Professor Susan Ashbrook Harvey (Brown University), Professor Robin Darling Young (Catholic University of America), The Rev. Dr. Silviu Bunta (University of Dayton), and The Rev. Dr. Bogdan Bucur (St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary) spoke about Archbishop Alexander’s work on Dionysius the Areopagite, on major ascetical and mystical texts in the patristic and later Byzantine tradition, on Syriac patristics, the Theophaneia School, and Archbishop Alexander's place in Orthodox theology.
After being presented with the Festschrift, Archbishop Alexander was invited to take the floor for a cordial and enriching session of questions and answers, which gave him an opportunity to remember the priest and parish of his youth (Fr. Sergei Glagolev at St. Innocent in Tarzana, CA); his time at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (1970-1973); his fond memories of his academic mentor, Fr. John Meyendorff; his doctoral studies at Oxford under (now Metropolitan) Kallistos Ware; his stay on Mount Athos, where he found, in Elder Aimilianos of Simonos Petras, “the holy man, not as a distant ideal or a literary topos ... but as a reality”; and his over two decades as professor of theology at Marquette University.
In the introduction to the volume, Andrei Orlov notes that his former professor "established himself as a leading expert on Jewish and Christian mysticism. Although widely known for his groundbreaking scholarship, he also became an exceptional teacher who was able to mentor a large cohort of doctoral students during his time at Marquette. He was particularly helpful to those students who came to Marquette University from the Eastern Orthodox tradition, by giving them a clearer understanding of their own theological and spiritual legacy.”
May God grant His Eminence, Archbishop Alexander many years!
Saint Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press has published A Voice for Our Time: Radio Liberty Talks, Vol. 2, featuring an English translation of Fr. Alexander Schmemann’s broadcasts into the Soviet Union that began in 1953.
In his broadcasts on Radio Liberty, Fr. Alexander Schmemann (1921-1983) spoke to men and women behind the iron curtain who had endured the deprivation, persecution, and state-enforced propaganda of the Stalin years. But his words do not belong to that era alone. They are addressed just as urgently to our own time. He exposes the roots of the lies and misperceptions that abound in our age, and brings all to a proper perspective in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Father Alexander's son, Serge Schmemann, wrote in the forward of the first volume of A Voice for Our Timethat his father's broadcasts "were never propaganda; they could not be. They were literally 'besedy,' conversations in which he spoke as a Russian to Russians, sharing truths and knowledge that he knew, instinctively, they hungered for.”
Father Jeremy Davis, an alumnus of St. Vladimir's Seminary ('04) is protosyngellos of the Antiochian Archdiocese and assists Metropolitan JOSEPH at the archdiocese headquarters in Englewood, NJ. He is the author of Welcoming Gifts: Sacrifice in the Bible and Christian Life, due to be released early this summer by Ancient Faith Publishing.
Father Jeremy's reflection, Embracing the Sacrifice of the Priesthood, was originally published in the Antiochian Archdiocese's May/June 2022 edition of The WORD magazine.
Giving thanks to God, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary hosted commencement exercises for the graduating class of 2022 on Saturday, May 14.
Primatial Divine Liturgy
As is customary on the day of graduation, the Seminary community celebrated Divine Liturgy in the morning at Three Hierarchs Chapel. The occasion was particularly blessed with multiple hierarchs present: His Beatitude, Tikhon,archbishop of Washington and metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA); His Eminence, Grigoli, metropolitan of Poti & Khobi of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church; His Eminence, Nathaniel, archbishop of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate (OCA); His Grace, Saba, bishop of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church in North America; and His Grace, Andrei, bishop of Cleveland and auxiliary to the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (OCA).
The community, hierarchs, and other clergy and guests gathered again in Three Hierarchs in the afternoon for a Moleben of Thanksgiving before the start of the commencement ceremony.
Commencement Exercises
The graduating class, seminary faculty, and hierarchs—while chanting the Paschal Troparion, “Christ is Risen from the Dead”—then processed from the chapel into the John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building for the 83rd Commencement Exercises of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon opened the ceremony at the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium.
