Our Chancellor/CEO Archpriest Chad Hatfield welcomed 17 new students to St. Vladimir's at the outset of Orientation Week, introducing them to the rigors of seminary life and the "tough formation process" required in preparation for the priesthood and church ministry. In his introductory talk, Fr. Chad urgitual lives as they navigate the waters of academic study, communal life, family life, and chapel worship.
"Theology which is alive, an ascetical life which is alive, is not simply found in the pages of books," said Fr. Chad. "An authentic knowledge of God is what's most important for you to acquire in your three years here as a seminarian, and that means being attentive to your own interior life, and that of your wife, your family, and your classmates.
"You're going to find that you will have to carry each other from time to time," he concluded. "Sometimes you'll be the strong one, and sometimes you'll be the weak one. But all of that cannot just simply be dismissed as 'I'm too busy to deal with that'; because if you do, then you will fail at your whole vocation. It is the Evil One who wins."
Father Chad ended his talk by referencing and elaborating on quotes from 2 Corinthians 3:1 and 6:4, saying, "As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way. If our consciousness is not of our own status, but of Christ who has called us to make this journey this day and of the people that we are called to serve in His name, then we will find that our response is not in vain, but one that turns the key to that great journey which is eternal and unending in the kingdom."
The new students represent the jurisdictions of the Orthodox Church in America, the Antiochian Orthodox Church in North America, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, the Ethiopian Church, and the Armenian Apostolic Church. Twelve students are in the M.Div. program; 1 is in the M.A. program; and 4 are in the Th.M. program. With the incoming class, our student body totals 64 this year.
As the summer season wanes and our community slowly trickles back to campus from vacation, we begin anew a full schedule of services in our Three Hierarchs Chapel. The Feasts of Transfiguration and Dormition, at which we thank God for a harvest of fruit, herbs, and flowers, signal the renewal of our communal worship.
We were especially grateful to welcome His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah, primate of the Orthodox Church in America, to our chapel for the Feast of Transfiguration.
St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press (SVS Press) announces the release of two new books, both by episcopal members of our Board of Trustees: His Beatitude The Most Blessed Jonah (Paffhausen), archbishop of Washington and metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America; and His Eminence The Most Rev. Hilarion (Alfeyev) archbishop of Volokolamsk and chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Reflections on a Spiritual Journey —a collection of essays and addresses by Metropolitan Jonah— provides a glimpse into His Beatitude’s spiritual formation and thinking. The book, which contains not The Mystery of Faith: An Introduction to the Teaching and Spirituality of the Orthodox Church, by Metropolitan Hilarion, was written when His Eminence was a priest, lecturing in dogmatic theology at the Moscow Theological Seminary in 1992. It was published in Russian in 1996, and it was first printed in English by Darton, Longman and Todd, Ltd. in the United Kingdom in 2002. It is, in the words of the author “…neither a systematic exposition of the dogmatic theology of the Orthodox Church, nor a comprehensive analysis of Orthodox spiritual tradition. It is rather a personal commentary by an Orthodox priest on the dogmas of the Orthodox Church as they relate to spiritual life.” A collection of texts, mostly patristic, which illustrate the author’s points, follows each chapter.
Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware), bishop of Diokleia, in his Foreword to the work, writes:
"The Mystery of Faith is written in a generous, holistic spirit. For the author there is no separation between theology and spirituality, between dogma and personal experience, between faith and prayer; all of them form together a single, undivided whole. Bishop Hilarion agrees with the saying of the Desert Fathers that the theologian is the one who prays…The great Metropolitan of Moscow in the nineteenth century, St. Philaret, used to say that the Creed belongs only to those who live it. Such is exactly the spirit in which the present work is written."
Both titles may be ordered through St. Vladimir’s Seminary Bookstore, by clicking here.
In July 2011 the seminary received a major gift of $75,000 from the estate of Nona Bissland, in memory of Walter and Nona Grusha and John and Nona Bissland, for the installation of solar panels.
"This wonderful gift, along with a grant of $72,000 from the New York State Energy and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for installation of solar panels on our Administration Building, has fully funded this remarkable 'going green' initiative, which will supply electrical power to the Chapel and Administration Building for many years into the future," said Theodore Bazil, Associate Chancellor for Advancement.
The solar grid was installed in September 2010. This past year, the panels lay like sleek sunbathers, soaking up the sun's rays that poured onto the eastern rooftop slope of the Administration Building (adjacent to Three Hierarchs Chapel). These "bathing beauties" generated 17,000 kW of power, saving the seminary about $4,600 in energy costs during their first 10 months of operation alone.
