Dr. Nicholas Pandelidis (far right) with his family
Donor Views interview with Dr. Nick Pandelidis
By Ginny Nieuwsma
Former Trustee Dr. Nicholas Pandelidis served on the Seminary’s Board for fifteen years, stepping down in 2020. A dedicated Seminary donor since 1997, Dr. Nick, an Orthopedic Surgeon, describes himself as a “semi-retired” physician who is now investing even more time and treasure to the causes he cares about deeply. He and his wife Lisa have three married daughters—Katy, Thea, and Allie—and five grandchildren (including his namesake, Nicholas) with another grandchild due in June.
The Rev. Dn. Zachariah (Jithin) Zachariah was ordained to the holy priesthood in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Saturday, April 9. His Grace, Metropolitan Zacharias Mar Aprem presided over the ordination at Fr. Zachariah's home parish, St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Garland, TX.
Father Zachariah graduated from St. Vladimir's Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 2019. Before enrolling at St. Vladimir's, he earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Following his ordination, Fr. Zachariah will serve as a priest in the South-West American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. He is also a chaplain at Faith Presbyterian Hospice in Dallas.
May God grant the newly ordained Fr. Zachariah, his wife Jisa Kochamma*, and their family many years!
Saint Vladimir's Seminary Alumnus Dn. Joseph Wesseler and Seminarian David Galloway were ordained together Sunday, April 3, 2022 at St. John of the Ladder Orthodox Church, Greenville, SC—Dn. Joseph to the priesthood and David to the diaconate. Another alumnus, His Grace, Bishop Gerasim, presided over the Divine Liturgy and ordinations.
Father Joseph and Dn. David are clergy of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
The Rev. Joseph Wesseler graduated from St. Vladimir's Seminary in 2017 with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree. He holds a B.A. in philosophy with a minor in psychology from California State University, Fresno, and previously worked at Pro-Youth H.E.A.R.T. in Visalia, CA, an after-school program providing homework help, supplemental math and reading work, and anti-gang and anti-drug education programs for youth.
The Rev. Dn. David Galloway is in his second year of studies in the Seminary's M.Div. program. Before coming to St. Vladimir's, he studied English literature at Goldsmiths College, University of London and philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London. Deacon David worked as a senior technical writer and IT project manager for two large ISPs and wrote for tech blogs including Lifehacker and Gizmodo. He lives on the campus of St. Vladimir's with his wife, Megan, and their two daughters, Penny and Monya.
May God grant the newly ordained Fr. Joseph and Dn. David and their families many years!
Within the teachings and arts of the Orthodox Church we sometimes hear a suspicion about creativity. To some ears, the words “creative” and “new,” sound opposed to “Tradition” which is unchanging. In his art and his writings, world-renowned iconographer Dr. George Kordis demonstrates compellingly how tradition has always been not only creative, but in a fruitful relationship with secular culture.
Hear Dr. Kordis speak to “Tradition as Creativity ” during a free, online public lecture Thursday evening, April 7. The talk, hosted by St. Vladimir's Seminary's Institute of Sacred Arts (ISA), will begin at 7:30 p.m. EDT/4:30 p.m. PDT.
Dr. Kordis is currently residing, working, and teaching at St. Vladimir’s campus in Yonkers as ISA's inaugural artist in residence for the spring 2022 semester. The annual artists-in-residence program is part of the Seminary’s Master of Arts degree concentration in Sacred Arts.
