In a show of solidarity to protect the rights of the unborn, students, administrators, and alumni from St. Vladimir’s Seminary joined in the 44th annual March for Life in the nation’s capital. The theme of this year’s March, “The Power of One,” drew hundreds of thousands of supporters and spawned sister events across the nation.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and Chairman of the Board of the Seminary, along with seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield, had opportunities to speak on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) during the rally. View EWTN’s coverage of the March for Life on its Facebook page.

In his remarks His Beatitude noted, “The Orthodox Church is a prayerful Church. Our Lord, Jesus Christ calls us to purify ourselves and strive for holiness. This, however, challenges us to speak out, proclaiming that life is indeed a gift from God. Life is not just biological existence, but a manifestation of the life of God himself.”

The rally began with newly elected Vice President Pence speaking at the Washington Monument. From there the crowd moved past the Capitol to the Supreme Court to merge with another large group already gathered. Among the Orthodox Christian seminaries represented, including St. Vladimir’s, were Christ the Saviour Seminary, Johnstown, PA; Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, Jordanville, NY; and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA.

SVOTS seminarians who marched included: Priest Paul Girgis, Dn. Brandon Danevicius, Dn. John Valadez, and Dn. Jeremiah Phillips, and Evan LeDoux (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America); Joseph Wessler (Serbian Orthodox Church); Daniel
Vanderkolk (OCA); and Dimitrios Nikiforos (Church of Greece). Also participating were Priest Ignatius Green (ROCOR), assistant editor at SVS Press, and Chief Financial Officer Melanie Ringa.

Read related story on the website of the Orthodox Church in America

Photo credits: Subdeacon Roman Ostash, Archpriest Gregory Safchuk

Matushka Juliana Schmemann, a lifelong educator in New York City girls’ schools and former headmistress of the Spence School, died on Sunday, January 29, at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, where she had been in residence since the fall. She was 93.

Matushka Juliana was born to a family of White Russian émigrés and was raised and educated in France. In 1951 she and her husband, Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann, moved to New York, where Matushka Juliana began a long teaching career at the Chapin School, the Spence School, and the Brearley School.

In 1977 she was appointed headmistress of Spence, on East 91st Street. A serious illness compelled her to resign in 1981, but once recovered, she joined the faculty of Brearley, where she remained until her retirement. Matushka Juliana is warmly remembered by many generations of women to whom she taught French and Russian, and to whom she was always “Madame Schmemann.” The French government awarded Matushka Juliana the Palme d’Argent medal for service to French culture.

Matushka Juliana was born on October 6, 1923, in Baden-Baden, Germany, where her family, the Ossorguines, found themselves after the Russian revolution. Her son, Serge Schmemann, a member of The New York Times editorial board and for many years a Times foreign correspondent, wrote a book, Echoes of a Native Land, tracing 200 years of Russian history through the former estate of the Ossorguines south of Moscow.

Matushka Juliana’s family soon moved to Paris, where she attended the College Sainte Marie de Neuilly outside Paris and the University of Paris-Sorbonne, where she earned a licence ès lettres degree in classics. In 1943 she married Alexander Schmemann, a priest and widely acclaimed theologian who became dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and who played an instrumental role in founding the Orthodox Church in America. Father Schmemann died in 1983.

In retirement, Matushka Juliana was active in church affairs and wrote two books, My Journey with Father Alexander and The Joy to Serve, which discussed the challenges of being an Orthodox Christian in the modern world. She travelled all over the country lecturing to women’s groups.

She is survived by a sister: Sophie Ozerov of Sea Cliff, NY; three children: Anne Hopko, of Ellwood City, PA, Serge Schmemann, of Paris, France, and Mary Tkachuk, of Bronxville, NY; nine grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and four great great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 46 Seymour St., Yonkers, NY: Thursday, February 2, 7 p.m., Memorial Service and Friday, February 3, 9 a.m., Divine Liturgy, followed by interment at the cemetery of the Monastery of St. Tikhon in Waymart, PA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Matushka Juliana’s memory be made to the Justin Solak Foundation at www.iamaffected.org.  Justin was a beloved great-grandson who died one year ago.

On the evening of January 20, 2017, priest and famed composer Fr. Ivan Moody shared his thoughts on the past, present, and future of Orthodox music, during a public conversation with faculty from St. Vladimir’s Seminary: Robin Freeman, director of Music, and Harrison Russin, lecturer in Liturgical Music.

