Alumni E-News from St Vladimir's Seminary

Issue #18, November 2003

Dear Friends,

The seminary faculty and staff are preparing for the decennial site visit of the evaluation committee from the Association of Theological Schools of the United States and Canada scheduled for November 9-12. The committee will look at every aspect of seminary life. They will interview the dean, administrative officers and personnel, the faculty, members of the Board of Trustees, students, field supervisors, employees of the Press, maintenance, office staff, and a number of alumni. They will examine all records, manuals, and institutional documents.

The seminary administration has worked hard over the last year to prepare for the visit. Although an exhausting enterprise, the process provides the seminary the opportunity to study itself, to determine its direction, and to assess its progress. This is an extremely necessary and valuable exercise.

But besides preparing for this visit and writing the numerous reports required, the daily life of the seminary goes on as normal. Let me fill you in.

Orthodox Education Day

Although rain threatened to dampen the day, it could not dampen the spirits of a very good crowd of people that visited the campus for the 34 th annual Orthodox Education Day. The day began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, presided by His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN. Concelebrating with him were Bishop DIMITRIOS of Xanthos and Bishop SAVAS of Troas, both of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Bishop MERCURIUS of Zaraisk (Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in America), and Bishop NIKON of Baltimore, Auxiliary to His Beatitude. The choir from St Mark's Church (OCA), Bethesda, MD sang the responses to the Liturgy along with the St Vladimir's Seminary Chorale, and provided musical entertainment for the visitors at the afternoon Music Festival. Frederica Mathewes-Green, NPR commentator and popular Orthodox author, was the keynote speaker, developing the day's theme "Orthodox Tradition: Yesterday and Today." First-year student, Peter Jon Gillquist, also provided musical selections from his new Christian folk-rock CD. A variety of workshops were held throughout the afternoon. It was a very hopeful sign to see numbers of young high school and college students in attendance. Each received a free tee shirt with the day's theme printed on it to mark the occasion. http://www.svots.edu/Events/Orthodox-Education-Day/2003/.

UN Prayer Service

A combined choir of one hundred singers from St Vladimir's Seminary and St Tikhon's Seminary traveled to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New York City on October 6 to participate in the third annual Orthodox Prayer Service for the United Nations community hosted by the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOBA) and the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches (SCOOCH). Special prayers were made for Orthodox delegates to the United Nations. Twenty-eight ambassadors were in attendance along with their staffs. Metropolitan Herman (OCA) was the host hierarch, and he addressed over four hundred in attendance.

Student Indebtedness Addressed

Three specialists in student financial planning visited the seminary campus October 8-9 as part of a continuing study of student indebtedness. St Vladimir's is one of a number of seminaries participating in the study, which is being funded by Lilly Endowment. Indebtedness among theological students has increased dramatically over the last decade resulting in smaller enrollments at theological schools and financial woes among students and graduates. The threesome met with the Dean, the Chief Financial Officer, the Recruitment Officer, and the Student Administrator. It is hoped that the result of their findings will generate fruitful initiatives.

His Grace, Bishop Job visits campus

The OCA diocesan bishop from the Midwest, His Grace Bishop Job, visited the campus on October 22 to stay in touch with students from his diocese. He graciously took students and their spouses out for dinner.

Seminary hires new Press marketing person

Rev Stephen Hrycyniak, an OCA priest from Wisconsin, was hired to establish and implement a marketing program for SVS Press. Fr Stephen comes to the seminary with a great deal of experience. He is currently visiting the seminary at two-week intervals. For more information on Fr Stephen and his credentials, visit: http://www.svots.edu/Press-Releases/2003-1024-hrycyniak/.

Faculty Travel

Dean Erickson , the Peter N Gramowich Professor of Church History, lectured October 20 at the Annual Lecture Series of the Diocese of New England in New Haven, CT on the topic "Keeping Tradition Alive." He also prepared a paper entitled The Canonical Situation of Orthodoxy in America Today" for the fall meeting of the OCA's Holy Synod.

Rev John Behr , Associate Professor of Patristics, presented a lecture October 6 at the Annual Lecture Series of the Diocese of New England in New Haven, CT on the topic "Formation and Tradition of the Creed."

Peter Bouteneff , Assistant Professor of Dogmatics, traveled to Morges, Switzerland, to attend a WCC-sponsored meeting exploring how churches discern their moral and ethical teachings. A sizeable delegation from the Moscow Patriarchate was on hand to discuss the Basis of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church. On October 13, he presented a lecture at the Annual Lecture Series of the Diocese of New England in New Haven, CT on the topic "Tradition and Traditions." On November 1, he gave two talks on sacraments at the 14 th Annual Festival of Icons at St John's Orthodox Church, Warren, OH.

Very Rev Paul Lazor , the John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology, was a special invitee at the Council of the Serbian Orthodox Metropolitanate in America held in Alhambra, CA, October 15-17. He had a three-hour session with all the clergy and the hierarchs regarding Orthodox priestly ministry and pastoral care and delivered the main address at the two-hour plenary session of the assembly on the topic "Almsgiving." On October 17 he delivered the homily at the evening Liturgy celebrating the parish feast day of St. Luke's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Garden Grove, CA. His Grace, Bishop Joseph, presided at the celebration. On October 19 he celebrated the Sunday Liturgy at the Holy Trinity OCA Cathedral in San Francisco with host pastor Fr Victor Sokolov and delivered the homily. After Liturgy and wonderful brunch, he gave a talk to those in attendance continuing the themes he introduced in the Sunday homily.