ABOUT DR GEORGE KORDIS Eminent iconographer George Kordis has the rare distinction for a practicing artist of a complete academic training in theology, with advanced theological degrees from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston and the University of Athens, where he was assistant professor in iconography (theory and practice). His training as a painter preceded and motivated his move into theology: During the 1980s he worked with the Cypriot master iconographer, Fr. Symeon Symeou, and also studied painting at The School of Fine Arts at The Museum of Boston from 1987–89; and even while obtaining his doctorate (Athens) in 1991 he continued his studies in painting and engraving under Fotis Mastichiadis. Dr. Kordis has been a visiting professor teaching icon painting courses at Yale University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Bucharest/Department of Orthodox Theology, and Ukraine Pedagogical University, Odessa, while continuing to create major church programs of iconography—including several in the US (see Holy Trinity in Columbia, SC and, recently, Holy Trinity in Pittsburgh and panel icons, which have been seen in numerous prominent exhibitions at Yale University and elsewhere). Kordis is also a prolific author with wide-ranging interests: theory and practice of Orthodox iconography, Fayum mummy portraits, Theophan the Cretan, Andrei Rublev, Fotis Kontoglou, Greek folk art, and many other topics.
Over the first weekend of April, a new priest and deacon were added to the ranks of St. Vladimir's Seminary's alumni and student body: Priest Joseph Olas and Dn. John (William) Vazquez. Both ordinations took place by the hand of His Grace, Bishop Anthony (Antiochian Archdiocese) at St. George Orthodox Christian Church, Fishers, IN—Fr. Joseph's on Sunday, April 3, 2022 and Dn. John's the day before on April 2.
Leading up to his ordination to the priesthood, the Rev. Joseph Olas had been serving as deacon and pastoral assistant at St. George since 2016. He grew up in that parish, where his father, the late Very Rev. Fr. O. Joseph Olas (+1997) served as pastor from 1981 to 1995. Father Joseph is a graduate of Indiana University as well as St. Vladimir's Seminary. He completed his M.A. at the Seminary in 2010. He has also served as pastoral assistant at St. Michael Orthodox Church, Louisville, KY and outreach director at the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN).
The Rev. Dn. John Vazquez is a second-year seminarian in St. Vladimir's M.Div. program. He is a former professional baseball player and coach, and holds a B.A. in history from Kent State University (2007). Before coming to seminary, Dn. John, his wife Hannah, and their five children attended St. George in Fishers. Dn. John and Hannah's were raised in the Indianapolis area, where both their families were part of the Evangelical Orthodox Church (EOC) movement started by the late Fr. Peter Gillquist (+2012) and others. (Many members of the EOC were received into the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America in the late 1980s.) Hannah currently hosts the Ancient Faith Radio podcast, All These Things.
May God grant the newly ordained Fr. Joseph and Dn. John and their families many years! AXIOS!
During the workshop Kordis taught his own artistic approach through demonstrations and exercises in the art, expression, and language of the icon using the principles and rhythm of the Byzantine system as a foundation. He gave participants, which included members of the Seminary community, a rare opportunity to witness and discuss the creative process of several bodies of work he has been working on during his residency.
ABOUT DR GEORGE KORDIS
Eminent iconographer George Kordis has the rare distinction for a practicing artist of a complete academic training in theology, with advanced theological degrees from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston and the University of Athens, where he was assistant professor in iconography (theory and practice). His training as a painter preceded and motivated his move into theology: During the 1980s he worked with the Cypriot master iconographer, Fr. Symeon Symeou, and also studied painting at The School of Fine Arts at The Museum of Boston from 1987–89; and even while obtaining his doctorate (Athens) in 1991 he continued his studies in painting and engraving under Fotis Mastichiadis. Dr. Kordis has been a visiting professor teaching icon painting courses at Yale University, the University of South Carolina, the University of Bucharest/Department of Orthodox Theology, and Ukraine Pedagogical University, Odessa, while continuing to create major church programs of iconography—including several in the US (see Holy Trinity in Columbia, SC and, recently, Holy Trinity in Pittsburgh and panel icons, which have been seen in numerous prominent exhibitions at Yale University and elsewhere). Kordis is also a prolific author with wide-ranging interests: theory and practice of Orthodox iconography, Fayum mummy portraits, Theophan the Cretan, Andrei Rublev, Fotis Kontoglou, Greek folk art, and many other topics.
With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Priest Gregory Becker, an alumnus of St. Vladimir's Seminary, who fell asleep peacefully in the Lord March 28, 2022 at his home in Youngstown, OH. Father Gregory was 72 years old.
