Theologians and book lovers in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area can look for St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press (SVS Press), the publishing house of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, at the Annual Meetings 2015, hosted by the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) and held November 21-24, 2015.

“Exhibiting at the Annual Meetings is a highlight of the year for us,” commented Press Marketing Director Dn. Gregory Hatrak. “It gives us the opportunity to speak with the best religion scholars and connect with other theological publishers.”

The Annual Meetings of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and the Society of Biblical Langagues (SBL) is the largest gathering of scholars interested in the study of religion in the world. Approximately 10,000 members and exhibitors were present at last year’s meeting in San Diego, California.

“We are looking forward to sharing our recent releases with the Annual Meetings participants,” said Production Manager Michael Soroka. “Several of our series—including the well-known Foundations Series and our new Scholarly Monographs Series—have volumes released this year which make significant contributions to the study of Orthodox theology.” One of those new volumes is the much-anticipated work exploring the role of the Virgin Mary in the history of the Church: Gateway of Life: Orthodox Thinking on the Mother of God, by scholar Mary B. Cunningham.

The newest series at SVS Press, the Scholarship Monographs Series, aims to encourage the study of the Orthodox Church in academia through the publication of in-depth scholarship of the highest academic rigor. The first offering in this new series edited by seminary Dean The Very Reverend Dr. John Behr is Orthodox and Greek Catholics in Transylvania (1867–1916): Convergences and Divergences. It examines the relationship between the two Romanian communities by incorporating a wealth of archival information.

Other new and noteworthy releases include Church in the Making: An Apophatic Ecclesiology of Consubstantiality, an important contribution to the field of ecclesiology by The Reverend Nicholas Loudovikos; and Prayer: Encounter with the Living God, a simple set of talkstranscribed and translated from television episodes presented on Russian television by His Eminence The Most Reverend Hilarion (Alfeyev), metropolitan of Volokolamsk and chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations.

“We are also pleased to announce that our most exhaustive work on St. Isaac the Syrian will be formally released at the Annual Meetings,” continued Dn. Gregory. St. Isaac the Syrian and His Spiritual Legacy, edited by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev), compiles papers delivered at the inaugural International Patristics Conference held in Moscow, 2013.

“For the first time, AAR/SBL will open the exhibit hall at the Annual Meeting to the public free of charge on Tuesday morning, November 24,” noted Deacon Gregory. “We hope this will give us an opportunity to catch up with many of our friends and seminary alumni living in the Atlanta area who may not be attending the conference.”

Visitors can find SVS Press at Booth 509 during the Annual Meetings 2015.

O marvelous depth of wonders!
Those who were hard-hearted in understanding and wandering in vain,   
rejoice now in the holy Church,
for this is the day of Vladimir.
Christ our God reigns, and has found another Paul,
setting him as faithful prince in his land,
for by holy baptism he has enlightened his people.
—Aposticha for the Feast of St. Vladimir

View the gallery by Mary Honoré

 On the weekend of October 31–November 1, 2015, the community of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) gathered to honor its heavenly patron, the Great and Holy Prince Vladimir, by commemorating the translation of his holy relics to Three Hierarchs Chapel.

In November 2013, a delegation from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, led by His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Philip, archbishop of Poltava and Myrhorod, presented the community with the relics of St. Vladimir and a rare Book of Gospels. The precious gifts were presented on behalf of His Beatitude Vladimir (Volodymyr), metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, who reposed in 2014.

“When St. Vladimir’s Seminary was founded in 1938, the decision was made to give our seminary a missionary saint as its patron,” said seminary Chancellor/CEO the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield. “The presence of St. Vladimir’s relics are a constant reminder that we too are called to carry out the Great Commission.”

Vladimir Sviatoslavich the Great was the prince of Novgorod, the grand prince of Kiev and ruler of Kievan Rus’ from 980 to July 15, 1015. St. Vladimir introduced Orthodox Christianity to the Kievan Rus’ in the year 988. Orthodox Christians around the world have organized events in 2015 to commemorate the 1,000th year anniversary of the blessed saint’s repose.

“It is a great blessing to have relics of our patron saint, and the ‘transfer’ of the relics has given us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this feast annually and combine it with an early Thanksgiving community meal, remarked seminary Dean the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr. “The presence of St. Vladimir amongst us constantly reminds us of the missionary purpose and character of all that we do together, on behalf of the Church and for the Church.”

The weekend’s events began with a beautiful vigil on Saturday evening, sung antiphonally by the St. Damascene and St. Cassia chapel choirs. His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and president of the seminary, presided at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. Concelebrating were His Grace Bishop Alexander, bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese of the OCA, and His Grace Bishop John, bishop of Naro-Fominsk and administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Moscow Patriarchate (read the story from their website).

