Today, our seminary remembers the 50th anniversary of the repose of His Eminence Metropolitan Antony (Bashir), who fell asleep in the Lord on this day in 1966. Metropolitan Antony shepherded the Antiochian Orthodox Church in North America for three decades. He was a gifted administrator, a caring pastor, and a visionary leader. He was an advocate for the use of English in church services and a strong proponent of Orthodox unity in America.
To celebrate the anniversary of his repose, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press (SVS Press) is offering a 50% discount on Antony Bashir—Metropolitan and Missionary through the end of February, 2016. The biography, written by noted pastor and lecturer the Very Reverend Economos Constantine Nasr (SVOTS ‘73), is a fascinating look behind the scenes at an important period of history in the establishment of the Orthodox faith in America. An excerpt can be found here.
In addition, SVS Press is offering a 10% discount on any title in the Orthodox Profile Series with the purchase of Antony Bashir—Metropolitan and Missionary.
The Board and Faculty of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary conferred a Doctor of Humane Letters degree, honoris causa, to John G. Rangos, Sr., seminary benefactor, in a special ceremony on February 7, 2016, in Boca Raton, Florida.
A successful businessman and internationally recognized philanthropist, Dr. Rangos is the founder of The John G. Rangos Sr. Family Charitable Foundation, which supports numerous health care and educational efforts. The Foundation made a lasting impact on the Seminary by generously supporting the construction of a new administrative building. Named for Dr. Rangos, The John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building was completed and occupied in 2001, and represents a decade of planning, fundraising, and construction.
Family and close friends looked on as Dr. Rangos was hooded by the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield, chancellor/CEO of St. Vladimir’s.
“We both thank him and honor him with this doctorate of great distinction."
The building is home to administrative offices, the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium, and the Father Georges Florovsky Library. The Library currently holds over 180,000 volumes. It is considered one of the richest resources available on the North American continent for research on Eastern Christianity.
Mr. Alex Machaskee, executive chair of the Seminary’s Board of Trustees, represented the Board at the conferral ceremony. “Dr. Rangos has been a dear friend of St. Vladimir’s for many years,” said Mr. Machaskee. “We are sincerely grateful not only for his involvement with our seminary, but with many other Orthodox Christian institutions and humanitarian causes, including International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), which he founded. Dr. Rangos epitomizes a person who has been blessed and in turn shares his treasures for the benefit of many through multiple humanitarian contributions.”
A full biography of Dr. John G. Rangos, Sr., may be accessed here.
Test Speaker Svots,575 Scarsdale Road,10707,Yonkers,NY,US
Please join us on Saturday, March 12, at 1:00 P.M. in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium as we celebrate the launch of the first title in our new Coptic Studies Series, The Life of Repentance and Purity, by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III.
His Grace Bishop Dr. Anba Suriel (Guirgis), Coptic Studies Series Editor; the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir’s; and the Very Reverend Athanasius K. Farag will give presentations and guide discussion. Copies of The Life of Repentance and Purity will be available for purchase, and light refreshments will be served.
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III was the 117th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St Mark. He shepherded the Coptic Orthodox Church for over 40 years before he departed this life in 2012. In The Life of Repentance and Purity, His Holiness draws on Scripture, the Church Fathers, his own experience of desert monasticism, and his experience as a shepherd to millions of Christians to provide a practical understanding of how to live a life of continually turning to God.
Pope Shenouda's book was first translated from Arabic in 1989 by Bishop Suriel and was published in 1991 by the Coptic Orthodox Publication and Translation Committee in Sydney. The new translation, also by Bishop Suriel, includes editions and patristic references and is a joint publication between St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press (SVS Press) and St. Athanasius Press, the fledgling publishing house of St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Theological College in Donvale, Australia, where His Grace acts as Dean.
The Coptic Studies Series at SVS Press was conceived with a two-fold purpose: to increase the accessibility of the many treasures of Coptic Orthodox Christianity to a wider English-speaking audience; and to cross-pollinate the spiritual minds of Coptic Orthodox Christians and their Eastern Orthodox brethren with the knowledge of a common faith in the incarnate Word of God—who is the true source of all wisdom and knowledge.
