St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Alumni Association E-News - October 2006
Volume 6, No.10

Dear Friends,

The fall semester is in full swing. Our total student population is one hundred and eleven, with thirty-eight entering students. So far this semester, three students have been ordained to the priesthood and one to the diaconate. One other ordination to the priesthood to will take place on the Feast of the Entrance to the Theotokos. The search committee for the new dean has narrowed down the candidates from eight to two. The final decision between the two candidates will be made during the Board of Trustees meeting on November 16. Please keep the seminary in your prayers.

OED BRINGS HUNDREDS TO CAMPUS

Although the day began with threatening weather, the day turned out to be beautiful both in regards to climate and spirit. Hundreds came to visit the campus on the seminary’s annual open house. Metropolitan Herman presided at the Liturgy accompanied by a number of priests from different jurisdictions. For photos and further information, please visit our website: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/orthodoxeducationday2006/ .

BISHOP SERAPHIM VISITS

His Grace Bishop Seraphim ('82) of Ottawa and Canada (OCA) visited the seminary campus over the weekend of October 14-15. While visiting, he presided at the Sunday Liturgy and ordained Dn Hermogen Holste to the holy priesthood. His Grace also met with students from his diocese. After traveling back to Canada for just a few days, His Grace returned to the seminary campus to attend the Alumni Reunion. Please visit our website for more information. http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/dnhermogenordainedtopriesthood/ .

ALUMNI BOARD MEETS

The Alumni Board held its annual face-to-face meeting from October 18-19, 2006 during the Alumni Reunion. After hearing reports from the dean, CFO, and Recruitment and Alumni Liaison Officer, the Board gave considerable attention to a number of agenda items, including – the development of alumni chapters where possible, possible continuing education retreats, strengthening public relations regarding the seminary work and vision for theological education, and the alumni budget. The Board also discussed ways to promote the Fr Thomas Hopko Alumni Scholarship Fund, which has been established by the Board to provide financial aid to sons and daughters of alumni who are enrolled in any of the seminary degree programs. In addition, the Board heard about an initiative to track our alumni, and particularly those who have graduated within the last five years. The information will help the seminary prepare for the decennial visits of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and through means of a survey help the seminary determine how successful its programs are.

ALUMS VISIT TO CELEBRATE REUNION

Around forty-six alums enjoyed a celebratory meal at the Alumni Reunion’s Banquet which honored members of the Class of 1956 (50th anniversary) and the Class of 1981 (25th anniversary) who were in attendance. Also honored at the banquet were Fr Sergei (’49) and Matushka Glagolev for their many years of service to the Church. Fr Sergei gave a wonderful talk about the early years of the seminary when it was still located in New York City. During the banquet, Bishop Benjamin, who is a member of the 25th anniversary class, and the seminary Dean, Fr John Erickson, also provided remarks and expressed words of admiration to Fr Sergei and Gerry. In addition, the seminary’s Chorale (an all-male group on this occasion) provided a short concert, which included liturgical pieces composed by Fr Sergei. The seminary alumni gave Fr Sergei an icon of St Vladimir. During the reunion, alumni had an opportunity to attend classes, chapel services, tour the campus, attend a continuing education session with the newest seminary professor, Fr Harry Pappas, who spoke on pre-marital counseling issues, attend a General Meeting for the alums, and to enjoy each other’s company. A Thursday morning Liturgy was celebrated and a Memorial Service was sung for all the departed alumni of our school.

ALUMNI GATHERINGS AROUND THE COUNTRY

An alumni gathering took place on Saturday, October 28 in Bethesda, MD at the home of Fr Gregory and Sasha Safchuk. Dr Paul Meyendorff and Dr John Barnet participated in the fellowship and gave a presentation about the new proposed curriculum. Future gatherings are scheduled for the Pittsburgh area on November 12 and in Cleveland on November 13. Fr Steven and Matushka Deborah will be traveling to those locations to be with our alumni.

BISHOP BENJAMIN VISITS

The seminary’s Alumni Board took advantage of the OCA’s Holy Synod meeting to invite Bishop Benjamin to its Alumni Reunion. As mentioned above, His Grace is a member of the 25th anniversary class of 1981. His Grace arrived on Tuesday, October 17. While he was on campus, he attended services, presided and preached at the Reunion’s anniversary Liturgy, and attended meetings of the Alumni Board. In addition, His Grace remained on campus to serve the Saturday evening Vigil and presided at the Sunday Liturgy where he ordained Dn Justin Mathews to the holy priesthood. For information about the ordination, please visit: www.svots.edu.

