Reviving a long-lost custom, St Vladimir’s Seminarians traveled to St Tikhon’s Seminary to face off on the basketball court on February 23, 2008. The two seminaries practiced in their corners, the whistle blew, and the ball was in play. SVS Chancellor (and Head Cheerleader) Fr Chad Hatfield loudly chanted “Get the ball y’all, get the ball!” The obedient SVS seminarians got the ball and took the lead in the first minute of play. In their black t-shirts, the “SVS Impalers” (a play on the name of Vlad the Impaler) ran up and down the court and maintained the lead right until the very end of the game. After an exciting game between friends, the final score was 82 to 72.

Following the game, the SVS Seminarians were treated to a personal tour of the beautiful grounds of St Tikhon’s Seminary. The tour included a visit to the Monastery Church, the Metropolitan Theodosius Museum, and the grave of SVS Dean Fr Alexander Schmemann. The day concluded with His Grace Bishop Tikhon, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania and Rector of St Tikhon’s Seminary celebrating Vigil.

The day was full of camaraderie and a wonderful opportunity for brother seminarians to get to know each other better. St Vladimir’s thanks St Tikhon’s for their hospitality and looks forward to next year’s game in New York.

A gallery of photographs is now available.