A panikhida will be served for Fr. John on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at 8:00 p.m. at Assumption of the Holy Virgin. The church will be open at 7:00 p.m., and Philadelphia area clergy are invited to serve with His Eminence Archbishop Michael.
A panikhida will also be served on Wednesday evening (time to be announced), February 10, 2016, at Ss. Peter and Paul Church. Father John will be buried at St. Tikhon’s Monastery on Thursday, February 11. Additional information and funeral arrangements will be posted as they become available.
Boris George Nicoloff, an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary (M.Div. ’69), entered into eternal rest on January 31, 2016. The entire seminary community expresses our condolences to his family.
A gifted musician, Boris founded the Harvard-Radcliffe Byzantine Russian Liturgical Choir in 1965. During his studies at St. Vladimir’s, he directed the Summer Octet, and also worked with Fathers Alexander Schmemann and John Meyendorff to organize retreats for college students. Following his graduation from seminary, Boris moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked as the choir director at Holy Trinity Cathedral and sang as a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera Company. After a number of years, Boris relocated to Detroit, Michigan, in order to care for his aging parents. He became a member of St. Paul Orthodox Cathedral in Dearborn Heights, where he not only sang in the choir but also hand-painted the icons on the iconostasis.
“Boris was a proud graduate, a skilled musician and singer, a choir director, and an iconographer,” remarked his sister, Mary Ann Lopoukhine.
He is survived by his brother Nicolas and wife Elinore [Eftimoff], their son George and daughter Christine [Frank] Gajor, and children Christian and Alexandra; his brother Deacon Clement and wife Audrey [Brewer] and their daughters Nicole and Mara [John] Benz; and his sister, Mary Ann [Nikita] Lopoukhine, and their daughters Sofia and Alexandra and son Raphael [Melissa].
Visitation will begin at Saint Paul Cathedral, 700 North Beech Daly, Dearborn Heights, MI, at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 5. The Panikhida will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume on Saturday, February 6, at 10:00 a.m., followed by the Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Boris’s memory be made to the “Father Nicoloff Scholarship Fund” at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, 575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707.
33rd Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture
The Reverend Dr. John Chryssavgis, archdeacon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, presented the 33rd Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture titled, “Toward the Great and Holy Council: Retrieving a Culture of Conciliarity and Consensus” to an engaged, capacity crowd. The lecture was preceded by an academic convocation at which the Seminary's Board of Trustees and faculty bestowed a Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa, on Fr. John, and a Doctor of Canon Law degree, honoris causa, on former Seminary Trustee and distinguished Orthodox layman Charles Richard Ajalat.
“Charles’s work for the Orthodox Church and beyond over the last decades has been extensive, hugely significant, and influential,” remarked the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir’s, before bestowing the honorary degrees on the two recipients.
Father John called the evening’s guest lecturer “a truly great friend of St. Vladimir’s Seminary and the Orthodox Church in America,” stating that “we owe him a great deal for all that he has done for us.”
Days before the lecture, Fr. John Chryssavgis was present at the Synaxis of Primates of the Orthodox Autocephalous Churches in Chambésy, Geneva, where it was decided that the Council would proceed at the Orthodox Academy of Crete from June 16 to 27, 2016. “This is, in fact, the first presentation about the Council anywhere in the world after the Chambesy meeting,” noted Fr. John.
Speaking candidly with both humor and passion, Fr. John placed the Great and Holy Council in a historical context. “The forthcoming council is unprecedented,” he said. “It will mark the first ever gathering from fourteen autocephalous churches, including the ancient patriarchates, except Rome.”
Father John then went on to outline the Council’s agenda items, which he grouped into three separate categories: internal relations among the Orthodox churches; issues of a pastoral and practical nature; and relations with other Christian churches and the world.
In reflecting on the possible outcomes of the upcoming Council, Fr, John stated that “the most consequential and enduring pronouncement will be its determination on the diaspora.”
