On Saturday, February 4th at 1 p.m. a prayer service for the sick will be held at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in Three Hierarchs Chapel. The Paraclesis (or, lesser supplicatory canon) to the Mother of God will be sung by the seminary community choir, as an intercessory service for all those who are ill, and the seminary invites friends and alumni to attend.

The Paraclesis will be sung to a new setting by composer Robert Sirico, who is the founder of the Orthodox Christian Music Project (OCMP), and a private student of our Assistant Professor of Liturgical Music at the seminary, Dr. Nicholas Reeves. 

The Paraclesis has a long historical precedent for being sung in times of pestilence. Its use today is still widespread in the Orthodox Christian Church, and it provides many with solace in times of need through the intercessions of the Mother of God.

This service will be the culmination of a two-day Master Class on chamber group vocal technique, which will be led by Matushka Robin Freeman, who holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. In addition to years of working with the choirs at St. Vladimir's Seminary, she has conducted church choirs, children's choirs, community choirs, university choirs, opera choruses, and chamber ensembles. Matushka Robin also holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and has studied with singers Marietta Simpson, Gale Fuller, and Susan Brooks. The Master Class she is teaching at the seminary will emphasize the interpretation of Znamenny Chant in a variety of choral textures.

"One of the primary goals of this Master Class," notes Dr. Reeves, "is to encourage the use the Paraclesis on a regular basis in the parish or in the home, on behalf of those who are ill.

"Moreover," he continues, "the score of this particular arrangement is malleable, and thus allows for an ensemble of any size to sing the service properly and convincingly. Upon request, the music can be made available for liturgical use."

For an arrangement of the music for this particular Paraclesis, please contact Dr. Nicholas Reeves.

Learn about the ministry of the Orthodox Christian Music Project on their Website, Facebook Page,  and YouTube Channel.

More than 120 young preachers from more than 25 states in the U.S. gathered to preach, to learn, and to be inspired by the gospel of Jesus Christ, at the 3rd Annual National Festival of Young Preachers, held from January 2–5, in Louisville, Kentucky. At the event, Jason Ketz, 3rd-year seminarian from St. Vladimir's, preached a sermon entitled “I can’t imagine paradise without you.”

"Seminarian Ketz's sermon was enthusiastically received," said Fr. Sergius Halvorsen, assistant professor of Homiletics and Rhetoric at St. Vladimir’s, who also attended the festival, both as Jason’s preaching mentor and as a sermon evaluator. Father Sergius further remarked on this year’s festival, saying, “The quality of preaching was truly remarkable, and the faith and zeal for the gospel among the participants was inspiring. Jason did a fantastic job with his sermon. Being exposed to a variety of preaching styles is incredibly valuable not only for young preachers, but for preachers of any age.

"St. Vladimir’s Seminary is a National Partner with the Academy of Preachers, and and we look forward to continuing participation and cooperation with the academy as we work to foster excellence in preaching among young Orthodox Christians," he concluded.

The annual festival is sponsored by the Academy of Preachers, a trans-denominational organization whose mission is to identify, network, inspire, and support young people who sense a vocation for preaching the gospel. The Academy of Preachers was launched in 2009 through a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment.

The first Festival of Young Preachers in 2010 was attended by our seminary Chancellor/CEO, Fr. Chad Hatfield, and seminary alumnus Fr. Lucas Rice. The sermon that Fr. Lucas delivered at the festival was included in a published volume of collected sermons, and the title of his sermon also served as the title for the volume: A Beautiful Thing: Sermons from the Inaugural Festival of Young Preachers (Chalice Press, 2010). 

Read about Seminarian Jason Ketz's experience at the Festival of Young Preachers, and the text of his homily, "I can't Imagine paradise without you," here.

Our Dean, Archpriest John Behr, has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund, a non-profit organization committed to rebuilding church and social life in Kosovo. The relief fund sponsors myriad humanitarian projects, including the one hundred fifty-three Serbian Orthodox churches and monasteries that have been destroyed in Kosovo and Metohija since 1998; to date, only three of these church institutions have been repaired, and the Decani Monastery Relief Fund has undertaken the ambitious task of restoring them.

In addition to the rebuilding of a seminary, monasteries, and churches in the region, the organization supports six soup kitchens and one bakery. It also assists in providing daily lunches to four schools as well as shoes and clothing for youth. Moreover, the fund provides scholarships to the University of Northern Kosovo as well as scholarship assistance for Serbian youth attending Boise State University, and Orthodox Christian seminaries in America.

The Relief Fund also provides humanitarian aid to refugee centers, funds for the special needs of the elderly, payment of electric bills, provision for firewood, financial aid necessary for medical and surgical procedures, and help to purchase farm equipment and livestock.

"I am deeply honored to be on the Board of Directors of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund. The Fund is at work in many diverse ways in Kosovo and Metohija, supporting the needy with food, clothing, and shelter, and attending to the educational needs of the children and the spiritual life of the faithful," Fr. John said. "Additionally, there has long been a very close relationship between St. Vladimir's Seminary and the Serbian Orthodox Church; I look forward to seeing this flourish and to doing what we can to support the efforts of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund."

