In a much anticipated match–up that had been rescheduled due to Hurricane Sandy, basketball teams from St. Vladimir's and St. Tikhon's seminaries traveled to the gym at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle, NY, and competed in their annual face off. The game, a well–loved tradition between the two schools due to its atmosphere of friendly competition and goodwill, provided its usual excitement and suspense for the fans gathered to watch the action; the lead changed hands several times throughout the course of the game. When the final buzzer sounded, St. Vladimir's Seminary (SVOTS) had narrowly defeated St. Tikhon's (STOTS) 39 to 38, despite the valiant efforts of the St. Tikhon's players.
"It was a defensive game with a lower score than usual," said second–year student and player Fr. James Stevens. "This is traditionally a very close game, and though St. Tikhon's did a better job rebounding and getting easy shots in the paint, it was our perimeter presence that ultimately won the day."
Afterwards, St. Vladimir's hosted both teams for pizza and fellowship in the Germack refectory. The Seminary is grateful to Fr. Nicholas Anctil and his parishioners at Holy Trinity, for graciously hosting the game in their beautiful athletic facility.
In the first Divine Liturgy celebrated at St. Vladimir's Seminary by a bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), His Grace The Right Rev. Peter, bishop of Cleveland for the Diocese of Chicago and Mid–America, presided over Sunday's service at Three Hierarchs Chapel. The Very Rev. Dr. Martin Swanson, dean of the Orthodox Pastoral School and rector of St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church in St. Louis Missouri, accompanied His Grace. The choir interspersed Slavonic responses with hymns in English, in a liturgical celebration which Seminary Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr noted "would not have been possible just five years ago" prior to the restoration of the canonical link between ROCOR and the Russian Orthodox Church on May 17, 2007.
"It has brought back many memories from forty years ago when I used to visit the Seminary as a young man," His Grace remarked following the Liturgy. "A lot has changed since then! Yet still, the beautiful singing and the holy prayers continue." Added Fr. John Behr in his greeting, "Bishop Peter has been a friend of St. Vladimir's for many decades and it's been wonderful to host him throughout this weekend."
Bishop Peter's visit coincided with the Sunday of Zacchaeus, a liturgical signal to Orthodox Christians everywhere that the Lenten season has drawn near. In his homily, Fr. John noted the blessings received by the faithful in the winter's liturgical cycle. "We've been given so much over the past weeks and months," he emphasized. "So what should our response be? We too must enter into the desert, eagerly seeking the Lord like Zacchaeus with expectation and intense desire.
In addition to Dean Swanson, Hierodeacon Seraphim (Nikoloski), a student from Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, NY, also joined His Grace for the historic liturgy. Dean Behr and other Three Hierarchs Chapel clergy served alongside the distinguished guests: The Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Rentel, The Rev. Dr. David Mezynski, The Rev. Pdn. Joseph Matusiak, The Rev. Dn. Gregory Hatrak, and The Rev. Dn. Evan Freeman.
Dr. Paul Meyendorff, Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology, journeyed to Paris, France in early February to receive a doctorate in theology, honoris causa, awarded by the St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris, France. The academic convocation in Paris was chaired by His Eminence Emmanuel (Adamakis), metropolitan of France (Ecumenical Patriarchate), and led by The Very Rev. Nicholas Ozoline, dean of the Institute.
The citation, pronounced by Professor of Liturgical Theology Dr. André Lossky, highlighted a theme consistently present in Dr. Meyendorff's many published works, that of the ecclesial dimension of liturgical worship. He also stressed Dr. Meyendorff's active role in the life of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and especially his ecumenical work, in which he has for many years been an effective representative of Orthodoxy to Western Christians. Currently, Dr. Meyendorff serves on the North American Orthodox–Catholic Theological Consultation, and is a frequent consultant to the OCA's Office of Interchurch Relations and Ecumenical Witness.
connection between St. Sergius and St. Vladimir's Seminary. Father Georges Florovsky taught at St. Sergius before coming to America, and Frs. Alexander Schmemann and John Meyendorff both studied and taught at the Paris Institute before coming to St. Vladimir's in the 1950's. The strong spiritual link between the two schools is evident in their common emphasis on the centrality of the eucharist, which has led to a strong eucharistic revival in Orthodox churches throughout the world.
Founded in 1925, the Institute offers a complete program of licentiate, masters and doctoral degrees.