He also reflected on the relationship between conciliarity, consensus, and communion. “Conciliarity implies retrieving a process that involves relearning fresh ways of being and working together. Consensus was never a model of conciliar expression.”
“Our Church can play a major role in the world,” said Fr. John, in closing. “But for this to happen, all of the churches must be placed at the service of God, the gospel, and the body of Christ.” At the conclusion of his lecture, Fr. John received an immediate and robust standing ovation. He then offered further reflection on particular aspects of the upcoming Council, as he publicly responded to questions from seminary faculty, students, and friends.
Several noted guests attended the lecture, including His Beatitude The Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and president of the Seminary, members of the Board of Trustees, and members of the Ajalat family, including Dr. Ajalat’s son, Richard, a 2013 Master of Divinity graduate of St. Vladimir’s.
Archdeacon John Chryssavgis currently serves as a special theological advisor to the Ecumenical Patriarch on a range of matters, from environmental concerns to broader inter-Orthodox and inter-Christian relations. He studied theology and philosophy at Athens and Oxford, and taught patristics and church history in Sydney and Boston. Since 2006, Fr. John has served as a visiting professor or occasional lecturer at numerous and prestigious institutions around the world such as Princeton, Yale, Harvard, University of Chicago, and Utrecht University. Father John has published thirty-five books and numerous articles on the church fathers and Orthodox spirituality, including the two-volume Primacy in the Church, published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press in January 2016.
The Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture was inaugurated in 1984, one year after the repose of the Seminary’s beloved former dean. Well known scholars and ecclesiastical leaders have spoken on topics ranging from patristics and sacred art of the Orthodox Church, to personal remembrances of Father Alexander. A complete list of the lecturers may be found here.
Primacy in the Church will be formally released at the Seminary’s 33rd Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture, to be held Sunday, January 31, 2016, at 7 p.m. on the seminary campus. The editor of the volume is also this year’s Schmemann lecturer, and he will speak on the topic, "Toward the Holy and Great Council: Retrieving a Culture of Conciliarity and Consensus."
This first volume of Primacy in the Church examines the development and application of a theology of primacy and synodality through the centuries, and addresses what is arguably the most significant and sensitive issue in both inter-Orthodox debate and inter-Christian dialogue—namely, the authority of the primate and the role of councils in the thought and tradition of the Church. The editor draws together original contributions from prominent scholars today, complemented by formative selections from theologians in the recent past, as well as relevant ecumenical documents. The second volume, to be released this spring, will explore how such a theology can inform contemporary ecclesiology and reconcile current practices.
“The editor and contributor of four articles, Father John Chryssavgis, is to be commended and congratulated because he managed—cooperating with St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press—to place at the disposal of church authorities and theologians a valuable resource on a crucial issue,” praised His Eminence Geron Archbishop Demetrios of America.
Commenting on the special Quarterly issue, Dr. Meyendorff said, “In this special double issue, some 20 scholars, primarily Orthodox, but also Protestant and Roman Catholic, reflect on the chief issues the upcoming council will (or will not) address, as well as their desires and hopes for its outcome.
“Reflecting a broad spectrum of perspectives, the contributors clearly demonstrate the multiple challenges that face contemporary Orthodoxy, both internally and also in relation to other Christian churches," he concluded.
SVS Press is offering a pre-publication discount on Primacy in the Church (Volume I) through January 31, 2016. It may be purchased here.
The special double issue of St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly may be purchased here.
Four St. Vladimir's seminarians and one faculty member were ordained to Holy Orders during the first semester of the 2015–2016 Academic Year. Our newly ordained priests and deacons have rich cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds, and hail from five different states.
Student status and church affiliation Third-year, Master of Divinity; Orthodox Church in America
Ordination, Holy Diaconate September 14th, 2015, Exaltation of the Precious and Life Giving Cross, Three Hierarchs Chapel, St. Vladimir's Seminary; by the hand of His Beatitude Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of all America and Canada. Concelebrants: the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, Dean; the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO ; the Very Reverend Dr. Alexander Rentel, Assistant Professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies; the Very Reverend Dr. Sergius Halvorsen, Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Rhetoric; the Reverend Aleksy Paranyuk; the Reverend Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak; the Reverend Deacon Gregory Hatrak; the Reverend Deacon Evan Freeman; the Reverend Deacon Joseph Ramos; the Reverend Deacon Michael Rozdilski
Educational and professional background Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Columbia Bible College, Joinery Foundations Certification from The British Columbia Institute of Technology, four years as apprentice cabinet maker, two years as a stay at home dad.
