St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
Alumni Association
E-News – March 2006
Volume 6, No.3

Dear Friends,

Before I update you on the many events that have transpired since the last time I communicated with you, let me extend to each of you Paschal greetings from all of us here at the seminary. We pray that your joy in the Risen Lord will be full.  CHRIST IS RISEN!  INDEED, HE IS RISEN!

Let me share some news with you.

BISHOP BENJAMIN ORDAINS TWO TO DIACONATE

Bishop Benjamin of Berkeley (OCA) visited the seminary campus from Friday, April 7 to Monday, April 10.  During his extended stay, he presided at the Akathistos Hymn on Friday evening and at the Liturgy the next morning where he ordained second-year student Caleb Abetti to the diaconate.  On Saturday afternoon, he was the retreat leader for the annual seminary Lenten Retreat.  His talk was entitled “Perfection and Imperfection.”  That evening, he presided at the Saturday evening Vigil Service.  On Sunday, he served the Liturgy of St Basil the Great and ordained second-year student Justin Mathews to the diaconate.  Although his visit was very busy, he had the opportunity to meet personally with many students, staff, and members of the faculty.  For more information on his retreat topic, visit: www.svots.edu.

ANNUAL BYZANTINE AKATHISTOS HYMN SERVED

Very Rev Elias Bitar, the Vicar General of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese and Lecturer in Liturgical Music and Arabic at the seminary, led the Akathistos Hymn to the Theotokos in Byzantine Chant.  This service has become an annual event in the seminary chapel.

MARRIED STUDENT APARTMENTS FINALLY COMPLETED

Although Lakeside Apartments Building #2 (9 married students) was completed and fully occupied as of September 1, 2005, Lakeside Apartments Building #1 remained in the construction stage until April 1, 2006.  Now fully completed, married students are moving in and occupying this second building.  The seminary now has thirty-five married student apartments directly on the campus.  All of the Lakeside Apartments have a stunning view of Crestwood Lake.  The remaining site work is in the process of being completed.

MARRIED STUDENT COUPLES ATTEND RETREAT

Mary Ann DeTrana led a full day retreat for married students on Saturday, March 18.  Mary Ann is a well-known and well-traveled retreat leader in Orthodox circles and the wife of the late SVS alumnus Fr George DeTrana.  Her experience as a retreat leader and as a wife of a priest for many years gave much depth to her talk, which was entitled “Godly Self-Care: The Vocation to be Whole and Holy in Mind, Body, and Spirit.” On Sunday afternoon, Mary Ann was joined by Faith Kuharsky, wife of SVS alumnus Fr Serge Kuharsky (‘53), in a meeting with student wives.

TWO STUDENTS ORDAINED TO PRIESTHOOD

Two second-year students were ordained to the holy priesthood in March.  Bishop Antoun ordained Deacon Philip Rogers on Sunday, March 26 at St Catherine’s Church in Aiken, SC, while Bishop Mark ordained Deacon Mousa Haddad on the same day at St George Church in Chicago, IL.  We extend our congratulations to both newly ordained priests and their families.  Axios!

MUSIC PROGRAM DISCUSSED AT SVS

On Saturday, April 7, members of the faculty met with invited guests to discuss the future of the music program at the seminary. Discussion focused on two major issues: teaching music to MDiv students, as well as the future of the MA program with specialization in liturgical music. As part of the ongoing "Good Pastor Project," the teaching of music to MDiv students will be enhanced. Regarding the MA program, conversation focused both on its desired content and on ways to increase the number of students. Invited guests included persons actively involved in the church's music ministry in both academic and parish settings. Professor Meyendorff, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, chaired the meeting. Faculty members present included the seminary dean, Dn John Erickson, as well as Fr John Behr, Dn Kevin Smith, Prof John Barnet, Mrs Helen Erickson, Mr Mark Bailey, and Ms Eleana Silk. Invited guests included Dr Vladimir Morosan, Dr Nicolas Schidlovsky, Dr Michael Farrow, Mr David Lucs, Mr Michael Ciavaglia.

THEME SET FOR SUMMER AND YOUTH INSTITUTES

“A Christian Ending to Our Life: the Mystery of Death” is the theme of this year’s Summer Institute to be held June 25-30.  You can find information about the content of the week by visiting our website.  Unique this year, Dr Al Rossi, Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology who teaches a class on thanatology at the seminary, will give a twelve-hour intensive course on Christian counseling in relation to death and dying.  Other Institute faculty members include Fr John Garvey, Dr Lila Kalinich, Dr David Bentley Hart, and Fr Sergius Glagolev  http://www.svots.edu/News/Upcoming/summer-institute-2006/ .  In addition, for those completing their junior year in high school, the Youth Institute will also be held concurrently.  Six full scholarships are available to students who wish to study their faith in a challenging academic setting.  The program will include participation in the main Institute talks, small group discussions, several off-campus field trips, and liturgical worship.  For an application, please contact Fr Steven Belonick at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 914-961-8313, x328, or visit our website.

