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St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Alumni Association
E-News - February 2007
Volume 7, No. 02
Dear Friends,
I hope this E-News finds you well and that your Lenten journey so far has been grace-filled. As mentioned in the last issue, Fr Chad Hatfield visited the seminary from January 24-30. He and Fr John Behr had full days, meeting with seminary students, staff, faculty, and interviewing potential candidates for employment positions. The culmination of their efforts was a meeting with the entire seminary community, which included Mrs Anne Glynn-Mackoul, the new liaison between the Board of Trustees and the leadership team. At that meeting all three had the opportunity to share their understanding of their respective roles and to field questions from the seminary community. For more information, please see: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2007-0124-chancellor-elect-dean-elect/.
In other news, Fr Alexander Rentel underwent serious back surgery in February. A freak accident caused severe pain, which escalated until it was clear that only surgery would alleviate it. Surgery was performed on February 22. He is home now, but his recovery is slow. Fr John Erickson has assumed his Church History course, while his courses on Canon Law and the Byzantine Liturgy have become reading courses supervised by Fr Erickson and Professor Meyendorff respectively. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.
As always, please let us know about any milestones and transitions in your life so we can publish them. Everyone here extends their very best to you!
SVS TO HONOR FR PAUL LAZOR
After nearly four decades of service to the seminary, Fr Paul Lazor (’64), the John and Paraskeva Lecturer in Practical Theology, will retire at the end of the 2006-2007 academic year. His service to the seminary began in 1969 as a part-time Lecturer in Liturgics while still caring for the Holy Trinity Church in New Britain, CT. In 1977, Fr Paul left parish ministry, putting all of his efforts at the seminary as the Dean of Students, a full-time faculty member, and a member of the chapel clergy. During his tenure, he has dedicated his life to the formation and training of seminary students. Indicative of his influence, many of the students still maintain contact with him for spiritual counsel and advice. In his retirement, the seminary will lose one of its most outstanding servants. We will certainly feel his loss. Fr Paul and Natasha will move to their retirement home in the Pocono Mountains at the end of June. A special celebration will be held on the seminary campus on Bright Saturday, April 14 at 2:00pm to mark the occasion. If you would like to send a note of appreciation to him and his wife, please send it in care of the Dean’s Office.
METROPOLITAN HERMAN VISITS SEMINARY
Metropolitan Herman, president of the school, visited the seminary on January 30 for its Patronal feast, the Feast of the Three Hierarchs. He presided at the Liturgy and ordained second-year student, Paul Rivers, to the holy diaconate. A brunch for those serving and the single students followed. Visiting clergy included Fr Thomas Moore, Dn Paul’s parish priest, and Archimandrite Zacchaeus Woods from the OCA’s representative church in Moscow. For additional information, please see: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/threehierarchs2007/.
BISHOP NIKON VISITS SEMINARY FOR FEAST
Bishop Nikon of New England and the Albanian Archdiocese presided at the Liturgy for the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, when he ordained Jeffrey (Irenaeus) Williams to the holy diaconate. After the Liturgy, chapel clergy proceeded to bless the dormitory rooms, apartments, classrooms, library, and offices around the seminary campus. A brunch followed in the refectory. Please see the website for further information: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2007-0202-meetingofthelord/.
SEMINARY WELCOMES ARCHBISHOP LAZAR (PUHALO)
Retired OCA Archbishop Lazar visited the campus from February 8-9. His Eminence is the former Archbishop of Ottawa and presently the Abbot of All Saints of America Monastery. His stay was connected with a lecture that he delivered at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in NYC on February 9. While on campus, he attended daily services and ate with the seminarians.
STUDENTS OISM MEETING AT JORDANVILLE
From February 9-11, seventeen SVS students traveled to Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY (ROCOR) to participate in a semi-annual meeting of the Orthodox Interseminary Movement (OISM). Over sixty students attended representing St Tikhon’s, Holy Cross, Holy Trinity, and St Andrew’s. For more information, please visit: http://www.oca.org/news.asp?ID=1167&SID=19.
RECRUITERS COME TO CAMPUS
On February 14, Fr Matthew Tate and SVS alumnus, Fr Christopher Swanson (‘01) visited the campus on February 14 to meet with students from the OCA Diocese of the West. They imparted news about the diocese and informed them where possible parish openings exist. Fr John Anderson (’90) from the US Army also visited the campus from February 13-15 to meet with students about military chaplaincy.
