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Alumni E-News from St Vladimir’s Seminary
October 2004
Volume 4, No. 10 Dear Friends, It has been a while since we last communicated. I hope you will pardon the tardiness in getting this issue of E-News out to you. I wish to update you about many noteworthy items. As you will see, the fall semester has been filled with a flurry of activity. NEW CLASS ARRIVES Forty-six new students arrived on campus bringing our total number of students to one hundred and six. We have had to double up some students in the dorms and have had to reconfigure the refectory in order to accommodate all the students. We are grateful to God for this growth. Our total enrollment consists of forty-six students from the OCA, fifteen from the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, eleven from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, and smaller numbers representing thirteen other Orthodox jurisdictions. The new class includes seven women students. METROPOLITAN HERMAN VISITS ON THE FEAST OF THE CROSS His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman (OCA) visited the seminary on September 14th for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. During the Liturgy he ordained 2nd year MTh student, Deacon Basil Biberdorf, to the holy priesthood and 2nd year MDiv student, Joshua Mosher, to the diaconate. See http://www.svots.edu/Press-Releases/2004-0915-exaltation/index.html. ST VLADIMIR’S JOINS CELEBRATION OF ST TIKHON’S ACCREDITATION St Vladimir’s was invited to join the celebration of the bestowal of accreditation on St Tikhon’s Seminary by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). The event took place on Thursday, September 16 at the New York Sports Club in New York City. Dean John Erickson led a number of faculty and staff to participate in the event. OED FEATURES HIS EMIMENCE, ARCHBISHOP DMITRI Hundreds of visitors and friends visited the seminary on Saturday, October 2 to celebrate the 35th annual Orthodox Education Day. Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas (OCA) was the keynote speaker. The theme of the day was I Have Chosen You: Reflections on John 15:16. Metropolitan Herman (OCA) presided at the Liturgy. Archbishop Dmitri, Bishop Savas of Troas (GOA), and Bishop Tikhon (OCA) concelebrated with him along with numerous clergy. The parish choir from St George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Worchester, MA sang the responses to the Liturgy with the St Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale. For more information, see http://www.svots.edu/Press-Releases/2004-1005-oed-2004.html. On Sunday, October 3, His Eminence, Archbishop Dmitri ordained 3rd year student Justin Patterson to the diaconate. MATUSHKA SCHMEMANN HONORED The seminary community honored Matushka Juliana Schmemann on Sunday, October 10th after the Liturgy at a special coffee fellowship. The event took place on the occasion of her imminent move from Crestwood, NY to Montreal, Quebec to live closer to her daughter, Masha Tkachuk. Matushka sold her Crestwood residence after living in the home for over forty years. She encouraged those in attendance to continue “to love the seminary.” FIRST-EVER ALUMNI REUNION HELD ON SEMINARY CAMPUS Forty alumni representing a range of classes from 1953 to 2003 visited the seminary campus from October 10-12. The event included a reunion banquet honoring the 50th and 25th anniversary classes; a luncheon with Metropolitan Herman (OCA); a talk by our beloved professor, Veselin Kesich; a general meeting of all the alumni; the establishment of the alumni scholarship fund; and the semi-annual alumni board meeting. Fr John Dresko was elected president of the Alumni Board to replace Fr Anthony Yazge, who served as Alumni Board president for eight years. Fr Anthony will remain on the Board. Dianne Storheim was elected to replace Alexandra Safchuk as secretary. Please visit the alumni website at: http://www.svots.edu/Press-Releases/2004-1015-alumnireunion/index.html. GEORGIAN ARCHBISHOP VISITS SEMINARY Archbishop Nicolozi, of the Georgian Orthodox Church, visited the seminary on October 12. After joining Metropolitan Herman for a special lunch with those who attended the alumni reunion, His Eminence met with the seminary faculty to update them on the status of the Georgian Church. FR PAUL LAZOR CELEBRATES FORTY YEARS OF PRIESTLY MINISTRY On Sunday, October 17, the St Vladimir’s Seminary chapel community rejoiced with Fr Paul Lazor upon his 40th anniversary to the priesthood. After the Liturgy, at which he presided, Fr Paul and Matushka Natalia were honored at a special fellowship in the Kunett Auditorium. Fr Paul has served the seminary for twenty-seven years. Previous to coming to the seminary, Fr Paul served parishes in Milwaukee, WI and in New Britain, CT. SEMINARY LECTURE SERIES BEGINS IN NEW HAVEN, CT For over twenty years, St Vladimir’s Seminary has sponsored an adult lecture series in New Haven, CT. This year’s series began September 20 and continued for five consecutive Monday evenings until October 18. Faculty members who were speakers at this past summer’s Liturgical Institute continued their discussion of the topic “Does Christian Marriage Have A Future?” DIPTYCHS OF THE DEPARTED REISSUED The Alumni Association has reissued an updated “Diptychs of the Departed.” The diptychs is a list of the departed hierarchs, deans, faculty, and alumni of St Vladimir’s Seminary. The