Among the distinguished guests were His Eminence, Metropolitan Grigoli and a delegation from the Republic of Georgia’s New Georgian University; His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel; His Eminence, Archbishop Michael of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey (OCA) and rector of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, South Canaan, PA; His Grace, Bishop Saba; His Eminence, Archbishop Dionysius John Kawak of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese for the Eastern United States; His Eminence, Archbishop Titus Yeldho of the Malankara Archdiocese of America of the Syriac Orthodox Church in America; The Right Rev. ProtosyngellosJeremy Davis, representing His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA); and Dr. Roberta Ervine, professor of Armenian Christian Studies, representing St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, Armonk, NY.
Honorary Doctorate Recipients
Following welcoming remarks from Seminary President The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, St. Vladimir’s Academic Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie announced the conferral of two honorary degrees. The Seminary bestowed the degrees of Doctor of Divinity (D.D) Honoris Causa upon Their Eminences Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti and Khobi and Archbishop Nathanielof Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate.
Archbishop Nathaniel delivered a beautiful word of thanks to God on receiving the honorary doctorate. His Eminence also thanked Metropolitan Tikhon and the entire Seminary Board of Trustees, faculty, administration, and seminarians for the honor as well as for all that they do in service to Christ. His words to the graduates were particularly moving, telling them though he may not know each and every one of them personally, he loved them all:
I will remember what you have done, starting here at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary; I will remember that you accepted the call of the Lord Jesus Christ to serve Him within His Holy Body, the Church, His Bride; I will remember your past sacrifices and anticipate your courage to the calling of the priesthood and to teaching and other service in the Church and to the world; I will remember your spouses whom we have invited to share your life, and I will remember their thanks and those of family and friends; I will remember your bishop, who loves you and upholds you in his hands in his own thanksgiving to God for you.
Archbishop Nathaniel, in addition to his long and faithful service in the Church, is also known for his generosity and philanthropic endeavors—including on behalf of seminarians. His Eminence is chairman of the V. D. Trifa Romanian American Heritage Center in Grass Lake, MI and organizer of the “Help for Romania Fund.” In 1990, he co-founded the “Help the Children of Romania” project and, since 1991, he has served as chairman of the Congress of Romanian Americans [CORA]. Recently, His Eminence established endowed scholarship funds to help Eastern Orthodox men and women in North America pay for theological education.
Metropolitan Grigoli is also noted for his efforts in ministry and education. Among his other duties, His Eminence is rector of New Georgian University in the Republic of Georgia—a university that became a partner of St Vladimir’s Seminary in 2019;editor-in-chief of Uplis Tsikhe, the journal of the Georgian Patriarchate; and head of the representative committee of the Georgian Patriarchate for the relationship with the state on issues of education. Metropolitan Grigoli has written extensively on Christianity and human rights, among other topics, and also penned a short catechism. He has been recognized numerous times by Church and state in the country of Georgia. His ecclesiastical and state awards include the Golden Order of St. George (by decree of the catholicos-patriarch of all Georgia) and the Presidential Order of Excellence (by decree of the president of Georgia.
Dr. Tudorie again took the podium to conferral degrees upon fifteen seminarians graduating in 2022. Ten seminarians graduated from St. Vladimir’s Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program, four from the Master of Arts (M.A.) program, and one from the Master of Theology (Th.M.) program. Many of the graduates were recently ordained to holy orders (they were among twenty-one seminarians and alumni ordained over the past academic year and summer—Glory to God!). The graduating class represented eight Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches and jurisdictions: the OCA; AOCANA; Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (GOA); Romanian Orthodox Church; Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch (including Malankara Syriac Archdiocese of North America); Armenian Apostolic Church; Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church; and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church.
Class of 2022 Salutatorian Subdn. Daniel Hanna and Valedictorian The Rev. Anthony Machnee offered profound words to the community during their respective addresses.
“Wherever we end up, or whatever our function, our purpose will be one and the same,” said Subn. Daniel, “to share the love of Jesus; to let people know that Jesus came to save sinners; to let people know that Jesus loves them. For it is the love of Jesus that brings healing to the broken and wounded, as it is written: ‘He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds’ (Ps. 146:3, LXX).”