“St. Vladimir’s Seminary was always intended to have a missionary focus, and this is why St. Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, was chosen as its heavenly patron,” commented His Beatitude in his Sunday morning homily. “As the seminary has evolved and changed, it has always kept this missionary focus. It has always remained an apostolic seminary.” (View the gallery of the Divine Liturgy by Glen Mules and Roman Ostash)

The community continued its joyous celebration that evening with a cherished—and delicious—St. Vladimir’s tradition: a pre-Nativity Fast Thanksgiving dinner. Seminarians, faculty, and staff, and their families, enjoyed a delightful feast prepared by Chef Nat Fasciani.

On Tuesday, December 1, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) will continue its new tradition of participating in #GivingTuesday, a national movement that celebrates generosity.

“Giving is at the very foundation of St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s mission, so we are enthusiastic again this year about taking part in this day dedicated to philanthropy,” said seminary Chancellor/CEO the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield. “Our professors give their hearts to teach the gospel of Christ. Our students give their time to prepare for service in the Church. Our graduates give their lives to minister to Christ's flock.”

Last year, the Seminary’s highly successful #GivingTuesday campaign raised $80,000. In an expression of love and solidarity with the suffering peoples in the Middle East, St. Vladimir’s offered a tithe of $8,000 to His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East, to alleviate the dire conditions of people in his care.

“Because we believe in giving back at St. Vladimir’s, we will donate 10% of whatever we raise on #GivingTuesday,” continued Fr. Chad. “This year’s tithe will support the Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School of Makarios III, our sister seminary in Nairobi, Kenya. This great center of Orthodoxy in Africa is in serious need of books for their library, and we want to help.”

Archimandrite Philip Mugadizi (SVOTS alumnus ’03), deputy dean of the Nairobi seminary, has been instrumental in arranging this year’s tithe. “We are delighted to partner with St. Vladimir’s for #GivingTuesday,” remarked Fr. Philip. “The relationship between our two theological institutions is growing stronger by the day, as evidenced by the upcoming visit of Dr. Paul Meyendorff, The Father Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology at St. Vladimir’s. It is our hope to continue this exchange and dialogue between our seminaries, offering opportunities for our seminarians, faculty, and staff to learn from one another. I hope that many people will support our schools on #GivingTuesday.”

“Given the response to #GivingTuesday last year, an anonymous supporter has challenged us to raise $50,000 on #GivingTuesday this year—and if we do, every penny will be matched. With this incredible matching opportunity, it would be within reason to expect that we could potentially take in $100,000 on December 1, with $10,000 going to our brothers seminarians in Nairobi, Kenya,” explained Fr. Chad. “These donations will spread the gospel across North America and Africa.

“Right now, we’re asking Orthodox Christians around the world to help us get the word out on their social media networks, through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram,” Fr. Chad concluded, “and to stay in the loop about this venture by signing up for #GivingTuesday emails. Our website,  www.svots.edu/givingtuesday, contains a host of resources for anyone interested in supporting Orthodoxy in America and Africa this December 1.”

Donate directly to SVOTS #GivingTuesday here (all monies will be totaled December 1, 2015).

What:  Saint Ambrose Society, St. Vladimir's student-led pro-life advocacy group, is hosting a public seminar titled "ON THE PRO-LIFE FRONT LINES—Crisis Pregnancy Centers &  College Campuses"

When:  Friday, November 13, 2015, 1:30–4:30 PM

Who:  Maryl Turchi, the Executive Director of Life Options Center, a crisis pregnancy center in Yonkers, and Keri Landeche, the Northeast Regional Coordinator of Students for Life of America, will speak about the pro-life work in their respective fields. It's open to the public, and admission is free.

Where:  Metropolitan Philip Auditorium in the Rangos Building
St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
575 Scarsdale Rd
Yonkers, NY 10707

View directions

For further information, contact St. Ambrose Society on Facebook or by email at SAS@svots.edu.

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Listen to the Keynote Address, "Our Common Father: Saint Cyril"
Listen to the concert, "Our Common Saints"

On the first Saturday in October, St. Vladimir's Seminary welcomed hundreds of friends and alumni to campus for its annual Orthodox Education Day.

"This year's theme, 'East Meets East,' was inspired by the diversity of our student body," remarked seminary Chancellor/CEO, The Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield. "At St. Vladimir's, Oriental and Eastern Orthodox students have been living, learning, and growing together in Christ for over fifty years."

Three Hierarchs Chapel served as the locus for the day's events. The day began with Sh'himo, a service comprising matins, 3rd hour, and 6th hour according to the Rite of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The Reverend Dr. Varghese M. Daniel, newly-appointed Sessional Assistant Professor of Malankara Studies at St. Vladimir's, presided alongside Malankara Orthodox seminarians, alumni, and friends of the seminary. In the afternoon, Coptic Orthodox students and friends led the community in prayer at a raising of incense service. The day concluded with Eastern Orthodox Great Vespers.