new edition will be mailed to all our alumni in October. To save mailing costs, however, future editions will be updated and posted on the alumni page of the seminary’s website. SEMINARY VISITS ST TIKHON’S SEMINARY TO HONOR METROPOLITAN HERMAN Metropolitan Herman celebrated the 40th anniversary of his ordination to the holy priesthood. An anniversary banquet took place during the fall session of the Holy Synod held at St Tikhon’s Seminary on Tuesday, October 19. Students, faculty, and staff from St Vladimir’s, numbering nearly 60 people, traveled to St Tikhon’s to participate in the Liturgy and the banquet. The seminary choir was joined by the choir of St Tikhon’s to sing the responses at the Liturgy. Deacon Kevin Smith, Instructor of Liturgical Music at St Vladimir’s, conducted the choirs. OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS SET The annual fall semester Open House for Prospective Students is set for November 11-13. The Open House is a recruitment event held in the fall and spring semesters to provide a taste of seminary life. Prospective students are able to attend classes, worship in the chapel, speak to current students, and engage with the faculty. Information sessions about student life, seminary programs, family life, and financial aid are available. Open Houses have been successful in bringing many students to the seminary. CHRISTMAS RETREAT Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ, is the theme of this year’s annual Christmas Retreat for high school and college students (ages 16-22). Bishop Savas of Troas, Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, will join Fr John Behr, Professor of Patristics, and Dr Peter Bouteneff, Assistant Professor of Dogmatic Theology, as retreat speakers. For more information and registration form, please visit the seminary’s website: http://www.svots.edu/Events/for-High-School-and-College-Age/2004-christmas.html. FACULTY ACTIVITIES In an effort to strengthen its programs and training of church leaders, the seminary faculty initiated and participated in a number of important seminars and workshops. On August 30, they participated in a Conflict Resolution Workshop, led by Dr. Anthony Bashir. A few days later, on September 2, they engaged in a day-long seminar on "Preparing the Good Pastor." These initiatives were taken in response to the seminary’s Self-Study and the Strategic Plan: SVS 2010 that seeks to ensure that the curriculum continuously focuses on pastoral education. In addition, on September 29 a seminary-wide "Community of Safety" workshop and discussion was held not only to fulfill a mandate from the Orthodox Church in America but also to raise the consciousness of future pastors and church workers on the issue of sexual abuse of children. Dr Albert Rossi led the workshop. Fr Timothy Blumentritt spoke about ways to protect our children. RETREAT FOR WOMEN ALUMNI OF ORTHODOX SEMINARIES SCHEDULED Five SVS alumunae (Susan Arida, Christina Shaheen Reimann, Alexandra Safchuk, Victoria Trbuhovich, and Valerie Zahirsky) are involved in planning a 2005 North American Retreat for Women Graduates of Orthodox Theological Schools, under the auspices of SCOBA. The retreat will be held on Thursday, November 10 through Sunday, November 13, 2005, at Antiochian Village Retreat Center in Ligonier, PA. All degreed women graduates of Orthodox theological seminaries are welcome to contact Eleni Simmons at 5053 Remington Court, Lilburn, GA 30047 707-717-8920 or to e-mail
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for more information. ALUMNI NEWS Dr Bradley Nassif (‘85) was hired as Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, North Park University (Chicago). He also has just published a chapter entitled “The Evangelical Theology of the Eastern Orthodox Church” in Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism: Three Views, ed. James Stamoolis, with hierarchical endorsements (Zondervan, 2004) Very Rev John Memorich successfully completed a “climb for charity” by making it to the summit of the 14,400 foot Mt Rainier on Wednesday, September 8, the Feast Day of the Nativity of the Theotokos. NBC Dateline filmed the entire event and featured it recently. At the summit, Fr John placed an icon of the Mother of God and also planted the Orthodox Church in America flag in recognition of the 210th anniversary of the first missionary efforts in North America. Over $7,000 was collected from donations and turned over to the OCA for distribution to orphanages throughout Russian and Eastern Europe. Deacon Herman (Raymond) Acker (MTh. ’95) has been promoted to full-time Lecturer in the Christian Studies Department at Eastern University. Dn Herman has taught at Eastern for several years. In addition, Dn Herman is pursuing a DMin. Degree (Eastern Christian focus) through Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the Antiochian House of Studies. David Vuyadinov (MA ‘96) and his wife Caroline announce the birth of their first child and son, Dimitri James, born May 31, 2004. Congratulations and many years! Rev. Stephen Loposky’s (97) mother fell asleep in the Lord unexpectedly on September 1, 2004 in Endicott, NY. May her memory be eternal! Valentin Pechatnov (’99) received an MTh from the University of Thessalonica this past summer. He has returned to Russia where he accepted a teaching position in Liturgics at the Orthodox University of Russia in Moscow. Jamie Magruder (’03) has begun studies