His Grace, Bishop Joseph of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West (Antiochian Archdiocese) came to St Vladimir's Seminary to lead the faculty and students in their annual two-day Lenten Retreat. Peppered between the beautiful chanting of the traditional liturgical services that mark the beginning of the Great Fast our seminary was blessed to hear the ascetical and pastoral words from Bishop Joseph. He both inspired us and challenged us to never forget the serious calling that each of us as baptized Christians have and how both lay and ordained build up the Body of Christ through our corporate and complementary ministries.

This was the first formal visit to the seminary by His Grace. He was impressed with what he found and he thanked SVS and SVS Press for the historic witness that we have made in evangelization and in the promotion of a better understanding of Orthodoxy in America and beyond. He pledged his prayers and support as a bishop of the Church to assist SVS in any way that he is able. Many Years, Bishop Joseph.

The text of His Grace's talk is available here. A gallery of photographs is available.