St. Vladimir's Seminary (SVOTS) and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology at the University of Belgrade have made a formal agreement to work together with the aim of establishing a Serbian House of Studies on the campus of St. Vladimir's Seminary. The House of Studies has several goals, including the promotion of sustained dialogue and educational exchanges between Orthodox Christians in America and Serbia.
The Serbian House of Studies is one of many endeavors outlined in the Seminary's newly crafted "SVS Strategic Plan 2020," and the first to be implemented. The Strategic Plan—which sets forth the Board's vision for St. Vladimir's Seminary for the next decade—actually calls for several such foreign houses of study, together comprising "The International Center of Orthodox Christian Studies," eventually to be located in the historic stone "Germack Building" on campus.
The agreement between SVOTS and the University of Belgrade had been in negotiation for some time, including review and reception by the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church. An opportunity to formally sign the agreement came when His Grace, The Right Rev. Maxim, bishop of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America, and a member of the Board of St Vladimir's, together with Protopresbyter Stauvrophor Dr. Predrag Puzović, dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, and their colleague Dr. Bogdan Lubardić,visited St Vladimir's for the Feast of the Three Hierarchs.
"There are many advantages to our envisioned 'International Center,' said The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr. "Firstly, these houses of study will 'formalize' our existing relationships with other Orthodox schools around the world; ultimately, St. Vladimir's will be the only place on the planet where Orthodox Christian faculty and students are living, working, and studying while fostering international dialogue.
"Secondly, student exchanges between two countries will enrich the whole student body," he continued. "In this case, American Serbian seminarians will get to experience church life in the country of their home jurisdiction, while foreign students will train here and get to understand the American Orthodox scene. This will help our American students better understand and incorporate their heritage, including Serbian history and liturgical practices, into their ministry.
"Thirdly, our seminary campus will be the locus for further theological research by a faculty member from Belgrade University, who will remain in residence for one year and share his particular knowledge with our own student body, while overseeing Serbian exchange students.
"And finally," Fr. John concluded, "the Serbian House of Studies will act as a liaison and center for alumni of Serbian descent from theological schools around the world. We plan to run alumni events throughout the year from this new center, and we plan to publish a newsletter reporting on those events.
The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, seminary Chancellor/CEO, also enthusiastically endorsed the agreement, saying, "This is only the first of many proposed Houses within the International Center for Orthodox Christian Studies. It should be noted that the long-term plan is to include various Oriental Orthodox Houses as well, and their inclusion will build upon our Seminary's history as a place of serious exchange between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians."
Distinguished seminary alumnus The Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Atty (SVOTS '79) has announced his immediate retirement as Dean and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (STOTS) in South Canaan, PA. Father Alexander, who has served the past three years in that position while giving particular attention to the renovation needs of the STOTS campus, cited health reasons in a statement posted on February 6.
"What was always clear to me in conversations with Fr. Alexander," noted St. Vladimir's Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, "was his primary concern of meeting the pastoral needs of his seminarians above all else."
Father Alexander assumed the role of St. Tikhon's COO after having served as the rector of St.Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church in Louisville, KY, a parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. He holds a B.S.in engineering from Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science. After earning his M.Div. at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, he went on to study at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, earning his D.Min. in 2008.
Ordained a priest on December 9, 1979 at St. Nicholas Cathedral, Brooklyn,NY, Fr. Alexander was elevated to the rank of archpriest in 1988.In 2009, he presented the seminary's annual public Lenten retreat, focused on the theme “Good and Faithful Servants.”
With cups of tea perched on side tables in the inviting living room of Chancellor Chad Hatfield and Matushka Thekla's Crestwood home, members of the Seminary's St. Juliana's Society listened as special guest Presbytera Renee Ritsi of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) described her life as a missionary in Kenya and Albania. Presbytera Renee and her husband Fr. Martin, the executive director for OCMC, ministered cross culturally in a life that, while difficult, "held great joys," she explained. When their son reached high school age, the Ritsi family moved to OCMC's home base in St. Augustine, FL, while continuing to work and travel on behalf of missions.
"Everyone has a unique, God-given talent," emphasized Pres. Renee. "As we go through our lives, we need to share our faith. We need to ask ourselves every day, 'Am I challenging myself to do God's will?' Don't hide your talents—let them come to fruition!"
