The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, dean, and The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, chancellor and CEO of St. Vladimir’s, congratulated and encouraged the graduates as well. Father John reminded seniors that they not only had "worked hard" during their tenure at St. Vladimir's, but also had been "worked over" by the curriculum and long hours in chapel and field assignments, and that by those means, they had been made into "fertile soil" for the gospel message to grow. Father Chad reminded the students of the generations of alumni that had preceded them. The Chair of the Alumni Board, Gregory Abdalah, presented each graduate with a beautiful solid cherry wood frame to display their diplomas, and welcomed them to the St. Vladimir's Alumni Association.
Also present at the Commencement Exercises were visiting hierarchs The Most Rev. Tikhon, archbishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania; The Rt. Rev. Michael, bishop of New York and New York and New Jersey; and His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho, archbishop and patriarchal vicar of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America. The hierarchs were present to honor graduates and seminarians from their respective dioceses.
[Photos in this article are by Leanne Parrott]
The entire campus community wishes the Class of 2012 many years!
View the Commencement Program, here.
View a photo gallery of Commencement Week, here.
Listen to Trustee Brian Gerich explain how St. Vladimir's graduates have touched his life, here.
View a photo gallery of Commencement Exercises by Leanne Parrott, here.
Listen to all of the Commencement speakers, here:
- Welcome by Dean Archpriest John Behr, with a recap of the academic year
- His Grace The Rt. Rev. Alexander, bishop of Toledo and Bulgarian Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America, 2012 Commencement Address
- Introductions by Chancellor and CEO Archpriest Chad Hatfield
- Valedictorian graduating senior Igumen Father Gerasim [Eliel]
- Salutatorian 2nd-year M.Div. student Harrison Basil Russin
- Metropolitan Jonah's closing remarks about joyful Christian witness
