With cups of tea perched on side tables in the inviting living room of Chancellor Chad Hatfield and Matushka Thekla's Crestwood home, members of the Seminary's St. Juliana's Society listened as special guest Presbytera Renee Ritsi of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) described her life as a missionary in Kenya and Albania. Presbytera Renee and her husband Fr. Martin, the executive director for OCMC, ministered cross culturally in a life that, while difficult, "held great joys," she explained. When their son reached high school age, the Ritsi family moved to OCMC's home base in St. Augustine, FL, while continuing to work and travel on behalf of missions.

"Everyone has a unique, God-given talent," emphasized Pres. Renee. "As we go through our lives, we need to share our faith. We need to ask ourselves every day, 'Am I challenging myself to do God's will?' Don't hide your talents—let them come to fruition!"

Presbytera described how she and Fr. Martin sold their home and cars, packed up their basic belongings, and moved to Nairobi, Kenya with two small children. Serving the Archbishopric of Kenya and Irinopoulis, the Ritsis taught at the Makarios III Orthodox Seminary in Nairobi. While Pres. Renee worked with clergy wives, Fr. Martin served as the parish priest of the St. Anargyroi Cathedral and traveled throughout East Africa teaching and baptizing new Orthodox Christians.

"Africa became our home," said Pres. Renee. "We were impressed by the joy and peace of Kenyan Christians, and I have precious memories of our kids being part of many multicultural situations."

After the Kenyan years, the Ritsi family returned to their home state of California, where Fr. Martin earned a Master of Theology degree in Missiology from Fuller School of World Mission. Another overseas assignment beckoned and Father and Presbytera packed their bags again, this time moving to Albania. For six years they worked under Archbishop Anastasios to help reopen the Orthodox Church, which was just emerging from the repressive Communist era. Presbytera Renee taught ESL and Public Speaking, led retreats for clergy wives and teachers, and also home schooled her children during their elementary years.

"The rest of the world does not live with the same proximity to the Gospel as we do," emphasized Pres. Renee, as the future clergy wives listened intently. "We have a beautiful faith and this is a time of opportunity for this faith. Take what you've been exposed to at St. Vlad's, and use your voice to express your love for Christ."

Formed in 2010, the St. Juliana's Society exists specifically for the needs of future clergy wives, and hosts speakers and discussion topics that focus on spiritual and practical issues faced by families training for ministry in the Church. "In our meetings we create a venue for their questions about what happens after seminary, and try to equip them with the tools they will need," noted coordinator Matushka Thekla.

In his first visit to the St. Vladimir's campus since his Enthronement as primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) in Washington, D.C., His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, archbishop of Washington and metropolitan of All America and Canada, presided over the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of The Meeting of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple. The seminary's Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr and the Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield greeted His Beatitude at the doors of the Three Hierarchs Chapel at the start of the festal service that marks the end of the Nativity/Theophany liturgical cycle.

In his homily, Metropolitan Tikhon reminded the community that the Feast of the Meeting of our Lord emphasizes the importance of obedience to Christ offered in a spirit of love. "There are so many opportunities for this," he stressed. "We all have people in our lives to whom we can become obedient, and grow in our love for one another. But it's difficult, and requires a change in our very being.

"The way to enter the Kingdom," concluded His Beatitude, "is to follow the commandments with the proper attitude in our hearts. Then this becomes a feast of hope, something we can apply to our lives through our love for our neighbor."

"At the culmination of all the Advent services," noted Fr. John, "it is a joy to have you with us, Your Beatitude, and to hear your words to us today." Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude and chapel priests blessed the Seminary's main buildings, sprinkling holy water throughout the

At the conclusion of the blessings, Chancellor Hatfield and Dean Behr presented Metropolitan Tikhon a gift of a Mont Blanc fountain pen in commemoration of his hierarchical visit and the start of his primacy. "His Beatitude signs a multitude of documents, and he was most appreciative of the pen!" said Fr. Chad.

In addition to Fr. Chad and Fr. John, clergy serving at the Liturgy included OCA Chancellor The Very Rev. John Jillions, and SVOTS clergy The Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Rentel, The Rev. Dr. David Mezynski, The Rev. Dr. Benedict Churchill, The Rev. James Parnell, The Rev. Pdn. Joseph Matusiak, The Rev. Dn. Gregory Hatrak, and The Rev. Dn. Evan Freeman. 

