The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, dean and professor of Patristics of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, journeyed to the Monastero di Bose in the province of Biella, Italy, to participate in the XXII International Ecumenical Conference on Orthodox Spirituality. Billed as scholarly, cultural, and ecclesiastical exchange, this year’s conference focused on the timely topic, “Blessed are the Peacemakers.”

“In my talk ‘Peace among the Churches: Irenaeus of Lyon,’” explains Fr. John, "I returned to the writings of a saint with whom I have become well acquainted since my earliest years of academic life. My paper examined how in Irenaeus we see, for the first time, an explicit and self-conscious exposition of Orthodoxy, yet in a manner open to the polyphony of God's symphony of salvation. Irenaeus brought peace to the conflicts between fledgling Christian communities by urging that differences in practice should rather be seen as evidence of unity in faith."

In addition to participating in a full daily schedule of lectures, panel discussions, and prayer, the St. Vladimir’s dean also spent many valuable hours in discussion with scholarly and ecclesial colleagues from Moscow, Thessaloniki, Kiev, Beirut, Oxford, and the United States. Two hierarchs from the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) also attended: The Most Rev. Melchisedek, archbishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, and The Right Rev. Alexander, bishop of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese.

The monastery at Bose is a traditional community founded in the mid-1960's, and is composed of about eighty men and women from all major Christian traditions. The Orthodox Spirituality conferences have been hosted at Bose since the early 1990's, and have featured a variety of themes from missions to Holy Scripture.

• Order Fr. John’s newest SVS Press book, The Cross Stands While the World Turns.

• View the full Conference program

• Read the Conference press release

St. Vladimir’s Seminary Librarian Eleana Silk is delighted with Mr. David Jonas Bardin's recent donation to the Florovsky Library: a late 19th century 16” x 11½” volume, featuring 15 historic photographs of the Holy Land with original captions in English, Russian, and Greek. The cover is bound in olive wood and features a carved image depicting the Aedicule (small shrine or chapel) inside of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. (View Dn. Ryan Tellalian’s photo gallery of the book’s pages and cover.)

“It's one of the most unique donations we’ve ever received because it combines the history of the Holy Land with the hand-colored kerosene lantern slide art technique of the 1800s,” notes Eleana. “David’s mother was presented with this album many years ago. While the original author is unknown, it seems intended for Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land, with each picture faced on the opposing page by pressed local wildflowers. Both the highly detailed colorized photos and the pressed flowers are beautifully intact.”

The path to this recent acquisition was unusual as well. The book’s owner David Bardin of Washington D.C., and his wife Livia are good friends and neighbors of Nina Shafran. Nina is the daughter of Archpriest Paul Shafran (SVOTS 1945) and Matushka Mary, who were honored by the seminary in December of 2012 for their 65 years of ministry.  In a lovely gesture, David donated the book in memory of his mother, Ruth, and in honor of Fr. Paul and Matushka Mary.

Nina explains that “when David asked me for ideas about suitable permanent homes for this book, naturally I suggested the SVOTS library.  When Eleana was in Washington D.C., I showed her the photos I had taken of the book, and she was definitely interested, since the library had nothing else like it. It’s quite fascinating to see images depicting the Holy Land as it looked in the latter 1800s–the dirt roads, the garb of the people, their hut-like living quarters.”

Art dealer Jennifer Breger, who specializes in Hebraica and Judaica maps, books, and prints, noted in her appraisal that the book contained “high quality photos” and is a “luxury volume—bigger than most of that period.” Some of the images included are of the Holy Sepulchre, the Jaffa Gate, David’s Tower, Bethany, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jericho, Jordan River, and the Monastery at Mar Saba. (Read about lantern slides at the Library of Congress Website.)

The book will be right at home at the Florovsky Library, where “we have so many unusual and historic pieces that I wouldn’t know where to start to describe them all,” notes Eleana.  She adds, “yet we never forget our ministry focus; we continue to donate our overflow to other institutions like St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and Holy Trinity and St. Herman Orthodox Seminaries.”

As of 2013, those interested in donating books to St. Vladimir’s Library may purchase a volume through the library’s Amazon Wish List. “Many of the books on that list are ones that have to do with Christian history or exegesis of Scripture—useful resources for our students, faculty, and visiting researchers,” says Eleana.

“We always appreciate donations of books and collections of any size!”