Father Ivan currently is a researcher at CESEM-Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and also is Chairman of the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM). ISOCM has recently released a book by Fr. Ivan, titled Modernism and Orthodox Spirituality in Contemporary Music

During the evening Fr. Ivan spoke with impressive facility on a range of subjects. He touched upon everything from deciphering early musical notation written on papyri to creating fresh repertoire in sacred music, and from the “monophony and polyphony wars” in church history to the therapeutic function of music in contemporary church and society.

A podcast of the event is available here as part of the “Voices from St. Vladimir’s” series on Ancient Faith Ministries.

In mid-January 2017, Archpriest Chad Hatfield, seminary president, and Deacon Gregory Hatrak, director of Marketing and Operations at SVS Press, traveled to Moscow, Russia, to attend a formal presentation of a recently released press title, Patriarch Kirill in His Own Words, in the presence of several honored guests and local media. The book, a collection of writings by His Holiness Kirill, primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, was first presented to the Russian patriarch on the occasion of his 70th birthday, November 20, 2016, at a Jubilee, which Fr. Chad also attended.

The book is the first co-publication between SVS Press and the Ss. Cyril & Methodius Institute for Post-Graduate Studies (CMI), and it was formally presented at the Institute on January 13, by His Eminence Hilarion (Alfeyev), metropolitan of Volokalamsk and head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations and CMI rector. The volume—which exists in Russian and English language versions—contains carefully selected fragments of sermons, articles, reports, speeches, books, and interviews by Patriarch Kirill, spanning more than 35 years of pastoral ministry and theological creativity, from 1980 to 2016. It is formatted as a daily reader spanning one calendar year.

“This book is yet another gift from Russia, a new tool for evangelism,” said Fr. Chad, who is the Edtior of the SVS Press’s Orthodox Profile Series, of which the book is part. “And, it has become quite popular among readers both in the U.S. and in Russia.”

His Eminence Hilarion similarly remarks in the volume’s preface, “The book includes vivid quotes from the main personal missionary project of Patriarch Kirill, that is, the author's TV program ‘The Word Shepherd’ which, for more than 20 years, is regularly published on the premier channel of Russian television. Through this program, a lot of people, after decades of state atheism, first heard of the faith, and made their first steps towards God.”

During his stay in Russia, Fr. Chad was also invited by Metropolitan Hilarion to make remarks at the annual Gaidar Forum, held at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration in Moscow. He participated in a forum discussion on January 13, titled, "Religious and Ethnic-Cultural Diversity: Development, Stability, Security."

Additionally, Fr. Chad and Dn. Gregory attended a performance of Metropolitan Hilarion's work "Christmas Oratorio" at the Crocus Concert Hall on January 14.

“St. Vladimir's Seminary,” noted Fr. Chad, “is beginning to plan a performance of the same musical work at a West Coast U.S. venue in 2017. 

“Further,” he stated, “St. Vladimir’s Seminary has begun to lay initial plans for a Moscow-St. Petersburg tour for friends and supporters, and information on proposed dates for that pilgrimage will be made public soon.”

Order Patriarch Kirill in His Own Words here.

Over Winter Break 2017 three SVOTS seminarians participated in an IOCC Action Team that helped rebuild homes in New Orleans, an area devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005: Dn. Andrew Honoré, Evan LeDoux, and Antwian (Anthony) Davis. Seminarian Davis shares his experience ministering—andbeing ministered to!—during his one week adventure in Louisiana.

My trip to Louisiana was amazing—so amazing that my experience is almost hard to put into words. To begin, the people from IOCC who put the trip together were great: they took care of us from the moment we signed up to the time we got on the plane to go back to the Seminary.

And, one thing we never had to worry about was food. As soon as we landed, the IOCC Team took us out to eat, and from there on, we never stopped eating the great cuisine of Louisiana!

For me though, the best part of the experience was getting to spend time with all the people on the trip—students from the other seminaries, and even other seminarians from St. Vlad’s. I know that might sound a little strange, but because of our busy class schedules while the Seminary is in session, we just do not have the opportunity to see each other or to spend time around each other as much as we’d like. This was a chance to get to know each other personally, outside of the daily routine of classes and schoolwork.

