On Wednesday, August 18, 2010, His Eminence Christopher [Kovacevich], metropolitan of the Midwestern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States and Canada, reposed in the Lord, at age 82. Metropolitan Christopher had been undergoing treatment for brain and bone cancer.
A native of Galveston, TX, Metropolitan Christopher was one of 12 children born to Serbian immigrant parents. He attended Nashotah House Seminary, Nashotah, WI and graduated from Saint Sava Seminary, Libertyville, IL. After marriage, he was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood. He subsequently earned a B.A. at the University of Pittsburgh and an M.Div. from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA. He also completed courses and examinations for a doctorate at the Chicago Theological Seminary. Widowed, he is the father of four and the grandfather of nine. A complete biography of His Eminence is available on the Website of the Orthodox Church in America, http://www.oca.org.
Metropolitan Christopher was a member of the Seminary’s Board of Trustees from 1986–2007. The entire seminary community is praying for the soul of Metropolitan Christopher, and we remember with gratitude his service to St. Vladimir’s and to Orthodoxy in America.
Since the end of our Spring 2010 semester, four of our seminarians have been ordained in the Holy Orders. We congratulate Deacon Dunstan Lyon and Frs. Jason Foster, Lucas Rice, and Ignatius Warren as they broaden and deepen their service to the Church.
Our seminarians come to us from diverse professional and educational backgrounds. Their intriguing spiritual odysseys continue as they pursue their education here at St. Vladimir’s.
Dn. Dunstan was born and raised in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. After high school he decided to attend the University of Minnesota, during which time he participated in two archaeological excavations in Messene, Greece. These excavations exposed him to Eastern Orthodoxy and led him to join the Minnesota Orthodox Christian Fellowship, where he met his wife, Nicki. After receiving his Masters degree in Art History and Archaeology (emphasis, Classical and Byzantine Archaeology), he felt led to the ministry and enrolled in the M.Div. program at St. Vladimir's, where he is currently in his third year. Dn. Dunstan was ordained to the diaconate on May 22, 2010 in Three Hierarchs Chapel at the seminary by His Beatitude Jonah, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
Fr. Jason has been married to his wife, Ashley, for 13 years, and the gracious and hospitable couple has six daughters: Addison, Savannah, Camille, Gabrielle, Saxony, and Mary Katherine. Fr. Jason is fond of saying: “You can follow my spiritual progression from a Baptist minister to a ‘high’ Anglo-Catholic to an Orthodox priest by noting the names of my daughters!” Fr. Jason was ordained to the priesthood on July 21, 2010, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, Atlanta, Georgia, by His Beatitude Jonah. He is the Annual Giving Officer in the Advancement Office at the seminary and is pursuing doctoral studies in theology under the supervision of Fr. Andrew Louth at Durham University in England.
Fr. Lucas is active in children's education, both on campus with the church school and at his parish assignment. In the seminary chapel, he is active in the Men's, Mixed, and Byzantine choirs and is a member of the Seminary Octet. He also conducted a homiletics course at St. Herman Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska during Spring semester 2010. He and his wife, Nicole, begin their third year at St. Vladimir’s this fall. Fr. Lucas was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 2010, at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Brooklyn, New York, by His Grace Basil, bishop of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America (AOCANA).
At the seminary, Fr. Ignatius assists in directing the Men’s, Mixed, and Byzantine Choirs during daily services and is a member of the Seminary Octet. He also conducted a pastoral theology course at St. Herman Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska during Spring semester 2010. Fr. Ignatius’s wife, Misha (née Jacob), a lifelong member of St. George Cathedral in Wichita, has completed her studies at Seton Hall Law School. Fr. Ignatius was ordained to the priesthood on June 27, 2010 at St. George Cathedral, Wichita, Kansas, by His Grace Basil, bishop of Wichita and Mid-America (AOCANA), and is in his third year of studies at SVOTS.
This autumn, we will welcome new faces—and old faces in new positions—as we begin our Fall semester.
We greet our new employees:
David Wagschal, an SVOTS alumnus (’02), joins us as an Instructor in Church History and Director of Admissions and Financial Aid.
Fr. Benedict Churchill, another SVOTS alumnus (’10), will assume his duties as Associate Director of SVS Press.
Gregory Hatrak, former Bookstore Manager at St. Tikhon’s Seminary, comes on board as our new Bookstore Operations Manager.
Matushka Thekla Hatfield, as a seasoned clergy wife, will coordinate our campus Wives’ Group.
We also wish our current employees well in their new positions:
Fr. Alexander Rentel, former Instructor in Liturgics and current chapel Ecclesiarch, has been appointed as Assistant Professor in Canon Law and the “John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology,” an Academic Chair founded by our beloved Trustee Emerita, Elsie Skvir Nierle.
Dr. Peter Bouteneff, in addition to being Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at SVOTS, will take on the role of Director of Personal Formation for all M.Div. students.
Dr. Kate Behr, Professor of English at Concordia College, will be an Adjunct Professor of Literature at SVOTS, as well as the “Our Community” section writer for our Web site and our institutional Facebook page writer.
Fr. Steven J. Belonick will step down from his former position as Associate Dean for Student Affairs and, because of his long-time pastoral and parish experience, become our Campus Chaplain.
Fr. David Meyzynski, former Dean of Students at St. Tikhon’s Seminary, will act as Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
Hdn. Philip Majkrzak, former Director of Music at St. Herman’s Seminary, will conduct our liturgical services as Chapel Choir Director.
George Kokonas, our steadfast Systems Support Specialist, has moved up as Director of IT.
