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St Vladimir's Orthodox
Theological Seminary
Alumni Association
E-News - May/June 2008
Volume 8, No.5 and 6
Dear Friends,
This newest issue of E-News is my
last. My new responsibilities as
Associate Dean for Student Affairs at the seminary have limited my abilities to
continue working as the seminary’s Alumni Liaison and reporter for E-News. Over the last eight years, I have tried
to update you with the many activities on our campus and faculty travels off our
campus. I hope this informational
piece has benefited you and made you feel more connected to our alma
mater. It has been my joy to be
part of it. Fr Deacon Philip Mathew, a 2007 seminary graduate and the new Recruitment Officer, will take
over the responsibility of Alumni Liaison and reporter of E-News. I hope that you will offer him your
support and best wishes. Dn Philip
can be reached by email (
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)
or by phone (914-961-8313, ext 328).
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
Twenty-nine
students in five academic programs graduated from the seminary on Saturday, May
17. For the first time, the
ceremony included the awarding of hoods to the graduates. For more information, please
visit: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2008-0517-SVScommencement/ . A list of graduates and theses
are included on the last page of this E-News.
SS ALBAN AND SERGIUS
FELLOWSHIP CONFERENCE
From
Wednesday, June 4 to Sunday, June 8, 2008, the seminary hosted a conference of
the Fellowship of St Alban and St Sergius marking the 80th anniversary of the
Fellowship. The conference,
which attracted 200 participants, had the theme of “Rome, Constantinople, and Canterbury:
Mother Churches?” Keynote speakers included His Eminence, Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia, His
Grace, Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria, His Eminence Metropolitan Philip
of the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America,
and Bishop Keith Ackerman, the Episcopalian Bishop of Quincy, IL. Other keynote speakers included Fr J
Robert Wright, Fr Patrick Henry Reardon, SVS professor, Fr John Erickson, Fr Richard
Neuhaus, Fr Warren Tanghe, and SVS alumnus (’85) Igumen Jonah
(Paffhausen). Ancient Faith Radio attended the
conference and has posted the talks. All conference proceedings are now available online in
audio format. http://www.svots.edu/2008sass/
DIACONAL LITURGICAL PRACTICUM
From June 3-6,
2008 St Vladimir's held intensive diaconal training workshops for deacons and
Diaconal Vocations Program participants. The Practicum faculty led participants
in presentations on the Liturgy of the Church and the Typikon (Father Alexander
Rentel); vocal technique and training (Father Sergius Halvorsen); and
liturgical practice and training (Protodeacon Kirill Sokolov). To view photos, please visit: http://www.svots.edu/option,com_zoom/Itemid,122/catid,194/
ALUMNI REUNION DATE FINALIZED
Mark your
calendars! The
graduating classes of 1983 (25th anniversary) and 1958 (50th anniversary) will be honored along with other anniversary classes during the
seminary’s alumni reunion scheduled for October 21-23, 2008. The reunion schedule, housing information,
and registration forms will be mailed in July.
CHANCELLOR SPEAKS AT CLERGY MEETING
On Tuesday June 10th SVS Chancellor Fr Chad Hatfield was the guest speaker at the
annual Serbian Clergy Brotherhood meeting. Fr Chad concelebrated the Divine
Liturgy at St Sava's Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in New York City before
delivering his talk on "Revitalizing Our Priestly Ministry in A Post
Christian Culture." In attendance were Serbian clergy from all over
the United States, including SVS alumni Fr Rastko Trbuhovich (‘73), Fr Rodney
Torbic (DMin. ‘01), Fr Norman Kosanovich (‘99), and Dn Aleksa Pavichevich
(‘08. To view photos, please
visit: http://www.svots.edu/option,com_zoom/Itemid,122/catid,193/
SVS AND ANCIENT FAITH RADIO COLLABORATE
"Voices from St Vladimir's Seminary" is
now a weekly podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. Fr
Chad will be speaking or interviewing theologians and guests who come through
the seminary throughout the year. He will also be interviewing our
faculty, staff, and seminarians.