Biographical note Deacon Ryan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Columbia Bible College in 2006, and a Joinery Foundations Certificate in 2008. After several years in the cabinetry industry, he decided to work for himself from home, making furniture and looking after his two children. In 2013, the Bishop family embarked on their journey to New York, in order for Dn. Ryan to participate in the Master of Divinity program at St. Vladimir’s.
Student status and church affiliation Third-year, Master of Divinity; Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
Ordination, Holy Diaconate November 8, 2015, St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church, Louisville, KY; by the hand of (SVOTS alumnus) His Grace Bishop Anthony, Diocese of Toledo and the Mid-West. Concelebrants: the Very Reverend Alexis Kouri; the Very Reverend George Geevarghese; the Reverend Deacon Kyrill Schaefer; (alumnus) the Reverend Deacon Andrew Leake; (alumnus) Subdeacon Joseph Olas; (alumnus) Subdeacon Anthony Westermann
Educational and professional background Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Kentucky; worked for five years as the Youth and Young Adult Director of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Houston, TX.
Seminarian parish placement St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Danbury, CT, with the Very Reverend George Alberts
Biographical note Deacon Paul is married to Ramia (Foteh) of Houston, TX. Noted Dn. Paul, "I feel very humbled and blessed to be ordained to the Holy Diaconate, especially being able to go home to St Michael (Louisville) for my ordination."
Status and church affiliationAssociate Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary; Sessional Professor of New Testament, St. Vladimir's Seminary; Deacon, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Ordination, Holy Diaconate December 13, 2015, The Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, Tenafly, New Jersey; by the hand of His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos, Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey. Concelebrants: the Very Reverend William Cassis, the Very Reverend Michael Westerberg, the Reverend Peter Orfanakos, the Reverend Anastasios Kousoulas, the Reverend Christopher Flesoras.
Educational and professional background Deacon George is the Associate Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary, and is Sessional Professor of New Testament at St. Vladimir's Seminary. He earned his Master of Arts in Classics from Duke University, a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and a Master of Arts, Master of Philosophy, and Ph.D. from Yale University. His teaching and research explore the interaction of early Christianity with classical literature, as well as the interpretation of the New Testament in the early church. He is the author of two books and several articles. He regularly teaches courses on the Gospel of John, I Corinthians, and Paul the Pastor.
Biographical note Deacon George, his wife, Maureen, and their three children Nicholas, Julia and Constantine, live in Princeton, New Jersey.
Student status and church affiliation Third-year, Master of Divinity; Orthodox Church in America (OCA)
Ordination, Holy Diaconate December 31, 2015, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, St. Paul, MN; by the hand of (alumnus) His Grace Bishop Paul, Diocese of the Midwest. Concelebrants: (alumnus) the Reverend Jonathan Proctor, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church; the Reverend Andrew Jaye, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church; the Reverend Philip Ramstad; Gregory Krutchek, St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN; the Reverend Deacon Bohdan Melnychenko, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church; the Reverend Deacon Alexei Dupay, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. (Note: All parishes listed, other than St. Mary's in Minneapolis, are located in St. Paul, MN.)
Educational and professional background Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, both from Bethel University in St. Paul, MN
Seminarian parish placement St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church, Jamaica Estates, NY
Biographical note Deacon William is married to Jillian, and is a native of Washington State. He worked for the outdoor industry for eight years before coming to seminary and will be serving in the Midwest following commencement.