Deborah Belonick, in addition to her duties as Advancement Officer, will assume the position of Managing Editor and News and Events section writer for our Website.
View our faculty and staff directories for more information.
The "Hellenism & Orthodoxy" symposium, held on the seminary campus June 10–12, 2010, generated frank and lively discussion concerning the unity of, and relations between, Orthodox churches in North America. Conference speakers and participants respectfully wrestled with a variety of difficult issues related to the ecclesial structure of Orthodoxy in North America: the interpretation of Canon 28 of the Council of Chalcedon, the definition of "diaspora," ethnic identity, and especially, the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
Presenters at the symposium first explored the historical roots of Hellenism and then noted its lasting and profound effects on the cultural, linguistic, and canonical history of the Orthodox Church. Most intriguing were the keynote addresses given by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, titled "Hellenism and Orthodoxy: A Linguistic and Spiritual Journey," and by Archimandrite Elpidophoros Lambriniadis, chief secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, titled "Greek Orthodoxy, the Ecumenical Patriarachate, and the Church in the USA."
Many of the lectures are archived as podcasts on Orthodox Christian Network (OCN).
From June 3–6, 2010, SVS Dean Fr. John Behr and faculty member Dr. Peter Bouteneff participated in an international patristics conference at the Volos Academy for Theological Studies in Greece. The conference was organized in collaboration with the Orthodox Christian Studies Program of Fordham University, the Chair of Orthodox Theology of Münster University, and the Romanian Institute for Inter-Orthodox, Inter–Confessional, and Inter-Religious Studies (INTER) Cluj-Napoca. The conference, titled "Neo-Patristic Synthesis or Post-Patristic Theology: Can Orthodox Theology Be Contextual?" included an impressive list of European and U.S. patristics scholars.
On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14, 2010, St. Vladimir’s Seminary will bestow the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa on Professor Christos Yannaras, a leading Greek Orthodox ethicist. Professor Yannaras has authored more than a dozen books on ethics, theology, and modern religious philosophy, including one by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press titled The Freedom of Morality.
At the academic convocation, during which the honorary degree will be bestowed, Professor Yannaras will present a free and public lecture, “The Trinity and Freedom,” and an open reception will follow. Please join us for this event, beginning with Vespers in Three Hierarchs Chapel at 6 p.m. The convocation will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Building.
Those wishing to worship with us at the 9 a.m. Divine Liturgy and to enjoy a brunch following are welcome. The Choir of the School of Orthodox Theology at the University of Belgrade will sing the responses at the liturgical services and will present a short concert at the academic ceremony. His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah, primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and His Grace Maxim, bishop of the Diocese of Western America of the Serbian Orthodox Church, will concelebrate the Divine Liturgy. For further information, contact events@svots.edu.
New and returning students are entering the rhythm of seminary life in preparation for Fall semester 2010 by attending Orientation Week, August 21–29. Students may view a complete Orientation Week schedule, which also includes details about the first few days of classes and chapel services.
We look forward to greeting old friends and new faces as we begin our academic year, and we look forward to worshipping together on the first major feast day, The Nativity of the Theotokos.
Prepare for a holy pilgrimage and expect a multi-cultural immersion experience this year at our annual campus event, "Orthodox Education Day," on Saturday, October 2nd.
Our campus will be especially graced to receive from Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, an exact replica of the famed Pochaev Icon of the Mother of God. As well, the curator of Antiochian Heritage Museum, Julia Ritter, will hand deliver a superb exhibit of 15th–19th century icons, Arabic manuscripts, and Syrian artifacts—never before seen in this area. Additionally, "The Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir," "The Boston Byzantine Choir," and "St. Nino's Georgian Orthodox Choir" will present concerts of liturgical music in our chapel.
Archpriest Michael Oleksa will set the tone for this year's theme “Many Cultures, One Faith,” in his keynote about Alaska Native history. Father Michael has spent the last forty years in Alaska, serving as village priest, university professor, and consultant on intercultural relations and communications.
What other sights, sounds, tastes, and discoveries can you expect on the day? Music and folk dance groups from New York City's boroughs, ethnic dishes and delicacies, and colorful exhibits will introduce you to the religious traditions and cultural customs of peoples from both the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches. Special displays will include watercolors by Alaskan artist Matushka Xenia Oleksa, and an exquisite photo gallery of Ukrainian women monastics.
Hands-on and How-to workshops will range from decorating Ukrainian Pysanky to learning folk dances. The Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) will present a special workshop on missionary activities around the globe, from Africa to South America to the Far East.
We've also included a panel discussion titled "The Road to Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Unity" which will be led by faculty from St. Vladimir's and St. Nersess Armenian seminaries and which will explore the historic divide between the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches. Since our student body encompasses seminarians from both backgrounds, and since we recognize the rift in communion between the two bodies of faith, we wanted to address a topic that challenges our theme.
We have arranged our liturgical schedule this year as follows: early Divine Liturgy at 7:30 a.m., a Hierarchical Akathist at noon*, and a Memorial Service at 4 p.m., followed by Vespers, to conclude the day.
Food booths and cultural exhibits will be open from 10:30AM until 4:30PM.
Please join us as we transform our campus into a global community that represents the multi-cultural backgrounds of our students at St. Vladimir's and demonstrates the breadth of the influence of Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches worldwide. We welcome you!
View our detailed schedule in the attached PDF. Feel free to distribute this article and schedule to your friends, family, and fellow parishioners!
*Note the schedule change in the time of the Hierarchical Akathist: It is now at noon.