Let us who love their words come together with hymns
and honor the three great torch–bearers of the triune Godhead:
Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom.
These men have enlightened the world with the rays of their divine
doctrines.
They are flowing rivers of wisdom,
and have filled all creation with springs of heavenly knowledge.
They ceaselessly intercede for us
before the holy Trinity!

Troparion, Feast of the Three Great Hierarchs 

"Glory be to Thee Who hast shown us the light!" The booming voice of His Grace The Right Rev. John Abdalah (alumnus '84), auxiliary bishop for the Antiochian Archdiocese's Diocese of Worcester and New England, accompanied by the pealing of the Chapel bells, announced The Feast of the Three Great Hierarchs—Ss. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom—patrons of the Seminary's chapel. Appropriately, three hierarchs presided over the Divine Liturgy, including Bishop John, His Grace The Right Rev. Bishop Nicholas, auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn for the Antiochian Archdiocese, and His Grace The Right Rev. Maxim, bishop of the Western Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America (SOC), an episcopal member of the SVOTS Board of Trustees. 

"It was a great joy to welcome the three bishops," said SVOTS Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr. "When we heard the three Antiochian bishops were elected on the same day, and then subsequently consecrated together, we knew it was too good to be true, and we issued an invitation for them to join us on this day. Today we had two of the three who were consecrated help us celebrate our Feast, along with honored guest Bishop Maxim."

Added Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, "A patronal feast is always festive but this year having three hierarchs for Three Hierarchs gave us a particular sense of celebration." In Fr. Chad's homily, he emphasized the meaning of this feast for Orthodox Christians today. "In the days of Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom, people in the Church argued about who was the greatest theologian, even to the extent of breaking into camps dividing over this.

"Today," continued Fr. Chad, "it is still all too easy to speak of 'us' and 'them'. But we are one in Christ, so therefore, let us celebrate a feast of unity." 

Noted second–year student Sandro Margheritino, "In his profound homily, Fr. Chad pointed out that the unity of the three hierarchs is the unity in Christ. Unfortunately we often miss this by focusing on differences which are really insignificant details.This is truly meaningful, on a day in which representatives of three different jurisdictions in America celebrate the Divine Liturgy in unity."

Another second–year student Kyle Parrott added, "It was wonderful to see the chapel, both nave and altar, packed with clergy, staff, students, their families, and visitors. On what otherwise is an ordinary Wednesday morning in January, seeing so many who took the time out of their day to celebrate this feast of Christian unity was very encouraging." 

Michael Soroka, Th.M. student, concurred. "We were blessed to commemorate today's feast of the Three Hierarchs with three hierarchs! The hierarchical liturgy can be served in many different ways, and it was wonderful for the seminary community to get just a small taste of this diversity by celebrating today's liturgy according to the practices of the Antiochian Archdiocese."

In addition to the bishops, Fr. John Behr, and Fr. Chad Hatfield, celebrants in the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy included: The Rev. Dr. J. Sergius Halvorsen, The Rev. Dr. Benedict Churchill, The Rev. Kilian (Sprecher), The Very Rev. Dr. Harry Pappas, The Rev. Pdn. Joseph Matusiak and The Rev. Dn. Gregory Hatrak. Other distinguished guests included The Very Rev. Dr. Predrag Puzovic, dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, Serbia, and Dr. Bogdan Lubardic, assistant professor at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology.

Every year in the chill of an early January morning, students, staff, and friends of St. Vladimir's Seminary meet at 4:30 a.m. to catch the bus to travel to Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life. It's a long day that doesn't end until the bus arrives back on campus at midnight; throughout the day, participants will endure freezing temperatures, crowds, hours on the bus, and a long walk in the nation's capital.

Seminary marchers are quick to say the effort is worth the inconvenience. Now in its 40th year, the March for Life draws hundreds of thousands of people from all over the United States for a peaceful rally and walk on the National Mall that ends at the steps of the Supreme Court. People brave the cold January temperatures to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in all fifty states, and to call for greater protection and help for unborn children and their mothers.

In the last few years, the Seminary's contingent has increased, as more students and friends of SVOTS have journeyed to D.C. to join with other Orthodox Christians in the March, including most of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and seminarians from St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA. Orthodox marchers sing as they walk, and participating clergy and hierarchs also offer a short panikhida for the unborn as a part of the day's commemorations.

This year, the St. Ambrose Society, the Seminary's student–run Pro Life advocacy group, planned the day's activities, with assistance from Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, who also rode the bus with the students. Enroute, the riders viewed a video about the work of Good Counsel Homes, a local ministry for women and children supported by the Society.

