCA) on Sunday, September 26, 2010, at his home parish of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Minersville, during the parish’s 100th anniversary celebration. On May 20, 2017, he was elevated to the rank of Protodeacon, in recognition of his many years of assisting both Metropolitan Herman and Metropolitan Tikhon; and for his dedication in training servers and deacons, as well as for his expert service in the altar area, where he often guided higher ranking clergy through the necessary liturgical motions. 

Pdn. Gregory started working at St. Vladimir's Seminary Bookstore as Manager in 2010, and because of his ability and expertise, he quickly rose to the position of Managing Director, both of the Bookstore and of SVS Press. Under his tenure, SVS Press and Bookstore expanded the number of books published annually, and in FY2016, sales surpassed the $1M mark. The Bookstore and Press also expanded their reputation and sales in national and global markets, including Great Britain, as Pdn. Gregory kept up a rigorous travel schedule to ensure visibility of SVS Press products.

Pdn. Gregory leaves behind his wife, Matushka Robyn, his parents, Archpriest Michael and Matushka Valeria Hatrak, his brother Matthew and Lori (sister in law) Hatrak, and sister, Natalie Hatrak. Matushka Robyn is employed at St. Vladimir’s Seminary as its Special Events, Hospitality, and Alumni Relations Officer.

Our hearts go out to all of them, as we mourn our dear colleague in Christ. Memory Eternal!

Read the eulogy offered by Hieromonk Herman on the occasion of the funeral of Pdn. Gregory, at St. Tikhon's Monastery, the evening of July 5.

Schedule of Services

On Wednesday morning, July 5, at 10:00 a.m., a panikhida for Pdn. Gregory will be served in the Seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel. Prior to the panikhida, at 9 a.m., a viewing will be held. Immediately following the panikhida, a repast will be held in the Seminary’s Germack Building. A collection will be held to offset costs of the repast. All seminary clergy and guest clergy are invited to concelebrate this panikhida.

From St. Vladimir's Seminary Pdn. Gregory's body will be taken to St. Tikhon's Monastery Church, in South Canaan, PA, for viewing and funeral services. Viewing in the monastery church will begin whenever Pdn. Gregory's body arrives in the afternoon. 

The regular monastic offices of Ninth Hour, Vespers, Matins, and First Hour will begin at 4:30 p.m. and conclude about 6:15 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.

A funeral service will take place at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church on Wednesday, July 5, at 7:30 p.m., and there will be a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, with His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon presiding, on Thursday, July 6 at 9:30 a.m., followed by the Last Kiss and Burial in the cemetery. There will be a mercy meal following at St. Michael's Center, 403 Delaware Street, Jermyn, PA 18433, at approximately 12:30 p.m.

There has been a crowdfunding page set up for the benefit of Matushka Robyn Hatrak, for those who wish to help with funeral costs and her welfare. Please donate here.

Our nation is engulfed by an addiction crisis. A new study released in 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that marijuana-related emergency visits by kids in Colorado have more than quadrupled since the state legalized marijuana for recreational use in 2014. A recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General stated that 27 million people in America last year self-reported the misuse of illegal drugs or opioid-based prescription drugs, while another 66 million (a quarter of the U.S. adult and adolescent population!) reported binge-drinking in the past month. The Surgeon General’s report estimates the yearly annual economic impact from the misuse of prescription drugs, illicit drugs, or alcohol is $442 billion—a figure beyond staggering.

Father Alcuin (Dean) Kellerhouse, who is a student in the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program here at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, has come up with a plan to battle this overwhelming national scourge. For his final D.Min. project—one of his degree requirements—he’s designed workshops to train other ministers how to better understand and address Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). What’s more, he’s offering the training pro bono, both face-to-face and online, to ensure the widest possible opportunities for learning.

Father Alcuin, who holds an M.Div. degree, as well as MLADC  (Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor) and LCS (Licensed Clinical Supervisor) certifications, has been an addictions professional since 1994.  He is presently the Clinical Supervisor at the South Hills Recovery Project in Bridgeville PA. Active in the Anglican ministry for over 30 years, he was ordained an Orthodox priest in 2015, and he now serves in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), under the omophorion of Metropolitan Hilarion.

“This course, officially titled, ‘Substance Use Disorders: Continuing Education Workshops for Clergy,’ is designed to enhance both the skill and confidence level of clergy in addressing Substance Use Disorders,” explained Fr. Alcuin.

“After completing this training,” Fr. Alcuin, said, “clergy and ministers will have a set of skills that will allow them to deal with our nation’s crisis as it occurs, on personal, family, and parish levels. We know that in times of crisis, the faithful will turn first to their clergy. My goal for this training is to equip our clergy and lay ministers to be effective when those crises involve SUDs.”