OCA HIERARCHS MAKE SEMINARY STOP

Just prior to the OCA’s Holy Synod meeting in Syosset, NY, two OCA hierarchs incorporated a trip the seminary campus to meet with the seminarians from their respective diocese. On Monday, October 23, Archbishop Job from the Diocese of the Midwest visited. The next day, Tuesday, October 24, Archbishop Dmitri of the Diocese of the South visited. The seminary always welcomes and enjoys such visits of our hierarchs.

SEMINARY CHORALE READIES FOR TRIP

St Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale, an all-male singing group for this occasion, will be visiting parishes in the New England area from January 15-21, 2007. More information on their itinerary will be forthcoming. In addition, the Chorale is planning to produce a CD in the spring.

SOYO GROUP HELPS CLEAN CAMPUS

Nearly one hundred and fifty teens descended on the seminary campus on the afternoon of Saturday, October 28 to participate in a community service project sponsored by the SOYO district meeting held at St Mary’s Church in Yonkers, NY. Campus buildings and classrooms needing work (i.e. washing, dusting, cleaning, etc.) were identified and seminary students from the Antiochian Orthodox Church supervised their work. The teens were also given a tour of the campus and a brief information session about the seminary’s work and programs. Fr Paul Lazor led the group in a short prayer of thanksgiving before they left to continue their district program.

CHRISTMAS RETREAT SET

The seminary’s annual Christmas Retreat for high school and college students is set for December 27-29. This year’s theme is “Inked or Sealed: To Whom Do You Belong?” The retreat will juxtapose the popular craze of tattooing and Christian “sealing.” Second-year student Gregory Abdalah will explore the scriptural and liturgical meaning of “sealing.” Third-year student David Jacobs will provide practical insights to maintain and protect the seal of God. And Fr David Fox, a recent MTh graduate from SVS, recent PhD graduate from Drew University, and pastor of St Nicholas Church in Jamaica Estates, NY will bring his experience as a counselor at Covenant House, a social agency for runaway and troubled teens, to explore the important question – Which Master do we serve? To register, contact Fr Steven Belonick at the seminary or visit our website: http://www.svots.edu/News/Upcoming/2006christmasretreat/ .

STAFF MEMBERS MOVE ON

The seminary extends its best wishes to Deacon Jesse Greendyk (‘’02) Chief Advancement Officer and Mr Michael Kaufmann, Capital Campaign Director, who have left their positions at the seminary to pursue other work. We wish them every success in their new ventures.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY OPENS UP

With their departure, the seminary has now posted an opening for the position of Chief Advancement Officer on its webpage. Please visit: http://www.svots.edu/Employment-Opportunities/ .

FACULTY/STAFF NEWS

Mark Bailey, Instructor in Liturgical Music, conducted the professional Cappella Romana in its season opening concerts, featuring Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Divine Liturgy, Op 41 at St Mary's Cathedral, Portland, OR on November 3, and in Seattle, WA at Holy Rosary Church on November 4.

Dr Peter Bouteneff, Assistant Professor of Dogmatic Theology, is on sabbatical this semester. He is busy, however, writing a book for Baker Academic Press on the early Christian reading of Genesis 1-3. He received a Research Expense Grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. to help fund the project. As part of the grant process, Dr Bouteneff will participate in a conference from February 23-24 on theological research organized by Lilly Endowment. In addition, Dr Bouteneff will also chair a session on the theology of Fr Sergius Bulgakov at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, November 18-21 in Washington, DC. Finally, his book “Sweeter than Honey: Orthodox Thinking on Dogma and Truth” (Vol 3 of the Foundations Series – SVS Press) came out in June. Other volumes in the series are authored by Fr John and Lyn Breck on bioethics, and Fr John Garvey on other faiths.