As they continue to generate green power, the seminary will remember this major gift from Nona Bissland with much gratitude.
With sorrow, we bid farewell to our brother and father, The Very Rev. Michael Lewis, who fell asleep in the Lord on the Feast of Dormition, and we express our hearfelt sympathy to his wife, Khouria Kyra, and their children.
Father Michael earned his Master of Divinity degree from our seminary in 1988, and he was pastor of St. Luke Orthodox Church in Garden Grove, California, a parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.
May God receive him in His Heavenly Kingdom and may his memory be eternal.
"We magnify you, O Hierarchs of Christ, Teachers of Truth and Wisdom" (Hymn to the Three Great Hierarchs: Listen here)
A gleaming new mosaic of the Thegory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom, now adorns the entrance to our campus chapel, thanks to seminary friends and supporters Ernest and Denice Collazo. The iconographic mosaic, which depicts the patron saints of our chapel, was blessed following the service of Great Vespers for the Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.
Mr. and Mrs. Collazo, along with their daughter Abigail, were present for the blessing and posed for a photo with Archpriest Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO of the seminary, who thanked the Collazo family for the lustrous new icon. "We honor the three saints on this icon not only as the patrons of our chapel but also as patrons of all those who study theology," said Fr. Chad, "and we are grateful for the generous friends who gave us this beautiful mosaic."
Dr. Mary Ford's lecture, "Light from the Past on Vocations Today," which was presented at our "Women Disciples of the Lord" conference held June 17–19, 2011, is now available as a podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. Dr. Ford, Associate Professor of New Testament at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary, has co-authored Marriage as a Path to Holiness: Lives of Married Saints and has given several retreats on that topic as well.
Hear many other "Voices from St. Vladimir's"—including faculty and guest speakers to our campus—on Ancient Faith Radio. Listen in to spiritual meditations, scriptural exegesis, and more by clicking here.
Dr. Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald's lecture, "Eve, Mary, and Us," which was presented at our "Women Disciples of the Lord" conference held June 17–19, 2011, is now available as a podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. Dr. FitzGerald, who holds a Master of Divinity degree from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, Massachusetts, is a pastoral counselor and licensed psychologist.
Hear many other "Voices from St. Vladimir's"—including faculty and guest speakers to our campus—on Ancient Faith Radio. Listen in to spiritual meditations, scriptural exegesis, and more by clicking here.
Why would a small group of Orthodox Christian clergy and laity, college-age and up, rent a vendor's booth at the famed Cornerstone Music Festival—basically a Christian rock music event? Perhaps, to evangelize? Or, to minister to youth and young adults? Maybe, to recruit students for the seminaries that participated (i.e., St. Vladimir’s and St. Tikhon’s)?
The answer is complex, and before I reflect on our group’s experience, let me explain what Cornerstone Music Festival is. Created in 1984 by an independent evangelical group known as “Jesus People USA,” the festival now ranks as one of the largest Christian Music fests in the world: sort of a Christian version of Woodstock. Tens of thousands of people travel to Cornerstone Farm in Bushnell, Illinois each year to hear more than 300 bands play many styles of music, including rock, metal, punk, folk, hardcore, and pop. Guest speakers, independent/foreign film screenings, writers' seminars, and art workshops are featured as well.
Cornerstone draws many Christians on the fringes of culture, folks hungry to learn more about their faith. Although not typically “suit and tie” Christians (it’s difficult to find a person without a tattoo there), they exhibit extreme fervor for Christ. Many seek to understand God in a deeper way, and the festival provides an opportunity for them to share ideas and meet other like-minded, “hungry” Christians from the world over.
While primarily attended by Evangelicals, Cornerstone has in recent years attracted the involvement of both Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians. During this past year, several students from both St. Tikhon’s Seminary and St. Vladimir’s Seminary (unbeknown to each other) contemplated making a trip to Cornerstone, to present Orthodox Christianity to festival-goers.
During a missiology class presentation at St. Vladimir’s in fall 2010, I had proposed the idea, which was not original: many students over the last few years had the same vision, and prior to us, a group representing the “punk zine” Death to the World had rented a festival booth and conducted Orthodox liturgical services there, which passers-by could observe. Much to my surprise, following my class presentation, I was immediately inundated with volunteers who wanted to resurrect an Orthodox presence in this rather unusual setting. The idea reached fruition through the efforts of some of my fellow students and by way of the Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Our brothers at St. Tikhon’s, who shared in the same vision, joined in and carried the weight of the endeavor. This was one of the greatest blessings to all of us: a unique opportunity for “SVOTS” and “STOTS” to work together.