The Rev. Gregory Becker was born May 19, 1949 in Pottstown, PA, the only child of the late Wilfred and Marie Becker. He began studying at St. Vladimir's Seminary in 1968 and graduated in 1977. He completed both the old "collegiate division" studies at St. Vladimir's, which was completed alongside an undergraduate degree, as well as the Master of Divinity program (known then as the "theological division").
After graduating from St. Vladimir's, Fr. Gregory was sent to his first parish assignment in Niagara Falls, NY. In the early 1980s he moved to Warren, OH, where he served as priest at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church for more than twenty years. He then served as a substitute priest for St. Elias Orthodox Church in Jamestown, NY, and later joined Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Youngstown, OH. There, he served as choir director, adult education director, and assistant priest for the past twenty-one years.
Father Gregory was also a member and former president of the Macintosh User Group, formed in the mid 1980s. Father Becker led an excursion to Macintosh seminars in Boston and New York, creating numerous musical church selections.
Father Gregory is survived by three children, Justin, Ana, and Maria; and a grandson, Seamus.
The funeral service for Fr. Gregory was scheduled for Monday, April 4 at Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1025 N. Belle Vista Ave., Youngstown, OH, with interment to follow at the parish cemetery.
Saint Vladimir's Seminary Alumnus Basil Mathai and Seminarian Alexander Earl were both ordained to the rank of deacon in recent days.
The Rev. Dn. Basil Puthukkunnathu Mathai was ordained for the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in North America on March 19, 2022 by the hand ofHis Eminence, Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho. The ordination took place at St. Ephrem Cathedral at the Malankara Archdiocesan Headquarters in Old Tappan, NJ. Several other St. Vladimir's graduates and current seminarians from the Syriac Orthodox Church served at the Divine Liturgy and ordination.
Deacon Basil serves at St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church of White Plains, NY (Bronxville, NY) and is regional clergy advisor for the archdiocesan youth association. He also teaches history at a high school in Newark, NJ. He graduated from St. Vladimir's Seminary with an M.Div. degree in 2020, and also holds a B.A. in history & international affairs from the University of Georgia and an M.A. in Middle Eastern studies from Boston College.
The Rev. Dn. Alexander Earl was ordained at St. Vladimir's Seminary's Three Hierarchs Chapel on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 2022. His Grace, Bishop Gerasim presided over the festal Divine Liturgy and ordination, assisted by clergy of the Seminary's student body and faculty.
Deacon Alexander is a seminarian of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and is in his second year studying in St. Vladimir's M.Div. program. Additionally, he continues to serve as director of the Center for Philosophy & Theology, as well as instructor, at Pacifica Christian High School in Santa Monica, CA, where he worked for several years prior to coming to the Seminary. Deacon Alexander holds an M.A. in religion with a concentration in philosophical theology from Yale Divinity School and a B.A. in religious studies and philosophy from Rollins College, Winter Park, FL.
Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) is pleased to announce a part-time, hybrid degree program in Orthodox Christian Leadership Studies to launch in the fall semester of 2022. The new offering, developed in collaboration with the Orthodox Christian Leadership Initiative (OCLI), becomes the fourth concentration option for the Seminary’s Master of Arts (M.A) degree.
The concentration in Orthodox Christian Leadership Studies is intended for those seeking to better serve their local parish or larger church community, as well as exercise Christian leadership in the workplace. The program offers distance-learning, rather than the traditional, in-person education provided in the other M.A. concentrations (General Theological Studies, Theological Scholarship and Research, and Sacred Arts). The Leadership Studies program is normally completed in four years by part-time students taking two courses per semester. Students in this concentration will complete most of their studies remotely through online learning, and will gather on campus in Yonkers, NY for onsite intensives for one week each semester.
In response to inquiries about the position of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) regarding the tragic war in Ukraine, we direct members of the public to the official statement issued by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America (to which the Seminary belongs as a stavropegial institution).
Using the words of Metropolitan Tikhon, "May we fervently offer our petition to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to have mercy on us 'for the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God, and for the union of all.'"
