Bio
Fr Alexander Rentel, a 1995 M.Div. graduate of St. Vladimir's, finished his doctoral dissertation under the direction of Fr Robert Taft, SJ, at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome in January 2004. Prior to coming to St Vladimir's as a professor, Fr Alexander was a 2000-2001 Junior Fellow in Byzantine Studies at Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C. He has taken numerous research trips to Greece, Italy, and France. He was ordained to the priesthood in July 2001. He and his wife, Nancy (née Homyak, M.Div. 1995) are the proud parents of three children, Dimitrios, Maria, and Daniel.
| | Assistant Professor of Canon Law & Byzantine Studies
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- B.A. in English, Ohio State University, 1990
- M.Div., St Vladimir's Seminary, 1995
- Licentiate, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, 1999
- SEOD, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, 2004
Dissertations and Theses - SEOD Thesis: "Liturgical Diataxis of Dimitrios Gemistos. Edition and Commentary." (see abstract)
- Licentiate: "An Introductory Study of the Liturgical Diataxis of Dimitrios Gemistos"
- M.Div. Thesis: "John VI Kantakouzenos and the Hesychast Councils of the Fourteenth Century"
Publications - “Byzantine-Slav Worship,” in G. Wainwright and K. Westerfield Tucker, eds., Oxford History of Christian Worship (Oxford University Press 2006), 254-306.
- “The Origins of the 14th Century Patriarchal Liturgical Diataxis of Dimitrios Gemistos” Orientalia Christiana Periodica 71.2 (2005) 363-385.
- Book review of R. Jordan (ed. and trans.), The Synaxarion of the Monastery of the Theotokos Evergetis. Vol. 1: September to February (Belfast Byzantine Texts and Translations 6.5, Belfast 2000) in St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly 46.1 (2002) 95-98.
- Book review of D. Nicol, The Reluctant Emperor (Cambridge 1996), in St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly 41:4 (1997) 383-385.
Papers Delivered and Field Research - "Marriage: Sacrament Under Siege." Paper delivered at 35th Annual Fall Adult Education Lecture Series at St. Tikhon's Seminary on October 4, 2005.
- “The Purpose, Development, and Forms of Orthodox Hymnography” Papers delivered at the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary 2005 Liturgical Institute of Music and Pastoral Practice, “Church and World I: The Church and Culture”
- “The Passion and the Liturgy: Towards a Renewed Mystagogy” Paper delivered at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary 2005 Symposium on the Passion of Christ
- “Contemporary Challenges to Christian Marriage: Divorce, Mixed and Interfaith Marriages, and Cohabitation” and “The Rite of Matrimony: A Pastoral Resource” Papers delivered at the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary 2004 Liturgical Institute of Music and Pastoral Practice, “Does Christian Marriage Have a Future?”
- “Liturgical Unity and Diversity: Diversity of Practice, Unity of Faith” Paper delivered at the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary 2003 Liturgical Institute of Music and Pastoral Practice
- “Has Jerusalem Served to Unite or Divide Christians? A Review of the Liturgical Evidence” Paper delivered at 2003 Eastern-Oriental Orthodox Symposium “Jerusalem: Does it Divide or Unite?”
- “A Taxonomy of the Recensions of the Patriarchal Liturgical Diataxis of Dimitrios Gemistos” Paper delivered at the 2001 Byzantine Studies Conference, Notre Dame, Indiana.
- “The Curious Absence of an Imperial Commemoration at the Prothesis in the Patriarchal Liturgical Diataxis of Dimitrios Gemistos” Paper delivered at Societas Liturgica 2001 meeting in Santa Clara, California.
- “The Origins of the 14th Century Patriarchal Liturgical Diataxis of Dimitrios Gemistos” Paper delivered at the 2000 Byzantine Studies Conference, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Academic Grants, Fellowships, and Associations - 2001 recipient of Dissertation Grant from Medieval Academy of America
- 2000-2001 Junior Fellow in Byzantine Studies, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C.
- 1997 and 1998 recipient of Summer Research Stipend from the Hilander Research Library/Resource Center for Medieval Slavic Studies, the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Member: American Academy of Religion, Byzantine Studies Conference, Societas Liturgica
Professional Experience
- 2004-current: Assistant Professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
- 2002-2004: Instructor in Church History and Canon Law, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
Church Experience
- 2004-2005 Member of the Preconciliar Commission for 14th All-American Council
- 2004-current: Department of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations, Orthodox Church in America
- 2002-current: Member of the Commission on Canons and Statues
- 2001-current: Ordained Presbyter, Orthodox Church in America
- 1997-2001: Ordained Deacon, Orthodox Church in America
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