St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Alumni Association
E-News - April 2007
Volume 7, No. 3/4

Dear Friends,

Christ is Risen!

I pray that your Paschal season has been filled with joy and light.  All of us here rejoice with you and your communities in the Risen Lord.

The academic year is winding down.  Forty students, a record, will graduate on commencement day, May 19.  Fr Thomas Hopko will be the commencement speaker.  Students are finishing the last weeks of classes, completing their thesis, and making plans for parish life, new ministry positions, continued academic opportunities, or returning to SVS in late August.  That’s right – late August.  The New Curriculum has changed the beginning of the school year from the first week in September to the last week in August.  All of us are excited about the prospects of the new program. 

In addition, a change of leadership will take place on July 1 when Fr John Behr assumes the position of Dean of the Seminary; Fr Chad Hatfield, the position of Chancellor of the Seminary; and, Dr John Barnet, the position of Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.  As these changes take place, we ask for your prayers for those assuming new duties, as well as for those in leadership positions who have ministered well, but are stepping down; namely, Dr Paul Meyendorff, the Fr Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology, who will hand over the position of Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Fr John Erickson, who will step down as Dean but continue as the Peter N Gramowich Professor of Church History; and particularly, Fr Paul Lazor who is retiring after forty-years of service to the seminary as a member of the faculty and Associate Dean for Student Affairs.  We will miss his pastoral presence and guiding leadership.

As always, please inform us of any milestones and transitions in your life so we can publish them.  The seminary community extends its very best to you!

SVS HONORS FR PAUL LAZOR

More than one hundred people participated in honoring Fr Paul and Natasha Lazor on Saturday, April 14.  Family, friends, former parishioners, fellow church labors, classmates, and members of the seminary community were present to express their love and respect to the honorees.  For more information, please visit:  www.svots.edu

BISHOP SERAPHIM VISITS CAMPUS

His Grace Bishop Seraphim visited the seminary campus from March 15-18. During his visit, he met with students, and served at the Vigil and Sunday Liturgy.  Please visit our website for a full description of the event:  http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2007-0318-bpseraphim/

HOLY CROSS GRADUATING CLASS MAKES ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE

Members of the 2007 graduating class from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology made their annual visit to the archdiocesan offices in New York City and included, as usual, a visit to SVS.  They attended Vespers, visited the bookstore, and ate with students in the refectory.  SVS looks forward to their visit each year to strengthen relationships between the sister schools.

SYRIAN ORTHODOX TEENS VISIT CAMPUS

The seminary was very pleased to host more than fifty Malankara Syrian Orthodox teenagers from the New York City area who visited the campus for an afternoon retreat on Saturday, March 24.  A good number of the visitors also attended the Liturgy on Saturday morning.  Second-year student, George Aramath, was the organizer of the event, which included a talk by Fr Paul Lazor on Confession, and talks by MTh student, Rami Wakim, and MA student, Dn Aboud Ishac.  Fr Steven Belonick provided a campus tour to complete the afternoon’s activities.

BISHOP KALLISTOS WARE MAKES LENTEN VISIT

His Grace Bishop Kallistos Ware visited the seminary March 26-31.  While on campus, he visited with his former students Fr John Behr and Dr Peter Bouteneff, conducted a faculty seminar, delivered a lecture to the student body on the Jesus Prayer and Silence, attended the daily liturgical cycle, and ate and visited with students.  As always, the entire seminary community was blessed by his presence.  For an article and photos, see:  http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2007-0329-kallistosvisits/

REVISION OF CATECHETICAL HANDBOOKS BEGINS

The Department of Christian Education (DCE) of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) is planning a revision of the four “Elementary Handbooks on the Orthodox Church” entitled The Orthodox Faith that were published in the 1970’s. The four books (popularly called the “rainbow books” because of their different colors) were written by Fr Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of St Vladimir's Seminary, illustrated by Fr. John Matusiak, reviewed and edited by Bishop Dmitri (now Archbishop of the OCA Diocese of the South) and officially endorsed by the OCA Synod of Bishops.  Over the years they have been translated, fully or in part, into 16 languages.  For more information, please visit:  http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2007-0322-catecheticalrevision/.

