At the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, our seminary community was honored to have three hierarchs serving: His Beatitude The Most Blessed Jonah, primate of the Orthodox Church in America, presiding; and His Eminence The Most Rev. Justinian, archbishop of Naro-Fominsk and administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the U.S.A., and His Eminence The Most Rev. Kallistos, bishop of Diokleia, concelebrating. Especially, we were privileged to hear the homily by Metropolitan Kallistos, widely renowned author, teacher, and churchman, who is visiting the campus as part of his participation in the North American Conference of the Fellowship of Ss. Alban and Sergius being hosted here this week.
Reflecting on the hymns of the feast day, related to the life of the Virgin Mary, Metropolitan Kallistos centered his preaching on the unique and personal vocation of each human being.
"The Theotokos was 'preordained' to be the Mother of God," he began. "Her vocation was accepted freely; nevertheless God had picked her out and chosen her before the creation of the world. And, what is true of her is true of each one of us: we have been chosen to fulfill a particular vocation. Human beings are not stereotypes; everyone is different, as the Book of Revelation emphasizes: each person shall be given a new name written on a white stone; that name is known only to God and the person who receives it.
"In each person is a hidden treasure, not to be found in someone else," he stressed. "The world has need of every single person. Each one has a unique vocation and special task not given to another. Through prayer and ascetic struggle we discover our vocation and become what we are."
Metropolitan Kallistos, who was born "Timothy Ware" in Bath, England, embraced the Orthodox Christian faith at the age of 24 (having been raised an Anglican). He has served as Co-chair of Orthodox-Anglican Dialogue from 2008 to the present, and thus, appropriately, will deliver the keynote to commence this week's conference of Orthodox Christian and Anglican participants. His most well known writings are The Orthodox Church, published when he was a layman in 1963; in 1979 he produced a companion volume, The Orthodox Way, published by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.
To view a photo gallery of the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos in our seminary chapel, click here.
At 7:30 p.m., St. Vladimir's Seminary will bestow an honorary doctoral degree upon Metropolitan Kallistos, after which His Eminence will deliver his presentation. The event will take place in Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Building, and a public reception will follow.
Metropolitan Kallistos, who was born "Timothy Ware" in Bath, England, embraced the Orthodox Christian faith at the age of 24 (having been raised an Anglican). He has served as Co-chair of Orthodox-Anglican Dialogue from 2008 to the present. His most well known writings are The Orthodox Church, published when he was a layman in 1963 and subsequently revised several times. In 1979 he produced a companion volume, The Orthodox Way, published by St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.
His Eminence began his visit to St. Vladimir's Seminary by concelebrating the Vigil for the Feast of the Theotokos in our campus chapel. Presiding was His Beatitude, The Most Blessed Jonah, primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and several chapel clergy served.
To read more about the Ss. Alban & Sergius Conference and to view a schedule, click here.
A $50,000 endowed scholarship fund was recently established at St. Vladimir's Seminary in honor of Peter A. Herbut, M.D., and Margaret Fetsko Herbut, R.N., by their daughter, Paula Herbut. The fund is intended to assist students at St. Vladimir's who are studying to be priests in the Orthodox Church in the United States or Canada and have financial need. Additional criteria for the scholarships are intellectual curiosity, academic achievement, and compassion for others.
Dr. Herbut (+ 1976) was
He was appointed a trustee of St. Vladimir's in 1974, and planned to use his organizational skills for the church after his retirement. In a telegram to Mrs. Herbut following his death, Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann (Dean of St. Vladimir's from 1962 to 1983) wrote: "He inspired all of us with the seriousness of his concern for theological education, his commitment to the church, the depth of his vision...His death is a great loss for the whole church, and for our school."
Mrs. Herbut (+ 2003) was a leader in volunteer fund raising for Jefferson Hospital and for medical and nursing scholarships for many years until her death, and was known for her common sense and kindness to people. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, she met her future husband when she was a nurse at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital after earning her R.N. from its School of Nursing and he was an intern at the hospital after earning his M.D. from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
A native of Canada, Dr. Herbut was born on a pioneer farm in Edson, Alberta, to parents of Russian descent and language who immigrated first to Pennsylvania and then to Alberta from Galicia (now Poland); his father, Andrew Herbut, was instrumental in establishing four Orthodox churches in Pennsylvania and Alberta. Dr. Herbut's presidential papers are housed at Jefferson; throughout are themes of optimism, compassion, and hard work.
View a complete listing of all SVOTS scholarships here.
St. Vladimir’s has a long-standing history of supplying its northern sister school with faculty and library books. More recently, our Chancellor/CEO Archpriest Chad Hatfield, who also acted as Dean of St. Herman’s from 2003 to 2007, has begun conducting retreats and seminars within the Alaskan Diocese and at St. Herman’s.
In FY11, Fr. Chad, accompanied by SVOTS seminarians Dn. James Bozeman and his brother, David (now also a deacon), presented seminars on missiology, evangelism, and the intersection between Orthodoxy and culture to the students at St. Herman’s. During that visit, Archpriest John Dunlop, dean of St. Herman’s noted: "The historical link between the two schools is paving the way to closer cooperation, particularly in the fields of missions and evangelism. We trust that God will give more opportunities for our seminaries to cooperate in our common vision to serve the Church."
Apparently, Fr. John’s prayer has been answered. We thank our generous anonymous donor for this gift, which will indeed make “more opportunities” possible.
Khouria Frederica Mathewes-G Vocation," which was presented at our "Women Disciples of the Lord" conference held on our campus June 17–19, 2011, is now available as a podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. Kh. Frederica speaks and writes on a wide range of topics—movie reviews, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the pro-life cause, marriage, family, and the culture.