The Very Reverend Dr. John Anthony McGuckin presented the keynote address, "Our Common Father: Saint Cyril." Renowned author of 25 books, several of which are published by SVS Press, Father John is The Ane Marie and Bent Emil Nielsen Professor of Late Antiquity and Byzantine Christian History at Union Theological Seminary and Professor of Byzantine Christian Studies at Columbia University.

"We have preferred, because of political reasons, to relegate each other's traditions to poor apologetic representations," stated Fr. John. "We have to learn a dialogue of love and the truth of one another's traditions. We need to learn to love through prayer." Father John then went on to outline a brief history of St. Cyril and made the point that the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox traditions agree with much of the saint's theology. "It is not beyond us to restore the fallout of the last 1,600 years," he stated in closing.

Guests had the opportunity to explore a marketplace filled with Orthodox books and gifts and to eat their fill of barbecue, Indian cuisine, and delicious desserts prepared by the seminary community.

Workshops on topics ranging from Coptic iconography to a history of the dialogue between the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches filled the late afternoon hours. A lively book discussion group, co-moderated by Three Hierarchs Chapel member Vera Hubiak and third-year seminarian Dn. Shiryl Mathai, mulled over the message and themes in Way of the Ascetics, by Tito Colliander. Eight seminarians performed a concert of Orthodox music titled "Our Common Saints: Hymns of Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople, and Sebaste," under the direction of Hierodeacon Herman (Majkrzak), lecturer in Liturgical Music and director of Chapel Music at St. Vladimir's.

"The day was replete with opportunities to explore the relationship between the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, a relationship that is lived out daily at St. Vladimir's," commented the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, seminary Dean. "Our seminary is a unique community where priests and leaders from both traditions are molded and prepared for ministry. We are grateful for our long history with the Oriental Orthodox churches."

View a gallery of Orthodox Education Day photographs on the seminary's Facebook page.
View the 2015 Program Book
View the Concert Program

Please donate to help us reach our $50,000 goal 

(remember: if we raise $50,000, it will be doubled!),

encourage others to give by sharing why you gave,

and follow us on social media for updates on our progress!

And remember - 10% of whatever we raise this #GivingTuesday
will help our sister seminary in Kenya.

Thank you for your support!

Seminary alumnus the Very Reverend Stavrophor Rastko Trbuhovich (M.Div. ‘73) fell asleep in the Lord on September 30, 2015. The entire seminary community expresses its condolences to his wife, Protinica Victoria, his children, Sarah and Basil, and his extended family.

Father Rastko was the much beloved priest of Saint Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church in Lackawanna, New York, where he served for three decades.

“He saw everything, good, bad, serious or joyful, as reason to ‘Thank God,’ and of course he was right,” said fellow SVOTS alumnus the Very Reverend Laurence Lazar (M.Div. ‘73), Dean of Saint George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Southfield, Michigan, and close friend of Fr. Rastko. You can read Fr. Laurence’s reflection on Fr. Ratsko’s life and influence here, and a letter of sympathy from Bishop Irinej here.

The Reverend Dr. Varghese M. Daniel has been appointed to the faculty of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary as Sessional Assistant Professor of Malankara Studies, effective for the academic year 2015-2016. In addition to teaching courses, Father Varghese will also oversee St. Thomas Chapel, a space dedicated to worship for the Malankara Orthodox students on campus.

“We’re delighted to have Fr. Varghese teaching at St. Vladimir’s,” said the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr, seminary Dean. “His classes in the history, language, liturgy, and patristics of the West Syriac tradition will provide a strong foundation for the theological study and future ministries of our Malankara seminarians.”

After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, History, and Political Science at Osmania University in Hyderabad, India in 1995, Fr. Varghese earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree at Serampur University in Calcutta, India in 2001, and his Graduate in Sacred Theology degree at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam, India in 2000. In 2008 he completed a Master of Bioethics degree from Katholic University in Leuven, Belgium and was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Divinity in Melbourne, Australia in 2009. From 2010–2013, Father Varghese was a post-doctoral research fellow at the Yale School of Divinity in New Haven, Connecticut.

“Father Varghese brings a wealth of pastoral experience to his new position,” added the Very Reverend Dr. Chad Hatfield, seminary Chancellor/CEO. “As the founding vicar of not one, but two, parishes, he has firsthand knowledge of the mission field that lies before our Malankara graduates."

Father Varghese currently serves as the President and Vicar of St. John’s Orthodox Church in Orangeburg, New York.

Upon his appointment as a new faculty member, Fr. Varghese said, “I consider it a great privilege to become part of one of the most prominent Orthodox theological faculties in the world. It provides me with enormous energy and I look forward to enlightening my students through academic and ecclesiastical scholarship so they can be ‘fishers of men’ in the 21st century. Indeed, this new academic and spiritual expedition will be my personal pilgrimage, too.”