Andre. "We march in order to remember the 56 million aborted children that have died because of Roe v. Wade over the last 40 years." 

In a gesture appreciated by the crowd, His Beatitude The Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the OCA, along with the bishops of the Holy Synod, sang the hymn "Grant Rest and Eternal Repose, O Lord" from the platform, rather than from the sidelines as was their practice in previous years, enabling all of the crowd to hear the prayer. People responded to this rendering of the hymn with absolute silence and respect, rather than offering applause as they had been doing for other speakers and musicians.

"Overall, it was a great trip" said Dn. Andre. "People of all ages and backgrounds were walking together, singing songs, praying, and speaking out for the unborn children and women who are victimized by abortion."

RELATED LINKS:

• Deacon Andre's YouTube diary

• Hear St. Ambrose Society's presentation on the topic of sex–selection abortion 

• Read a Seminarian's reflection after the 2012 March for Life

• Learn more about the March

Summer Programs 2013

Participate in one of our continuing education programs on our beautiful campus this summer. Travel and airport service information available HERE.

Note: The Marriage Enrichment Workshop with Fr. Aaron Warwick has been postponed.

Sunday, May 26–Sunday, June 2, 2013
Iconography Workshop for College-Age Youth, endorsed by Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) — Kh. Erin Kimmet, Annunciation Press Icons, iconographer and workshop leader

Friday, May 31–Saturday June 1, 2013
Conference on Poverty, co-hosted with Acton Institute — The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, SVOTS chancellor/CEO and conference coordinator; hosted in memory of Dn. John Zarras, SVOTS alumnus ('06)

Thursday, June 6–Saturday, June 8, 2013
Pastoral Counseling: Conflict Resolution Skills — Dr. Albert Rossi and The Very Rev. Dr. Nicholas Solak, workshop leaders

Sunday, June 9–Wednesday, June 12, 2013
7th Annual Diaconal Liturgical Practicum — Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov, practicum leader 

Monday, June 17–Friday, June 28, 2013
Suffering and the Nature of Healing: — Dr. Daniel Hinshaw, visiting professor; an academic  2–credit course

Download a PDF of SVOTS Summer Programs 2013 here.

Check back! Programs will be regularly updated!

Dr. David Drillock, emeritus professor of Liturgical Music, directed the choir, and Seminary Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr and Senior Advisor Theodore Bazil also attended the Liturgy.

At the celebratory banquet afterwards, held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, Fr. Chad noted that "I was impressed with and encouraged by His Beatitude's comment during his address at the banquet: that he would make the OCA seminaries and their needs a high priority of his primacy." 

Born Marc R. Mollard in Boston MA on July 15, 1966, His Beatitude entered the monastic community at St. Tikhon's Monastery shortly after his reception into the Orthodox Church in 1989. On February 14, 2004, he was consecrated to the episcopacy at St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery Church, to serve the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania for the OCA. On May 9, 2012, he was elevated to the dignity of Archbishop.

Upon his election he assumed the ex officio positions of President of the Seminary and Chair of its Board of Trustees. Dean Behr explained that "the Seminary community anticipates His Beatitude's first visit to our campus following his Enthronement, when he will preside at Three Hierarchs Chapel for the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord on February 2, 2013, and will receive a special primatial gift we've prepared for him." 

The Enthronement capped off an eventful weekend,  which also included St. Vladimir's participation in Friday's Washington, D.C. March for Life, held every year in conjunction with the anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe V. Wade decision which legalized abortion in all fifty states. United States Representative Chris Smith (NJ, 4th District), a featured speaker at the March for Life, attended Sunday's Enthronement banquet and expressed to Chancellor Hatfield his appreciation for the growing Orthodox Christian participation in Pro life events.

Related posts:

• Read His Beatitude's biography

• Read the OCA's report about the Enthronement

• Read about His Beatitude's first visit to SVOTS following his election

The Very Rev. Marcus Burch, chancellor of the Diocese of the South (DOS) of the Orthodox Church in America, visited diocesan students over an eventful weekend that included the 30th Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture. The DOS Carolina Dean, The Very Rev. Thomas Moore, accompanied Fr. Marcus.

Father Marcus explained that the main purpose of the visit was to meet with the students and families who are finishing their time at SVOTS in May of 2013, in order to discuss placement possibilities after Commencement. Both Fr. Marcus and Fr. Thomas also met with students in the second year who are petitioning for ordination.

