If you walk into Three Hierarchs Chapel just as the bell that calls oing on course, like water through a riverbed.

"They are the backbone of liturgical life here at the seminary," says the chief Chapel Ecclesiarch, Fr. Alexander Rentel, who also is Assistant Professor of Canon Law at St. Vladimir's. "They are ones that show up a good half hour before each service, never complaining. They're faithful, loyal liturgical leaders who love the church services.

"They are also the first line of defense if ever there's a problem in chapel," he continues, "they are often the first to make corrections, when corrections need to be made. I refuse to say that they 'work for me,' because they 'work with me.' They teach me a s well. They are a fine, fine group of people...everyone of them that I've worked with."

And, he's worked with several. Among his alumni ecclesiarchs he names: Andrew Smith (current), Dn. Evan Freeman, Gregory Abdalah, Dn. Nicholas Belcher, Daniel Belonick, Peter Drobac, and Dn. Kevin Smith; among his alumni sacristans are: Lee Bozeman and Dn. Dunstan Lyon (both current), Dn. Evan Freeman, Dn. Nicholas Hubbard, Fr. Barnabas Powell, Fr. Nathan Preston, and Jacob Hatch. "Next year," he says, "our seminarian, Harrison Russin," will resume the tradition of a 'double-duty' ecclesiarch, both serving in that capacity and directing the choir from time-to-time, as others did in the past."

This past Sunday several "alumni" sacristans and ecclesiarchs happened to be in our seminary chapel, and they joined current sacristans and ecclesiarchs and Fr. Alexander for a photo shoot. Some offered reminisces of their experiences as chapel overseers, sharing with us what goes on "behind the veil":

"The sacristan, in many ways, can really be called a master of ceremonies. It’s his job to make sure that everything needed for a specific service is set out and ready to go, to make sure all the candles are lit, and, in short, to make the clergy look good and that the services flow smoothly without a hitch. While things may be going well in front of the iconostasis, it can often be just a bit less than smooth sailing behind the iconostasis. Though this is one of the more demanding community service assignments on campus, I feel blessed to have been chosen to serve in this position the past two years. In fact, there's no other community service assignment I'd rather have!

"Perhaps the greatest joy of being a sacristan is getting to work with all sorts of people. Not only am I able to help train all the students on campus, but I've also gotten to serve with bishops from all over the country, and the world. Perhaps my favorite people to work with in the sacristy are the young children of the professors and students. They always have a story that makes me smile, and they bring a prayerful energy to the altar that can't be matched. Even if they can never remember to button the top button of their shirt when vested, I can always depend on them to make the entrances without any mistakes. I'll never forget the several times a seminarian was lost in the service and the young altar boy would grab him by the cassock and lead him to where he's supposed to be. Though the seminarian's face may be red with embarrassment, my face has a proud grin on it."—Dn. Dunstan Lyon
 
"One of my favorite memories of being an Assistant Sacristan here at SVOTS during my first year was ringing the festal bells before Vigils and on Sundays and feastdays— including one time when Nick Hubbard (then the Head Sacristan, now Fr. Nicholas Hubbard) and I were ringing the bells (both of us were wearing headphones) and Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov (wearing no headphones and with a big smile) joined in, ringing the bells with us. It was the best I had ever heard those bells, and it was a particularly joyous moment."—Fr. Maximus Cabey

"As the student Ecclesiarch, I remember fondly the regular conversations I had with Fr. Paul Lazor concerning the order of our chapel services. His expansive knowledge of liturgics, seasoned with pastoral discernment, had a great impact on me. In addition, working with the texts of our hymnographic tradition, especially under the guidance of Fr. Alex Rentel, made me appreciate the beauty and brilliance of Orthodox worship in a way I never before appreciated."—Daniel Belonick