ALUMNI BOARD MEETS

The Alumni Board met for its quarterly teleconference meeting on the evening of March 5.  A number of important topics were discussed, including: The Thomas Hopko Alumni Scholarship Brochures (which all of you should have received by mail); developing a strong line of communication between the Alumni Board and the new seminary leadership; future Alumni Gatherings; a future alumni retreat in the summer of 2009; and the Alumni Reunion scheduled for October 16-18, 2007.

ALUMNI GATHERING HELD IN SEATTLE

Fr John Behr, Dean-elect, traveled to Seattle, WA from April 27-30 to meet with area alumni.  SVS Board of Trustee Alexander Popoff was instrumental in hosting, arranging, and generating interest in the very successful visit.  Twenty-two alumni and spouses joined Fr John for dinner and a talk.  During his visit, Fr John also served at the Sunday Liturgy, delivered the homily, and led a question and answer session with parishioners at St Spyridon Cathedral (OCA).  If you would like to host an alumni gathering in your area, please contact the Alumni Office (914-961-8313, ext 328; This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

PLEASE HELP!

In our continual attempt to strengthen relationships between our seminary and its alumni, and the relationship between alumni, the Alumni Office wishes to remember and recognize ordination dates of our alumni to the diaconate, to the priesthood, and to the episcopacy.  The Office of Systems and Information Technology has the capacity to identify these significant events on a weekly basis and to disseminate them through E-News.  We believe that others would like to recognize these dates as well.  Please send your information to Fr Steven Belonick at his email address: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - ALUMNI REUNION SET

For the fourth consecutive year, an Alumni Reunion will be held on the seminary campus.  The dates are Tuesday, October 16 to Thursday, October 18, 2007.  The 25th anniversary class of 1982 and the 50th anniversary class of 1957 will be honored along with other classes reaching milestones.  Activities will include a banquet, daily liturgical services, Divine Liturgy on the Feast of St Luke, a continuing education program, an update on the work of the Alumni Board, and fellowship.  In addition, participants will have an opportunity to meet the new leadership on campus.  We hope you will be able to join us.  An information and RSVP packet will be mailed to all alumni at the beginning of August.  Please visit the seminary webpage for updates and schedule.

ALUMNI GOLF OUTING SET

For the second consecutive year, a northeast area alumni golf outing is scheduled for May 24 at Hudson Hills Public Golf Course. Last year, a dozen alumni enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of golf and fellowship.  If you would like to join us this year, please visit the seminary’s website (www.svots.edu) for information or call Fr Steven Belonick (914-961-8313, ext 328).  Deadline for reservations is May 10.

FACULTY/STAFF NEWS

Fr John Behr, Professor of Patristics, will deliver a talk entitled “The Pastoral Power of Theology” at St John Chrysostom Church, St Louis, MO during a Patristics symposium, September 28-30, remembering the 1600th Anniversary Celebration of St John Chrysostom.

Dr 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 May 27-30.  From June 7-9, he will attend the International Symposium on Orthodox Dogmatic Theology, Arad, Romania; from June 12-14, he will be a panelist at Orthodox Theological Society of America meeting on the seminary campus; from July 19-23, he will attend the NCC Faith and Order Anniversary Conference, Oberlin, Ohio; and he will deliver a paper entitled “Gregory the Theologian and Paradise,” at the International Conference on Patristic Studies, Oxford, UK, to be held August 6-11.

Fr Harry Pappas, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology, will participate in an intensive ecumenical program on "Writing for the Church" led by Rev Eugene Peterson at the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research at St John's University in Collegeville, MN (June 18-24).  In addition, he will deliver two talks at the Pastoral & Liturgical Institute on Sermon Preparation (June 26); will attend and speak at the Southeast Family Conference of the Indian Orthodox Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (July 26-28); and will lead a mission trip for Project Mexico (August 16-22).