On Saturday afternoon, the visiting priests also hosted all DOS students for a meal and fellowship. "This provided us an opportunity to meet with the first year students, all the spouses, and children," explained Fr. Marcus. "I feel very strongly that we need to know not only the clergyman whom we will place in the DOS," he continued, "but also his wife and children. And we should know of any unique circumstances in their lives, to help us discern how they should be placed."

Additionally, Fr. Marcus met with Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield and Seminary Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr to discuss diocesan students and their future ministries. Father Marcus outlined some of the issues that the diocesan leaders addressed: the process for placement within the diocese, the desire that all rising seniors would be able to do a summer internship in a parish between the 2nd and 3rd years, the first assignment, and implementing the DOS Seminary Debt Service Program, which services student loans for seminarians who are assigned in the DOS, throughout the duration of their assignments.

While at St. Vladimir's, the DOS Chancellor and Carolina Dean also attended the panikhida service for the newly reposed DOS priest Fr. Jacob Myers, offered Saturday afternoon in Three Hierarchs Chapel prior to the Vigil. Both at the Vigil on Saturday evening as well as at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, Fr. Marcus and Fr. Thomas concelebrated with SVOTS clergy. "We thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship with old friends and new," said Fr. Marcus. 

75th Anniversary Fundraiser: View the Silent Auction List

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Glen Island Harbour Club, Glen Island Park, Weyman Avenue,

New Rochelle, NY, 10805

Cocktail Reception: 6:00–7:00 PM

Dinner: 7:00 PM

Single ticket price: $250.00

Priest and/or spouse single ticket price:  $150.00; $300.00 per couple

SVOTS seminarian single ticket price:  $100.00

(Black Tie Optional)

With special guests: His Grace Bishop Basil (Essey) of Wichita and Mid-America, and The Very Rev. Dr. John McGuckin, professor at Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University

Questions about the event? Please contact Maria Kouloumbis, Advancement Assistant, at mariak@svots.edu / (914) 961-8313 x360, or Robin Freeman, Annual Gifts Officer, at robin@svots.edu / (914) 961-8313 x317. For technical issues with online registration, please contact Georgios Kokonas, Associate Chancellor for Technology, at gkokonas@svots.edu / (914) 961-8313 x327. 

Download a PDF flier of all Fall 2013 Events at SVOTS here.

Email a JPG flier of all Fall 2013 Events at SVOTS here.

Princeton University's Philip and Beulah Rollins Professor of History Emeritus Dr. Peter Brown presented the 30th Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture to a standing room only crowd in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Building. Titled "Constantine, Eusebius, and the Future of Christianity," the presentation focused on how Christians understand the historical period of late antiquity in which the Emporer Constantine and the historian Eusebius stand out as central figures.

Dr. Brown presented his lecture with humility and humor. "It's a great honor to find myself here, and a great joy, an occasion to repay the debt that I've long owed the outstanding members of this Seminary. Father Schmemann combined an infectious sense of the timeless joy of the kingdom of Christ with an equally acute sense of history." The historian then described the backdrop of the 4th century era and noted that Christians who came after the towering figures of Constantine and Eusebius often erred in projecting backwards their own "images of Christianity which belong to a later period," rather than understanding the unique times in which both of these men lived.

Some of the characteristics of the Christian mindset of this era, Dr. Brown explained, were a conviction that paganism did not pose a threat to Christianity, a passion for the "exaltation of the Church," and a "thin universalism" that did not envision the Christianization of the Roman Empire per se, but rather welcomed the possibility of the inclusion of all people who would choose to embrace the Christian faith.

Noted Dr. Brown, "the strength of the Church is not in the past, present, or future, but in Christ." Additionally, he said, the freedom as Christians to speak aloud and be heard, and to exalt our faith through our liturgies and our places of worship, is in itself "a huge virtue" to be appreciated and cherished.

Before the lecture began, the faculty processed in full academic regalia,  and Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield warmly welcomed guests to both the Academic Convocation and Schmemann Lecture. Dr. John Barnet, associate dean for Academic Affairs, then read a citation summarizing Dr. Brown's accomplishments. Among other things, the commendation noted that he is a "writer of elegant prose, opening up to us the cultures of the early Christians, enabling them across the centuries to speak to us today." At this time, Dr. Barnet, as the representative for the Seminary's Board of Trustees and faculty, awarded Dr. Brown the Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa.

Following the awarding of the honorary doctorate, The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir's, introduced Dr. Brown's lecture by noting that "Fr. Schmemann was always looking beyond the campus to speak to the broader world.