"One of my favorite memories is when Nick Hubbard, Brock Johns, and I were serving as sacristans for the Paschal services in 2008. We had gathered as many different kinds of incense as we could, both from the chapel, and also from the seminarians around campus, to use for the Paschal services. You can imagine the dramatic contrast when, after using only Frankincense for all of Lent, we put around 15 different kinds of festal incense into the censers during Paschal Matins and the Divine Liturgy!"—Dn. Evan Freeman

"Each Saturday at Vigil, I really enjoy the 1st Hour. All of the lights are off at that moment and the priest is standing at the altar with a candle. It is, for the most part, very quiet. The servers and deacons have all un-vested and they stand in their places in the altar in the darkness and in silence. There is something about that moment that is really pleasant. And then we begin to sing 'O, Champion Leader' and the sound swells, especially when I am able to stand near Fr. Alexander, who sings it with great gusto. That is a favorite moment of mine."—David Lee Bozeman

Current Sacristan Dn. Dunstan Lyon gives some wise, final counsel to any future sacristans and ecclesiarchs, "From the secret book, which is handed down sacristan to sacristan":
 

“You have been blessed with an important and difficult task. …I had considered also writing about the ‘way of the sacristan,’ but much of the value in the service you are about to undertake lies in the discovery of all this ministry entails. Though there are there are many common threads, each experience is unique. …One, hopefully enduring piece of advice is this: try to pray when you can…”

Learn more about our Chapel Community and view a listing of our services in our Chapel Calendar. Watch a video of Dean Emeritus Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko presenting a tour of Three Hierarchs Chapel.

When our campus guest, Fr. Pavlos, a monk of the famed St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai, spoke last evening, his words evoked the collective wisdom of dozens of spiritual fathers across the ages. Radiantly humorous and joyfully somber, Fr. Pavlos—a graduate of the School of Theology of the University of Athens, and a Sinai ascetic for four decades—began his address to the community with an illuminating talk about the "grave" vice of being judgmental. He ended it with a Q&A session with the audience that covered everything from child rearing to the practice of the Jesus Prayer.

Peppered throughout his talk were the sayings of the fathers (apophthegmata patrum)— pithy stories and phrases by spiritual sages within the centuries-old Orthodox Christian tradition, which proffer ethical, moral, and religious advice. For example, said Fr. Pavlos:

"St. Isaac the Syrian said, 'On the day that you judge your brother, consider that a "lost day," even if you've done many other good deeds.' " 

"St. John of the Ladder told the story of a monk who visited an unkempt cell of a brother monk, and he said to himself, 'My brother prays and fasts so much, he has no time to tidy his cell.' Then the same monk visited the spotless cell of another brother monk, and he said to himself, 'Just as my brother's soul is clean inside, so is his cell.' You see, in neither situation did the monk judge his brother."

Fr. Pavlos also adition of revered ascetics such as St. Gregory of Sinai and St. John of the Ladder, who, said Fr. Pavlos, "wrote the 'Gospel for monks,' that is, his work The Ladder of Divine Ascent.

The vibrant monk also described the liturgical rhythm of life at the monastery, the peaceful and mutually respectful relationship between the monks and their Bedouin neighbors—"Who are not Christians"—and the daily duties of the monks. "My favorite place to work is the garden," he mused. "Trees are 'man's best friend'!"

Our Dean, Fr. John Behr, in welcoming Fr. Pavlos, remarked, "In the midst of this very busy time on campus, as we near final exams and Commencement, in the midst of all this 'chaos,' we are deeply blessed to have with us someone from a monastery that has cultivated the 'heartbeat' of hesychastic spirituality—someone who can teach us how to encounter God in the midst of silence."

If you were unable to be with us and Fr. Pavlos during his visit, you can listen to his talk  here. Note: Fr. Pavlos' remarks, in the Greek language, are being translated by Fr. Nathanael Symeonides of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in New York City.

Oath of Office

"I, Adam Horstman, having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of Second Lieutenant do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God."