Fr. Christopher Foley and I represented St. Vladimir’s; Fr. Joel Weir and Christopher Patton represented St. Tikhon's Seminary; and Subdeacon Luke Beecham represented the Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry. Stephen Wendland and Reid Broadstreet were both volunteers who helped out with the booth and liturgical services.
For some of us, Cornerstone had once been a Christian music “Mecca,” which had played an intrinsic part in our developing lives as Christians. Some of us had performed in bands at the festival, while others were simply devotees. This year, we had a ministry—in the midst of seeming cacophony.
Picture us singing “Gladsome Light” while not-so-distant multiple rock bands each played a different song simultaneously. The hymns of daily vespers competed with a wall of disharmonious noise, akin to serving vespers in a war zone. And yet, God was praised, and the gospel was preached. Many who had never before seen an Orthodox service were quite moved, despite the noise and distractions. To our delight, we also met several young Orthodox Christians, who were equally delighted to attend services and to meet their brethren in the “wilds” of the event. In the quiet of each early morning, we celebrated Divine Liturgy, and the service provided a beautiful counterpoint to the noise and chaos of the ensuing day.
Incredibly, though our booth featured neither music nor food, a constant stream of visitors flowed through. Between services, we offered Orthodox books and pamphlets, which afforded us a wonderful opportunity for ministry and outreach. Through the generosity of St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, Conciliar Media, Templegate Publishers, Lampost Books, and others, we gave out well over 300 books and pamphlets to inquirers. Out of the constant flow of people walking past, many stopped to ask questions. Some folks knew a little something about Orthodoxy, while others had no clue. We had many wonderful conversations and made many new friends. A number of people came back multiple times to ask more questions and to open up their hearts. Amazingly, some even shed tears as we shared our faith in Christ in a way never before experienced by them. Clearly God was blessing our feeble attempt to serve Him.
So, why did we go to Cornerstone? The answer became clear only after we had taken the risk to go, only after we had made an effort to serve. An image of our effort endures, frozen in my mind’s eye: Three members of our group stand behind the little table in our booth, each talking to an individual about the Orthodox faith, while another stands in the walkway talking to yet another couple about the Orthodox Church. Two more of us are busy gathering more books to re-supply stacks, since our stock keeps disappearing into the hands of inquirers.
Truly, people were seeking something fuller than what they had found within their Evangelical, “seeker-sensitive” churches. At the very least, they were curious and had questions. Dealing with our visitors reminded me of Isaiah 55:1, where it says, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat."
And, that’s why we went: to shine our light into the world without fear, and with love for all human beings, so that they, too, may find Christ in His fullness, in the Orthodox Christian faith.
The seminary community remembers with great fondness its former Dean and Professor of Church History and Patristics, Protopresbyter John Meyendorff (1926–1992), on the 20th anniversary of his death, July 22, 1992. You may view a touching still-shot video in remembrance of Fr. John (created by Andrew Matthews)here.
Born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, in 1926, Fr. Meyendorff completed his secondary education in France and his theological education at the Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris in 1949. In 1948 he also received a license-es-lettres at the Sorbonne, and later earned a Diplôme d'études supérieures (1949), a Diplôme de l'école practique des Hautes Etudes (1954), and a Doctorate of Letters (1958). In France he was an Assistant Professor of Church History at the Orthodox Theological Institute, and a Fellow at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.
Having been ordained to the priesthood in the Orthodox Church, he became Professor of Church History and Patristics at St. Vladimir's Seminary (1959), holding also successive joint appointments as lecturer in Byzantine theology at Harvard University, Dumbarton Oaks (to which he returned for a semester as Acting Director of Studies in 1977), and as Professor of Byzantine History at Fordham University (from 1967). He also was Adjunct Professor at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary and lectured widely on university campuses and at church events. He held the position of Dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary from March 1984 until June 1992.
Fr. John's publications include the critical text and translation of Byzantine theologian Gregory Palamas (1959), as well as a number of books in the fields of theology and history, such as A Study of Gregory Palamas (French ed., 1959; Engl. 1964); The Orthodox Church (1963); Orthodoxy and Catholicity (1966); Christ in Eastern Christian Thought (1969); Byzantine Theology (1973); Marriage, an Orthodox Perspective (1975); Living Tradition (1978); Byzantium and the Rise of Russia (1980); The Byzantine Legacy in the Orthodox Church (1981); Catholicity and the Church (1983); and Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions. The Church 450-680 AD (1989). His books have been published in a number of languages, including French, German, Italian, Russian, Greek, Finnish, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Serbian, and Polish. English editions are carried by our SVS Press & Bookstore.
