1999 Summer Institute
of Liturgical and Pastoral Practice

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
575 Scarsdale Road, Crestwood, New York 10707-1699

Contemplative Prayer and Corporate Worship

A Week of Study for Musicians, Educators, Pastors
June 20-25, 1999

Theme

Contemplative Prayer and Corporate Worship

Orthodox Christianity insists that personal contemplative prayer, also called mental prayer or prayer of the heart, is required of all baptized Christians who participate in the Church’s corporate liturgical and sacramental worship.

Apostolic scripture calls all Christian believers, not just ordained clergy or tonsured monastics, to be constant in prayer, to pray without ceasing, and to take every thought captive in obedience to Christ. Every disciple of Jesus is called to think constantly upon God and to praise the Lord with their every breath. And all the faithful are called to meditate on God’s Word and to practice silence in His presence.

The 1999 Summer Institute at St. Vladimir’s Seminary will study and analyze the history, vision and practice of personal prayer, prayer of the heart, the Jesus Prayer, ceaseless prayer, contemplative and meditative prayer, and the practice of silence in relation to corporate liturgical prayer, psalmody, hymnody and sacramental worship.

Special attention will be given this year to the significance of liturgical singing as prayer, and to the prayerful dimensions of conducting, singing and reading at liturgical services. Suggestions will be made about improving the prayerful character of liturgical services, especially on the part of the pastor, altar servers, music director, choir members, cantor and readers.

Courses and workshops in practical conducting skills and in the composition of liturgical chants in various traditions will again be offered.

Participants will be responsible for serving, conducting, singing and reading at daily liturgical services throughout the week.

Institute Faculty

Members of St. Vladimir’s Seminary faculty and invited guest speakers deliver lectures and lead theoretical and practical discussions.

• Mr. Mark Bailey Lecturer in Liturgical Music
• Prof. John Behr Professor of Patristics
• Sr. Magdalen, St. John the Baptist Monastery, Essex, England
• Archpriest George Timko St. George Church, Buffalo, New York
• Prof. David Drillock, Provost & Professor of Liturgical Music
• Mrs. Helen Breslich Erickson, Lecturer in Liturgical Music
• Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, Dean & Professor of Dogmatic Theology
• Archpriest Sergei Glagolev, Liturgical Music Composer
• Archpriest Paul Lazor Dean of Students &Instructor in Liturgics
• Dr. Albert Peter Rossi Lecturer in Pastoral Theology
• Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis Assistant Professor of Music, Crane School of Music, SUNY, Potsdam

Schedule

Daily services: Matins 7:30 AM; Vespers 5:30 PM

Meals: Breakfast 8:00 AM; Lunch 1:00 PM; Dinner 6:00 PM

Accommodations

Housing and meals are available on the seminary campus. On-campus housing (in dormitory rooms) is limited and will be given to the first registrants. Others will be directed to local hotels for accommodations. Participants must provide their own sheets and towels, as well as other personal items needed for the week. Participants are also expected to arrange their own transportation to the seminary.

St. Vladimir’s Seminary will not be providing Internet access nor use of PCs for word processing.

Those traveling by car or train should visit our website for directions when sending in their registration forms. Limousine service is available from area airports to New Rochelle (about 7 miles from the seminary, and taxi service is available from there to Crestwood). Please call the seminary for other information.

Registration

The Institute begins with registration at 4:00 p.m on Sunday, June 20, and concludes with the summary sessions on Friday, June 25. Students are expected to participate in all scheduled sessions.

To apply, print and complete the registration form and mail it to the seminary.

A non-refundable deposit of $25 must accompany registration. Accommodations will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. In fairness to all applicants, we regret that we cannot accept telephone registrations. Registrants must use the form and send it by mail only, accompanied by the deposit.

Two graduate credits (or academic units) will be given by the seminary for qualifying levels and work completed in either the pastoral or music program. Credit for course work must be arranged at the time of registration.

Registration should be received no later than May 21, 1999. Registration received after that date is on a space-available basis.

Once you have formalled requested to be on our mailing list for the Summer Institute -- or have attended on any occasion -- we will send you advance registration by mail each year.