“A good valedictory address should tell the graduating class to go and change the world, and yet that message is somehow not entirely aligned with the experience we have had here and with the goal of our lives as Christians,” said Fr. Anthony. “The truth is that we have really only scratched the surface of what our faith has to offer, and I myself feel as though I have hardly begun to learn….
“Our goal is not to change the world, but to live. It is to experience God on God’s terms and allow Him to work in our lives. It is to love the people who will let us love them. It is to be the friends of God and the friends of the friends of God. In all, our work will be transformational only insofar as we are the ones being transformed as we apply the knowledge and skills we have gained here. And if we are able to allow this to take place, we will fail, but Christ will succeed through us, for Christ is everything.”
During Commencement Exercises, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Student Council President The Rev. Thomas Miller presented this year’s St. Macrina Award for Excellence in Teaching, selected each year by student vote, to Dr. John Barnet, associate professor of New Testament, and himself an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s.
“I can’t imagine that anybody did a better job staying engaged with their students during lockdowns and Zoom classes and weird set-ups and masks—Dr. Barnet really went above and beyond, both pedagogically and personally,” said Fr. Thomas.
Dr. Barnet was gracious and touchingly highlighted other teachers as he thanked the students for the honor.
“For a teacher there is nothing more gratifying than being acknowledged by students, but also nothing more humbling than this acknowledgement,” Professor Barnet explained. “For I know that if I have been an effective teacher this year, then it is only because my teachers—Fr. Tom [Hopko+], Fr. Paul [Tarazi], Professor [Veselin] Kesich+— taught me well and my colleagues, every one of whom is an outstanding teacher, pushed me to do better. Therefore, by this award not only do you honor me but you also, more importantly, honor them.”
Closing Remarks from His Beatitude
To conclude the Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2022, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon implored the graduates and all gathered to discern carefully and prayerfully the challenges of living and witnessing Christ to the world, particularly in these times.
As for us, it is easy to get caught up in the whirl of history, in its rhythms, in its patterns. We want to find ourselves on the winning side, and we want our side to win, so we form parties and factions, and we build our identities based on these worldly allegiances. We start to convince ourselves: if only it weren’t for the other side, then the world could be fixed. Maybe we really could arrive at a new golden age, if it weren’t for the bad guys. But, to quote the words of our Master, a Galilean rabbi who lived two thousand years ago and who made the world and everything in it with his own theanthropic hands: “It shall not be so among you.” Our identity as Christians does not begin with history, but with the Lord of history who exists from eternity....We are called not to worldly victories. We can pray and work peacefully, in good conscience, so that righteousness prevails in this world, in our laws, in the life of our neighbors. And if God grants us success in that, we should sing hymns of thanksgiving. But our victory is the victory of the Cross: of a new, better, and eternal life that is breaking into the world because of crucified love. In other words, our victory is the victory of holiness, of strength in weakness, of bold courage in the face of violent power—courage, not to kill, not to win, but to be humiliated and to die and to be defeated in the eyes of the world.
Over St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s winter break and 2022 spring semester four new priests and seven new deacons were added to our student body and alumni fellowship. Another three were elevated in rank or received an ecclesiastical award. Added to previous ordinations and elevations last fall and summer, that makes one bishop, nine priests, eleven deacons, and eleven elevations in rank or ecclesiastical awards since the summer. Glory be to God!
We keep them all in prayer as they continue in their ministries. Axios!
