In-person and online attendance is welcome for a presentation given by Professor Emeritus and former Dean, the Very Rev. Dr John Erickson, on the topic “Identity, Authenticity, Fidelity: Stories From the Last Century and What We Might Learn From Them Today.”  This talk, taking place at 7:00 p.m. EST on Wed. March 13, will be the keynote address at the 2024 Colloquium on Liturgical Music in Eastern Orthodox Theological Education, to be held on March 13–14, 2024. 

Fr John Erickson describes his upcoming presentation with the following overview:

As an historian, I am fond of quoting some words from Henry Glassie, distinguished historian of material culture: "History is not the past. History is a story about the past, told in the present, and designed to be useful in constructing the future" (Material Culture, p. 6). In my presentation I shall be telling a story – or, rather, several overlapping and interwoven stories about the past. I hope that these will be useful as the seminary moves forward with the implementation of its exciting new grant program.

With stories about the quest for Orthodox unity in mid-century America, I shall call attention to ways in which liturgical singing once helped to create and express a common sense of Orthodox identity across jurisdictional lines. With stories from my own past, from high school and college through my days at SVS, I shall trace changes in the make-up and character of our “chapel community.”  Within it the liturgical theology taught in our classrooms came to life. We discovered the Divine Liturgy as an evening service. We began to receive communion more frequently. One result has been the proliferation of new musical settings for the Presanctified Liturgy and for communion hymns. Finally, I shall try to tease out stories about technological and societal changes that have shaped liturgical practice in ways we may simply overlook because they are so pervasive. 

All are invited to attend the keynote lecture in person or online via livestream. 

The keynote lecture is free and open to the public. Register below to receive an email with the link to access the keynote address online. We also ask that you kindly register if you are planning to attend in person, to facilitate adequate preparation of our facilities and the reception following the keynote.

Registration is closed.

The 2024 Colloquium on Liturgical Music in Eastern Orthodox Theological Education will gather representatives of American and European Orthodox institutions to discuss how theological visions and socio-historical realities shape the practice of liturgical singing in their chapels. Confirmed speakers include the Rev Dr Romanos Karanos (Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA), Deacon Petar Kozakijević (Serbian Orthodox Church, Metropolis of Zagreb and Ljubljana), Dr Nicolas Schidlovsky (Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville, NY), and Anastasia Kappanadze (St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, South Canaan, PA). Portions of the colloquium will be recorded and shared on our YouTube channel following the event. All those who would like to attend in person are welcome; please refer to the Colloquium Schedule to plan your visit.

This program is made possible through a Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.