at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD toward a doctorate in art history. He is majoring in Early Christian and Byzantine art with a minor in Medieval Western art. He hopes to write a dissertation on the early illumination of Gospel manuscripts. Alex Cadman (’04) and his wife Jennifer are new parents of an 8 lb, 13 oz boy, Josiah Alexander. Jennifer gave birth on October 10. Congratulations! Rev. Sergius Nauman (’04) and his wife Natalia are parents of 7 lb, 3 oz daughter, Lily Anna born August 27th. Congratulations to them and their children Charity and George! Deacon Kevin Haan (currently an MTh student) and his wife Corey are parents of their second child, 9 lb Aiden Patrick, born on October 4. Deacon Kevin has also recently taken on the position of Headmaster for the newly established pan-Orthodox Agia Sophia Academy – an Orthodox classical curriculum school in Portland, OR. Congratulations to Deacon Kevin, Corey, and their daughter Madeline! MEMORIAL Rev Economou Philemon Sevastiades fell asleep in the Lord in August of this past summer at the age of 48. His wife Presbytera Patra, two daughters Eva and Tess, and one son, Demetri, survive him. Memory Eternal! FACULTY/STAFF NEWS Dean John Erickson, Peter N Gramowich Professor of Church History, delivered a paper on August 20, 2004 entitled "Fr. Alexander Men' as Theologian" at an international conference on Fr. Men', at the College of Nyack - Manhattan campus. He will lecture on "'Why Are the Orthodox Always So Difficult?' Perspectives on an Oft-Unvoiced Ecumenical Question," as part of the Mission, Peace and Ecumenical Studies series at Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis MO, November 1, 2004. Fr Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus, spent nearly three weeks on the road last month, during which time he visited churches in Victoria and Vancouver and spoke at functions hosted by Regent College, Trinity Western University and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Fr John Behr, Professor of Patristics, spoke to a group of Anglican clergy and others on September 30 at St James the Less, Scarsdale, NY on “Mary and the Church.” From Oct 3-10, he represented the seminary and spoke at the Sixth International Congress of Higher Theological Schools, in Sofia, Bulgaria. He also has been teaching a class on Pre-Nicene Christianity this semester at Harvard Divinity School. Dr Peter Bouteneff, Assistant Professor Dogmatic Theology, will speak on “Saints in the Age of the Simpsons” on October 26 in Berkeley, CA, sponsored by the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute and the local OCF. In addition, he participated in the semi-annual meeting of the NCCC Faith and Order Commission at Fuller Seminary, in Pasadena, CA October 14-17. Dr Paul Meyendorff, Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology, traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 24-Aug 7, to attend the Faith and Order Assembly of the World Council of Churches. He represented the Orthodox Church in America at both the Plenary Assembly and the Standing (Executive) Commission. In addition, he will attend the Oct 21-23, meeting of the U.S. Orthodox-Catholic Consultation at St Paul College, Washington DC. He also will be present for an SVS alumni gathering Oct 28, in Washington DC. Dr Albert Rossi, Professor of Pastoral Theology, was featured on Come Receive the Light radio program on September 18. His topic was “Purity of Heart in a Sex-Saturated Society.” He also spoke to a group of young adults of the New England Region of the Fellowship of St John the Divine at St Mary Church, Pawtucket, RI on “Cultivating Christian Relationships” on September 25. He will speak at St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary on November 6 on the topic “Living as an Orthodox Man in the World Today.” He also wrote an article for the OCF journal, Basil Leaf, entitled, "I'm a College Student. How Can I Possibly Find Time to Pray?" Fr Paul Tarazi, Professor of Old Testament, delivered five talks over a five-week period on the Book of Revelation at St Nicholas Church, Whitestone, NY where SVS alumnus, Fr Michael Koblosh (’68), is rector. John Congdon, Annual Giving, attended two training seminars on planned giving, one in NYC August 2-3, and another sponsored by Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in Pittsburgh September 13-14. While in the Pittsburgh area, he visited St George Antiochian Church in New Kensington, PA for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. ALUMNI GATHERINGS October 28 Washington, DC
Faculty/Staff: Dr Paul Meyendorff
Hosted by Alexandra Safchuk and Fr Nicholas Bacalis November 6 Toledo, OH
Faculty/Staff: Fr Alexander Rentel
Hosted by Fr Basil Koory November 7 Cleveland, OH
Faculty/Staff: Fr Alexander Rentel
Hosted by Fr John Memorich November 7 Orlando, FL
Faculty/Staff: Fr Steven Belonick
Hosted by Anne van den Berg UPCOMING EVENTS November 11-13
Open House for Prospective Students. November 18-20
Board of Trustees meeting. November 20
Lecture by Jim Forest on the topic “In Peace Let Us Pray to the Lord: Peacemaking, Conflict Resolution, and Reconciliation as a Pastoral Concern.” November 21
Feast of Entrance of the Theotokos into Temple, and Groundbreaking for new married student apartments. December 10-12
Music Symposium by invitation. December 27-29
Annual Christmas Retreat — The Passion of the Christ.
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