With those words, 1st-year seminarian Adam Horstman became a Second Lieutenant Chaplain Candidate in the U.S. Army Reserves on Tuesday. He took the oath on our campus, at the foot of the bridge that straddles Troublesome Brook, surrounded by fellow seminarians, staff, Chancellor Archpriest Chad Hatfield, and visiting Chaplain (Major) Peter M. Dubinin, an Orthodox priest who has served 15 years in the United States Army.

Seminarian James Parnell, a 1st-year seminarian and a Second Lieutenant Chaplain Candidate in the New York Army National Guard, administered the oath, while 3rd-year seminarian Aaron Oliver, who is a First Lieutenant Chaplain Candidate in the Nevada Army National Guard, witnessed the oath while presenting the U.S. flag during the ceremony.

“This day has been long in the making,” said Seminarian Horstman, reflecting upon his new direction in life. “When I was eighteen, I enlisted in the military, and although the Chaplaincy was not a career option for me at that time, I was instantly drawn to it, especially during my times of deployment. A military chaplain is placed right in the middle of people’s lives, whatever they are going through. The dangers, stress, heartache, and camaraderie in the military make for unbelievable ministry opportunities—from counseling families in crisis to advising commanders facing tough decisions.

“Most importantly,” he continued, “an Orthodox chaplain is a priest who commends others to God and His Church. It was in the military that I first learned about the Orthodox faith, by encountering a prayer book in a desert chapel. Perhaps it was Providence that led me to the same Church as Father Sean Levine, a model priest and chaplain, who has greatly impacted my decision to follow this calling. For me, an Orthodox priest-chaplain is to be a chaplain is the truest sense of the word. Bringing the sacraments to Orthodox Christians on the frontlines and being a witness to the incredible riches of our faith to all people—to people like me, an eighteen- year-old kid away from his new wife and in harm’s way. Such a treasure indeed! Perhaps the events of my life have now led me to my vocation as a military chaplain.”

Chaplain Dubinin, currently stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, gave a word to those witnessing the ceremony. “Opportunity, responsibility, privilege,” he said, mark the military chaplaincy. “We Orthodox priests all have our crosses, but those who are military chaplains are particularly concerned with serving our servicemen and women, who especially need pastoral care in their circumstances—not knowing if the patrol they are about to go on will be their last.”

Our annual open house this year, "Orthodox Education Day 2011," will honor all of our service men and women, with the theme "For God and Country." Join us on Saturday, October 1st for a day dedicated to those who serve us and our country: send USO packages to the troops; view a military parade; listen to keynote speaker The Rev. Dr. Philip LeMasters; and learn, in special workshops, how to support military families, as individuals and as parish communities. And of course, enjoy our usual scrumptious ethnic food, fabulous dance groups, and angelic visiting choirs. Read all about it here.

Students, faculty, and friends of our seminary will be given a rare and wonderful opportunity this Thursday. Father Pavlos, an elder of St. Catherine Monastery on Mount Sinai, will visit St. Vladimir's this week, and he has agreed to spend an informal evening, beginning at 7 p.m. on May 12th, conversing with those interested in the ascetic and hesychast tradition of the Orthodox Church.

"Father Pavlos is a graduate of the School of Theology of the University of Athens, with four decades now, of immersion in the ascetic and hesychast tradition of Sinai, to which every branch of modern-day Christianity owes its enlightenment,” noted our Dean, Fr. John Behr.

“Father Pavlos conveys the revelations of the spiritual athletes of the Sinai from the early Byzantine period of the 4th through 8th centuries, not simply on the basis of their recorded experiences but also through the illumination of his personal experience of this unbroken tradition,” added Fr. John. “As the oldest continuously functioning monastery in the world, St. Catherine's lays claim to the interpretation of this body of wisdom, not as theoretical but as living tradition.”

