CrossRoad Summer Institute returned to St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS) this July, bringing another large group of Orthodox high school juniors and seniors to campus.
From July 6–16, participants were given a taste of seminary life as they roomed in dormitories, partook in daily prayers at Three Hierarchs Chapel, ate meals at the Seminary refectory, and enjoyed focused classroom sessions, including discussions with His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and Dr. Albert Rossi. They also ventured off campus to visit a number of local Orthodox parishes, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese headquarters, Central Park, and the Statue of Liberty.
Although last year was CrossRoad’s first official visit to SVOTS, the organization has always had strong ties to the Seminary. Seminary faculty have been actively involved in CrossRoad since its inception in 2004, including Fr. Thomas Hopko, Fr. Alexander Rentel, Fr. Bogdan Bucur, Dr. Albert Rossi, Dr. John Barnet, Dr. Peter Bouteneff, and Dr. Michael Legaspi. The CrossRoad initiative began with alumna Dr. Anne Bezzerides (M.Div. ’00), who started the program and serves as its Executive Director. She works alongside fellow alumni Dr. Jennifer Haddad Mosher (Th.M. ’09), who is CrossRoad’s Research & Educational Design Director, and Summer Programs Director Ana Legaspi (M.A. ’25).
This year’s session at SVOTS was the Institute’s fourth and final session of the summer. Two others took place in Boston and another in southern California.
About the CrossRoad Summer Institute
CrossRoad is a ten-day academic summer institute that prepares high school juniors and seniors to make big life decisions and invites them to connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual tradition in a deep and meaningful way. CrossRoad offers a space for young people to form authentic and lifelong friendships, ask hard questions, and explore their calling as an Orthodox Christian in the 21st century.
To learn more about the program and how to sign up, visit CrossRoad’s website.
View More Photos of CrossRoad’s New York Summer Session
All photos courtesy of CrossRoad Institute