“Father Varghese comes with the highest recommendation from His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC),” continued Fr. John Behr. “We have worked continually with His Grace to ensure that the education and formation we provide to Malankara students at St. Vladimir’s is of the highest possible level.”

The seminary currently has nine Malankara students enrolled in degree programs: seven students from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and two from the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America, which is under the Holy See of Antioch and All the East. Other Oriental Orthodox churches represented by the student body this year include the Armenian Apostolic Church (7 seminarians), the Coptic Orthodox Church (3 seminarians), and the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch (1 seminarian).

Also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox communion of over 2 million faithful, with 30 dioceses all over the world. The Northeast American Diocese is comprised of more than 50 parishes.

The Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America has approximately 60 parishes and congregations in North America. Its ancient, apostolic roots hearken back to the churches established by the apostle Thomas, who brought the Gospel of Christ to India.

Seminary Alumnus the Reverend Dr. John Tavlarides (D.Min., '96) fell asleep in the Lord on September 21, 2015. The entire seminary community expresses our condolences to his wife, Presbytera Harriet, and his family.

Father John was the Presiding Priest Emeritus of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, D.C., where he faithfully served for nearly six decades. He graduated from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1953, and was ordained to the priesthood shortly after.

Father John pursued graduate theological studies at several notable institutions, including General Theological Seminary in New York, New York, and The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Father John served the faithful of Saint Sophia Cathedral as an assistant priest from 1956-1960, and then subsequently led the community as Cathedral Dean from 1960-2011.

Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming on the website of Saint Sophia Cathedral.

View photo galleries by Jasmine Yedigarian and Glen Mules

Professor Predrag Matejic, curator of the Hilandar Research Library and director of the Resource Center for Medieval Slavic Studies, presented the third annual Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lecture at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary on Monday, September 14, 2015.

“Father John was known as an outstanding and warm scholar, encouraging younger scholars in their work and able to answer almost any question—however arcane or obscure,” said St. Vladimir's Dean, the Very Reverend Dr. John Behr. “As such, it is very fitting that we have the honor this evening of hearing from another scholar, Dr. Predrag Matejic, who also has such a reputation: for encouraging scholars across the world in their study of Slavic Christianity and for being able to answer the most obscure questions pertaining to Byzantino-Slavic Christianity.”

Prior to the beginning of the lecture, the Board of Trustees and Faculty of St. Vladimir’s bestowed a Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa, on His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and on His Eminence the Most Reverend Joseph, archbishop of New York and metropolitan of All North America of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

“We have the great honor today of being able to bestow the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, not upon one, but two worthy recipients—two leading hierarchs of the Orthodox Church in this country—the President and Vice President of the Board of Trustees of St. Vladimir’s Seminary,” continued Fr. John. “Both hierarchs, although only appointed to their positions in recent years, have distinguished themselves through many years of ministry. Your Beatitude and Your Eminence, you truly honor us today by your presence and acceptance of the degree to be awarded.”

In the citations read aloud by Dr. Peter Bouteneff, professor of Systematic Theology, His Eminence was praised as a “true pastor of pastors” and “a leading voice among the hierarchs,” while His Beatitude was commended for his commitment to securing the future and stability of theological education in North America, with a particular interest in the spiritual formation of clergy.

After receiving the Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, His Eminence expressed his gratitude to the Board of Trustees and Faculty. “St. Vladimir’s has a long history of educating leaders and theologians,” he said. “Many of our hierarchs have come to us with a firm foundation, imparted to them by St. Vladimir’s Seminary. I pledge to do all I can during my tenure to maintain and enhance this relationship.”

In his acceptance speech, His Beatitude remarked, “Our church in North America, as His Eminence so clearly stated, is composed of people from various backgrounds, all of us struggling to be united in Christ. It is at institutions like St. Vladimir’s that that effort—striving for unity in Christ—is actualized.”

Following the bestowal of the honorary doctorates, Dr. Matejic gave his presentation, titled “Byzantium, the Slavs, and the Rise of the Russian Orthodox Church.” Dr. Matejic focused on three historical periods of Slavic Orthodoxy: the conversion of the Slavs and the establishment of the Glagolitic alphabet; the rule and influence of Simeon I the Great of Bulgaria; and the immediate effects of the fall of Constantinople in 1453 on the Russian Orthodox Church.

Dr. Predrag Matejic is the curator of the Hilandar Research Library and the Director of the Resource Center for Medieval Slavic Studies at Ohio State University. This invaluable resource began in the 1960s, when the monks of Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos invited Dr. Matejic’s own father, Fr. Mateja Matejic, to come to catalogue every treasure in the monastery. It is now the largest collection of medieval Slavic manuscripts on microfilm in the world.