"Today," he continued, "we have the good fortune to hear from someone who has not only worked in the field of history but also has redefined that discipline...late antiquity is now not seen as a period of decline and fall, but rather as a period of great creative distinctive and decisive significance."

An array of distinguished guests attended the lecture, including His Beatitude The Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), The Rev. Msgr. Peter Vaccari, rector of St. Vladimir's sister seminary St. Joseph's, and members of the Board of Trustees who had concluded their series of meetings just hours prior and had stayed on the Yonkers campus to enjoy the presentation by the erudite and renowned scholar.

An outstanding scholar, Dr. Brown is credited with having virtually created the field of study referred to as "late antiquity" (A.D. 250–800), the period during which Rome fell, the three major monotheistic religions took shape, and Christianity spread across Europe. A native of Ireland, Professor Brown earned his B.A. in history from Oxford University (1956), where he taught until 1975 as a Fellow of All Souls College. He joined the Princeton faculty in 1986 after teaching at the University of London and the University of California, Berkeley. Professor Brown's primary interests are the transition from antiquity to the Middle Ages and the rise of Christianity, and he has pursued them through investigations into such diverse topics as Roman rhetoric, the cult of the saints, the body and sexuality, and wealth and poverty.

Traditionally hosted in January on the Feast of the Three Hierarchs, the Schmemann Lecture has been a high point of St. Vladimir's academic year since 1984. Over the years, outstanding theologians and church leaders such as Protopresbyter Boris Bobrinskoy, dean of the St. Sergius Theological Institute in Paris; His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; and His Eminence, The Most Rev. Hilarion (Alfeyev), metropolitan of Volokolamsk and chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, have touched upon a wide range of subjects from theological themes, music, liturgy and Christian history.

Dr. Brown concluded his lecture to vigorous applause, after which a lively question and answer session ensued. The singing of "It is Truly Meet" concluded the formal portion of the evening, and then guests enjoyed an array of refreshments prepared by Chef Nat Fasciani and Special Events Coordinator Tatiana Penkrat. The Convocation and Schmemann Lecture officially launched the 75th anniversary year of the Seminary, founded in 1938, and will be followed by other Jubilee events. 

Coming Soon! Ancient Faith Radio's podcast of the Schmemann Lecture on Voices from St. Vladimir's Seminary.

On Sunday evening, a group of St. Vladimir's Seminary's friends gathered in Westboro, MA, at the Self–Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese 's Diocese of Worcester and New England Chancery. Alumni and other long–time supporters of the school invited by Alumni Board Chair Gregory Abdalah (SVOTS '08) met for refreshments, fellowship, and presentations about the work of the Seminary.

In a brief reflection, His Grace the Right Rev. John (Abdalah) shared his memories of St. Vladimir's and emphasized the Seminary's importance in his formation as a priest and hierarch. Following His Grace's talk, SVOTS Dean and Professor of Patristics The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr then updated the guests as to recent developments at the Seminary and future projects under discussion, such as an international house of studies which would serve Orthodox scholars and students from around the world.

"It was an honor to host an event celebrating the 75th anniversary of St. Vlad's in New England," enthused Gregory Abdalah. "I hope this is the beginning of a resurgence in the bonds between my beloved alma mater and this region."

On Monday morning, Antiochian clergy from the Diocese of Worcester and New England convened over breakfast at the Chancery before participating in a morning clergy retreat led by Fr. John Behr. Dean Behr spoke about topics covered in his upcoming SVS Press book Becoming Human. "We talked about how we know Christ through the opening of the Scriptures and the breaking of the bread in the light of His Passion, His conquering of death by His death, and how the early martyrs saw their own impending martyrdom as a birth in which they are conformed to Christ.

"With all this in mind," Fr. John noted, "we then turned to today's pastoral challenge. By and large we don't view the realities of death in the way that earlier generations did. The bodies of the deceased are no longer kept at home, laid out for the wake until taken to church to be commended to God and interred in the earth. Instead they are taken away as soon as possible, to be made up to look as if they are still living. Then the funeral service, with the body present commending them to God, is often replaced with a 'memorial event' at which the body is no longer there."

Continued Fr. John, "but if Christ shows us what it is to be God in the way that he dies as a human being, then, if we remove the face of death from society as we have done, we also remove the face of God. This is, I would suggest, the most important pastoral challenge facing us today."

After the retreat, Bishop John expressed appreciation for the opportunity to hear Fr. John's patristic and scholarly reflections. "The clergy were so impressed with Fr. John's presentation that they asked him to return and do a more extensive retreat for them," he said.