Led by SVS Chancellor Fr Chad Hatfield, a group of seminarians, kids and staff, voluntarily joined with St Tikhon’s Seminary and many fellow Orthodox Christians to participate in the National March for Life on Tuesday, January 22, 2008. Classes were cancelled, a bus was rented, and food was provided in order for St Vladimir’s Seminary to make their first pro-life witness in Washington DC.

Fr Chad remarked that; “ many people were excited to see a strong SVS presence and the official Catholic News Network press release also mentioned our first time presence at this national event.”

This year marked the 35th anniversary of the March for Life and 36th year since the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize abortion. Tens of thousands of people, many under the age of 25, braved the freezing cold temperatures to witness to the sanctity of human life as they rallied and marched. Orthodox Christians from many jurisdictions marched together and were led by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman and His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania of the Orthodox Church in America as well as His Grace, Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, Chancellor of the Metropolis of Chicago.

Religious leaders encouraged the thousands of people assembled, including His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman. In his address, Metropolitan Herman proclaimed that all life is a sacred gift from God and denounced the legalization of abortion.

The March was from the Mall (park on the west side of the Capitol) to the Supreme Court. Orthodox Christians of all ages carried icons, banners, and signs in solidarity with all those gathered to declare their pro-life position, while mourning the deaths of millions of aborted children since the procedure was legalized in 1973. At the end of the march the Orthodox faithful grouped around the hierarchs to pray a memorial service for the unborn. His Beatitude handed out prints of the icon of the Mother of God, the Unfading Bloom.

St Nicholas Cathedral hosted a meal for the seminarians from both St Vladimir’s and St Tikhon’s Seminary. On the bus ride back to New York, comments were made about what a blessing it was to participate in this national event with fellow seminarians, fellow Orthodox, fellow Christians, and fellow Americans all speaking with one voice on this important issue.

A gallery of photographs is now available.