Alumni E-News from St Vladimir’s Seminary
March 2005
Volume 5, No. 3

Dear Friends,

Great Lent is nearly upon us.  Already the daily readings in chapel from the Gospels of Mark and Luke are directing our attention to the crucifixion of our Lord.  We are looking forward with expectation to Forgiveness Vespers, the seminary’s Lenten retreat, the visitation of Metropolitan Herman for the Canon of St Andrew of Crete, and the first Presanctified Liturgy.

We pray that the beginning of your Lent will be filled with the Lord’s grace to persevere to the end.

Let me update you now about some of the events of the last month and some of the future events that will take place shortly.

SEMINARY HOSTS LUNCHEON FOR FIELDWORK SUPERVISORS

On February 10, the seminary faculty hosted a luncheon for fieldwork supervisors responsible for mentoring our second and third year students.  Middlers are responsible for 80 hours of hospital visitation and seniors are responsible for weekly parish visitations.  The purpose of the luncheon was to recognize the invaluable work that fieldwork supervisors provide and to thank them.  Supervisors attending the luncheon were Very Rev Michael Westerberg of Holy Transfiguration Church in New Haven, CT, Very Rev Michael Koblosh of St Nicholas Church in Whitestone, NY, Very Rev Paul Kucynda of Holy Resurrection Church in Wayne, NY, Rev Elias Villas from the Church of our Savior, Rye, NY, Rev Dr Sarah Fogg, Pastoral Ministry Supervisor at Lawrence Hospital, Bronxville, NY.  Faculty in attendance included Dean John Erickson, Very Rev Paul Lazor, Paul Meyendorff, and Dr Albert Rossi who is responsible for fieldwork at the seminary and who organized the event.  A third year student, Fr Alexander Lukoshonak and second year student, Dn Joshua Mosher, spoke briefly of the value of the program for them and for their fellow students.  http://www.svots.edu/Events/chronological/2005-0210-field-education/index.html.

MARRIED COUPLES RETREAT HELD

A full day retreat for married couples was held on Saturday, February 19.  The program was led by Fr Steven and Deborah Belonick and moderated by Dr Albert Rossi.  The Belonicks spoke on three topics: Maintaining the Marital Bond, The Stresses that Clergy Families Face, and Setting Appropriate Boundaries.  General discussion followed each of the three talks.  After the general discussion, couples were provided the opportunity to discuss the topics.  Good reading material on the topics was provided, and on-going discussion continues in a chat room for the participants.  This is the second such retreat given by the Belonicks and Dr Rossi in the past four years.

BISHOP SAVAS CELEBRATES LITURGY

His Grace Bishop Savas of Troas, Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, visited the seminary on Sunday, February 27 where he presided at the Liturgy.  The seminary was delighted that he visited, served, and preached on the Gospel of the Prodigal Son. This semester His Grace is teaching a course at the seminary entitled "Looking for God in Modern Culture."

HOLY CROSS SENIORS VISIT CAMPUS

Members of the senior class from Holy Cross School of Orthodox Theology visited the campus on Tuesday, February 22.  Their visit to the seminary is part of the annual trip of seniors to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in New York City where they meet with the Chancellor.  The students arrived on campus late in the afternoon where two SVS students and the Director of Recruitment and Alumni Relations Fr Steven Belonick greeted them.  After spending time in the bookstore, they attended Vespers, ate dinner in the refectory with our students, and attended the class of Bishop Savas.  Three members of the Holy Cross graduating class have ties to St Vladimir’s in that two were exchange students and one studied here for one year.  The students of St Vladimir’s look forward to this annual visit in order to meet their fellow Orthodox seminarians.

PASSION SYMPOSIUM

This Lent on the Sunday of the Cross and the following Monday (April 3-4), the seminary will hold a symposium on the Passion of Christ. Given the intense interest created in this subject by the film of Mel Gibson, the symposium will provide a space for theological reflection and discussion of the many issues concerning the Passion. The event will begin with a keynote address by His Grace Bishop Kallistos (Ware) on Sunday evening. On Monday, members of the faculty will address different aspects of the topic. The symposium is open to all. Details are now available on the seminary website at http://www.svots.edu/Press-Releases/2005-0209-passion-symposium/index.html.

YOUTH INSTITUTE

For the seventh consecutive year, the seminary will host a Youth Institute for those completing their junior year of high school.  The program runs concurrently with the summer Liturgical Institute and provides the students with an exceptional opportunity to deepen their faith within a seminary context.  We ask our alumni to identify and encourage young people in their parish communities who are serious about their faith to attend.  The program is free except for travel expenses.  For more information and download of application forms and parental consent forms, please visit: http://www.svots.edu/Press-Releases/2005-0126-youth-institute.html.

SVS ALUMNUS TO LEAD LENTEN RETREAT

Fr Vladimir Berzonsky (‘65) is slated to deliver four meditations at the annual Lenten Retreat held the first two days of Lent on the seminary campus.  Fr Vladimir is the pastor of Holy Trinity Church, Parma, Ohio and is a well-respected author, retreat leader, and regular contributor to The Orthodox Church newspaper.

