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St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
Alumni Association
E-News – April & May 2006
Volume 6, No.4 & 5
Dear Friends,
In anticipation, let me greet each of you with the joy of the Feast of Pentecost.
The seminary campus is rather empty since most, if not all, of the students have left for their summer break. Most of our married students, however, are still on campus. Preparations are well underway for the summer institute and for the incoming class. Some new married student couples have already arrived.
DEAN ORDAINED TO PRIESTHOOD
Deacon John H Erickson was ordained to the holy priesthood by Metropolitan Herman on Sunday, May 7. For a full-length article and gallery of photos, please visit: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2006-0507-ordination/
SEMINARY GRADUATES TWENTY-SIX STUDENTS
Commencement exercises were held on Saturday, May 20. The graduating class consisted of twenty-six students. Metropolitan Herman, president of the school, presided at the morning Liturgy. Four graduating priests and seven graduating deacons served the Liturgy along with the chapel clergy. At the Liturgy, Metropolitan Herman ordained graduating student, Dn Nicolai Miletkov, to the holy priesthood and first-year student Matthew Cantrell to the diaconate. For a full description of the day’s events, please visit the seminary’s website: www.svots.edu.
DR JAROSLAV PELIKAN FALLS ASLEEP IN THE LORD
Dr Pelikan’s long battle with cancer ended on Saturday, May 13. He died at his home surrounded by his family. The seminary loses a dear friend, advocate, Board of Trustees member, and benefactor. The world loses one of the foremost church historians of the 20th century. The funeral Vigil and Memorial Liturgy were served in the seminary chapel. The internment was held at Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, CT with Fr Michael Westerberg ('75) presiding. For a full article, please visit: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2006-0513-pelikan/ May his memory be eternal!
SEMINARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEET
The seminary’s Board of Trustees met for their semi-annual meeting from Wednesday, May 17 to Saturday, May 20. The meeting was noteworthy in that they announced the formation of a Dean Search Committee to identify possible successors to Fr John Erickson, whose term as Dean ends on June 30, 2007. Fr John will continue to teach as the Peter N Gramowich Professor of Church History. Other business included a preliminary endorsement of the direction that the faculty is taking regarding the “Forming Good Pastors” curriculum. In addition, prior to the meeting, the Board underwent a self-assessment of their governance. The results of the self-assessment were reviewed during most of Friday, May 19 with a governance mentor from In Trust, an association for supporting the work of governing boards of theological schools. Further, the Board discussed the rising expenses of the seminary budget, the challenge in meeting the budget, and the decision to develop a five-year financial plan.
ALUMNI BOARD MEETS VIA TELECONFERENCE CALL
The Alumni Board held a teleconference call on Monday, May 8 for their semi-annual meeting. Items for discussion included: a) future alumni gatherings around the country - RESULT: board members from Western Pennsylvania area will try to initiate a gathering in their area soon; the Board encourages other alumni to host such gatherings in their respective areas; b) the results of the alumni survey distributed by E-News were reviewed. The Alumni first interest was in strengthening pastoral skills – RESULT: a proposed alumni retreat is scheduled for early summer 2007 on the seminary campus. The retreat theme and speakers will be announced in the near future; c) the response to an alumnus’ suggestion that the seminary address the issue of modern pastorship and the law – RESULT: discussion will begin with the seminary faculty. The seminary website, a summer institute, the use of the Quarterly, and/or SVS publication are possible means to address the topic.
FR PAUL LAZOR UNDERGOES HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY
After suffering from chronic pain for the most of the academic year, Fr Paul finally underwent hip-replacement surgery on May 9. We are happy to inform you that his surgery went very well and without any of the complications that besieged him after his last surgery two year ago. He is recuperating at home, gaining strength daily. He will resume his full responsibilities for the fall semester. If you wish to send him greetings, you can either reach him at his email address:
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or contact him through the seminary’s mailing address.
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
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or at 914-961-8313, ext. 328, or visit our website.
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
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and 914.961.8313, x 363. 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
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or 914-961-8313, ext 328.
GOLF BRINGS ALUMNI TOGETHER IN NEW YORK
On June 5, eleven alumni from Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey gathered at Hudson Hills Golf Course in Ossining, NY for an informal golf date. Alumni included: Fr John Dresko, Alumni President, Nick Kobbs, Fr David Vernak, Fr Serge Halversen, Fr David Garretson, Fr Alex Vinogradov, Dn John Zarras, Fr John Kreta, Cindy Voytovich, Fr Steven Belonick, and first year student, Paul Coats. Although the championship course damaged egos, those who attended enjoyed each other’s company and the frank and open discussion about the seminary and the church that took place over a meal. Plans are underway to open up the participation next June, with a possible connection with an alumni retreat. Mark your calendars for the first few days of June 2007. Alumni around the country are encouraged to initiate such gatherings in their respective areas. Those who gathered in NY discovered that the bonds we share are priceless! Look for photos on the seminary’s webpage.
FACULTY/STAFF NEWS
Rev John Erickson, Dean and Peter N Gramowich Professor of Church History, will deliver a lecture on ecclesiology at the Clergy Assembly of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese at Antiochian Village on July 17.
Mark Bailey, Lecturer in Liturgical Music, will speak on “The Psalms: Commemorating the Departed” at the Summer Institute.