"It truly is honorable of Father John to be a part of our fund," said Archimandrite Nektarios Serfes, president of the Decani Monastery Relief Fund. "His great talents will indeed be a favorable contribution. The Board of Directors looks forward to working with him and his beloved seminary."

Father John's arrival on the Board of Directors comes at an opportune time. In October 2011, the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija announced that Ss. Cyril & Methodius Serbian Orthodox Theological Seminary in Prizren, destroyed during the war of the 1990s, was being reconstructed and will be reopened.

In celebration of the announcement of the seminary's re-opening, Father Nektarios and the Decani Monastery Relief Fund’s Executive Director, J. Basil Dannebohm, will visit the region in February 2012, where the two will be lecturing to the newly enrolled seminarians. On behalf of the fund, Fr. Nektarios and Mr. Dannebohm hope to raise $25,000 before the upcoming trip, which will provide humanitarian aid during the frigid winter months.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us in 2012, but the fund has truly enjoyed God's blessings this year," said Mr. Dannebohm. "Our seminary is being reopened, we are able to provide educational assistance to students, food and livestock and, most importantly, love—something money can't buy."

Dannebohm continued, "I am honored that Father John accepted the nomination to serve on our board. He brings a tremendous amount of education, experience and expertise to the team."

Read the original press release from PRWeb, here.

Donations to the Decani Monastery Relief Fund can be made by mail to: 2618 West Bannock Street, Boise, ID 83702 or online at www.decanifund.org/donate.
 

He held honorary degrees from Butler University, General Theological Seminary, Lafayette College, Iona College, and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

Besides teaching at St. Vladimir’s, Fr. Alexander held positions as an adjunct professor at Columbia University, New York University, Union Seminary, and General Theological Seminary in New York, and he was a popular guest lecturer at many universities throughout the country. He was also active as a representative of the Orthodox Church in the ecumenical movement, and held positions in the Youth Department and the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches.

Dean of St. Vladimir’s from 1962 until his death in 1983, he was instrumental in educating a generation of Orthodox priests. During his tenure, the seminary achieved wide recognition as a center of Orthodox theological studies.

In 1970, he was active in the establishment of the Orthodox Church in America as an autocephalous church, which at that time became officially independent from the Russian Orthodox Church, and dedicated itself to the unity of Orthodox ethnic jurisdictions in this country.

While committed to the cause of an Orthodox Church that would be united and American in character, Fr. Alexander always remained concerned with the fate of believers in the Soviet Union. For 30 years, his sermons were broadcast in Russian on “Radio Liberty” and gained Fr. Alexander a broad following across the Soviet Union. Alexander Solzhenitzyn, who while still in the Soviet Union was one of his admirers, remained his friend after emigrating to the West.

Father Alexander published over a dozen books which received wide circulation, including For the Life of the World; Introduction to Liturgical Theology; Ultimate Questions; Church, World, Mission; and numerous articles and tracts. For the Life of the World, a popular volume on Christian faith as reflected in liturgy, has been translated into numerous languages and remains one of the most popular works on Christianity for the general public. He completed a major study on the Eucharist only weeks before his death.

May Fr. Alexander’s memory be eternal!

For a wealth of additional information and links please visit www.schmemann.org.

They sang "Jingle Bells" en français, recited poetry—both classic and post-modern—told jokes, and even played Jewish Klezmer music. Displaying a multitude of artistic gifts, various members of our campus community came together this past weekend for our traditional Christmas Talent Show, to take a breather just prior to final exam week, to discover each other's hidden talents, and to break the monotony of the short, dark winter days.

Dr. Peter C. Bouteneff, associate professor Systematic Theology here at St. Vladimir's—who plays bass fiddle, piano, and guitar—acted as Master of Ceremonies for the occasion, as young and old(er) alike tried to rival Broadway.

Watch a musical collage of our 2011 Christmas Talent Show, with the background music "45 Minutes from Broadway," a 1906 recording sung by Bill Murray. This popular song is from one of George M. Cohan's many patriotic musicals, and it speaks about the difference between New York City and New Rochelle, New York.

To see the slideshow of the Christmas Talent Show, click here.

Our seminary Men's Choir sang at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Cohoes, New York, the weekend of December 4–5, in honor of the parish's feast day. The choir sang both Great Vespers and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, at which His Grace The Rt. Rev. Michael (Dahulich), bishop of New York City and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, presided.

HDn. Fr. Herman (Majkrzak), the seminary Chapel Music Director, said of the visit, "The parish warmly welcomed us and was extremely appreciative of our music."

Three St. Vladimir's alumni, Fr. Terenti Wasielewski, rector of St. Nicholas Church; Fr. Alvian Smirensky, who is attached to the monastery of the Monks of New Skete; and Dn. Michael Burdikoff, who serves at Christ the Saviour Church, Ballston Lake, New York, served at the Divine Liturgy.

The Men's Choir will be traveling again during the season of Great Lent: Sunday morning, March 11, 2012 at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Allison Park, Pennsylvania; and Vespers that same evening at Holy Trinity Church, State College, Pennsylvania.

