St George Orthodox Christian Cathedral in Wichita, Kansas hosted the first off-site SVS Academic Convocation on May 21st. The Trustees and Faculty bestowed the degree of Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) upon Professor Anthony P. Gythiel with Fr John Behr, Fr Chad Hatfield and Ted Bazil traveling to Wichita for the special convocation.

Faculty from Wichita State University, where Dr Gythiel is a distinguished professor, along with others from Friends University and Bethal College participated in the colorful event with over 300 people in attendance.

Dr Keith Pickus, WSU Provost spoke beautifully regarding the high esteem that Tony Gythiel enjoys from his academic peers. Dean Behr in awarding the degree also noted the quiet labor of a scholar who devotes so much to translation. Chancellor Hatfield spoke of the history of giving honorary doctorates and accolades and thanks were given by both Protopresbyter Paul O’Callaghan, Dean of St George Cathedral and His Grace, BASIL of Wichita and Mid-America.

Glenn Kubina, M.D. an SVS Trustees was MC for the occasion and both he and Bishop BASIL hosted gatherings to honor Dana and Tony Gythiel and to promote the work of SVS in Wichita where the seminary has a long history of support.

One woman in attendance said: “I will always hold fondly the memory of Tony’s ceremony. There was a holiness upon that place in a way I can hardly express. A timeless meeting of God and man with pageantry and prayer intermingled.”

Photgraphs from this special event are available here.