On November 1-2, he participated in liturgical services and festivities surrounding the celebration of the 80th birthday of His Eminence, Archbishop DMITRI of Dallas; offering the main address at the jubilee banquet.

Dr Paul Meyendorff , the Fr Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology, presented a lecture September 29 at the Annual Lecture Series of the Diocese of New England at New Haven, CT on the topic "Christian Initiation: Yesterday and Today." He also chaired the NCCC Faith and Order commission meeting held in San Francisco October 7- 10, and was honored for completing eight years as chair of the commission. While in the area, he visited Holy Trinity OCA Cathedral in San Francisco, lectured on Saturday evening, October 11 at the parish on Baptism, and was the faculty host at an alumni gathering on Sunday, October 12. Very Rev Victor Sokolov, SVS alumnus and rector of the parish, and SVS alumna Randa Aoun, provided the meal and refreshments for the gathering. On October 23-25, he participated in the meeting of the Orthodox-Catholic Theological Consultation in Washington, DC at which a significant agreed statement on the Filioque was issued. http://www.svots.edu/Press-Releases/2003-1016-faculty-alum/

Rev Alexander Rentel , Instructor in Church History and Canon Law, represented the seminary at the Diocesan Assembly of the Midwest held in Columbus, OH from October 6-8. Fr Alexander made a short presentation about the seminary at a reception that the seminary hosted and addressed the assembly at a fellowship meal honoring His Grace, Bishop Job on the 25 th anniversary of his consecration to the episcopacy. In addition, as a member of the OCA's Commission on Statutes, Fr Alexander reported to the Holy Synod (OCA) at their fall meeting on the commission's work and recommendations. http://www.svots.edu/Press-Releases/2003-1016-faculty-alum/

Dr Albert Rossi , Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology, and Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, presented a lecture October 11 at the Annual Lecture Series of the Diocese of New England in New Haven, CT on the topic "Life on God's Terms: Christian Ethic and Relationships." He also spoke November 1 at a Clergy Wives Retreat for the NY/NJ Diocese at St Vladimir Church in Trenton, NJ on the topic "Revitalizing Your Prayer Life."

Eleana Silk , Seminary Librarian, lectured October 19 at the Sign of the Theotokos Orthodox Church, Montreal, QC on the topic "Eucharistic Revival in the Orthodox Church."

Very Rev Paul Tarazi , Professor of Old Testament, delivered a lecture September 22 at the Annual Lecture Series of the Diocese of New England in New Haven, CT on the topic "Tradition: The Making of a People." He also delivered a lecture October 30 at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA at the Conference on "Sacred Text and Interpretation: Perspectives in Orthodox Biblical Studies" on the topic "The Book of Jeremiah and the Pentateuchal Torah." In addition, he will present a paper on November 5 at the Faculty Seminar on Vocation at Hellenic College on "Wisdom and Calling in a suffering world: Lessons on vocations from the Old Testament." Further, he will deliver four lectures at the University of St Thomas in St Paul, MN on November 7-8 on the topic "The Development of the Canon of Biblical Literature."

Public Invited to learn about SVS proposed construction

On October 27 th , the seminary opened its doors to the public for an information session focusing on the proposed construction of two married student apartment buildings on a portion of land near Crestwood Lake. A representative from the architectural firm, a local city councilman, and members of the seminary administration fielded questions from a number of campus neighbors. Later, Eleana Silk provided a tour of the library to the visitors.

South African missionary visits campus

Rev Athanasius Akunda, a graduate from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA, visited the campus on October 29 at the request of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC) to raise the consciousness level regarding the missionary efforts of the Orthodox Church to the indigenous people in South Africa. Fr Athanasius is head of the small seminary (catechetical school) with fifteen students. Seven communities already have been established but without permanent church buildings. Fr Athanasius is also appealing for help to provide educational material, especially textbooks, for the new seminary. He met with Dean Erickson, Dr Paul Meyendorff, and Fr Steven Belonick.

Interseminary Dialogue

On October 23, student representatives from the New York City area seminaries met on the campus of St Vladimir's for their regular dialogue. The dialogue has been in existence for over three decades and offers students from Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Orthodox Christian seminaries the opportunity to discuss a particular theological issue from the perspective of their tradition. This year's theme is "Marriage."

SVS students provide concert at local hospital

A group of seminarians and some seminarian spouses sang a concert of liturgical and secular music at Lawrence Hospital, Bronxville, NY. The occasion was a ceremony in which the Health Care Chaplaincy (HCC) gave the annual Wholeness of Life award to honor a health care professional who cares for the body, mind, and spirit of hospital patients. Rev Dr Sarah Fogg, Director of Pastoral Care at the hospital and supervisor of SVS seminarians who go to the hospital to fulfill the required field education units in practical theology, invited the group. http://www.svots.edu/Press-Releases/2003-1024-choir-hospital/

Upcoming Events

Alumni Events

Fr John Behr, Fr Stephen Hrycyniak, and Deborah Belonick will represent St Vladimir's at the American Academy of Religion AAR Convention in Atlanta, GA. While there, Fr John and Fr Stephen will act as hosts for an alumni gathering at St Mary of Egypt Church in Norcross, GA. SVS alumnus, Fr Peter Smith, is pastor at the church.

Please keep us in your prayers, as we keep you in ours.