Read about other recent library donations

• Fr. John Leonard collection

• Skvir Family Music Collection

• Liberty Fund grant

For the second year in a row, St. Herman’s Society for Orthodox Ecology —a student-run association of St. Vladimir’s Seminary—ushered in the new church year with events focused upon the relationship between humanity and the rest of God’s creation.

Visiting hierarch His Eminence The Most Rev. Melchisedek, archbishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, Orthodox Church in America (OCA), blessed a bald cypress tree that was recently planted on the front lawn. 

The tree, which enjoys boggy ground, received not only a sprinkling of holy water by the archbishop, but also a good deal of rainwater from a cloudburst that soaked the ground, causing the undeterred hierarch to have his mantiya lifted above the wet grass during the blessing.

Afterwards, seminarians and guests celebrated the Akathist “Glory to God for All Things” in Three Hierarchs Chapel, with His Eminence presiding.

The gathering then moved to The Metropolitan Philip Auditorium to hear Dr. Elizabeth Theokritoff lecture on: “Cosmic Liturgy and the Problems of Human ‘Priesthood.’” She described how the label “priest”—often used metaphorically to describe humanity’s role in creation—might engender an anthropocentric view that denies the rest of creation participation in the “cosmic liturgy.” Drawing upon the writings of church fathers, especially St. Maximus the Confessor, Dr. Theokritoff presented the entire universe as a worshiping body, with creation’s “laity” complementing humanity’s “priest.” 

• Hear Dr. Theokritoff’s lecture on Ancient Faith Radio.
• View the photo gallery.

"We're fully geared up to reach out to the wider Church this fall, with an array of lectures and events that will serve a broad spectrum of people," said Archpriest Dr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO of St. Vladimir's. "Our campus will be buzzing with our annual 'Ed Day' homecoming, a heart-warming presentation on Project Mexico by one of our alumni, and fascinating scholarly lectures by two well-known hierarchs.

"But most significantly, we're excited to host a public forum sponsored by Orthodox Christian Laity [OCL] on 'The History and Future of the Assembly of Bishops, and the Proposed Great and Holy Council in 2016,' and we invite fellow Orthodox Christians to join us in what we think will prove to be a lively, invigorating, and thoughtful gathering, on Friday, October 24, 2014 at 7:00 p.m."

Featured speaker for the OCL Open Forum will be Alexei Krindatch, consultant to the
Regional Planning Committee of the Assembly of Bishops. He will give insights into the work of that committee, as it develops a blueprint for a unified Orthodox Church in the USA.

Other notable speakers slated for the forum include His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel and His Grace, Bishop Michael, Orthodox Church in America; both will update participants on the work of the Assembly. Other speakers will be announced.

Anthony Kasmer, a member of the Board of Trustees both at OCL and also at Saint Vladimir's Seminary, who suggested the seminary campus as a venue, also will be present. A public reception will follow the Open Forum, which will be held in The Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of The John G. Rangos Family Building.

The Open Forum is part of the OCL's Annual Meeting, which will also take place on the seminary campus October 23–25. Please check the OCL web site at ocl.org for further details.

Among the other fall 2014 events at Saint Vladimir's Seminary are the following:

Sunday, September 14, 7:00 pm, Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lecture. His Grace, Bishop Alexander [Golitzin] of Toledo and the Bulgarian Diocese, Orthodox Church in America, will present a public lecture, "Force Your Mind to Descend into the Heart: Some Resemblances between Byzantine Hesychasm and Merkavah Mysticism."

Saturday, October 4, 9:30 am–5:30 pm, Orthodox Education Day 2014, Open House. Divine Liturgy begins the day. "Do Books Still Matter? A Celebration of Orthodox Christian Publications" is the theme this year, and several Orthodox Christian publishers will be on hand with books galore for sale. Archpriest Dr. John Behr will deliver the keynote, "From Scroll to Book to Net: the Web of Knowledge." Enjoy workshops, children's activities, and ethnic food.

Monday, October 27, 6:30 pm, Annual Missions Night, Public Lecture. Find out first hand from Priest Nicholas Andruchow, and his wife, Presbytera Merilyn, heart-warming stories of the families and children they serve at Project Mexico and Saint Innocent Orphanage as they build homes and generate hope in Tijuana, Mexico.

See Upcoming Events at www.svots.edu for more details or to download individual event fliers.