The informal conversation, open to all of our seminary friends and our campus community, will be held in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Building. Father Nathanael Symeonides will join us to facilitate communication and interaction with Fr. Pavlos.

Please contact our Events Coordinator, Tanya Penkrat, with any questions: tpenkrat@svots.edu or 914-961-8313, ext. 351.

On Friday, basketball teams and fans from St. Vladimir's and St. Tikhon's seminaries traveled to the Stamford Athletic Club in Connecticut  to compete in their annual face off. St. Tikhon's (STOTS) beat St. Vladimir's (SVOTS) in an evenly matched rivalry—61 to 60—despite a valiant effort by Dn. John Cox, who drained a 3-point jumper for SVOTS in the last seconds of the game. Afterwards, players and fans met at Archangels Greek Orthodox Church in Stamford, for pizza and fellowship in the parish hall. We thank Fr. Harry Pappas, proistamenos at Archangels parish and adjunct professor of Pastoral Theology at St. Vladimir's, and his parishioners for hosting and feeding both teams!

 We Tweeted these highlights from the sidelines last week:

stvlads St Vlad's Seminary

Both teams are warming up for the annual SVOTS v STOTS basketball game - hosted by Fr Harry Pappas' parish. Thank you!

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stvlads St Vlad's Seminary

SVOTS has new uniforms but STOTS look hungry - should be a great game!

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SVOTS consult with Fr Harry http://twitter.imageshack.com/h4u1lhqxj

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stvlads St Vlad's Seminary

SVOTS warming up http://twitter.imageshack.com/gyqqhwmj

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SVOTS support. http://twitter.imageshack.com/hswjxupj

6 May  

stvlads St Vlad's Seminary

SVOTS surge against spirited STOTS - game could go either way

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stvlads St Vlad's Seminary

Halftime rest for Flying Deacon John Cox of SVOTS http://twitter.imageshack.com/h0tsulrj

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stvlads St Vlad's Seminary

Judging by the halftime activity, SVOTS should start playing some of the 30 or so SVOTS kids who are here to cheer on their team.

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stvlads St Vlad's Seminary

STOTS take a well-deserved lead - superior shooting. 4th quarter about to begin

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stvlads St Vlad's Seminary

STOTS 61 SVOTS 60 - great game and incredible last basket by the Flying Deacon!

6 May Favorite Retweet Reply

Want to get daily updates about our seminary, about our latest news and events? Join us on Twitter by connecting to the link at the bottom of our Home Page.

View a photo gallery of the game, fellowship in the parish hall, and Archangels Greek Orthodox Church, by Deborah (Malacky) Belonick.

Graduating senior seminarian Aaron Oliver is stepping down after completing his term as President of Student Council and making way for President-Elect James Parnell, a 1st-year seminarian who acted as his class representative on the council this past year. Continuing in their respective roles as Secretary and Treasurer are Andrew Boyd and Anoop Thomas.

“On behalf of the Student Council, I would like to congratulate James on his election as President-Elect of the council. His term will begin following Commencement,” announced seminarian Oliver.

“This is the first year that a Student Council has existed in decades, and we’ve really flourished at the school," he added. "We are establishing ourselves on campus in our role as a student voice, in being a liaison between the students and the administration, and in working to improve the quality of campus life and supporting the seminary’s mission.

“It’s been an honor and privilege to serve in this capacity and to work with the students and the administration,” seminarian Oliver summed up. “We’ve worked in an atmosphere of open communication, and among the tangible things we’ve accomplished are: acting as student observers on Faculty Council committee meetings and as representatives on the Alumni Board and Events Committee; and we have worked to increase student interaction with the Board of Trustees. Additionally, we’ve started various student organizations on campus as special interest groups.”

The Student Council was newly formed in May 2010, to strengthen student participation in campus life and to facilitate communication between students and faculty, staff, and administration. Seminarian Parnell not only will be President of the council next year but also will be one of two 2nd-year class representatives. Additionally, he will continue to act as Special Interest Group Coordinator, that is, as liaison between the various student groups—such as those representing environmental concerns, St. George Orthodox Military Association, outreach and missions, pro-Life advocacy, and so forth—and the Student Council.

