Dear Friends,

SEMINARY BRIEFS

The seminary faculty, staff, and student body extend to you their prayers and best wishes for the New Year. May our Lord bless each of you abundantly!

As I am sure you remember from your studies here, December is the time for finals. The anxiety among the students was palpable early in the month, but dissipated as each exam was completed. By mid-month, most of the students have left for their Christmas break and a well-deserved rest.

The following events took place:

• First-year student, Brent Gilbert, along with his wife, Rachel, were received into the Orthodox Church by Chrismation on St Nicholas Day.
• The annual celebration of St Nicholas on the Sunday after his feast was, as usual, a joyful event. The chapel was filled with children and parents. A delicious Lenten potluck meal was served in the Kunett auditorium. St Nicholas, aka Dean Erickson, distributed gifts to all the children.
• The annual Fr Alexander Schmemann Memorial Service was held after the Vespers of St Herman of Alaska. It was the 19th anniversary of his passing.
• Alumnus, Archimandrite Benjamin (Peterson), dean of St Herman's Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska, visited the SVS during his travels to the lower "48" desiring to generate support for the Alaskan seminary.
• The seminary welcomed a group of students, their wives and children from St Herman�s Seminary in Kodiak. What a delight it was to have native Alaskans with us on the Feast of St Herman! Alumnus Fr Michael Oleksa organized and led the trip. At the Liturgy, Fr Michael, and Fr Nicolai Isaac concelebrated the Liturgy with Fr Paul Lazor. Portions of the Liturgy were sung by a quartet from St Herman's. Accompanied by Christmas carols, Fr Thomas Andrew demonstrated the "starring tradition" to the seminary community, a first outside of Alaska.
• A full cycle of services was celebrated for the Feast of the Nativity. It was our joy to have Fr Thomas and Anne Hopko back for a few days with us.
• The annual Christmas retreat was held from December 26-28. Thirty-seven high school and college students participated in the event. Fr Timothy Blumentritt, Dr Peter Bouteneff, and George Hazlaris from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese provided presentations on the topic "Living as a Christian in a Secular World."

ALUMNI NEWS

Nicolas Denysenko ('00) will be ordained to the diaconate on January 18 by His Grace, Bishop Job.

Marc Boulos ('98) will be ordained to the priesthood on January 19 by His Grace, Bishop Job.

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Fr Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture will be given Thursday, January 30 in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium at 7:30pm, preceded by Vespers at 6:30pm in the Seminary Chapel. This year's featured speaker is Princeton University professor, Dr Albert Raboteau who will develop the theme, "Orthodox Christianity and American Culture: Conflict or Transformation."

A two-day conference on Mission will be held February 27-28, 2003. We are pleased to announce that His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, will be the keynote speaker. His topic is entitled, "Rediscovering our Apostolic Identity in the 21st Century." Guest lecturers include Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko (Mission and Philanthropy), Very Rev Constantine Nasr (Renewing the Spirit of Missions in the Local Parish), Rev Luke Veronis (Challenges Facing Modern Missions), and Rev Michael Nasser (Youth and Mission). Please join us if you can.

PRAYERS

David Drillock suffered a heart attack just before Christmas. He underwent angioplasty on the December 26 and is doing well. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

You will hear from us again in February. Until then, may you have a blessed New Year.