SEMINARY CHORALE SETS OUT FOR LIMITED ENGAGEMENTS

The St Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale, which toured Florida over the winter break, will be visiting a limited number of parishes during the Lenten seasons.  They will sing at Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church, Stroudsburg, PA on April 10, followed by a Deanery Vespers Service at Ss Peter and Paul Church, Manville, NJ where Metropolitan Herman will preside.  In addition, they will sing Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church in New Britain, CT on April 17.  A trip is also being planned for the Chicago area after commencement and will conclude just after visiting St Tikhon’s for the 100th anniversary of the Memorial Day pilgrimage there.

SVS ALUMNUS PRESENTS FILMS ON KOSOVO TO THE SVS COMMUNITY

Ninoslav Randjelovic (’87) made a special visit to his alma mater on Sunday evening, March 6, 2005 to present three of his short films to the SVS community.  He has been a Belgrade filmmaker since 1998 documenting the crisis in Kosovo.  For more information about the event, visit: http://www.svots.edu/Press-Releases/2005-0302-film.html/

OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

The seminary will hold its bi-annual open house "Exploring the Possibilities" from Thursday, April 7 to Saturday, April 9.  These open houses provide information about the school, and allow prospective students to experience classes, chapel worship, student life, and the faculty.  Alumni are asked to identify and encourage possible candidates in their parishes to attend.  A registration form and schedule are provided on our website at: http://www.svots.edu/Press-Releases/2005-0119-open-house.html.  For further information, please contact Fr Steven Belonick at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

DATES SET FOR FALL 2005 CLASS REUNION

The Alumni Board has secured Monday, October 17 to Wednesday, October 19 as the dates set for the second Alumni Class Reunion.  The Class of 1980 is celebrating its 25th anniversary and the Class of 1945 is celebrating their 50th anniversary.  An information packet will be mailed soon to describe the schedule and pertinent details.  MARK YOUR CALENDARS and join us.  Last year’s participants were delighted to attend.

FACULTY/STAFF NEWS

John H Erickson, Dean, Peter N Gramowich Professor of Church History, spoke at the annual Clergy Convocation of the OCA's Diocese of theMidwest, Chicago, February 15.

He also presented a paper "Human Dignity:  Byzantine Political Philosophy Revisited" at the annual education forum of the American Foundation for Greek Language and Culture, Tampa, March 3-5.  On the evening of April 15, following Akathist and Presanctified Liturgy, he will speak on "Communal Memory:  Remembering Our Past as a Way to the Future," at St Mary's Orthodox Cathedral (OCA).  Further, he will speak on "Knowing the Past for Understanding the Future" at an inter-Orthodox conference devoted to the theme "Christ He Who Is: Towards a Common Christology," Sigtuna, Sweden, June 2-4.

Fr Paul Lazor, the John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology, traveled to Phoenix, AZ, Boulder City, NV, and San Francisco, CA for a ten-day trip conducting three retreats.  During his travels he met many alumni who were grateful to have a connection with the seminary.

Dr Paul Meyendorff, Father Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology, will travel from March 17-21 to the Orthodox Academy in Volos, Greece to deliver a paper on "The Priesthood of the Laity."  On April 12-17, he will be in Geneva, Switzerland, for a meeting of the WCC Faith and Order Commission drafting group for the anthropology study.

Fr Paul Tarazi, Professor of Old Testament, will travel to Joensuu and Helsinki Finland and Talinn, Estonia from March 11-17 to deliver lectures on a variety of topics; to St Joseph the Damascene Church in New Westminster, BC from March 25-26 to speak on the topic "Understanding the Book of Revelation"; and to Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Francisco, CA for a three day retreat to deliver talks on the "Book of Psalms."

Fr Steven Belonick, Director of Recruitment and Alumni Relations, will lead the annual Lenten Retreat at the seminary on Saturday, April 16 and will speak on "Growth in Life and Faith and Spiritual Understanding."

ALUMNI NEWS

Dr Paul Meyendorff visited with nearly fifteen alumni during a recent visit to St Luke Antiochian Orthodox Church, Garden Grove, CA.  He updated attendees on the progress at the seminary and answered questions.  Brian Gerich, benefactor of alumni projects, was also in attendance.

St Vladimir's Seminary warmly welcomes Chris Chichura as its new Bookstore Operations Manager. Mr Chichura, who began his responsibilities at the seminary on February 23, 2005, brings with him over ten years of operations management experience, serving as engineering consultant for Cook-Joyce Inc., Austin, Texas, director of youth ministry for the Orthodox churches in Flint, Michigan, and public works engineer for the City of Kansas City, Missouri. Mr Chichura is an alumnus of the University of Missouri-Rolla, with BS in engineering, United States Army Chaplain Center and School, and St Vladimir's Seminary ('98).

Rev Noah Bushelli (’04) and his wife Elizabeth announce the birth of their third child, Ambrose Michael, born September 27, 2004.  Fr Noah and his family are serving St Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in Bridgeport, CT.  Congratulations!