After the workday, we went back to the Lutheran church where our daily meals were prepared, and cleaned up for dinner. After dinner we enjoyed a little down time before vespers, and after vespers each of us gave a reflection about our day—which offered us a time to get to understand each other personally and spiritually. We even spent a couple of nights hanging around an outside fire pit, having refreshments and, again, getting to know each other a little better.

One day we visited the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, to see where most of the flooding took place during Hurricane Katrina. That eye-opening experience alone was worth going on the trip; I saw where the devastation had occurred and how the city is still rebuilding ten years later.

The work I did for Habitat for Humanity was rewarding and life changing—an opportunity to step outside of myself and my daily routine, to do something for someone else and help them start life in a new home. (Personal note: don’t shy away from a trip like this if you lack building experience, because the onsite supervisors are there to help and make sure safety always comes first.)

I would recommend this IOCC Seminary Build to anyone who would like to have a wonderful experience working with good people from several seminaries, IOCC, and Habitat of Humanity—not to mention the unforgettable experience of Southern hospitality!

Father John will bring his years of experience in Ecumenism and teaching in Eastern Orthodox theological studies to reflect on the shifting terrain of what unites and divides in the quest for Christian Unity. While he will focus on the relations between the Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Church, he will identify the issues of unity and division in terms that apply to all Christian communities and individuals who care deeply about church unity.

The event, which will run from 6 p.m.–9 p.m., is free and open to the public. The evening will begin with an Orthodox Christian service, a Molieben to the Holy Spirit, and a reception will follow Fr. John’s presentation.

Parking is located at the rear of the Shrine. RSVP here by February 7, or call 202.832.2675.

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On Friday, January 13, 2017, Archpriest John Behr, dean and professor of Patristics at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, presented his inaugural lecture as holder of the Metropolitan Kallistos Chair in Orthodox Theology and assumed his position as full professor at the Amsterdam Centre for Orthodox Theology (ACOT) in the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). Father John’s lecture, titled, “The Paschal Gospel: Reading John in Early and Eastern Christianity,” may be read here.

Father John was appointed to the newly created Chair by the Executive Board of VU on September 1, 2016. He retains his position as Dean of St. Vladimir’s, but will visit ACOT a number of times each year to give instruction through intensive courses.

The chair was created to address the need to train new clergy for the growing number of Orthodox parishes in the Netherlands, in the wake of the arrival of a surge of migrants and refugees belonging to the Orthodox tradition. E.A.J.G. Van der Borght, Ph.D., vice-dean of the Faculty of Theology at ACOT, noted, “The creation of this chair in Orthodox theology is in line with the tradition of the VU to study, teach, and reflect critically on one’s own religious theological tradition.”

The schedule of inaugural festivities at ACOT included: a public dialogue about Fr. John’s academic work, titled, “Theology and Scripture”; a Seminar titled,“Orthodox Theological Education”; the inaugural lecture; and a congratulatory reception.

During the inaugural ceremonies Dr. Van der Borght warmly welcomed Fr. John and his family members and briefly sketched his academic biography, saying, “John Behr’s academic education and career connects the academic disciplines of Philosophy, Patristics, and Orthodox theology and the contexts of the Western culture and a deep existential rooting in Eastern Christianity, fed by an ongoing living contact with the sources of early Christianity, that is, the New Testament and the Patristic writing.”

In his laudatio (laudation) of Fr. John’s theological acumen, he noted that his “scholarly originality has been matched by intellectual creativity and spiritual depth.” (Read the full laudatio here.)

Dr. Van der Borght also read a message from the namesake of the new Chair, His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia, who could not attend because of frail health. Metropolitan Kallistos taught at Oxford University for four decades, supervising countless doctoral students, including Fr. John. His Eminence is perhaps the most recognizable Orthodox voice in the world, and is chiefly responsible for introducing Orthodox theology to the West.

Metropolitan Kallistos touchingly wrote:

Please assure Father John and the others present how deeply I am grateful for the significant honour that the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has conferred upon me in naming a chair after myself. I wish Father John and future occupants of the chair every success in their lectures. With all my heart I hope that this chair that is to bear my name will contribute positively in making the Orthodox Church better known in Amsterdam and far beyond.