ACADEMIC
HOODS NOW AVAILABLE
SVS now has their
own registered academic hoods as seen in the photos from the 2008
Graduation. For those graduates from pervious years who would like to
purchase a hood, appropriate to your highest SVS degree, the cost is only
$150, which includes shipping and a $5 contribution to the Hopko Alumni
Scholarship Fund. Direct your orders to Ann Sanchez. There is a discount of $30 ($120) for those alumni who wish
to order together in groups of ten and more. Alumni need to organize the group themselves and inform Ann
Sanchez of their group.
FACULTY MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN CONSULTATION
From June 2-4,
2008 SVS faculty members Fr John Erickson and Dr Paul Meyendorff participated
in The 74th North American Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation held at
Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline,
MA. At the conference, the church
bodies examined their understanding of ecclesial authority and the sacramental
nature of the Church. For more
information, please see: www.svots.edu.
PROFESSOR ANTHONY P. GYTHIEL HONORED
On May 21, Fr John
Behr, Fr Chad Hatfield, and Ted Bazil traveled to Wichita, Kansas for a special
convocation honoring Professor Anthony P. Gythiel. The Trustees and Faculty of the seminary bestowed upon him
the degree of Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa). For a full story,
please see: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2008-0521-wichita/
SEMINARY IMPLEMENTS MAJOR NEW TECHNOLOGY
In May 2007, the
Board of Trustees decided to invest in a series of significant
upgrades for technology at the seminary. The Seminary had been utilizing
software that was developed "in-house" beginning in the late eighties for
its day-to-day operations. In response to changing needs and growth
of the seminary in the past two decades, new administrative
software to support the seminaries library, student records,
financial, and relationship management has been needed. Over the past several
months, the seminary faculty and staff have been in training to
prepare for these important conversions and upgrades. The seminary's new
student records, financial office, and relationship management
software is now implemented and being used actively. The library completes
its conversion and implementation of modern software later this summer
in anticipation of the new school year.
SEMINARY READIES FOR FALL SEMESTER
Although it is
early summer, the seminary is readying itself for the fall semester by
preparing the dormitories, vacated apartments, and setting an orientation
schedule. The Orientation for new
students runs from Thursday, August 20 to Sunday, August 24, with classes
starting on Monday, August 25. Fr
John Breck, former faculty member at the seminary, will deliver three evening
talks to introduce the new students to a life at seminary and a life of
service. To date, forty-two
students have been accepted. New
married students are so numerous this year that not only are all the available
apartments on campus filled, but three additional suites will be constructed
from single dormitories rooms in the North Dorm to house couples without
children.
LAKESIDE APARTMENTS TO BE DEDICATED
In response to a
long-time pressing need for additional on-campus housing for married
seminarians and their families, the Board of Trustees approved the construction
of new married student housing with the development of 3.5 acres of
land along Crestwood Lake. The project required the Seminary to assume
a 3.5 million dollar mortgage. This was the first-time in SVS history
that the seminary entered into a mortgage to complete a building project.
This decision was made because the needs of our seminarians were a
priority and the decision could not wait. The two Lakeside Housing units
were completed two years ago. They are beautiful and are now at full
occupancy with room for 18 student families.
His Beatitude,
Metropolitan Herman will preside at the blessing and dedication of the
new buildings on Sunday the 7th of September following the
Divine Liturgy. He will also be here for the Feast of the Nativity of the
Theotokos the next day.
Alumni should know
that this Capital Campaign, which includes campus facility
developments and programmatic needs, is not yet in the public phase. At present
there are several naming opportunities available and you may contact
our new Associate Chancellor for Advancement, Ted Bazil, at
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for further details. An important
part of this campaign will be Alumni participation. You will be
hearing from the Chancellor, Fr Chad
Hatfield in the fall regarding ways that all of the SVS alumni can
participate in the completion of this campaign.
FACULTY/STAFF
TO UNDERGO EMERGENCY TRAINING
As part of its
continuing program on Community Safety, the seminary faculty and staff who live
on campus will undergo a twenty-hour training program in emergency procedures.