Just prior to the lecture, His Eminence will receive an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree, bestowed by the seminary's Board of Trustees and faculty. Metropolitan Hilarion is an appointed member of the seminary board and also author of the Orthodox Christianity Series published by SVS Press.

The academic convocation and lecture will be held in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Building on the seminary campus, and a public reception will follow. Because of the special convocation and lecture, the seminary's normal Saturday evening liturgical schedule has been changed: Great Vespers will be celebrated at 5 p.m.

Monday, October 27, 6:30pm, Annual Missions Night: Fr. Nicholas Andruchow, and his wife, Presbytera Merilyn, will present a free public lecture, “Changing the World: Transformation through Missions with Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage as a Model.” They will recount heart-warming and heart-rending stories of the families and children they serve at Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage, as they build homes and generate hope in Tijuana, Mexico. They will also speak about the transformation that occurs in missionaries and interns that serve.

Before undertaking missionary work, Fr. Nicholas served for two years in the Dominican Republic in the Peace Corps. There he helped found 12 businesses for women’s groups as a consultant. He then worked with Project Mexico for three years, establishing a pig farm and teaching entrepreneurial skills to the boys in the orphanage. Following graduation from St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Fr. Nicholas and Pres. Merilynn, who graduated from Hellenic College Holy Cross, Brookline, MA, spent nine years leading the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Mission Church in Flagstaff, AZ. Since 2011, the Andruchows have continued their work at St. Innocent Orphanage and Project Mexico.

After their lecture at St. Vladimir's Seminary, the couple will spend one week at Hellenic College Holy Cross as featured speakers at HCHC Missions Week.

Friday, October 24, 7:00 pm, Orthodox Christian Laity, Open Public Forum: Join in on an enlivened public discussion on: "The History and Future of the Assembly of Bishops and the Proposed Great and Holy Council in 2016."

Featured speaker for the OCL Open Forum will be Alexei Krindatch, consultant to the Regional Planning Committee of the Assembly of Bishops. He will give insights into the work of that committee, as it develops a blueprint for a unified Orthodox Church in the USA.

Other notable speakers slated for the forum include: His Eminence The Most Rev. Nathaniel, archbishop of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate, and His Grace The Rt. Rev. Michael, bishop of New York, and New York and Jersey, of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), both of whom will update participants on the work of the Assembly. Others speakers will be announced.

Anthony Kasmer, a member of the Board of Trustees both at OCL and also at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, who suggested the seminary campus as a venue, also will be present. A public reception will follow the Open Forum, which will be held in The Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of The John G. Rangos Family Building.

The Open Forum is part of the OCL’s Annual Meeting, which will also take place on the seminary campus, October 23–25, 2014. Please check the OCL website for further details.

Download a jpg flier of the OCL Open Forum

Download a pdf flier of the OCL Open Forum

Download "Mind and Spirit Moments" listing all Fall events

Two prominent hierarchs have given their episcopal endorsement to a newly released volume of homilies by The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir's. Both Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis), primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, and also Bishop Maxim (Vasiljevic) bishop of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, offered praises, printed on the back cover of The Cross Stands, While the World Turns: Homilies for the Cycles of the Year, released this month.

The collected homilies were delivered during the last decade in Three Hierarchs Chapel at the seminary. They follow three main annual liturgical cycles: Paschal, Nativity–Theophany, and feasts of the Theotokos.

"While succinct, these homilies are nonetheless rich in substance and impart invaluable insight," wrote His Eminence Demetrios. "The author's deep theological knowledge and liturgical expertise are discernible throughout."

His Grace Maxim offered, "The readers of Homilies for the Cycles of the Year are led beyond the word toward the original source of the word, which is a Person. This collection of homilies shows that in Eucharistic synaxis we will see and meet God through our communion with others."

The Rev. Dn. Gregory Hatrak, marketing and operations manager for SVS Press and Bookstore, said, "We are grateful to His Eminence and His Grace for recognizing the quality and importance of this new volume, and we hope these sermons will inspire laity and provide a continuing source of education for Orthodox Christian clergy here in North America.

"I am also grateful to Fr. John Behr for continually offering new books to SVS Press—works of spirituality, history, doctrine, and especially for his initial editorial work on our Popular Patristics Series."