Commenting on his new office, seminarian Parnell said, “I feel honored to have been chosen to succeed Aaron Oliver, who has given me big shoes to fill. He's served faithfully and diligently as our first President, and I hope to do even half as well as he has done. He's been a great source of knowledge and advice and has been a great help to me in my first year while transitioning into seminary life, as he is, like myself, a Chaplain Candidate in the Army National Guard. I joined the military while in high school and went on active duty status as soon as I graduated. I completed my Associate and Bachelor degrees while on active duty in the U.S. Army. I was rarely if ever a full-time student, given frequent stateside traveling for training and two overseas deployments. This has made the transition to a full-time, brick-and-mortar graduate school particularly tough after almost a decade in the military.

“My vision for next year is one of continuing some of the great programs we've started and ensuring further cooperation between the Student Council and the administration,” he continued. “I look forward to working with the Dean and Chancellor and the rest of the administration and have been very impressed with their support and have appreciated their guidance as we have progressed through the year. The concept of a Student Council at St. Vladimir's is still very new, and we have a lot of work to do to further integrate into the life and mission of the seminary. One of the main issues that I hope to address is, for lack of a better word, 'publicity.' I want to ensure that students know that we are here and available to help them with whatever issues arise. I'd like to see us take a more active role, not only as a Student Council but also as students in general.

"I've never participated as an officer in student government, but I am thankful for my frequent leadership opportunities while serving in the Army and the National Guard," he said in conclusion. "I hope to use the discipline, motivation, and leadership skills that I've learned in the military in this context as well in order to serve my fellow seminarians. That's really what our job is about as Student Council representatives: serving our fellow seminarians."

This past weekend in Chicago two SVOTS alumni—Reader Gregory Ealy ('07) and Subdeacon Nicholas Hubbard ('09)—were ordained to the Holy Diaconate by the newly consecrated Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), His Grace Matthias (Moriak). The ordination of Subdeacon Nicholas took place at the Consecration Liturgy on Saturday at Christ the Savior Church, and Reader Gregory was ordained on Sunday at the Installation Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral. During the festive weekend, Archpriest John Behr, our seminary Dean, and Archpriest Chad Hatfield, our seminary Chancellor, represented St. Vladimir's.

Dn. Gregory has served as Choir Director and Director of Music Ministry at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago since his graduation from St. Vladimir's. Following his ordination he and his wife, Miho, will be moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota where he will take up the position of Choir Director at St. Mary's Cathedral (OCA).

Dn. Nicholas has been at St. Mary's Cathedral in Minneapolis since his graduation from the seminary. He has since been certified in Clinical Pastoral Education and has served in various lay ministry positions at the cathedral parish. Subdeacon Nicholas will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood in May at St. Mary's Cathedral, where he will be attached as an assistant priest.

"Axios" to Deacon Gregory and his wife, Miho, and to Deacon Nicholas and his wife, Georgiana! We send our prayers with them as they serve the wider Church.

Read more Alumni Profiles and Alumni News in the Alumni section of our Website.

On Saturday, May 21, 2011, David Drillock, Professor of Liturgical Music, Emeritus, at St. Vladmir's Seminary, and an alumnus of our school ('63), will return to his alma mater to deliver the commencement address to the graduating class. Professor Drillock will also be granted the degree, “Doctor of Sacred Music” honoris causa. He will be the first recipient of this honorary doctorate now offered by our seminary. 

Professor Drillock is also a graduate of Columbia University and holds a Master of Sacred Music degree from Union Theological Seminary. He is responsible for producing several liturgical music books used in Orthodox Christian parishes throughout North America and also is well known for the production of many CDS of liturgical music, featuring both male and mixed choirs.