Dr Paul Meyendorff, Fr Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology, was an examiner at the PhD thesis defense of alumnus Alexei Khamine at Drew University on Friday, April 27.  He will participate in the Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation, which will meet at SVS from June 4-6.  In addition, from August 25-29, he will present a paper in Athens, Greece, at a conference on liturgical renewal organized by the Orthodox Church of Greece.

Dn Kevin Smith, Instructor in Liturgical Music, will give a plenary presentation, entitled "Liturgy and Culture: In Our Voice, Through Our Eyes," during the SVS Summer Institute (June 24-27).  In addition, he will deliver a presentation and coach participants during the first-ever SVS Composers' Seminar immediately following the Institute (June 27-30).  Leading the Seminar will be SVS faculty and former faculty members Mark Bailey and Fr Sergei Glagolev, as well as Dn Smith and Prof Emeritus David Drillock.

Fr Paul Tarazi, Professor of Old Testament, spoke on the topic “Unheard Thunder: The Role of the Prophetic Word for Living Authentically in Christ” at St Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church, Omaha, NE on April 12; he traveled to St Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, Minneapolis, MN where he spoke on the Acts of the Apostles from April 13-14; he visited Christ the Savior Church in Southbury, CT from April 20-21 where he spoke on the Book of Genesis; on two dates, April 23 and April 30, Fr Paul was at Holy Transfiguration Church, New Haven, CT where he delivered talks on the Letter to the Romans.  Future talks include: a continuation of talks on the Letter to Romans at Holy Transfiguration Church, New Haven, CT, May 7 and 14; and on May 20-21 at Christ the Savior Church, Southbury, CT on the Book of Genesis.

Protodeacon Kirill Sokolov, Director of Systems, will deliver a talk on May 5 entitled “Greeks and Russians Together – San Francisco Church Life in the Beginning” at the 2007 Historical Society Symposium, San Francisco, CA.

ALUMNI NEWS

Dn Caleb Abetti (’07) was ordained to the holy priesthood on March 10 at St Jacob’s Mission Church, Northfield Falls, VT by Bishop Nikon.  Axios!  Fr Caleb, his wife Nicole and their three children, will be moving to St Jacob’s parish after graduation.

Mircea Geana (’07) and Sarah Krajcik (’07) were united in the Sacrament of Matrimony in the seminary chapel on Sunday, April 22.  After graduation, the couple will move to Boston where Mircea will continue his studies at the Boston Conservatory of Music.  Congratulations!

Fr Justin Mathews, (’07) and his wife Jodi are proud to announce the birth of the third son, Hayden Innocent, who was born April 21.  Congratulations!

Michael Azar (’06) was ordained to the holy diaconate on Lazarus Saturday by His Eminence Isaiah of Denver (GOA) at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Casper, WY.  Axios!

Fr Justin Patterson (’05) and his wife Tamara (’05) announce the birth of their second son, Ian Hadley Patterson, born March 21.  Congratulations!

Dr Nicolai Roddy (MA ’89) has been awarded tenure and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor in Theology at Creighton University, in Omaha, NE.  Congratulations!

Dr Bradley Nassif (‘85), Associate Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at North Park University, Chicago, IL published a feature article in Christianity Today magazine titled “Will the 21st Be the Orthodox Century?” (December 2006).  He also taught a course on “Desert Spirituality” for the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute, Berkeley, CA.

Fr Paul Schellbach (’96) is finishing an MSW at Cal State, San Bernardino, CA.  His wife, Patty (’90) is working as a school psychologist in Greensboro, NC and continuing on doctoral work in Educational Leadership EdD.

James Miller (’97) defended his PhD thesis at Marquette University last May.  His title was: “ ‘Let us Sing to the Lord’: The Biblical Odes in the Codex Alexandrinus.”

Dr Michael Irvin (‘63) fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday, April 28 in Albuquerque, NM.  May his memory be eternal!

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