Other recently released books by the press include: Give Me a Word: The Alphabetical Sayings of the Desert Fathers (PPS52), translated by John Wortley; My Life's Journey: The Memoirs of Metropolitan Evlogy, with an introduction by Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko; and The Watchful Mind: Teachings on the Prayer of the Heart, by an anonymous priest-monk on Mount Athos. All are available through SVS Press and Bookstore. 

• Read about the summer travels of the Press.
• Get a sneak peak at Fr. John's new book: read the Preface.

For Academic year 2014–2015, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY,will offer an exceptional opportunity to students enrolled in its Continuing Education course on Byzantine Chant. Besides benefiting from the expert instruction of renowned master chanter Eleftherios Eleftheriadis, students will be afforded unprecedented access to rehearsals and concert events during the 2014–2015 Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMA) season that feature Mr. Eleftheriadis.

The seminary is offering the Byzantine music fall and spring semester courses to seminarians and the general public on Tuesday evenings, in collaboration with The Axion Estin Foundation of New Rochelle, NY. Sessions of the fall semester will start on Tuesday September 23, 2014. Beginners Class will meet from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Advanced Class will meet from 8:10 p.m. to 9:25 p.m. 

Students enrolled in the fall semester course may attend the “Byzantine Pop-Ups” concerts at the MMA’s Medieval Sculpture Hall, Fridays, December 5, 12, and 19, at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. daily (free with museum admission); and students enrolled in the spring semester may attend the “Looking East from Byzantium” concert at the MMA’s Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium, Saturday, March 14, 7 p.m. (for tickets and more information visit the Met Museum's Website).

“More than a third of our alumni are in jurisdictions that use Byzantine music,” noted The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, chancellor/CEO at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. “In order to serve the Church and prepare our students for service in these ecclesial settings, we are not only continuing but also amplifying our Byzantine music course offerings for the 2014–2015 Academic Year. At the same time, we are offering superb continuing education for our alumni and friends.”

Dr. Angelo Lampousis, director of The Axion Estin Foundation, added, “This is an unprecedented year in terms of exposure for Byzantine chant in North America. The St. Vladimir’s educational offerings greatly enhance the available opportunities for New York State audiences to gain a deeper understanding of these century-old musical traditions.”

Eleftherios Eleftheriadis, the highly regarded Protopsaltis of St. Nicholas Shrine Church in Flushing, NY, who previously served on the faculty of the Music School of Thessaloniki, Greece, will introduce students to original texts in Byzantine music notation. Students completing either of the non-credit semester courses will receive a certificate of completion.

For queries, or to register, contact Dr. Nicholas Reeves, 914–961–8313 x353, or email byzantine@svots.edu.

Acknowledgment: We gratefully acknowledge distinguished members of the Hellenic community of Westchester Costas T. Los, Nicholas A. Lyras, Nikolaos J. Skubas, and John Daskos, for making four semesters of instruction possible.

Third-year seminarian and organist Ian Abodeely coordinated all of the music for the conference, incorporating the music of Bach, Dupre, Williams, Charpentier, Purcell, Byrd, and others. The services were sung using traditional Gregorian modes. (Read Ian's reflections in "Seminarians Speak.")

The Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate oversees parishes and missions within the Archdiocese that worship according to traditional Western Christian liturgical forms, derived either from the Latin-speaking churches of the first millenium, or from later usages that are in conformity with the Orthodox Christian faith. More than 20 Western Rite Antiochian churches and missions located throughout the United States are in full communion with their brethren of the Byzantine Rite. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) also oversees a number of Western Rite parishes in the U.S.

Presentations focused on the theme of discipline in the spiritual life, with a guiding verse from I Corinthians: "Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." Mass was celebrated daily, together with Vespers and Lauds (morning prayer).

At the conclusion of the conference, Fr. Chad remarked that “over the years Western Rite seminarians have attended St. Vladimir’s, and we hope to serve more of these students in the next few years. We appreciate their contributions and are working to make our link with the Western Rite tradition stronger through participation in events such as this recent one in Michigan.

“Various Eastern and Oriental Orthodox liturgical traditions are always represented in our student body,” he added. “This is one aspect of life at St. Vladimir’s that we value the most.”

• Read Seminarian Ian Abodeely’s reflections on the evangelistic significance of the Western Rite tradition.
• Listen to an interview about the Western Rite conference on AFR.
• Read reflections about the Western Rite by Bishop Basil (‘73) of the Antiochian Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America.