View our upcoming 2011 Commencement Invitation and our past Commencement Programs.

Members of our community got a chance to explore the Chancery's grounds and archives, and to meet informally with the metropolitan. About forty people from St. Vladimir's attended, including several children, some of whom served in the altar with His Beatitude and all of whom enjoyed the picnic after the service.

"It was wonderful to be able to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with all our friends at the OCA Chancery on Bright Wednesday," said Archpriest John Behr, seminary dean. "This invitation gave us all a much needed opportunity to rejoice and enjoy each other's company in a relaxed and family manner."

Likewise, seminary Chancellor Archpriest Chseminarians and their families, especially the children, having a day of Paschal celebration with His Beatitude, Jonah.”

View more  photos of the day by Alexis Liberovsky, archivist at the OCA Chancery.

Read more about our seminary community here.

On Lazarus Saturday afternoon, ten children from our seminary community, led by their director, Danielle Miller, offered a superb Spring Concert on our campus. His Grace The Right Rev. Michael, bishop of the New York and New Jersey Diocese of the OCA, enjoyed a front row view of the performance, which included selections ranging from Byzantine chant to classical music by Handel and Vivaldi to contemporary pieces, such as "Siyahamba," a South African freedom song.

First-year seminarian Ashley Lear acted as assistant director for the group, and first-year seminarian Harrison Russin acted as their accompanist. Children comprising the choir include: Colin, Hannah, and Mary Katherine Barberg; Rufus Behr; Alex, Asher, and Judah Bozeman; Sophia Dooley; and Sofia and Stella Miller. Following the concert, each student received a certificate from Mrs. Miller, in recognition of their hard work.

The St. Vladimir's Seminary Children’s Choir is in its second year and rehearses once per week after school during the academic year. This year’s choir has equal numbers of boys and girls ages 8–13, who all sing in the treble range. The children work on voice training, sight-singing, and musicianship using Dalcroze principles and use these skills to sing classical, folk, and liturgical music. The choir participates in the Lazarus Saturday Divine Liturgy, along with campus church school children, and has the yearly Spring Concert. Next year, the choir will work on portions of the vespers service with hopes of singing on several Saturday evenings.

Their conductor, area music teacher Danielle Miller, talked about the importance of the group and its diligence in training, saying, "One of the most fundamental ways to prepare children to fully participate in the life of the Church is by teaching them the singing skills they will use in worship."

Mrs. Miller is a lifelong musician. She taught vocal and general music for more than 13 years in public schools in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Her choirs were regularly awarded top honors in music competitions and invited to perform at professional music education conventions. She has served as a clinician, workshop presenter, and guest conductor, and now teaches K-8 music at Blue Rock School in West Nyack, New York. She is also pursuing certification in Dalcroze, a method of teaching music that brings natural movement to conscious awareness in order to increase musicianship.

 A church musician nearly continuously since her teens, Mrs. Miller assisted the Trinity (Episcopal) Church in the City of Boston youth chorister program and taught sight-singing to all the Trinity Church choirs. At Pascha 2008, she was chrismated at St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She conducted the choir at St. George’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Danbury, Connecticut and helped them participate in a pan-orthodox concert in November 2009. She lives with her husband Scott and her daughters Stella and Sofia in nearby Harrison, New York.

All area children ages eight and up with a connection to the Orthodox Church are welcome to participate in the St. Vladimir's Seminary Children's Choir, regardless of their stage of musical development. Please contact Danielle Miller for further information at danielletmiller@aol.com.

View a PDF of the Spring Concert Program, including some sing-along-music, here.

Sing along with the choir's musical selection "Like as a Father," by Luigi Cherubini, in a beautifully crafted slideshow by seminarian Kevin Basil Fritts, here.

Watch the video of the entire concert, by seminarian Kevin Basil Fritts, here.

View a photo gallery of the concert, by Tanya Hoff.