Presbytera described how she and Fr. Martin sold their home and cars, packed up their basic belongings, and moved to Nairobi, Kenya with two small children. Serving the Archbishopric of Kenya and Irinopoulis, the Ritsis taught at the Makarios III Orthodox Seminary in Nairobi. While Pres. Renee worked with clergy wives, Fr. Martin served as the parish priest of the St. Anargyroi Cathedral and traveled throughout East Africa teaching and baptizing new Orthodox Christians.
"Africa became our home," said Pres. Renee. "We were impressed by the joy and peace of Kenyan Christians, and I have precious memories of our kids being part of many multicultural situations."
After the Kenyan years, the Ritsi family returned to their home state of California, where Fr. Martin earned a Master of Theology degree in Missiology from Fuller School of World Mission. Another overseas assignment beckoned and Father and Presbytera packed their bags again, this time moving to Albania. For six years they worked under Archbishop Anastasios to help reopen the Orthodox Church, which was just emerging from the repressive Communist era. Presbytera Renee taught ESL and Public Speaking, led retreats for clergy wives and teachers, and also home schooled her children during their elementary years.
"The rest of the world does not live with the same proximity to the Gospel as we do," emphasized Pres. Renee, as the future clergy wives listened intently. "We have a beautiful faith and this is a time of opportunity for this faith. Take what you've been exposed to at St. Vlad's, and use your voice to express your love for Christ."
Formed in 2010, the St. Juliana's Society exists specifically for the needs of future clergy wives, and hosts speakers and discussion topics that focus on spiritual and practical issues faced by families training for ministry in the Church. "In our meetings we create a venue for their questions about what happens after seminary, and try to equip them with the tools they will need," noted coordinator Matushka Thekla.
In his first visit to the St. Vladimir's campus since his Enthronement as primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) in Washington, D.C., His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, archbishop of Washington and metropolitan of All America and Canada, presided over the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of The Meeting of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple. The seminary's Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr and the Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield greeted His Beatitude at the doors of the Three Hierarchs Chapel at the start of the festal service that marks the end of the Nativity/Theophany liturgical cycle.
In his homily, Metropolitan Tikhon reminded the community that the Feast of the Meeting of our Lord emphasizes the importance of obedience to Christ offered in a spirit of love. "There are so many opportunities for this," he stressed. "We all have people in our lives to whom we can become obedient, and grow in our love for one another. But it's difficult, and requires a change in our very being.
"The way to enter the Kingdom," concluded His Beatitude, "is to follow the commandments with the proper attitude in our hearts. Then this becomes a feast of hope, something we can apply to our lives through our love for our neighbor."
"At the culmination of all the Advent services," noted Fr. John, "it is a joy to have you with us, Your Beatitude, and to hear your words to us today." Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude and chapel priests blessed the Seminary's main buildings, sprinkling holy water throughout the
At the conclusion of the blessings, Chancellor Hatfield and Dean Behr presented Metropolitan Tikhon a gift of a Mont Blanc fountain pen in commemoration of his hierarchical visit and the start of his primacy. "His Beatitude signs a multitude of documents, and he was most appreciative of the pen!" said Fr. Chad.
In addition to Fr. Chad and Fr. John, clergy serving at the Liturgy included OCA Chancellor The Very Rev. John Jillions, and SVOTS clergy The Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Rentel, The Rev. Dr. David Mezynski, The Rev. Dr. Benedict Churchill, The Rev. James Parnell, The Rev. Pdn. Joseph Matusiak, The Rev. Dn. Gregory Hatrak, and The Rev. Dn. Evan Freeman.
Let us who love their words come together with hymns
and honor the three great torch–bearers of the triune Godhead:
Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom.
These men have enlightened the world with the rays of their divine
doctrines.
They are flowing rivers of wisdom,
and have filled all creation with springs of heavenly knowledge.
They ceaselessly intercede for us
before the holy Trinity!
Troparion, Feast of the Three Great Hierarchs
"Glory be to Thee Who hast shown us the light!" The booming voice of His Grace The Right Rev. John Abdalah (alumnus '84), auxiliary bishop for the Antiochian Archdiocese's Diocese of Worcester and New England, accompanied by the pealing of the Chapel bells, announced The Feast of the Three Great Hierarchs—Ss. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom—patrons of the Seminary's chapel. Appropriately, three hierarchs presided over the Divine Liturgy, including Bishop John, His Grace The Right Rev. Bishop Nicholas, auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn for the Antiochian Archdiocese, and His Grace The Right Rev. Maxim, bishop of the Western Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America (SOC), an episcopal member of the SVOTS Board of Trustees.