HOLY PRIESTHOOD
PRIEST ANTHONY MACHNEE (3rd-Year Seminarian, M.Div. program)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained 7FEB21 by the hand of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon at Three Hierarchs Chapel, St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY Holy Priesthood: Ordained 6JAN22 by the hand of His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin at Holy Theophany Orthodox Church, Colorado Springs, CO Educational and Professional Background: B.A. in psychology from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada; Worked in trades doing residential constructions and renovations; homebuilding coordinator for Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage’s summer volunteer program (2013-2014)
PRIEST JOSEPH OLAS (M.A., ’10)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained 3JUN17 by His Grace, Bishop Basil at St. George Orthodox Christian Church, Fishers, IN. Holy Priesthood:Ordained 3APRIL22 by His Grace, Bishop Anthony at St. George Orthodox Christian Church, Fishers, IN Current Ministry: Pastoral asst. at St. George Orthodox Christian Church, Fishers, IN Educational and Professional Background: B.A. in liberal arts from Indiana University; served as outreach director at the Orthodox Christian Network (OCN)
PRIEST JOSEPH WESSELER (M.Div., ’17)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained by His Grace, Bishop Irinej, (Serbian Orthodox Church), in Three Hierarchs Chapel, St. Vladimir’s Seminary, 13APR17 Holy Priesthood: Ordained 3APRIL22 by His Grace, Bishop Gerasim at St. John of the Ladder Orthodox Church, Greenville, SC Current Ministry: Assigned to St. John of the Ladder Church, Greenville, SC Educational and Professional Background: B.A. in philosophy with a minor in psychology from California State University, Fresno; Employed 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
PRIEST ZACHARIAH (Jithin) ZACHARIAH (M.Div., ‘19)
Jurisdiction: Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) Holy Diaconate:Ordained 25MARCH22 by His Grace, Zacharias Mar Aprem at St. Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Church of India, Carrollton, TX Holy Priesthood:Ordained 9APRIL22 by His Grace, Zacharias Mar Aprem at St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Garland, TX Current Ministry: Priest of St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Kansas City, MO Educational and Professional Background: Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas; worked as chaplain at Faith Presbyterian Hospice, Dallas, TX and pharmacy clerk; intern/camp counselor at Rainbow Days, Inc. in the Dallas-Forth Worth area
HOLY DIACONATE
DEACON ANDREW SALVIA (2nd-Year Seminarian, M.Div. Program)
Jurisdiction:Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained 16JAN22by the hand of His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph at St. John the Baptist Antiochian Orthodox Church, Levittown, NY Educational and Professional Background:B.A. in History from Roanoke College, Salem, VA; Worked in auto insurance and auto body industries as insurance adjuster and service advisor, assisting people dealing with insurance claims
DEACON PHILIP MCCLANAHAN (M.Div., ‘21)
Jurisdiction:Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained 27FEB22by the hand ofHis Grace, Bishop Basil at St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral, Wichita, KS Current Ministry: Preparing for ministry as OCMC Missionary to Indonesia, teaching at St. Paul Theological School in the city of Medan and local Orthodox schools Educational and Professional Background:Studied biblical studies at the University of Notre Dame; Served as missionary in the Middle East
DEACON BASIL PUTHUKKUNNATHU MATHAI (M.Div., ‘20)
Jurisdiction:Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America Holy Diaconate: Ordained 19MARCH22by the hand ofHis Eminence, Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho at St. Ephrem Cathedral, Malankara Archdiocesan Headquarters, Old Tappan, NJ Current Ministry: Serves at St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church of White Plains, NY (Bronxville, NY); MGSOSA Northeast regional clergy advisor Educational and Professional Background:B.A. in history & international affairs from the University of Georgia; M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Boston College; currently teaches history at a high school in Newark, NJ
DEACON ALEXANDER EARL (2nd-Year Seminarian, M.Div. Program)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained 25MARCH22 by the hand of His Grace, Bishop Gerasim at Three Hierarchs Chapel, St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY Educational and Professional Background: M.A. in religion with a concentration in philosophical theology from Yale Divinity School (New Haven, CT); B.A. in religious studies and philosophy from Rollins College (Winter Park, FL); 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 seminary
DEACON JOHN VAZQUEZ (2nd-Year Seminarian, M.Div. Program)
Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained 2APRIL22 by His Grace, Bishop Anthony at St. George Orthodox Christian Church, Fishers, IN Educational and Professional Background: Former professional baseball player and coach; B.A. in history from Kent State University
DEACON DAVID GALLOWAY (2nd-Year Seminarian, M.Div. Program)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained 3APRIL22 by His Grace, Bishop Gerasim at St. John of the Ladder Orthodox Church, Greenville, SC Educational and Professional Background: Studied English literature at Goldsmiths College, University of London and philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London; Worked as a senior technical writer and IT project manager for two large ISPs and wrote for tech blogs including Lifehacker and Gizmodo
DEACON AARON RUTZ (M.Div., '20)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Holy Diaconate: Ordained 1MAY22 by His Eminence, Archbishop Mark at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, Harrisburg, PA Current Ministry: Attached to Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, Harrisburg, PA Educational and Professional Background:B.A. in theatre arts and philosophy at Sewanee: The University of the South; Thomas J. Watson Fellowship; worked in theater and event management; assistant to Rev. Joan Brown Campbell, former head of the National Council of Churches.
