Two institutions profoundly impacted by the life and legacy of Protopresbyter John Meyendorff (February 17, 1926–July 22, 1992) came together this February to celebrate 100 years since his birth.
St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) and the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University hosted a joint, two-day tribute February 6 and 7 to honor Fr. John Meyendorff, one of the most influential Orthodox theologians of the twentieth century.
A scholar of extraordinary range, Fr. John Meyendorff shaped the study of Byzantine theology, Orthodox ecclesiology, and ecumenical dialogue for generations. His dual role as Professor (1959–1992) and Dean (1984–1992) at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and Professor of Byzantine History at Fordham University (1967–1992) made him a unique bridge between Orthodox theological education and the broader academic world.
SVOTS Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie and Dr. George Demacopoulos, Fordham’s Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair of Orthodox Christian Studies, served as chief organizers of the Centennial Tribute.
On the first day of the joint event, St. Vladimir’s Seminary welcomed distinguished former students of Fr. John: His Grace Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevic), Bishop of Washington-New York and Eastern America of the Serbian Orthodox Church and an alumnus of the Seminary (M.Div. ’82); and alumna Dr. Vera Shevzov (M.Div. ’86), Professor of Religion and Director of the Program in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies at Smith College. Two of Fr. John’s four children also delivered beautiful reflections and memories about their father: Dr. Paul Meyendorff, alumnus (M.Div. ’75) and the Seminary’s Fr. Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology Emeritus; and Dr. Anna Meyendorff, a former member of faculty at the University of Michigan.
Following a panikhida at Three Hierarchs Chapel, the Seminary community and guests moved to the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium for the talks and reflections.
“Fr. John’s classes were all inspiring in a most unique way, as they were quite exhilarating,” recalled His Grace Bishop Irinej, “replete with a vast array of intense knowledge, presenting both the broad spectrum and zeroing in at times on pertinent telling detail. … He presented with such piercing perception as though he had come to know the [historic] person of whom he spoke or was physically located at a particular historic event.”
Dr. Paul Meyendorff offered a touching look into Fr. John and their family’s journey from France to the United States and Fr. John’s life and work.
“The last words he said [before his repose]. … his eyes opened, and he said, ‘The Eucharist,’ and what he was seeing was that icon that you may have seen in the back of the apse of [the Seminary Chapel], which he commissioned. … And I think that summarizes his vision … it’s more than eucharistic ecclesiolgy—it’s life, it’s the Church.”
Listen to the evening’s beautiful reflections below, or on the Seminary’s YouTube channel.
The second day of the Centennial Tribute was the Academic Symposium, “Orthodoxy, Byzantium, and the Rise of Russia Revisited,” hosted at Fordham’s Rose Hill Campus.
Dr. Tudorie was one of several scholars who gave talks at the Symposium, along with Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou, Professor of Theology and Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture at Fordham University; Dr. Nadieszda Kizenko, Professor of History at the University at Albany; Dr. Dimiter Angelov, Dumbarton Oaks Professor of Byzantine History at Harvard University; and Dr. Tikhon Alexander Pino, Director of the Pappas Patristic Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross.
“When I think about Fr. John Meyendorff, there are two important topics that come to my mind. One is obviously his love and passion and great contribution to the study of St. Gregory Palamas. The other one … the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America,” said Dr. Tudorie, as he introduced his talk, entitled, “Rediscovering St. Gregory Palamas: The Contributions of Frs. Dumitru Stăniloae and John Meyendorff.”
Many of the talks from the Academic Symposium are available to watch in their entirety on the Orthodox Christian Studies Center YouTube channel.
“For me [Fr. John] was smart and witty and funny and enormously gracious, and I feel very honored and very blessed to have known and studied with him, and I'm eternally grateful for his support of my work,” Dr. Papanikolaou noted before his presentation, “Why Do We Need the Essence/Energies Distinction? Virtue as the Missing Link.”
“He inspired a whole new generation of Orthodox scholars, all of whom are in his debt,” added Dr. Papanikolaou, “and I’m happy to be included in that group.”
May God remember always in His Kingdom the Protopresbyter John Meyendorff!
Scenes from the Centennial Tribute