I can think of no candidate better qualified to be appointed to this position than Dr Behr. Ever since the time that I acted as his university supervisor when he was working at Oxford for his doctorate, I have had a very high opinion of his scholarly ability and of the skill with which as a teacher he can communicate his ideas. He is extremely hard-working, genuinely original in his ideas, and remarkably gifted as a writer, as is indicated by his substantial list of publications. I am fully confident that his presence as a member of your Faculty will greatly enhance the work of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Special guests among the attendees included His Eminence Archbishop Mor Polycarpus of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch, an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary; His Eminence Bishop Arseny of the Coptic-Orthodox Church; and the Very Reverend Andrew Louth, emeritus professor of Patristic and Byzantine Studies at Durham University and Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Theology of VU.

Link to a PDF of the Inaugural Lecture here.
Link to the Inaugural Lecture invitation here.
Link to a congratulatory letter from His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Volokalamsk here.
Link to the laudatio (laudation) of Fr. John Behr, read on the occasion of his Inaugural Lecture

On Monday, January 23, 2017, at 7 p.m., St. Vladimir’s Seminary will co-sponsor an “Orthodox-Catholic Prayer for Unity and Life” event at the Parish of St. John Nepomucene and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Other sponsors include the host parish and the Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Catherine of Sienna. An Orthodox Christian service, the “Akathist for the Unborn,” and a Roman Catholic service, the “Divine Mercy Chaplet,” will be held during the evening.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), will speak following the Akathist, which will be served by seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield. Sister Virginia Joy of the Sisters of Life, a Catholic religious order dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the sacredness of every human life, will speak following the Chaplet service.

The event is related to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity originally begun by the World Council of Churches's Faith and Order Commission and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The Week of Prayer is customarily held between January 18 and January 25 annually, inclusive of an octave of days.

“This particular jointly sponsored event,” said Fr. Chad, “uniquely focuses on the common witness of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian faithful as regards the value of human life.

“It will be a precursor to what will happen at the conclusion of the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Friday, January 27th, when once again Orthodox Christian and Roman Catholic believers will stand with their hierarchs to up offer memorial prayers for the unborn.”

Find the Church of St. John Nepomucene on Google Maps.

The Arvo Pärt Project (AAP) at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and Sacred Music in a Sacred Space will present an All-Arvo Pärt Program performed by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir on Wednesday, February 1, at 7 p.m. at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, NYC. The concert will be conducted by Kaspars Putninš, artistic director and chief conductor of the choir, with K. Scott Warren, artistic director at St. Ignatius, as organist.

As a leading proponent of Arvo Pärt’s music in the world, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir has won two Grammy awards for recordings of Pärt’s compositions. Their February concert program will include several of Pärt’s works both for a cappella choir, and choir and organ, among them: "Solfeggio,” "The Beatitudes," "Summa," "Magnificat," "Dopo la vittoria," "The Woman with the Alabaster Box," "Nunc dimittis" and "Salve Regina."

• Order tickets online here, or call 212.288.2520. One-half of the proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit SVOTS.
  
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On Friday, January 20, 2017, at 7 p.m., Fr. Ivan Moody will share his thoughts on the past, present, and future of Orthodox music during an informal conversation with St. Vladimir’s Seminary faculty: Harrison Russin, lecturer in Liturgical Music, and Robin Freeman, director of Music. The event is free of charge and open to the public.

Father Ivan, a celebrated composer, in-demand conductor, and accomplished musicologist, currently is a researcher at CESEM-Universidade Nova de Lisboa, and also is Chairman of the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM). ISOCM has recently released a book by Fr. Ivan, titled Modernism and Orthodox Spirituality in Contemporary Music.

While on the seminary campus Fr. Ivan will also spend time with the seminary choirs in a private classroom setting. Additionally, on Saturday, January 21, he will travel to New York City to attend the world premiere of his composition Vespers Sequence, which will be performed by the Grammy-nominated ensemble New York Polyphony. (Read concert information here.) 

In September 2016, as a participant in St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s weekend symposium entitled “Rethinking Sacred Arts,” Fr. Ivan was interviewed by Professor Peter C. Bouteneff, director of the Sacred Arts Initiative (SAI) at the Seminary. (Watch the interview here.) The symposium was the first in a series of events planned between Fall 2016 and Spring 2018, all of which are part of the SAI funded by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.

The Seminary welcomes the public to what promises to be a lively and richly informative event! An open reception with light refreshments will follow.

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