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.
On Thursday, October 6, 2011, His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah, primate of the Orthodox Church in America, presided at a memorial service in Three Hierarchs Chapel, during which time our community remembered His Eminence Archbishop Dmitri on the 40th day of his repose in the Lord.
Our orginal article about Vladyka Dmitri's falling asleep, posted at the time of his repose, is below. Memory Eternal!
In Memoriam• His Eminence Archbishop Dmitri (Royster), 1923–2011
His Eminence Archbishop Dmitri, 87, fell asleep in the Lord today, at 2 a.m. at his home in Dallas, Texas. The entire seminary community is offering prayers for his repose, as we mourn the loss of his presence as a well-respected churchman, and alumnus and long-time friend of our school.
His relationship with the Seminary began in 1966, the year he attended Saint Vladimir's, while he simultaneously taught a course in Spanish at nearby Fordham University. During that period of time, he attended classes on our campus with renowned teachers such as Fr. Alexander Schmemann, Fr. John Meyendorff, and Professor Serge Verhovskoy. “Their great wisdom and experience was completed by a genuine Orthodox Christian friendliness and I could not have been more ‘at home’,” he once recalled during an interview for a seminary publication.
Archbishop Dmitri himself contributed significantly to St. Vladimir’s Seminary, in two important ways: by sending us seminarians from his former diocese, and by publishing several volumes with our seminary press: The Kingdom of God: The Sermon on the Mount;The Parables; The Miracles of Christ; St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans: A Pastoral Commentary; and The Epistle to the Hebrews, A Commentary. His last work with our academic press, The Epistle of St. James: A Commentary, was published in 2011. Another work, a commentary on the Gospel of St. John, is pending publication. His Eminence was in the midst of writing a commentary on the Gospel according to St. Mark, just prior to his death.
His Eminence had a captivating background. He was born “Robert Royster” to Protestant parents in a small Texas town on November 2, 1923. In 1941, at the age of eighteen, after intense study culminating in an interview with the Greek Orthodox Archbishop (later Ecumenical Patriarch) Athenagoras, he was received into the Orthodox Christian faith at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Dallas, Texas, whereupon he received the name “Dmitri.”
His college studies at North Texas State University were interrupted when he entered the United States Army in 1943. After special training at the University of Michigan, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and served as a Japanese language interpreter on the staff of General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines and Japan. Following military service, he completed his university education and became an instructor of Spanish language at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, where in 1949 he received a Master of Arts degree in Spanish and was named Professor of Spanish Literature. He was ordained to the diaconate and holy priesthood in November of 1954 by Bishop Bohdan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Diocese, after which he organized St. Seraphim Orthodox Church, the first English-language parish in Dallas. He and his parish were received into the Metropolia, as the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) was known at that time, in 1958.
He continued to serve as a pastor of St. Seraphim Church until June 22, 1969, when he was consecrated to the episcopacy. Initially, he served as auxiliary to Archbishop John [Shahovskoy] of San Francisco and the West (1969–70) and as auxiliary to Metropolitan Ireney (1971–72). In 1972, he was named ruling Bishop of the Diocese of Hartford and New England. In 1978, he was named ruling Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Dallas and the South, which consisted of fourteen states in the southern United States. He was charged with the development of the diocese, which at the time was made up of a few churches in Florida and Texas and several scattered missions. St. Seraphim Church was designated the diocese's cathedral church, which meant that he once again would serve as archpastor of the parish that he had founded more two decades earlier.
Under his leadership, the Diocese of the South grew to well over sixty parishes and missions. He also has served as editor of the Diocese of the South's monthly newspaper, The Dawn, throughout its twenty-five years of existence. In 1993 he was elevated to the dignity of Archbishop by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the OCA.
In addition to his duties as ruling hierarch of the Diocese of the South, Archbishop Dmitri functioned as Exarch for the Diocese of Mexico. He was well known for his missionary efforts among Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, for whom he had translated Orthodox liturgical texts and theological works into Spanish. On September 4, 2008, upon the retirement of Metropolitan Herman, the Holy Synod of the OCA named Archbishop Dmitri Locum Tenens of the Metropolitan See. In November of 2008, his role as locum tenens ended with the election of Bishop Jonah of Fort Worth as Metropolitan. On March 22, 2009 Archbishop Dmitri requested to be granted retirement from active duty as a diocesan bishop effective March 31, 2009.
Days and times for funeral services for Archbishop Dmitri will be posted on the Website of the Orthodox Church in America, here.
Following Great Vespers this evening for the Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., the seminary community will be serving a lite for the respose of the soul of Archbishop Dmitri.
"Other than two downed trees next to the community garden, and some leaks in the windows of the Rangos Building and chapel," said Chancellor/CEO Fr. Chad Hatfield, "it doesn't appear that we suffered much damage. Especially, we are grateful that everyone is safe."
The storm, with winds up to 65 m.p.h. and rising rivers that flooded out roads and residences in other parts of
Yonkers and Westchester County, hardly nicked the campus. Even Troublesome Brook, which usually meanders and babbles lazily through the seminary property, remained contained as it sped through its banks.
"The one person really adversely affected by the storm seems to be our Plant Manager, Rafael Rivera," noted Fr. Chad. "He's been up since 5 a.m. mopping up the Rangos foyer!"
Both Great Vespers, 6:30 p.m. tonight, and Divine Liturgy, 7 a.m. tomorrow, for the Feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, remained scheduled. A litefor the repose of newly departed Archbishop Dmitri will be served following Great Vespers.
Classes for the 2011–2012 Academic Year commence Monday, August 29th.
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.
