Spouses at St. Vladimir's Seminary: Stephen and Lindsey Osburn, Martha Carlisle, James and Danielle Wiegel, Dn. Andre and Mtka. Samantha Paez, and Ashli Moore. In addition to hosting a pastoral meeting with all the westerners to hear feedback about their time at seminary, Fr. Basil and Fr. Matthew paid special attention to those students and families who are concluding their years at SVOTS in May and thinking about future parish placement. In the evening, the entire group also went out to a local restaurant to extend their time of fellowship.

"It is always a great joy for us to be able to visit our seminarians at both STOTS and SVOTS," said Fr. Matthew afterwards. "We are always humbled by the incredible sacrifice that the students and their families make in their preparation to serve the Church. It's also impressive to see the wonderful transformation in them over the course of three years.

"We especially appreciated having an evening with Fr. John Behr to discuss the future of St. Vladimir's," continued Fr. Matthew. "His love for the work of the Seminary and his infectious enthusiasm for his teaching was very encouraging!" 

The following Monday and Tuesday, a delegation from the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania led by Chancellor The Very Rev. John Kowalczyk also visited campus. The group of Pennsylvanian clergy all participated in a diocesan retreat with Dr. Albert Rossi, adjunct professor of Pastoral Theology. Professor Rossi offered two talks on prayer and healing, and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology Dr. Peter Bouteneff led an evening group discussion titled "Church and Culture." While on campus, the Diocese also hosted a wine and cheese reception for seminarians and their families, featuring wine from the Monastery of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk in South Canaan, PA. 

On Wednesday evening, St. Vladimir's Seminary hosted the February meeting of the Interseminary Dialogue (ISD) of New York City in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium. The ISD, an informal organization composed of eight different Jewish and Christian seminaries in the New York area, sponsored the event featuring Hierodeacon Herman (Majkrzak), SVOTS lecturer in Liturgical Music and Chapel Choir Director speaking on the topic "Conversion in the Orthodox Christian Experience."

After Seminarian and Student Council ISD Liaison Dn. Adam Horstman offered a brief welcome, Fr. Herman introduced his talk by explaining that Orthodox Christians will soon be entering a Lenten period which, according to the Orthodox liturgical calendar and lectionary, not only ushers in a season of almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, but also begins the period in which catechumens are prepared for baptism and entry into the Church. After Pascha, he continued, the Church feeds the newly baptized to help them grow in their fledgling faith. One of the Sunday Gospels read in this post–Paschal period of training is the story of the Samaritan woman, or St. Photini as she is known in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

Father Herman then read the story from the Gospel of John to the gathered ISD students, and offered his thoughts about what the passage teaches about the Orthodox Christian conversion experience. "If we take an honest look at ourselves," he noted, "we notice that we deal with a ceaseless stream of thoughts all day, every day. Our thoughts are full of desires—we want, we need, we must have. Like this woman, we keep coming back to the well, over and over again; like this woman, if we wish to have the living water, we must put something down in order to receive the best that God has for us. Only when we let go of the most cherished aspects of our lives, will we be filled with God. And thus, our conversion can begin."

In his conclusion, Fr. Herman observed that as Orthodox Christians, once we are converted, we desire to bring others into the Faith as well. "The Samaritan woman could not keep this to herself—the fact that Christ came in the flesh that we might know Him as the Way, the Truth, the Life."

After Fr. Herman concluded his remarks, smaller groups discussed three questions based on his talk:

"Do I believe that my faith is True, with a capital T—true for me but also, true for you?"
"Am I willing to share my faith with others who do not share my faith in a respectful manner, with a goal of helping them believe that it is true, too?"
"Given the choice to either deny my faith or die, which would I choose?"

In the group discussions, the guests from other seminaries asked penetrating questions about how Orthodox view the proselytization of other Christians and non–Christians. Several wondered how those from other non–Christian religious backgrounds can begin to sort out the differences between Christian denominations. At one table, discussion turned to the meaning of the Trinity, and to the points of intersection and divergence between Judaism and Christian teaching.

At the conclusion of the evening, third–year Yeshivat Chovevei Torah student Andrew Scheer reflected: "My three years in Interseminary Dialogue have provided for me an invaluable resource in terms of acquiring a familiarity with my fellow future clergy and their theological positions. The network of colleagues I've cultivated through ISD continue to serve my rabbinate well! I encourage all religious leaders to take advantage of opportunities for being in fellowship with not only our co–religionists but people of all religious stripes."

Read Dn. Adam Horstman's reflection about ISD
 

At the invitation of His Eminence Nicolae, archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas, The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary (SVOTS) traveled to Bucharest to sign a cooperative agreement between SVOTS and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Bucharest. His visit, blessed by His Beatitude Daniel, archbishop of Bucharest, metropolitan of Muntenia and Dobrudgea, locum tenens of the throne of Caesarea of Cappadocia, patriarch of Romania, began on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee when he celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Ss. Constantine and Helen.