He outlined the educational outcome goals of the program, which encompass those skills, as follows:

1. Have increased comprehension of the biblical and patristic witness concerning the misuse of Substances.
2. Understand the thinking behind the approach of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DMS-5) to diagnosis SUDs.
3. Recognize how SUDs may present in pastoral counseling, spiritual relationships, and sacramental ministry.
4. Be able to effectively do a “5th Step” with a person in a 12 Step Recovery program. (Step 5 is: “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”)
5. Exercise referral skills successfully, while continuing to offer effective pastoral support to those who suffer with SUDs.
6. Address SUDs presenting in a ministry setting, with confidence, skill, and grace.

“I’m pleased to be in the D.Min. program, which, in the St. Vladimir’s tradition, draws on the best of Orthodox scholarship to provide practical pastoral training,” Fr. Alcuin continued. “The program requires the sharing of our knowledge with the broader Church, and I have already conducted a test workshop for a small group close to my home, and today received calls from 2 OCA Dioceses which are requesting the training.”

“I also witness to hope, the hope that, as St. Paul says, ‘Does not disappoint us,’ (Romans 5.5), because of the love of God that is poured out in our hearts,” he concluded. “I’m here to share that hope and that love through these workshops, and to impart the basic knowledge and skills needed to battle this truly demonic force over human beings. I am profoundly grateful to the Danilchick Family Endowment for its support of this crucial work.”

Note: Workshops and equivalent online training will be offered pro bono. Fr. Alcuin would simply require reimbursement for travel and lodging. Online training will be based on a publication of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMSHA) as its text. To arrange for a full, half-day or online workshop please contact Fr. Alcuin directly via email: Dkellerhouse@svots.edu or phone: 603.937.0665.

The Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies offers need-based financial aid for Doctor of Ministry Students. Recipients of funding from the Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies agree to give special diocesan and/or parish workshops and/or seminars in their particular areas of pastoral study. At least one such workshop or seminar shall be given by each scholarship recipient in each year they receive aid from this endowment.

If you would like to learn more about the DMin Program at St. Vladimir's Seminary, please visit the DMin Program page, or contact the Program Director, Fr. Sergius Halvorsen at shalvorsen@svots.edu.

Our alumna, Dr. Stefanie Yova Yazge, (M.A., Class of 1986), fell asleep in the Lord at her home in Greensburg, PA, on the morning of the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul, Thursday, June 29. Wife of our alumnus Priest Anthony Yazge, who is Chair of Department of Camping for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese and the Director of the Antiochian Village Camp, she is the mother of three children, Matthew, Mark, and Alexis.

Dr. Yazge contributed her time and talent to our seminary by serving as Secretary on the St. Vladimir’s Alumni Association Board from 2011–2016. She was a champion for women seminarians, publically advocating for both their theological education and their adequate campus housing. “She was a driving force, and the Alumni Board’s lead for the Women’s Dorm renovation project on campus,” said Alumnus Gregory Abdalah, who served as Chair of the Alumni Association Board during Dr. Yazge’s tenure on the board. Additionally, Dr. Yazge served on the Initiative Committee for Educational Outreach, a part of the Seminary’s 2010 Strategic Plan.

Dr. Yazge earned her Ph.D. from Union Institute and University, Cincinnati, OH, and a B.S. in Communications (Television/Communications) from Miami University, Oxford, OH. She most recently taught theology part-time at Seton Hill University, near Pittsburgh, and at St. Vincent College, after serving ten years on the faculty of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, IN, as an Assistant Professor in the Theology Department. Additionally, she was a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists and the American Academy of Religion.

A published author, she wrote a number of articles, including a chapter on “St. Paula and the order of Widows” in SCV Vol. 2 of Encountering Women of Faith (2010), and gave a presentation on that same topic at the Virginia Festival of the Book, at the University of Virginia. She was a popular retreat leader as well, and among the venues at which she spoke was the “Mother Alexandra Memorial Lecture at Holy Transfiguration Monastery,” Ellwood City, PA (2012), presenting the topic: "Building Relationships or Building Walls?—Making our Communities a Haven of Salvation." 

Dr. Yazge also participated in international theological meetings, for example, the conference at the Theological Academy of Volos, Greece, sponsored by the World Council of Churches, at which 44 Orthodox women from 16 countries gathered (2008). Nationally, she served as Committee Coordinator for the annual Pan-Orthodox Clergy Wives Weekend held at the Antiochian Village, and locally, she was the choir director at St. Michael's parish in Greensburg.

A native of Akron, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Protodeacon Paul and Silvia Yova. Her sister, Valerie, is now the Parish Administrator and Director of Music at St. Athanasius Orthodox Church in Goleta, California, and her brother, Gregory, is the founder of Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Khouriya Stefanie’s husband, Fr. Anthony, and her children, Matthew, Mark, and Alexis, and her siblings, Valerie and Gregory. Memory Eternal.

 Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield met with the Faculties of Orthodox Theology in the cities of Sibiu and Bucharest, Romania, in an effort to encourage future student and faculty exchanges and co-publications between St. Vladimir’s Seminary and those two major theological centers. Father Chad, who traveled throughout Romania June 9–21 with the blessing of His Beatitude Daniel, patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, formed both personal and institutional ties with educational leaders in that country. Father Chad was accompanied in his travels by Alexandru Popovici, a native Romanian, who completed his Master of Arts degree in 2016 at St. Vladimir’s, and who now is employed as Director of Web Services at the Seminary.

On June 16, His Eminence Laurentiu [Streza], archbishop of Sibiu and metropolitan of Transylvania, gave Fr. Chad and Mr. Popovici a tour of the Metropolitan Cathedral and faculty compound at the Andrei Saguna Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Sibiu, and also held a meeting with them in his private residence.

“Archbishop Laurentiu,” said Fr. Chad, “is devoted to the works of Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann, our seminary’s former longtime and globally influential Dean. “His Eminence, in fact, used to teach liturgics, and he is anxious to renew the bond between St. Vladimir’s liturgical legacy and the professors of theology in Sibiu,” explained Fr. Chad, “especially placing emphasis on the relationship between liturgical life and pastoral care.”

As well, Fr. Chad met with the Dean and Vice-Dean of Faculty of Theology in Sibiu: Priest and Professor Nicolae Chifăr and Priest and Professor Aurel Pavel, respectively. He also met with the ecclesial Dean of the Fagaras region of Romania, Priest Marius Corlean.

In speaking of that meeting, Fr. Chad reported, “Fr. Nicolae’s fields of expertise include Theology, Church History, History of Byzantium, and Ecumenical Relations, while Fr. Aurel is renowned for his work in the fields of Missiology, Ecumenical Relations, and the study of the Old Testament.

“As well, both the Dean and Vice-Dean showed tremendous interest in our Theological Quarterly—(We exchanged copies of our academic quarterlies!)—all of which demonstrates the possibility of future faculty reciprocity,” Fr. Chad continued.“Our conversations were deeply and mutually enriching, and we’ve already begun to envision a future symposium on Missiology, as well as co-publications through our St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press.”

The Andrei Saguna Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Sibiu is the oldest institution of its kind in Romania, and its founding marked the beginning of higher education in Sibiu. Founded in 1786 as a Theological School and restructured in 1811 under the leadership of Gheorghe Lazar, it has continually operated up to the present time. Between 1948 and 1990, it functioned under the name of “The Theological Institute of Higher Education,” being one of the two Orthodox theological schools of higher education in Romania that trained Orthodox priests. Since 1991 it has been part of the “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu. Faculty members are known for their preservation of Transylvanian Orthodox traditions, while having the ability to adapt to the demands and needs of contemporary society. Furthermore, the Faculty of Theology is actively engaged in ecumenical work, both at a national and European level.

On June 19, Fr. Chad visited the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of Patriarch Justinian at the University of Bucharest, to review a formal agreement first signed between the Seminary and the Romanian faculty in 2013. In revisiting that original agreement, the two parties appraised existing protocols regarding student and faculty exchanges, and refined them to make their cooperative efforts more mutually efficient and productive.

Priest and Professor Ştefan Buchiu, faculty dean, noted that in recent years two graduates of the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest had pursued further studies at St. Vladimir’s, “with brilliant results.” (The two students referred to are Mr. Popovici and Bogdan Neacsiu, Class of 2015.) He also noted that in 2018, the collaborative efforts outlined in the 2013 agreement will have reached a five-year anniversary mark, and that with the blessing of Patriarch Daniel, the original agreement would be renewed during a formal ceremony in that anniversary year.

The legal status and structure of the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest mirrors the political history of the country of Romania. Following the Union of the Romanian Principalities under Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the grand opening of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Bucharest took place November 12, 1881. In 1948, the Faculty was reorganized into the Theological Institute, and removed from the university, but in Academic Year 1991–1992, the Institute was returned to its initial status as a specialized Faculty of the University of Bucharest.

In Academic Year of 2005–2006, the educational structure of the Faculty of Theology was realigned in accordance with the provisions of the Bologna Charter, to which Romania adhered as part of its integration into the European Union. Consequently, under the general umbrella of Orthodox Theology were placed four specializations: Pastoral Theology, Didactic Theology, Social Theology, and Sacred Art; and Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral degrees were offered.

The Faculty of Orthodox Theology operates under the University of Bucharest and functions under the supervision of the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Ministry of Education. His Beatitude Daniel, as Archbishop of Bucharest, is the spiritual head of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology; the leadership of the Faculty, as well as the teaching staff, act with the Patriarch’s blessing. The Patriarch also places special emphasis on required participation in liturgical worship, for all students.