Dr John Barnet, Associate Professor of New Testament, will speak on the topic “Death in the New Testament” at the SVS Summer Institute, June 25-30.
Rev John Behr, Professor of Patristics and his wife Kate are parents of a new infant girl, Iris, born May 10. Both Mom and daughter are doing well. Congratulations! Fr John will be one of the speakers at the SVS Summer Institute, June 25-30. His topic is “Death in the Fathers.”
Dr Peter Bouteneff, Assistant Professor of Dogmatic Theology, is organizing the summer institute this year and is one of the speakers. In addition, he is on sabbatical during the summer and the fall semester, and is writing a book for Baker Academic Press on the early patristic reception of the biblical creation narratives. Further, his book, Sweeter Than Honey: Orthodox Thinking on Dogma and Truth, which is part of the new SVS Press Foundations Series and of which he is the editor, will be out during the last week of June.
Fr Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus, was one of the speakers at the Ancient Christianity Conference 2006: Rediscovering Our African Christian Heritage held June 2-3 in Newark, NJ.
Dr Paul Meyendorff, Fr Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology, will participate and make a presentation at the meeting of the Orthodox-Roman Catholic Theological Dialogue at Holy Cross on June 5-7. In addition, he will speak on the development of the funeral service at the 2006 SVS Summer Institute, and will deliver a lecture on "The Priesthood of the Laity" at the Clergy Assembly of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese at Antiochian Village on July 18, 2006.
Deacon Kevin Smith, Instructor in Liturgical Music, will speak on “Interpreting Music for the Departed” at the Summer Institute.
Fr Paul Tarazi, Professors of Old Testament, is one of the speakers at the SVS Summer Institute. His topic is “Death in the Old Testament.” He is speaking at the Indian Church Summer Youth Rally in the Hudson Valley -July 12-15- on the Theme: “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”. (St.John 16:33) In addition, he will deliver lectures from July 24-28 on Colossians and the Gospel of Matthew at the Archdiocese of Beirut, Lebanon. He will also provide a Bible lecture series at the Archdiocese of Hama, Syria from July 29-31. Further, Fr Paul will give a Bible lecture series at the Archdiocese of Tripoli, Lebanon from August 1-4. And in September, he will speak on the Epistle to the Hebrews at St John of the Ladder Orthodox Church, Greenville, SC.
ALUMNI NEWS
Ninoslav Randjelovic (’87) has produced a DVD containing eight documentaries about human rights violations suffered by the isolated Serbian communities still living in Kosovo. We informed you of these documentaries in the December 2005 issue of E-News. For more information about this DVD and how to obtain copies, please visit Ninoslav’s website: www.daysmadeoffear.com
Fr Lawrence Ledford (‘93) received a degree of Master of Arts in Practical Theology from the University of San Diego on May 27th. Congratulations!
Nicolas Chehade (‘02) is currently enrolled in a PhD program at St Joseph University in Beirut. The subject of his study is the implications of management in non-profit Christian institutions.
Andrei Psarev (‘04) presented a paper at the Fourth Pan-Diaspora Council in in May in San Francisco, CA. His paper was entitled “The Development of ROCOR’s Attitude Toward Other Local Orthodox Churches and Non-Orthodox Christians.” The paper is available at www.sobor2006.com.
Scott Kenworthy (‘96) has recently published the following articles:
* “Orthodoxy and the Social Gospel in Late-Imperial Russia,” Religion and Society in Central and Eastern Europe 1 (2006) <http://rs.as.wvu.edu/contents1.htm>
* “Memory Eternal: The Five Hundred Year Jubilee of St. Sergius of Radonezh,” in Vladimir Tsurikov (ed.), The Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Russian History and Culture, Readings in Russian Religious Culture vol. 3 (Jordanville, NY: Holy Trinity Seminary Press, 2005), pp. 24-55.
* “Clergy,” Modern Encyclopedia of Russian, Soviet, and Eurasian History, ed. Bruce F. Adams (Gulf Breeze, FL: Academic International Press, 2005), vol. 6: 138-146.
* “Are Secularization and Dechristianization Inevitable?” in Omul de Cultura in Fata Descrestinarii [The Cultured Man in the Face of Dechristianization] (Alba Iulia: Reintregirea, 2005), pp. 405-418; Romanian translation, “Sunt secularizarea si descrestinarea inevitabile?” pp. 419-432.
He also delivered a lecture entitled “The Struggle for Identity of Modern Russian Orthodoxy,” Orthodoxy Reading Group, Stanford University, Feb. 2006; and led a workshop entitled, “Religion in Post-Soviet Societies,” Kennan Institute Workshop (Woodrow Wilson International Center), Washington, DC, 2005-06
Symeon Froyshov (‘92) begins a professorship in Ancient Church History and Patristics in Oslo, Norway, August 1, 2006. He and his wife recently returned to Oslo from Moscow where he taught Hagiopolite liturgy at the Moscow Theological Academy.
Rev Christopher Rigden-Briscall (Special student ‘05) served the first Liturgy at the new Orthodox Mission Station of St Nina in Vancouver, BC on May 7, 2006. Fr Christopher has been serving as Orthodox Chaplain for students and faculty of the University of British Columbia since September 2005. Space for the Mission was provided at St George’s Anglican Church.
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