On Sunday afternoon, His Beatitude hosted Archbishop Nicolae and Fr. John for an extended meeting at the Patriarchal Residence. Patriarch Daniel presented Fr. John with a pectoral cross and in return, the seminary's Dean offered His Beatitude several SVS Press books and an icon of St. Vladimir depicted with the seminary's Three Hierarchs Chapel. Father John expressed his gratitude to the Patriarch for having blessed the project between the two schools of theology in New York and Bucharest.

"I'm gratified to see that our plans for partnering with overseas schools is bearing fruit," said Fr. John. "Through these collaborative efforts we will be able to serve the various Orthodox churches in the United States more effectively by enriching the formation of our students, and we will lay the groundwork for ongoing and sustained dialogue with Orthodox schools of theology overseas." The agreement with the University of Bucharest's Faculty  of Orthodox Theology is the second one to be formalized this winter; on February 12, 2013, Fr. John and SVOTS Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield signed a formal agreement with the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at the University of Belgrade to establish a Serbian House of Studies at SVOTS.

In that same spirit of collaboration, Fr. John led a conference for faculty and students in the University's Great Hall on Monday, centered on the topic "Becoming Human," the theme of his soon–to–be–released SVS Press book. During the busy morning, he also met with Theology Faculty Dean The Rev. Dr. Stefan Buchiu and other faculty members, signed the document outlining the cooperative agreement, and joined his Bucharest colleagues for a celebratory lunch.

"In the USA, the Orthodox faith is two centuries old, and the Orthodox faithful come from all over the world, from Romania, Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Middle East, so that we all live together," noted Fr. John in his remarks during Sunday's Divine Liturgy. "Living together with various nations, traditions and cultures, our place is a very special one which encourages the experience of the Orthodox faith.

"We are all pilgrims in this world, as one of the fathers of the second century used to say," added Fr. John. "This same early Christian sent a letter to Diogenet in which he said of all Christians: 'Any foreign country is their homeland and any homeland is a foreign country for them.' I am in a foreign country, but I feel as if I am at home in my own country."

RELATED LINKS

Read the Romanian Basilica News Agency's press release about Fr. John's visit
Learn more about the Serbian House of Studies at St. Vladimir's Seminary

In a much anticipated match–up that had been rescheduled due to Hurricane Sandy, basketball teams from St. Vladimir's and St. Tikhon's seminaries traveled to the gym at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle, NY, and competed in their annual face off. The game, a well–loved tradition between the two schools due to its atmosphere of friendly competition and goodwill, provided its usual excitement and suspense for the fans gathered to watch the action; the lead changed hands several times throughout the course of the game. When the final buzzer sounded, St. Vladimir's Seminary (SVOTS) had narrowly defeated St. Tikhon's (STOTS) 39 to 38, despite the valiant efforts of the St. Tikhon's players.

"It was a defensive game with a lower score than usual," said second–year student and player Fr. James Stevens. "This is traditionally a very close game, and though St. Tikhon's did a better job rebounding and getting easy shots in the paint, it was our perimeter presence that ultimately won the day."

Afterwards, St. Vladimir's hosted both teams for pizza and fellowship in the Germack refectory. The Seminary is grateful to Fr. Nicholas Anctil and his parishioners at Holy Trinity, for graciously hosting the game in their beautiful athletic facility.

In the first Divine Liturgy celebrated at St. Vladimir's Seminary by a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), His Grace The Right Rev. Peter, bishop of Cleveland for the Diocese of Chicago and Mid–America, presided over Sunday's service at Three Hierarchs Chapel. The Very Rev. Dr. Martin Swanson, dean of the Orthodox Pastoral School and rector of St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church in St. Louis Missouri, accompanied His Grace. The choir interspersed Slavonic responses with hymns in English, in a liturgical celebration which Seminary Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr noted "would not have been possible just five years ago" prior to the restoration of the canonical link between ROCOR and the Russian Orthodox Church on May 17, 2007.

"It has brought back many memories from forty years ago when I used to visit the Seminary as a young man," His Grace remarked following the Liturgy. "A lot has changed since then! Yet still, the beautiful singing and the holy prayers continue." Added Fr. John Behr in his greeting, "Bishop Peter has been a friend of St. Vladimir's for many decades and it's been wonderful to host him throughout this weekend."

Bishop Peter's visit coincided with the Sunday of Zacchaeus, a liturgical signal to Orthodox Christians everywhere that the Lenten season has drawn near. In his homily, Fr. John noted the blessings received by the faithful in the winter's liturgical cycle. "We've been given so much over the past weeks and months," he emphasized. "So what should our response be? We too must enter into the desert, eagerly seeking the Lord like Zacchaeus with expectation and intense desire.

In addition to Dean Swanson, Hierodeacon Seraphim (Nikoloski), a student from Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, NY, also joined His Grace for the historic liturgy. Dean Behr and other Three Hierarchs Chapel clergy served alongside the distinguished guests: The Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Rentel, The Rev. Dr. David Mezynski, The Rev. Pdn. Joseph Matusiak, The Rev. Dn. Gregory Hatrak, and The Rev. Dn. Evan Freeman. 