SVS REPRESENTED AT LITURGICAL MUSIC CONFERENCE

PSALM, a pan-Orthodox, non-profit organization promoting networking between Orthodox liturgical musicians, has announced its first national conference on Orthodox liturgical music to be held August 2-5, 2006 in the Metropolitan Chicago area.  SVS presenters include Professor David Drillock, Professor of Liturgical Music Emeritus; Mark Bailey, Lecturer in Liturgical Music; and Fr Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus.  Fr Thomas will deliver the keynote address, entitled “Asceticism and Creativity.”  For more information about the conference, go to www.orthodoxpsalm.org, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

ALUMNI REUNION DATES SET

The Alumni Board has secured Wednesday, October 18 to Friday, October 20 as the dates set for the third Alumni Class Reunion.  The class of 1981 is celebrating its 25th anniversary and the Class of 1956 is celebrating its 50th anniversary.  An information packet will be mailed out in early June and will describe the schedule.  MARK YOUR CALENDARS and join us.

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, x363.  Thanks to all of you who already do link to these websites.

FR HOPKO’S VOCATIONS PAMPHLET AVAILABLE TO ALUMNI AND PARISHES

Fr Thomas Hopko’s pamphlet entitled “Finding One’s Calling in Life” is now available for sale to alumni and parishes.  The pamphlet provides guidance to discover 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 is the responsibility of those who order. Income from the sale of these pamphlets will help advance the seminary’s ministry to our alumni.  To order copies or for additional information, please contact Fr Steven Belonick at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 914-961-8313, x328.

ALUMNI GATHERING TO BE HELD IN CONNECTICUT

An Alumni Gathering for those in the Connecticut area will take place on Bright Friday, April 28 at the home Alumni President, Fr John Dresko in Southington, CT.  Hors d’oeuvres will be served at 5:30pm and a barbeque at 6:30pm.  Fr John Behr, Dr John Barnet, and Fr Steven Belonick will represent the seminary and will speak about the “Good Pastor Project” and particularly the new curriculum to be instituted in fall 2007, which is the outcome of the initiative.  To join us, please contact Fr John at his email address – This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it by Bright Monday, April 24.

FACULTY/STAFF NEWS

Dn John H. Erickson, Dean, will be ordained to the holy priesthood by Metropolitan Herman on Sunday, May 7, 2006. Please keep Deacon John and the seminary in your prayers.

Fr Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus, will be a presenter at a conference entitled “Ancient Christianity Conference 2006: Rediscovering Our African Christian Heritage” to be held June 2-3 in Newark, NJ.  The conference theme will serve to introduce the general public to Orthodox Christianity, with special emphasis on its 2000-year presence on the African continent, and the implications of this heritage for today. Among the topics to be discussed will be Africa's ancient Christian heritage, the witness of African women in the life of Orthodox Christianity, and the history of the Church between the time of the apostles and the Protestant reformation.   The conference is sponsored by the Deliverance Evangelistic Center in that city and hosted by its pastor Rev Brian D Rawls, Sr. Other presenters include Dr Albert Raboteau, Rev Moses Berry, Mother Katherine Weston, and Rev Paisius Altschul.  For more information, contact Fr Joseph Lickwar at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dr Al Rossi, Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology, will give a one-day retreat to OCF students at George Washington University, Washington, DC, Bright Saturday, April 29.

Fr Paul Tarazi, Professor of Old Testament, will give a series of talks on the Book of Isaiah at Holy Transfiguration Church in New Haven, CT on May 1, 8, and 15.

ALUMNI NEWS

Fr Stephen Loposky (’97) and Daria (Drillock) Loposky announce the birth of their fifth child, Anna Joanne Loposky. She was born January 27, 2006, weighing 6lbs 7.4 oz, 19 ¼’’ long.  Anna’s brothers Samuel, Joshua, and Nicholas are very excited to have a baby sister.  Mother and daughter are doing very well.

Alexander Dvorkin (‘83) will visit the seminary on May 12 to deliver a lecture at the seminary at 2:00pm.  His topic is “The Sects and the Church in Russia Today.”  All are welcome.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER

The Most Reverend Metropolitan PHILIP (’66), Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese.
Very Rev Dennis Pavichevich (’75)
Dr Jaroslav Pelikan  

IN MEMORIAM (an update)

Fr Nicholas Rafael (’71) passed away on November 14, 2005 after a three-year battle with cancer.  He was 66.

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