The program will include training in First-Aid, Lifts and Drags, Search and
Rescue, Terrorism, and a Hand-on Practical. Participants have the choice of two
five-week sessions (July and October) for the training.
ALUMNI CONSTITUTION AND
BYLAWS
The Alumni Board is presently working on a Constitution and
set of Bylaws for the Alumni Association that will help guide its work and
mission. These guidelines will
help the Board to clarify what “alumni membership” means, how elections are
held, how diversity on the Board is maintained, and what committees need to be
constituted to enhance the work of the Association. It is hoped that by the Fall meeting a text will be
completed which can then be mailed to all the alumni for their comments and
suggestions.
ORTHODOX EDUCATION DAY THEME
SET
The theme for this year’s Orthodox Education Day, to be held
Saturday, October 4, is “Holy Icons and Sacred Arts.” Although details are still fluid, the day will consist of a
discussion of the place of Liturgical Arts in the life of the Church. A keynote lecture, a number of
workshops, and a collection of valuable icons, chalices, woodcarvings,
vestments, etc. will be on display in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium. So, mark your calendars, tell your
friends, and join us for a wonderful day of fellowship and learning.
FRIENDS TO HONOR ALUMNUS
Fr Sergei Glagolev has touched many of our lives
in so many ways. Now it's time to remember him!
Fr Sergei will be celebrating his
80th birthday, August 13. Without
taxing his health, Fr John and Doreen Bartholomew, along with Professor David
Drillock ask your help to give Fr Sergei a SURPRISE birthday card
blitz. The cards with your
personal messages to him will be delivered personally. This way he never has to
leave home and his 80th birthday will be remembered by the Orthodox community
at large. We encourage you to send
individual cards, and not group cards. The more he gets, the better this
surprise will be. REMEMBER - this
is a surprise, so spread the word, but be discreet. If you want to send Fr.
Sergei a birthday card, please send it to:
Fr Sergei Glagolev
c/o Bartholomew
38 Pearl Street
New Hyde Park, NY 11040
FACULTY/STAFF NEWS
Fr John Behr, Dean, was invited to speak on marriage and asceticism at the 2008
Orthodox Conference at the Old-Believer Church of the Nativity of Christ, Erie,
PA held July 17-22. He will be a
keynote speaker at the First International Ecumenical Society of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, USA Congress to be held in Pittsburgh, PA from August 11-13. His topic is entitled “Speaking of the
Virgin: Mary and the Church, an Orthodox View.”
Fr Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus,
spoke at St Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church in Irvine, CA on May 16-17. His lecture was entitled “The Church,
the Bible and Prayer: The Called Community, the Reading of the Scriptures and
Personal Prayer in the Christian Life.”
Dr Al Rossi,
Adjunct Professor in Pastoral Theology, spoke at St George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Richmond Hill,
Canada on the topic, “Marital Spirituality in Our Crazy World.”
Fr
Paul Tarazi, Professor of Old Testament: A list of Fr Paul’s numerous talks is available at http://www.svots.edu/Events/faculty-speaking.html/.
Protodeacon
Kirill Sokolov, Director of Systems ,
was one of the developers of the Diaconal Program at the seminary held from
June 3-6 and was one of three presenters. From June 19-20, he also spoke on the seminary’s experience implementing
and using Moodle for extending learning beyond the classroom at the “2-3-98
Conference: An Open Discussion on Technology in Education” hosted by SUNY
Delhi. In addition, he was an
adjunct instructor, co-teaching “Writing for the World Wide Web” with Dr Kate
Behr at Concordia College, Eastchester, NY.
ALUMNI NEWS
Gregory Abdalah
(’08). Khouria Joanne fell asleep in the Lord on
May 27, 2008. We wish to express
our sympathy to her son, Gregory, her husband, Fr John (‘84) and the rest of
the Abdalah Family. Memory
Eternal!
Dn Philip Mathew (’07) has assumed
the responsibilities of seminary Recruitment Officer and Alumni Liaison. We wish him every blessing.