Student status and church affiliation Master of Divinity degree (2015); currently studying in the Master of Theology program; Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR)
Ordination, Holy Diaconate December 27, 2015 (Sunday of the Holy Forefathers), ROCOR Synodal Cathedral, Our Lady of the Sign, Manhattan, NY; by the hand of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. Concelebrants: The Right Reverend Nicholas, Auxiliary Bishop of Manhattan (ROCOR); the Very Reverend Andrei Sommer, Dean of the Synodal Cathedral; the Very Reverend Alexander Golubov, St. Nicholas Cathedral, NYC; the Very Reverend Vasiliy Raskovskiy, Synodal Cathedral; the Very Reverend Aleksey Paranyuk, St. Nicholas Cathedral, NYC, SVOTS seminarian; Protodeacon Nicholas Mokhoff, Synodal Cathedral; the Reverend Deacon Nathan Mousselli, Synodal Cathedral; the Reverend Hierodeacon Herman (Majkrzak), SVOTS Music Instructor and Choir Director
Ordination, Holy Priesthood January 3, 2016 (Sunday of the Holy Fathers), St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Washington, D.C.; by the hand of (alumnus) His Eminence Metropolitan Jonah. Concelebrants: the Very Reverend Victor Potapov, Rector of St. John the Baptist Cathedral (present in altar for ordination, but served the Slavonic liturgy after, not concelebrating at English liturgy); the Very Reverend John Johnson, St. John the Baptist Cathedral; the Reverend Dr. Patrick Viscuso, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, Chantilly, VA; the Very Reverend Victor Klimenko, St. John the Baptist Cathedral; Protodeacon Patrick Mitchell, St. John the Baptist Cathedral; Protodeacon John Dean, St. John the Baptist Cathedral; the Reverend Hierodeacon Polycarp (Strosnider), St. John the Baptist Cathedral. Also, Monk Silouan (Brown) was ordained to the subdiaconate prior to the Divine Liturgy.
Educational and professional background Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from St. John's College (Annapolis, MD), a "Great Books" program; Master of Divinity from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Seminarian parish placement Father Ignatius has been assigned to the Protection of the Mother of God parish in Nyack, NY as an assistant to Fr. Ilia Gorsky and Fr. George Larin until his graduation. Future plans have not yet been finalized.
Biographical note Through reading the early Church Fathers and experiencing the grace of the Liturgy, Fr. Ignatius decided to convert to the Orthodox Christian faith while in college. Together with his local chapter of Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) and his godfather, Fr. Robert Miclean, he helped to start a mission in Annapolis, MD. His wife Aimilia converted with her family at the age of nine, and she was homeschooled at a Greek women’s monastery where she received her Orthodox formation. Father Ignatius and Mat. Aimilia have two children: Ephraim (2 years old) and Theophano (8 months old).
Reflects Fr. Ignatius, "I am deeply humbled by so great a gift. I cannot express my gratitude for having found Christ’s Holy Church, for becoming a member of His Body, and now for being ordained to the Holy Priesthood. I pray that I may be able to bring others to the fullness of grace and truth that are found in the Church."
On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary’s annual #GivingTuesday challenge proved a tremendous success, for the second consecutive year. The Seminary engaged more than 300 friends and alumni around the world to reach and exceed its one-day fundraising goal of $50,000.
At day’s end, the campaign had yielded $98,764 in donations. A dollar-for-dollar match from an anonymous donor resulted in a grand total of $148,764.
“We were amazed to witness an incredible community of people coming together in support of our #GivingTuesday campaign,” said Archpriest Chad Hatfield, chancellor/CEO of St. Vladimir’s. “These supporters have helped fund worthwhile initiatives like student aid, academic projects, and field education, and other SVOTS causes that bring the light of Christ to the world.”
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage philanthropy and celebrate generosity worldwide. GivingTuesday.org estimated that more than 1 million donations were given on December 1, totaling $116.7 million.
“We are thrilled to be able to share 10% of the total raised with the Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School of Makarios III, our sister seminary in Nairobi, Kenya,” continued Fr. Chad. “Our tithe of $14,876 will help them in acquiring much needed books for their library.”