Fr Paul Lazor, the John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology, will lead a retreat during the Nativity Fast at St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, Las Vegas, NV from November 17-18. The Clark County Orthodox Clergy Association is sponsoring the event with SVS alumnus Fr Eric Tosi (‘96) as principal organizer. The theme of the retreat is: “You Are Witnesses Of These Things (Luke 24:48) – Making the Liturgy Real In Our Lives.”

Dr Paul Meyendorff, the Fr Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology, will attend a drafting meeting from November 5-11 for the WCC’s Faith and Order paper on baptism in Geneva, Switzerland. From November 28-December 3, he will be at a meeting of the St Irenaeus Joint Working Group in Chevetogne, Belgium.

Dr Albert Rossi, Adjunct Professor in Pastoral Theology, will lead a teen retreat on December 2 entitled “War on Christianity” at St. Mary’s Antiochian Church, Yonkers, NY. Dr Rossi will also deliver three keynote talks at the OCF Winter Conference at Antiochian Village from December 27-31. The theme of his talks is “Be Still and Know That I Am God.”

Fr Paul Tarazi, Professor of Old Testament, spoke at Christ the Savior Church in Southbury, CT November 3-4 on the I Corinthians. He will deliver a paper entitled “Exegesis for Preaching and Teaching” at the International Conference on St John Chrysostom held November 12-14, 2006 in Bucharest Romania. Fr Paul will also speak at St Nicholas Cathedral in San Francisco, CA on December 2, 2006 on the topic “Land and Covenant: The New Jerusalem.” In addition, he will be at St Basil of Ostrog Serbian Orthodox Church in Lake Forest, IL to offer two talks on December 9. The topics are “The Book of Revelation” and “The End Times According to Scripture.”

Protodeacon Kirill Sokolov, Director of Systems, led a weekend-long workshop at Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Phoenix, Arizona, from Oct 13-15 for area clergy and altar servers on liturgical practice.

ALUMNI NEWS

Theodore Paraskevopoulos ('06) will be ordained to the diaconate on Saturday December 2 2006 at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Scarborough, Ontario. Axios!

Julia (M.A.'02) and Jeff Wickes (MTh '05) are new parents of daughter, Esme Alexandra, who was born September 19. Congratulations!

Scott Kenworthy ('96) received a nine-month Title VIII Research Scholarship from the Kennan Institute in Washington, DC to complete a manuscript entitled: "To Renounce the World: Reviving Monasticism in 19th and 20th century Russia.”

Fr William Mills (MDiv. '97, MTh. '00) and Taisia are proud parents of Emma Mills, who was born October 3, 2006. In addition, at the conclusion of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 24, 2006, Archbishop Dmitri of the Diocese of the South (OCA) awarded Fr Bill the palitsa for his dedicated service to the parish. Fr Bill also announces the publication of his new book entitled "Baptize All Nations: Reflections on the Gospel of Matthew for the Pentecost Season,” which will be available in early November.

Dr Nicolae Roddy (M.A. '89) and his wife Michelle announce the birth of a daughter, Anika Sofia, born October 24, 2006. Nicolae is Assistant Professor of Old Testament at Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Congratulations!

Fr Andrew Tregubov ('95) is offering a full range of Orthodox monuments — from custom designed, hand carved, complete gravestones to traditional icons hand etched on a portable stone tablet that can be set into a standard monument at any time. You can contact Fr Andrew at wwwiconmotif.com or call: 603-542-6273.

Andrei Psarev (MTh '04) delivered a paper on "Relations of Metropolitan Anthony Khrapovitskii with the Anglican Church” at the Holy Trinity Seminary Colloquium on October 6, 2006. This paper, which is mostly based on materials derived both from his SVS MTh thesis and from the Canon Douglas archive in Lambeth Palace Library in London, will be published by Holy Trinity Press in Volume 4 of Readings in Russian Religious Culture.

Daniel Hickman ('09), first-year student, and his wife Marcella are new parents of Gabriel Daniel Hickman, born October 15. Congratulations!

Very Rev Constantin Tofan ('63) fell asleep in the Lord October 19, 2006. He was the dean of St George Cathedral in Southfield, MI from 1983 until his retirement. Memory Eternal!

Andrej Kodjak ('59) fell asleep in the Lord on October 1, 2006. Memory Eternal!

Michael Ordeshuk ('49) fell asleep in the Lord on November 4, 2006. Memory Eternal!