SVS ALUM LEADS LENTEN RETREAT
Fr Kevin Scherer (‘02) provided the Lenten meditations to the student body during the first two days of Lent. He spoke passionately about the need for church leaders to remember and develop programs to help the poor and disenfranchised. For more information, please see: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2007-0220-greatlent/.
On the second day of the retreat, Metropolitan Herman presided at the Compline service and the singing of the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete.
ALUMNI BOARD MEETS
The Alumni Board met via teleconference call on Monday evening, March 5. Agenda items discussed a number of issues including effective ways to communicate to Fr John Behr and Fr Chad Hatfield the vision, activities, initiatives, and challenges for the Alumni Board in developing and sustaining a vibrant relationship between the seminary and its alumni; the upcoming Alumni Reunion which will be held October 16-18, a speaker for the event and possible honoree; a revisiting of a plan to hold an alumni retreat at Antiochian Village; and a possible “Alumni Corner” on the website which will allow alumni to share short essays, sermons, short articles reflecting their personal study, and parish initiatives.
FR PAUL LAZOR NAMED LENTEN RETREAT SPEAKER
Fr Paul Lazor will be the speaker at the annual Lenten Retreat to be held March 17. Fr Paul’s topic is entitled “Living the Gospel Today.” More information is available at: www.svots.edu
BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEMBER NAMED HEAD OF IOCC
Alex Machaskee, a member of the seminary’s Board of Trustee’s since 1997, was recently elected the Chairman of the Board of IOCC at its board meeting at Antiochian Village in Bolivar, PA. Mr Machaskee is the retired publisher of The Plain Dealer and a prominent Serbian-American. Mr Machaskee will preside over the IOCC’s continued implementation of a five-year strategic plan, and plans to travel regularly to the organization’s field operations, which are scattered throughout the world. The seminary community congratulates him on his new position and wishes him every success. For more information, please visit: www.iocc.org/nwsltr/spring2007/spring2007_pg5.shtml.
SPRING OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
St Vladimir’s Seminary is opening its doors once again to prospective students. This program, which will run from March 22-24, is designed to provide a first-hand experience of seminary life to those interested in ministry or those desiring to deepen their understanding of the faith. Participants will attend classes, worship in the chapel, tour the campus and its resources, meet faculty and students, and learn about degree programs, financial aid, and the admission process. Interviews are available by appointment. The event comes at no cost to participants except for their travel arrangements. If you know of anyone who might benefit from this opportunity, please direct them to our website for a schedule of activities and registration form, or have them contact the Recruitment Office at 914-961-8313, ext. 328.
CLERGY RENEWAL OPPORTUNITY
The Lilly Endowment, an Indianapolis-based, private philanthropic foundation, seeks to strengthen Christian congregations by providing an opportunity for pastors to step away briefly from the persistent obligations of daily parish life and to engage in a period of renewal and reflection. Renewal periods are not vacations but times for intentional exploration and reflection, for drinking again from God's life-giving waters, for regaining enthusiasm and creativity for ministry. Some of our alumni have taken advantage of this program and benefited greatly. If you are interested, please visit the Lilly Endowment website: http://www.clergyrenewal.org.
FACULTY/STAFF NEWS
Fr John Erickson, Dean and Peter N Gramowich Professor of Church History delivered the sermon for the Long Island Orthodox Clergy Fellowship’s Triumph of Orthodoxy Vespers service, at Holy Trinity Church, East Meadow, New York, on February 25. He also participated in a meeting of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) Board of Directors in Chicago, February 28 – March 1.
Fr John Behr, Professor of Patristics, led a retreat entitled “Standing by the Cross: Putting on Christ” at St George Cathedral, Charleston, WV from Feb 2-4, Charleston WV. From Feb 15-17, he attended the “Development and Institutional Advancement Program” (DIAP) in Florida, and spoke at a gathering of friends of SVS hosted by Board of Trustees member, Anne van den Berg. From March 2-3, he spoke on the topic "Which God is it you don't believe in?" at an OCF meeting at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and also spoke to the OCF groups at Duke University and North Carolina State University. On Sunday March 11, Fr John delivered the sermon at the Deanery Vespers, Wayne, NJ. On Tuesday, March 20, he will speak on the topic “Death in the Fathers” at Holy Trinity Church in Stroudsburg, PA. And on March 24, he will lead a retreat entitled “Standing by the Cross: Putting on Christ” at St Michael the Archangel Church, Wilmington, DE.