The Seminary ran a strategic campaign on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, leading up to and on #GivingTuesday. SVOTS supporters photographed themselves wearing T-shirts branded with the Seminary’s campaign hashtag, #give2svots, and shared the images with their friends on social media. Additionally, throughout the day of the campaign a dedicated group of seminarians phoned individual #GivingTuesday supporters to express their gratitude for donations.
“We were humbled by the generosity of our donors, and we extend our sincere appreciation to all those who contributed to #GivingTuesday,” concluded Fr. Chad.
This year’s accomplishment builds on last year’s successful #GivingTuesday campaign, which raised $80,000. Following that campaign St. Vladimir’s offered a tithe of $8,000 to His Beatitude John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, to alleviate the dire conditions of people in his care in Syria.
At its meeting held November 12–13, 2015, the Board of Trustees of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary elected three new members, including His Grace Bishop David of the Coptic Orthodox Church. Additionally, the Board honored two retiring Trustees for their distinguished service to the Seminary: Anne Mackoul, JD, D.H.L, and Anne van den Berg, JD.
“It is an honor and indeed a privilege to be a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Vladimir Seminary,” remarked incoming Trustee Bishop David, who was consecrated in 2013 as the first Shepherd and Diocesan Bishop of the newly formed Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York and New England. His Grace holds two Master’s degrees, one in pastoral counseling from Fordham University and another in theological studies from Holy Cross School of Theology.
The two other new Trustees are Joan Farha and David V. Hicks, both of whom have extensive experience in the field of education. Mrs. Farha is the founder and coordinator of the Learning Differences Network, and is a parishioner at St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral, Wichita, KS (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America).Mr. Hicks, as the celebrated author of Norms and Nobility, is known around the world for his work in classical education, and is a parishioner at St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Church, Bozeman, MT (Orthodox Church in America).
“Faith and education have been my family's foundation for generations,” said Mrs. Farha. “St. Vladimir's uniquely embodies that foundation, and I am grateful and humbled by the opportunity to serve.”
Mr. Hicks, remarking on his new appointment as a Trustee and the Seminary’s reputation, said, "The life of every American Orthodox Christian in every jurisdiction is unimaginable without St. Vladimir's: its priests spiritually and intellectually prepared for the world's fight, and the steady flow of godly books from its famous press. How could I refuse the invitation to serve on its board, even if what I can bring is no greater than the widow's mite?"
Retiring Trustee Dr. Mackoul served as a member of the Board from 2003–2015, and in 2008, the Board of Trustees unanimously elected her as its first Executive Chair. Mrs. van den Berg was one of the longest serving members of the Board and most recently chaired the Trusteeship Committee.
Commenting on Dr. Mackoul’s term, Archpriest John Behr, seminary Dean, said, “We owe so much to Anne Mackoul, our first Executive Chair. She helped us not only to formulate a new governance structure at the Seminary, but also to grow into our respective roles.
“She was always ready with sage advice and words of wisdom, helping us to navigate the many internal, local, and international dimensions of our work, as a friendly support and guide,” Fr. John continued. “And who can forget the splendid 75th Anniversary banquet that she, together with her aides, hosted a few years ago!
For her many years of service to the Seminary and to the Church of Antioch and at large, she was recognized by the bestowal of an honorary doctorate,” he ended. “We owe Anne, and her husband, Sabry, a great deal for all that they have done and continue to do for us."
Archpriest Chad Hatfield, chancellor/CEO of St. Vladimir’s, likewise lauded Mrs. van den Berg, “for bringing a professional and legal perspective to our SVOTS Board for nearly 25 years.
“Anne served as chair for the Advancement and Trusteeship Committees and was an active member of the Legal Affairs Committee,” Fr. Chad noted. “She and her husband, Dr. Egerton, have been longtime supporters of the Seminary, and we are grateful for their recent generosity, which aided SVS Press in publishing The Holy Gospel According to St. John, the final book in the set of commentaries authored by the late Archbishop Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas and the Diocese of the South.”
Completing their episcopal terms of service were His Eminence The Most Rev. Savas (Zembillas), metropolitan of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; and His Eminence The Most Reverend Hilarion (Alfeyev), metropolitan of Volokolamsk and chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations.