Dr. Paul Meyendorff, Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology,  journeyed to Paris, France in early February to receive a doctorate in theology, honoris causa, awarded by the St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris, France. The academic convocation in Paris was chaired by His Eminence Emmanuel (Adamakis), metropolitan of France (Ecumenical Patriarchate), and led by The Very Rev. Nicholas Ozoline, dean of the Institute.

The citation, pronounced by Professor of Liturgical Theology Dr. André Lossky, highlighted a theme consistently present in Dr. Meyendorff's many published works, that of the ecclesial dimension of liturgical worship. He also stressed Dr. Meyendorff's active role in the life of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and especially his ecumenical work, in which he has for many years been an effective representative of Orthodoxy to Western Christians. Currently, Dr. Meyendorff serves on the North American Orthodox–Catholic Theological Consultation, and is a frequent consultant to the OCA's Office of Interchurch Relations and Ecumenical Witness.

connection between St. Sergius and St. Vladimir's Seminary. Father Georges Florovsky taught at St. Sergius before coming to America, and Frs. Alexander Schmemann and John Meyendorff both studied and taught at the Paris Institute before coming to St. Vladimir's in the 1950's. The strong spiritual link between the two schools is evident in their common emphasis on the centrality of the eucharist, which has led to a strong eucharistic revival in Orthodox churches throughout the world. 

Founded in 1925, the Institute offers a complete program of licentiate, masters and doctoral degrees.

MORE LINKS

• Read about Dr. Meyendorff's Fall 2012 Inter–Orthodox Meeting in Kos, Greece
• Read about his participation in a December 2012 QuOTE meeting in Helsinki, Finland

St. Vladimir's Seminary (SVOTS) and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at the University of Belgrade have made a formal agreement to work together with the aim of establishing a Serbian House of Studies on the campus of St. Vladimir's Seminary. The House of Studies has several goals, including the promotion of sustained dialogue and educational exchanges between Orthodox Christians in America and Serbia.

The Serbian House of Studies is one of many endeavors outlined in the Seminary's newly crafted "SVS Strategic Plan 2020," and the first to be implemented. The Strategic Plan—which sets forth the Board's vision for St. Vladimir's Seminary for the next decade—actually calls for several such foreign houses of study, together comprising "The International Center of Orthodox Christian Studies," eventually to be located in the historic stone "Germack Building" on campus.

The agreement between SVOTS and the University of Belgrade had been in negotiation for some time, including review and reception by the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. An opportunity to formally sign the agreement came when His Grace, The Right Rev. Maxim, bishop of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, and a member of the Board of St Vladimir's, together with Protopresbyter Stauvrophor Dr. Predrag Puzović, dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, and their colleague Dr. Bogdan Lubardić, visited St Vladimir's for the Feast of the Three Hierarchs.

"There are many advantages to our envisioned 'International Center,' said The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr. "Firstly, these houses of study will 'formalize' our existing relationships with other Orthodox schools around the world; ultimately, St. Vladimir's will be the only place on the planet where Orthodox Christian faculty and students are living, working, and studying while fostering international dialogue.

"Secondly, student exchanges between two countries will enrich the whole student body," he continued. "In this case, American Serbian seminarians will get to experience church life in the country of their home jurisdiction, while foreign students will train here and get to understand the American Orthodox scene. This will help our American students better understand and incorporate their heritage, including Serbian history and liturgical practices, into their ministry.

"Thirdly, our seminary campus will be the locus for further theological research by a faculty member from Belgrade University, who will remain in residence for one year and share his particular knowledge with our own student body, while overseeing Serbian exchange students.

"And finally," Fr. John concluded, "the Serbian House of Studies will act as a liaison and center for alumni of Serbian descent from theological schools around the world. We plan to run alumni events throughout the year from this new center, and we plan to publish a newsletter reporting on those events.

The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, seminary Chancellor/CEO, also enthusiastically endorsed the agreement, saying, "This is only the first of many proposed Houses within the International Center for Orthodox Christian Studies. It should be noted that the long-term plan is to include various Oriental Orthodox Houses as well, and their inclusion will build upon our Seminary's history as a place of serious exchange between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians." 

RELATED LINKS:

• Read about Serbian students at SVOTS
• Read about Dean Behr's humanitarian involvement in Serbia
• Read the document outining the framework for the House of Studies

Distinguished seminary alumnus The Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Atty (SVOTS '79) has announced his immediate retirement as Dean and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (STOTS) in South Canaan, PA. Father Alexander, who has served the past three years in that position while giving particular attention to the renovation needs of the STOTS campus, cited health reasons in a statement posted on February 6.

"What was always clear to me in conversations with Fr. Alexander," noted St. Vladimir's Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, "was his primary concern of meeting the pastoral needs of his seminarians above all else." 

Father Alexander assumed the role of St. Tikhon's COO after having served as the rector of St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church in Louisville, KY, a parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. He holds a B.S. in engineering from Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science. After earning his M.Div. at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, he went on to study at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, earning his D.Min. in 2008.

Ordained a priest on December 9, 1979 at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Brooklyn, NY, Fr. Alexander was elevated to the rank of archpriest in 1988. In 2009, he presented the seminary's annual public Lenten retreat, focused on the theme “Good and Faithful Servants.”

Read St. Tikhon's Seminary's announcement.

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.