Peter Bouteneff, Assistant Professor of Dogmatic Theology, was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute for Theological Studies in Jerusalem and will travel to the Holy Land for a Board meeting this coming May.
Fr Paul Lazor, the John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology, will lead the public Lenten retreat on the topic “Living the Gospel Today” at the seminary on March 17. In addition, he will address the Malankara youth on the theme “Confession” during a conference at the seminary on Saturday, March 24.
Fr Harry Pappas, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology, will deliver two talks March 12-13 on the theme “Preaching and Prophesy” at a Lenten retreat for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan District of New York clergy. In addition, he will lead a discussion of C.S. Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters” at the women’s book club of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle, April 17
Dr Al Rossi, Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology, will lead a teen retreat on Good Friday evening at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Yonkers, NY.
Fr Paul Tarazi, Professor of Old Testament, traveled to Tallinn, Estonia from March 6-9 to deliver a talk for clergy and laity entitled “Introduction to the Old Testament” at the Archdiocesan offices, and to Helsinki, Finland from March 10-11 to deliver a talk entitled “The Gospel of Matthew” at the St Alexander of Skvir Church.
Fr Steven Belonick, Recruitment Director and Alumni Liaison, delivered the sermon at the Deanery Lenten Mission Vespers held Sunday, March 4 at Christ the Savior Church, Southbury, CT.
ALUMNI NEWS
Very Rev George Shaheen (’58) fell asleep in the Lord on February 10 in Toledo, Ohio. Fr George was the brother of Archbishop Michael (Shaheen). We extend our condolences to his family members. Memory Eternal.
Rev Michael Abraham (’66) fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, February 23, 2007 in South Glens Falls, NY. The funeral took place on Wednesday, February 28. We extend our condolences to his family. Memory Eternal.
Glen Kochiss (Pre-theological) fell asleep in the Lord on February 2 at Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, CT. We extend to his family our sympathy. Memory Eternal.
The Right Reverend BENJAMIN, (‘81) the administrator of the Diocese of the West was unanimously nominated as a candidate for the office of Bishop of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the West. The nomination took place during a special convocation at St Paul the Apostle Church in Las Vegas, NV on January 31, 2007. AXIOS! For more information, please visit: www.oca.org/News.asp?ID=1163&SID=19.
Professor Alexander Dvorkin (‘83) was awarded the Order of the St Nestor the Chronicler. This order of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarch) was given to him as an award for his missionary and scholarly work for the Church. His Eminence Lazarus, the Metropolitan of Sevastopol and Crimea, gave the award to Prof Dvorkin on the behalf of His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine. The award ceremony took place in the Kremlin of Moscow during the Fifteenth Annual International Orthodox Christmas Series. This is the third award of Prof Dvorkin. Earlier he was awarded the order of St Sergius of Radonezh and the Order of St Innocent of Moscow by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
Will Cohen (‘02) and his wife Julie are new parents of a girl, Ella Margaret, born January 14, 2007. Many years to all three members of the family!
Rev Fred Shaheen (‘02) and Khourieh Michelle welcomed a new addition to their family two weeks after the falling asleep of Fr Fred’s father, Fr George. Raphael George Shaheen was born on February 27, 2007. He joins an older brother, William John Shaheen who is 2 and 1/2. Congratulations!
Rev Noah Bushelli (‘04) and his wife, Elizabeth, are parents of their fourth child, Joachim Dennis, born February 14. He joins his siblings Julian, Sophia, and Ambrose. Congratulations!
Monk Samuel (aka Sergey Nedelsky ’06) was ordained to the holy diaconate on Sunday, February 4 by Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany (ROCOR) at the Cathedral of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Munich, Germany. He will serve primarily at the Monastery of St Job of Pochaev in Munich where Archbishop Mark is the abbot. AXIOS!
Douglas Hadley (‘06) accepted a position on the faculty of North Central Michigan College in Petoskey, MI in the Religion Department. Doug’s wife, Karen, is Dean of the Nursing School at the same college. Congratulations!
Eric Iliff (’06): Just before the posting of this issue of E-News, the seminary learned of the tragic death of Eric. The entire seminary community is deeply saddened and distressed at this news. His funeral will be held at Holy Apostles Orthodox Church in Normal, IL at 10am on Saturday, March 17. With the blessing of Metropolitan Herman, a memorial service is being served in the seminary chapel after Vespers on Thursday evening, March 15. May Eric’s memory be eternal!
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