On Sunday, December 11, at the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand in Lebanon, two of our alumni were among three ordained to the episcopacy in the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA). The three new hierarchs were ordained by His Beatitude, Ignatius IV, patriarch of the Great City of God, Antioch, and all the East; they will serve as auxiliaries to His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip, archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All America.

His Grace John (Abdalah), who earned a Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir's  in 1984, has been named Auxiliary Bishop for Worcester and New England; and His Grace Anthony (Michaels) who earned a Master of Divinity degree from the seminary in 1982, has been named Auxiliary Bishop for Toledo and the Midwest. His Grace Nicholas (Ozone) was the third bishop ordained; he has been named Auxiliary Bishop for Brooklyn, and he will also assist Metropolitan Philip at the headquarters of AOCANA in Englewood, New Jersey.

Prior to his ordination to the episcopacy, Bishop John served as dean of St. George Cathedral in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and as editor of The Word, the official magazine of AOCANA. Bishop Anthony served as pastor of St. John Chrysostom Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Reflecting upon his new office and responsibilities, and his alma mater, Bishop Anthony said, "Philosophy approaches truth as a concept, history records how it affected human events over time, science conducts experiments to justify it, and theology celebrates it in the Person of Christ and as a Person, giving us an encounter with Him. My professors at St. Vladimir’s and the entire family of the seminary showed how the beauty, harmony, and exalted elegance of the kingdom of God is here with us all the time; and how the world is a sacrament of His love, a beginning in time of the timeless relationship with Him in the never ending day of His kingdom.

"As a bishop, I would hope to hand down this vision of truth to other so that they can find themselves in Christ and enjoy their own Sabbath rest with God, persons to persons; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

Read more about the consecrations of the new bishops, and view photos on the Antiochian Archdiocesan Website, here.

His Eminence Savas (Zembillas), who has been an episcopal member of our Board of Trustees since 2008, and who was elected Metropolitan of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (GOA) this past November, will be enthroned December 8th at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Pittsburgh, his cathedral church. His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, will preside at the enthronement.

The entire enthronement ceremony will be broadcast live on the Internet, beginning at 3:30 p.m. (EST), through a link on the home page of the Greek Archdiocese: www.goarch.org.

For a biographical note on Metropolitan Savas visit: http://www.goarch.org/news/metropolitansavasbio-11152011; a photo gallery is available at http://photos.goarch.org/main.php?g2_itemId=5053.

Our entire seminary community wishes His Eminence many blessed years!

Our seminary wives' group, the St. Juliana Society, wrapped up its fall semester activities with a how-to in Christmas wreath-making. Tanya Penkrat, who is the Special Events Coordinator here at St. Vladimir's and a former florist, instructed the women in creating holiday decor, using fresh (and free!) branches cut from the variety of evergreens that adorn the seminary grounds. The fun session capped a semester of twice-monthly get-togethers, which ranged in nature from the practical to the sublime: everything from engaging with a panel of "PKs" (i.e., "Priests' Kids") to reflecting upon the art of prayer.

Matushka Thekla Hatfield, who coordinates the group, remarked upon this past semester's topics, saying, "According to feedback given by the wives, it was a very satisfactory and beneficial semester. They are all pleased with the direction in which the society is moving and are looking forward to the spring semester programs."

After the session on holiday decorating, the group expressed its enthusiasm and thanks to Matushka Thekla for her efforts by presenting her with a topiary.

See a full listing of the St. Juliana's Society's activities for the fall semester here.

Each year, St. Nicholas (aka Santa Claus, Svyatyi Mykolay, Father Christmas, Sinterklaas, San Nicola, et cetera) visits the seminary campus to distribute gifts and candy to our resident children during a festive get-together following Divine Liturgy. Bidding his presence requires a little wonder-working: our church school children sing the traditional hymn "Oh, who loves Nicholas the saintly" three times, and faster than a flying reindeer, he appears. With wide eyes and expectant hearts, the children welcome the ancient bishop's warm blessing and, of course, the presents that he brings.

Planning this year's celebration were Bettye Malone, long-time chapel member and church school supporter; Peggy Meyendorff, coordinator of the chapel coffee hour; and Ashley Lear, 2nd-year student. Seminarian Lear, under the guidance of Archpriest Chad Hatfield, chancellor/CEO, is the 2010–2011 Church School Coordinator.

The St. Nicholas Day party became an integral part of this year's church school curriculum, which is designed around major themes. Church school children—numbering around 40—meet two to three times per semester on Saturdays to engage in 3-hour sessions centered around these primary topics.

"On the Saturday before St. Nicholas Day," said Seminarian Lear, "we had a three-hour event, with three lessons, two craft projects, a brief musical rehearsal, and lunch. The theme of the day was 'Nativity,' and it included preparations for the visit of St. Nicholas on Sunday, the next day. With the cooperation of the children's parents, I hope to organize more events such as this one, probably three or four next semester, including one during Great Lent."

Read more about our campus community here.