Daniel
Bethancourt (’07) was
ordained to the holy diaconate and the holy priesthood by His Grace, Bishop
Basil (Essey) on June 8 and 9 respectively at his home parish of Holy Trinity
Church, Sante Fe, NM. He and his
wife Maria (SVS alumna 2008) are now preparing to serve at St Nicholas parish
in Shreveport, Louisiana. Fr
Daniel served this past year as the seminary’s Recruitment Officer.
Axios!
Dn Gregory
Bruner (’07) was ordained
to the holy priesthood at Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Albion, MI on the
Feast of Ascension (June 5, 2008) by His Eminence Archbishop Job of Chicago and
the Midwest. Fr Gregory and his
wife Ksenia (SVS alumna 2005) are currently attached to Holy Ascension. He will serve as a supply priest for
the Michigan Deanery. Axios!
Fr Theodore
Paraskevopoulos (MA, ‘06) was ordained to the holy priesthood by His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios on
Saturday, March 29, 2008 at the Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church, Mississauga,
Ontario. Axios!
Dn Joshua
Lollar (‘06) and his wife
Kristy are parents of a new son, Solomon Gregory, who was born on Sunday, March
23, weighing 9lbs, 7oz. Many years
to all the members of the Lollar family!
Jamie Magruder
(‘03) and his wife Laurel
are new parents of a little boy, Luke Alexander, who was born on Saturday,
April 5. Many years!
Deacon Nicholas
Denysenko (‘00) was
awarded a PhD in Liturgical Studies from the School of Theology and Religious
Studies at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC on May 17,
2008. His dissertation title was:
“The Blessing of Waters on the Feast of Theophany in the Byzantine Rite:
Historical Formation and Theological Implications.” Rev Dr Dominic Serra was his director, and his readers were
Rev Dr Mark Morozowich and SVS faculty member, Dr Paul Meyendorff.
Fr Paul
Schellbach (‘96) is a
re-adjustment counselor in Greensboro, NC working with military veterans who
have been in combat. He completed
his MSW from Cal State in June of 2007. He is presently servicing a small OCA mission at Fort Bragg
Fayetteville, NC.
His Grace
Bishop MARK of Toledo (’91) –
We express our sincere condolences to His Grace on the recent falling asleep of
his father, John Maymon, after a long battle with cancer. May his memory be eternal.
Patty
Schellbach (‘90) has just
completed six years of course work from Azusa Pacific University. From 2002-2005, she completed in MA in
Education with an emphasis in school psychology, and from 2005-2008, she
completed course work for the Ed.D in Educational Leadership (K-12). She is presently working on her
dissertation, which will deal with water therapy and the K-12 disabled
population.
Fr John Salem
(’92) will be elevated to
the rank of Archpriest by His Grace Bishop Basil of Wichita on November 2
during the festivities marking the 80th anniversary of the founding
St George Church, Houston, TX Many
years!
Fr James
Bernstein (‘89) recently
authored a book published by Conciliar Press entitled “Surprised by Christ: My
Journey from Judaism to Orthodox Christianity.” Please visit http://concilarpress.com/products.
Stefanie Yazge
(‘86) and Valerie Zahirsky (‘74) took part in a conference at the Theological Academy of Volos, Greece in June,
meeting with 43 other Orthodox women from 16 countries. The conference,
sponsored by the World Council of Churches, was in part a review of Orthodox
womens' participation in the Council, and in part a planning session for future
participation. It was a valuable opportunity for Orthodox women to meet in an
atmosphere of prayer and serious theological reflection, and to share their
particular concerns and hopes.
Protodeacon
John Federoff (‘74) fell
asleep in the Lord on May 30, 2008. May his memory be eternal.
Fr Justin
Foster (Special Student) received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Barry University, Miami Shores, FL on
December 15, 2007.
Fr Christopher
Ridgen-Briscall (Special Student) ,
the former Priest-in-charge of St Nina Orthodox Mission in Vancouver and the
Orthodox Chaplain at the Holy Cross Chaplaincy at the University of British
Columbia, is now the rector of Christ the /Saviour Antiochian Mission in
Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. We
wish him and his family many years!