ELEVATIONS
ARCHPRIEST DANIEL BETHANCOURT (M.Div., ‘07)
Jurisdiction:Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA) Elevation to Archpriest: Elevated to the dignity of archpriest 5DEC21 at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Shreveport, LA Current Ministry: Pastor of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Shreveport, LA
ARCHPRIEST CHARLES BAZ (M.Div., ‘00)
Jurisdiction:Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA) Elevation to Archpriest: Elevated to the dignity of archpriest 16JAN22 at St. John the Baptist Antiochian Orthodox Church, Levittown, NY Current Ministry: Pastor of St. John the Baptist Antiochian Orthodox Church, Levittown, NY
PRIEST ALESSANDRO MARGHERITINO (M.Div., ‘14)
Jurisdiction: Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Ecclesiastical Award: Awarded the gold cross 13APRIL22 at St. Sergius of Radonezh Chapel, OCA Chancery, Syosset, NY Current Ministry: OCA Secretary
On the Synaxis of the Saints of North America, June 26, 2022, St. Vladimir's Seminary alumnus Dn. Aaron Rutz ('20) was ordained to the holy priesthood by the hand of His Eminence, Archbishop Mark. The ordination took place at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church in America) in Harrisburg, PA, where the newly ordained Fr. Aaron is attached.
Father Aaron's fellow alumni Fr. Brian Crivella, Sbdn. Royce Mathew, and Shelby Giokas were also present for the occasion.
May God grant Fr. Aaron and Matushka Tatiana many years!
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Previous Story (Published May 1, 2022)
Alumnus Aaron Rutz ordained to holy diaconate
Saint Vladimir's Seminary graduate Aaron Rutz was ordained to the holy diaconate May 1, 2022 in Harrisburg, PA. His Eminence, Archbishop Mark presided over the Divine Liturgy and rite of ordination at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church (Orthodox Church in America).
The Rev. Dn. Aaron graduated from St. Vladimir's Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program summa cum laude in 2020 with commendations for service to the community and his thesis. He has been serving Christ the Saviour in Harrisburg together with his wife, Tatiana.
Deacon Aaron was raised in the Cincinnati area in a devout Lutheran family. He obtained a B.A. in theater arts and philosophy in 2012 from Sewanee: The University of the South (an Episcopalian school) in Tennessee.
Following his undergraduate studies Dn. Aaron visited theater groups internationally, thanks to a grant from the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. While in Eastern Europe, Dn. Aaron spent countless hours awestruck in Orthodox Churches in Serbia and Bulgaria. He later rearranged his travel to be in Kiev for Holy Week and then visited a monastery in the Fagaras Mountains of Romania during the Paschal season.
Deacon Aaron began visiting Orthodox parishes on his return to the United States, and he was received into the Orthodox Church by chrismation at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Parma, OH.
Saint Vladimir's Seminary (SVS) Press has published a new English translation of what many consider to be the final and crowning work of the patristic age, St. John of Damascus’ On the Orthodox Faith.
Saint John of Damascuswas a Syrian monk and priest. Born in the seventh century and raised in Damascus, he died at his monastery, Mar Saba, near Jerusalem. He wrote works expounding the Christian faith and composed hymns which are still used. He is one of the most widely read Fathers and is best known for his strong defense of icons.
Saint John's On the Orthodox Faith addresses all the major areas of Christian belief: Trinitarian theology; Christology; soteriology; the sacraments; the veneration of icons, saints, and relics; and much more. SVS Press's new translation by Norman Russell includes a helpful introduction discussing the origin and reception of the text. This diglot edition, reproducing the critical Greek text on the facing page, is sure to become the standard and classic edition of this central and important patristic work.
This is Volume 3 of St John of Damascus' Fount of Knowledge. Volumes 1–2 are forthcoming.
To purchase a copy of On the Orthodox Faith, visit SVSPress.com or call 1-800-204-BOOK (2665). The book is available in paperback and e-book format.
