|
Alumni E-News from St Vladimir's Seminary
December 2005
Volume 5, No.12
Dear Friends,
It is good to be in touch with you again. Students have arrived for the spring semester. A number of activities during the winter break have kept the faculty and staff busy. These are described below. Foremost on our mind, however, is the announcement that our dean, John H Erickson, will be ordained to the diaconate during the Liturgy on the Feast of the Three Hierarchs January 30, the patronal feast of the seminary chapel (http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2005-1212-dean/). Certainly, this is a major decision for Dean Erickson and we ask you to keep him and his family in your prayers on the feast. Let me fill you in on some of the events.
ARCHBISHOP VISITS SEMINARY The Most Reverend KYRILL, Archbishop of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania and the Bulgarian Diocese, visited the seminary campus on Sunday, January 22 where he presided at the Liturgy and ordained third-year students, Deacon Christopher Foley, to the holy priesthood, and Subdeacon Nikolay Miletkov, to the holy diaconate. Archbishop Kyrill is a member of the seminary Board of Trustees and a generous supporter of the school. Photos of his visit are posted on our web site.
ORTHODOX-WESLEYAN CONSULTATION CONVENES AT SVS
Orthodox and Wesleyan theologians convened from January 8-13, 2006 for “The Fourth Orthodox-Wesleyan Consultation.” The event was sponsored by St Vladimir’s Seminary and The General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church and had as its theme “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church: Ecclesiology and the Gathered Community.” Orthodox speakers included: Fr John Jillions (‘80), Prof Dimitar Kirov, Dr Richard Schneider (SVS Visiting Professor in Liturgical Art), Fr John Behr (SVS Professor of Patristics), Dr Elizabeth Theokritoff, Dr Tamara Grdzlidze (‘92-‘93), Fr Sergius Halvorsen (‘86), Fr Michael Plekon, Fr Leonid Kishkovsky (‘67), and Dean John Erickson.
SVS CHORALE RETURNS FROM SUCCESSFUL TRIP TO CALIFORNIA
The SVS Chorale, an outgrowth of the former seminary octets, visited OCA, Antiochian, Greek, and Serbian Churches in southern California from January 5-17. The mixed-choir of twelve singers led by Deacon Kevin Smith, Lecturer in Liturgical Music at the seminary, sang the responses to daily services in parishes around the Los Angeles area and acted as ambassadors of the seminary providing information about its vision and work. One the many highlights of this winter’s tour was a visitation to Project Mexico. For more information and a gallery of photos, visit: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2006-01-choraleontour/
SCHMEMANN MEMORIAL LECTURE FEATURES CARDINAL DULLES
Avery Cardinal Dulles, an internationally known author and lecturer, will be the featured speaker at the twenty-third annual Fr Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture, January 29, 2006. His presentation is entitled “The Imperative of Orthodoxy.” Cardinal Dulles has served on the faculty of Woodstock College, Catholic University of America and, since 1988, has been serving as the Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society at Fordham University. He has been a Visiting Lecturer at over a dozen seminaries and universities including Princeton Theological Seminary, Notre Dame University and Yale University. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 pm and will be preceded by Great Vespers at 6:30 pm for the feast day of the Three Hierarchs. http://www.svots.edu/News/Upcoming/2006-0129-schmemann-lecture-dulles/
STAY LINKED TO SVS
Does your parish have a website? Do you have links to www.svots.edu and/or to www.svspress.com? We’re asking all alumni to help make our online source of information about the seminary and our bookstore more accessible by adding these as links. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact our Communications Director, Sofia Lopoukhine at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
and 914.961.8313, x 363. Thanks to all of you who already do link to these websites.
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS RETREAT HELD
Over thirty high school and college students attended this year’s Christmas Retreat from December 27-29 on the campus of SVS. Fr David (’87-’89) and Shari Garretson of South River, NJ, Fr John Shimchick (’80) of Cherry Hill, NJ, and Fr Steven Belonick (’77) of SVS presented the theme of the retreat “So, You’re Growing Up, But Are You Mature In Christ,” to three different age groups. Evaluations from the retreat indicated that the kids had a great experience and really appreciated the topic. For more information and photos, visit: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2005-1229-christmasretreat
SVS REPRESENTED AT OCF WINTER RETREATS
St Vladimir’s was well represented at the OCF college conferences held on the east and west coasts December 27-31, 2005. Fr Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus, was the conference leader at Antiochian Village where nearly three hundred students were present. SVS alumnus Hieromonk Jonah Paffhausen (’85), Abbot of the Monastery of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco, was the conference leader at St Nicholas Ranch, Dunlap, CA where nearly one hundred students were present. The theme of both conferences was “Abide in Me, and I in You.” (John 15:4-5) In addition, third-year student, Fr Joshua Mosher, represented the seminary’s recruitment office at Antiochian Village. The seminary provided participants at both locations with a seminary Viewbook, a SVS Press book, Fr Hopko’s pamphlet on Vocations entitled “Finding One’s Calling in Life”, and SVS pocket folders.