ORDINATION ANNIVERSARIES
Fr George Dahdouh - Priesthood,
7/6/97
Fr Michael Lewis - Priesthood,
7/5/87
Fr David Lewis Priesthood,
6/24/07
Fr Joseph
Honeycutt - Priesthood,
6/19/94
Fr Paul Pyrch - Priesthood,
6/3/62
Fr Nicolay
Miletkov - Priesthood,
5/20/06
Fr John Erickso - Priesthood,
5/7/06
Fr Aaron Warwick - Priesthood,
5/6/07
Deacon Nicholas
Belcher - Diaconate, 4/22/07
Fr Eugene Wozniak - Priesthood,
4/21/02
Fr Steven Belonick - Priesthood,
5/19/79
Class of 2008
Candidates for the Master of Divinity degree:
Gregory John ABDALAH
The Role of Youth Choirs in the Orthodox Church
Daniel BELONICK (magna cum laude)
Silence in Ignatius
Fr Paul COATS (magna cum laude)
Iconological Marriage Preparation: Toward a Positive Approach
Dn Abu Koshy GEORGE
Origins of the Schism in the Orthodox Church in India: 1912–1975
Fr David LEWIS
From Death to Resurrection: An Examination of the Rite and Ritual of Lent and Holy Week in Western Rite Orthodoxy
Barry MIGYANKO (cum laude)
Rico Gabriel MONGE (Valedictorian, summa cum laude)
The Twilight of Idolatrous Theology: An Examination of the Debate over Jean-Luc Marion’s Postmetaphysical Theology and its Implications for Theological Discourse
Dn Aleksa PAVICHEVICH (cum laude)
Tatiana V. PENKRAT
Image and Liturgy: The History and Meaning of the Epitaphion
Fr Kristijan PETROVICH
Orthodoxy in American Cinema
Fr Paul RIVERS
Dn Gregory VARGHESE
Rise of the Malankara Orthodox Church in America
Candidates for the Master of Arts degree in General Theology:
Maria P. BETHANCOURT (cum laude)
Working Toward One Witness
Erica Seraphima CARL (magna cum laude)
On Creation, Twice: The Double Creation Account in the First 19 Paragraphs of Athanasius of Alexandria's De Incarnatione
Dn Ephrem (Aboud) ISHAC
St Jacob of Edessa’s Hexaemeron: A Comparative Study with St Basil of Caesarea’s Hexaemeron
Yulia KATYSHEV (cum laude)
Pedagogical Methods for Preschool Children as Found in Orthodox Literature on Religious Education
Jennifer N. C. LOPUSHOK
Unsought Protection: Byzantine Christians Under Islamic Law
Mariya SIMAKOVA (magna cum laude)
Saving the Good Samaritan: The Literal and the Allegorical in Modern Orthodox Exegesis
Haron TCHETCHENIAN
John TZAVELAS
Redaction Criticism and the Stilling of the Storm in Matthew: Methodology and Outcome
Candidate for the Master of Arts degree in Religious Education:
Nicholas BELLACK
Megan A. JENDIAN
Candidates for the Master of Theology degree:
Jeremy BERGSTROM
Embodiment in Gregory of Nyssa: His Anthropology and Ideal Ascetic Struggle
Dn Kevin J. E. HAAN
A Critical Examination of the Traditionalist’s Position on Rebaptism
Fr Gregory George HARRIGLE
Understanding Wisdom Secretly: “Gnostic Thought Forms” in Second Century Orthodoxy and Heresy
Steven LEE
On First Principles and General Theories
Rami WAKIM
Literary Analysis of St Maximos the Confessor’s Mystagogy of the Church
Candidates for the Doctor of Ministry degree:
Fr Nicholas J. SOLAK
Preaching Stewardship in a Consumer Culture
Fr Steven P. ZORZOS
Addiction and Idolatry: Self-Renunciation, Forgiveness and Love. A Healing Meditation on the Parable of the Prodigal Son
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