"It was a great joy to welcome the three bishops," said SVOTS Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr. "When we heard the three Antiochian bishops were elected on the same day, and then subsequently consecrated together, we knew it was too good to be true, and we issued an invitation for them to join us on this day. Today we had two of the three who were consecrated help us celebrate our Feast, along with honored guest Bishop Maxim."
Added Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, "A patronal feast is always festive but this year having three hierarchs for Three Hierarchs gave us a particular sense of celebration." In Fr. Chad's homily, he emphasized the meaning of this feast for Orthodox Christians today. "In the days of Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom, people in the Church argued about who was the greatest theologian, even to the extent of breaking into camps dividing over this.
"Today," continued Fr. Chad, "it is still all too easy to speak of 'us' and 'them'. But we are one in Christ, so therefore, let us celebrate a feast of unity."
Noted second–year student Sandro Margheritino, "In his profound homily, Fr. Chad pointed out that the unity of the three hierarchs is the unity in Christ. Unfortunately we often miss this by focusing on differences which are really insignificant details.This is truly meaningful, on a day in which representatives of three different jurisdictions in America celebrate the Divine Liturgy in unity."
Another second–year student Kyle Parrott added, "It was wonderful to see the chapel, both nave and altar, packed with clergy, staff, students, their families, and visitors. On what otherwise is an ordinary Wednesday morning in January, seeing so many who took the time out of their day to celebrate this feast of Christian unity was very encouraging."
Michael Soroka, Th.M. student, concurred. "We were blessed to commemorate today's feast of the Three Hierarchs with three hierarchs! The hierarchical liturgy can be served in many different ways, and it was wonderful for the seminary community to get just a small taste of this diversity by celebrating today's liturgy according to the practices of the Antiochian Archdiocese."
In addition to the bishops, Fr. John Behr, and Fr. Chad Hatfield, celebrants in the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy included: The Rev. Dr. J. Sergius Halvorsen, The Rev. Dr. Benedict Churchill, The Rev. Kilian (Sprecher), The Very Rev. Dr. Harry Pappas, The Rev. Pdn. Joseph Matusiak and The Rev. Dn. Gregory Hatrak. Other distinguished guests included The Very Rev. Dr. Predrag Puzovic, dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, University of Belgrade, Serbia, and Dr. Bogdan Lubardic, assistant professor at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology.
Every year in the chill of an early January morning, students, staff, and friends of St. Vladimir's Seminary meet at 4:30 a.m. to catch the bus to travel to Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life. It's a long day that doesn't end until the bus arrives back on campus at midnight; throughout the day, participants will endure freezing temperatures, crowds, hours on the bus, and a long walk in the nation's capital.
Seminary marchers are quick to say the effort is worth the inconvenience. Now in its 40th year, the March for Life draws hundreds of thousands of people from all over the United States for a peaceful rally and walk on the National Mall that ends at the steps of the Supreme Court. People brave the cold January temperatures to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in all fifty states, and to call for greater protection and help for unborn children and their mothers.
In the last few years, the Seminary's contingent has increased, as more students and friends of SVOTS have journeyed to D.C. to join with other Orthodox Christians in the March, including most of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and seminarians from St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, PA. Orthodox marchers sing as they walk, and participating clergy and hierarchs also offer a short panikhida for the unborn as a part of the day's commemorations.
This year, the St. Ambrose Society, the Seminary's student–run Pro Life advocacy group, planned the day's activities, with assistance from Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, who also rode the bus with the students. Enroute, the riders viewed a video about the work of Good Counsel Homes, a local ministry for women and children supported by the Society.
Andre. "We march in order to remember the 56 million aborted children that have died because of Roe v. Wade over the last 40 years."
In a gesture appreciated by the crowd, His Beatitude The Most Blessed Tikhon, primate of the OCA, along with the bishops of the Holy Synod, sang the hymn "Grant Rest and Eternal Repose, O Lord" from the platform, rather than from the sidelines as was their practice in previous years, enabling all of the crowd to hear the prayer. People responded to this rendering of the hymn with absolute silence and respect, rather than offering applause as they had been doing for other speakers and musicians.
"Overall, it was a great trip" said Dn. Andre. "People of all ages and backgrounds were walking together, singing songs, praying, and speaking out for the unborn children and women who are victimized by abortion."
