Over the past year, St. Vladimir’s Seminary went the extra mile—miles, to be more accurate—to commemorate several luminaries in the Seminary’s history.
On or near the anniversaries of repose, members of the Seminary community have traveled to conduct memorial prayers at the gravesites of Archpriest Georges Florovsky (September 9, 1893–August 11, 1979), Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann (September 13, 1921–December 13, 1983), Protopresbyter John Meyendorff (February 17, 1926–July 22, 1992), and Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko (March 28, 1939–March 18, 2015).
Most recently, this past weekend, a group led by Archpriest Alexander Rentel and Seminary Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie visited the grave of Fr. Thomas Hopko at the Orthodox Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA.
“It is not possible to do every year, but by God’s grace we have been able to pray for these beloved deans and teachers in this blessed and wonderful manner,” said Fr. Alexander, the Rector of the Seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel.
These former deans are all buried within a reasonable driving distance from the Seminary’s campus: Fr. Thomas Hopko at the cemetery of the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration in Elwood City, PA; Fr. Georges Florovsky at St. Vladimir’s Russian Orthodox Cemetery near Trenton, NJ; Fr. Alexander Schmemann at the cemetery of St. Tikhon's Monastery in South Canaan, PA; and Fr. John Meyendorff at Oakland Cemetery in Yonkers, NY.
May the memories of the Priests of God Georges, Alexander, John, and Thomas be eternal!
The Seminary keeps updated the list of departed hierarchs, leaders, faculty, and alumni along with others whose names have been sent to be remembered at the altar. To submit names of departed loved ones or any other prayer requests to St. Vladimir’s Seminary, you may email chapel@svots.edu at any time.
