St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary - Events
Feast
of the Exaltation of the Cross
Installation of Dean John H. Erickson
September
13-14, 2002
|
St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary - Events Feast
of the Exaltation of the Cross |
On Friday, September 13, the Seminary welcomed for the first time His Beatitude, HERMAN, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All-America and Canada. With his election in July 2002 as primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude became ex officio President of St Vladimir’s Seminary.
At a
luncheon with Seminary faculty, His Beatitude gave words of warm encouragement.
He exhorted faculty to consider the importance of their personal encounters
with students, face to face. Speaking out of his many years of experience
at our sister school, St Tikhon’s Seminary, he reminded us also of the
inevitable ups and downs of seminary life, which can happen quickly and unexpectedly.
In all, he assured us of his continued support and prayers for the Seminary.
Central to His Beatitude’s visit was his celebration of the Feast of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, including the rite of elevation, which his predecessor, Metropolitan THEODOSIUS, had traditionally celebrated at the Seminary every year. It was a very great joy indeed to have our new primate with us, leading us in this solemn and beautiful liturgical context.
After the festal divine liturgy and luncheon, His Beatitude formally installed Professor John H. Erickson as Dean of the Seminary. Among several hundred attendees, which included the trustees, faculty, students and staff of the Seminary, were distinguished hierarchs Archbishop Peter of New York and New Jersey (OCA) and Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese). Also present were OCA Chancellor Fr Robert Kondratick, as well as former chancellor Fr Daniel Hubiak. Representing the Antiochian Archdiocese was Fr Michael Evans; the Coptic Orthodox Church was represented by Mr Bishoy Mikhail. There were guests from several educational institutions: Fr Michael Dahulich from St Tikhon’s Seminary, Prof. Abraham Terian from St Nersess Armenian Seminary, Fr John Long, SJ, former Rector of the Russicum, Rome, Prof. Thomas Bird, Queens College, Avery Cardinal Dulles of Fordham University, Prof Constantine Kallaur, SUNY, Nassau, and Fr Jaroslav Sudick, SUNY and Rector of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Yonkers, NY.
Metropolitan Herman, in presenting Professor Erickson with the medal of St Vladimir and the Fr Georges Florovsky cross (traditionally given to the Dean of St Vladimir’s Seminary), spoke with warmth and friendship towards Professor Erickson, noting especially Dean Erickson’s love for the Seminary, his tireless work for Christ and the Church, and also his notoriety world-wide as a scholar.
Professor
Erickson replied that he hoped that His Beatitude would not only keep the Seminary
in his prayers, but also share his long experience with and commitment to theological
education. The newly-installed dean then gave a forward-looking address,
which urged Orthodox Christians to consider precisely how to be faithful to
the Tradition, to “the faith once delivered to the saints,” in the
modern-day context. Pointing to the ways in which every-day life is changing
rapidly, he noted that Orthodox theologians must strive to speak to the technological,
biomedical, and cultural developments which face us. At the same time,
Dean Erickson suggested that certain kinds of answers could be found even to
the most modern questions from within the gifts of Orthodox liturgical life,
including iconography. He noted also that in an increasingly globalized
world, a spirit of tribalism also results, as well as many differing and hotly
contested views on what Orthodox Traditions really is. There is therefore
an increasing challenge and necessity to speak what we believe is true, but
to speak in love, not demonizing those who see things differently.
The full text of his address is available on this website.