FR HOPKO’S VOCATION PAMPHLET AVAILABLE TO ALUMNI AND PARISHES
Fr Thomas Hopko’s pamphlet on Vocations mentioned above is now available for sale to alumni and parishes. The pamphlet is meant provide guidance on discovering the divine plan in one’s life. It is a good addition to parish bookstores, libraries, and pamphlet racks. The fee schedule is as follows:
1 copy - $3.00
10-100 copies - $2.50 each
100-200 copies - $2.00 each
Over 200 copies - $1.75 each
Postage and handling are extra. Income from the sale of these pamphlets will help advance the seminary’s ministry to our alumni.
FACULTY/STAFF NEWS
Dr Paul Meyendorff, Fr Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology, Fr John Behr, Professor of Patristics, and Dr John Barnet, Associate Professor of New Testament, attended the Educating Clergy Conference sponsored by the Wabash Center in Chicago, IL from January 21-22, 2006. Dr Meyendorff, along with Fr Alexander Rentel, will attend the WCC Assembly in Porto Alegre, Brazil from February 12-23, 2006.
Fr Paul Tarazi, Professor of Old Testament, will speak on “Sacrifice and Salvation According to Scripture” at St Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA on February 11, 2006. From March 9-10, Fr Paul will be at St John of the Ladder Church, Greenville, SC to speak on “The Book of Amos” and “Pauline Pastoralia.” On March 11, he will speak at the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church, Charlotte, NC on the topic “Thus Says the Lord: Understanding the Book of Isaiah.”
Deacon Kirill Sokolov, Director of Systems, delivered a talk entitled “Temple of God – Members of Christ” on January 19 at Holy Trinity Church (AOCA) in Santa Fe, NM. His talk, which was held on the occasion of the consecration of Holy Trinity Church on January 21 by Bishop Basil (’73), described all the symbols and actions at the consecration of an Orthodox temple. In addition, Deacon Kirill will also lead a workshop for deacons in the Diocese of the West (OCA) along with Bishop Benjamin from February 17-19.
ALUMNI NEWS
Ninoslav Randjelovic (‘87MA) has produced eight documentaries about human rights violations suffered by the isolated Serbian communities still living in Kosovo. The films cover the period from the onset of violence in Kosovo (preceding the NATO intervention in 1999) to the most recent one committed in September 2005. Through the generosity and support of SVS alumni David O’Neal (’87,MA), Fr Angelo Artemas (‘89), and Fr Blasko Paraklis(’87,MA), the films were compiled into a DVD and was recently presented to the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The DVD is distributed on a non-commercial basis by the Embassies of SCG in the USA and Canada and have been sent to political and educational institutions and interdenominational religious organizations (National Council of Church, SCOBA, etc.) as well as to major universities in the US and Canada. Some of the films have earned awards at international film festivals.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER
The Most Reverend Metropolitan PHILIP (’66), Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese.
Very Rev Dennis Pavichevich (’75)
Very Rev Victor Sokolov (‘85)
Jaroslav Pelikan
IN MEMORIUM
Peter Stromberg (’76) fell asleep in the Lord on December 20. Funeral services were held at St Mary Romanian Orthodox Church in St Paul, MN. May his memory be eternal.
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR SVS ALUMNI
In an attempt to fulfill the mandates of its strategic plan, SVS 2010, the seminary is considering developing programs for continuing education for its alumni. A survey was published in last month’s issue of E-News. We thank all those who responded and sent in their suggestions and comments. They were very helpful. The initial findings were presented on January 19 to the faculty council as part of their discussion on the “The Good Pastor.” The survey is offered again this month for those who may have missed it. We need your help in developing these programs so that your interests may be met. Please complete and return the survey to the seminary alumni office at the address provided. Your input is valued and important to us.
NOTE: Because of format problems, a number of those who responded to the survey last time didn’t answer Question #3. If you care to do so, please take advantage of the opportunity now.
SURVEY FOR ALUMNI
1. SVS should develop programs for continuing education for its alumni.
( ) Yes ( ) No
( ) further comment
2. If you agreed with the above statement, then prioritize the kinds of programs that would be helpful and of interest to you. (1 through 4, with 1 = most helpful)
( ) academic topics
( ) strengthening pastoral skills
( ) spiritual development
( ) family health [i.e. boundary issues, conflict resolution, time management, etc.]
3. Please specify other topics that you would encourage the seminary to address.
4. The duration of these programs should be:
( ) one day ( ) three days
( ) two days ( ) one week
5. The location of the programs should be:
( ) SVS campus ( ) local parishes
( ) retreat center around the country ( ) resorts
6. The programs should be open to alumni from other Orthodox seminaries.
( ) Yes ( ) No
7. Programs are best scheduled:
( ) before Great Lent ( ) Bright Week
( ) early summer ( ) in combination with a
reunion
( ) summer ( ) other [please specify]
8. For certain topics, are you averse to utilizing qualified non-Orthodox workshop leaders?
( ) Yes, I am averse
( ) No, I am not averse
9. What format do you prefer for such programs?
( ) lecture ( ) workshop
( ) small groups ( ) other [please specify]
10. Should the programs include a recreational component?
( ) Yes ( ) No
11. Do you have a preference for a recreational component?
( ) hiking ( ) tennis
( ) golf ( ) swimming
( ) other [please specify]
NAME (optional):_________________________________________________
Please return to:
SVS Alumni Office
575 Scarsdale Road
Crestwood, NY 10707
|
