Seminarians from St. Vladimir’s and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox seminaries offered prayers and marched alongside His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and other Orthodox clergy and laity Friday, January 23, at the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.
The group from St. Vladimir’s Seminary also included Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, His Grace Bishop John (Abdalah), Fr. Michael Nasser, and Fr. Kirill Sokolov.
"After many years of wanting to attend the March for Life, I was thankful that I was able to attend for the first time,” said Fr. Michael. “I was so impressed to see the Orthodox hierarchs, other clergy, and faithful gathered together to pray for an end to the killing of unborn children in our country. And I was thankful our seminarians could see the dedication of these beloved brothers and sisters—and the thousands of others alongside whom we marched—and with whom we could add our own efforts."
The Seminary’s Spiritual Formation Director Fr. Michael Nasser and Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie at this year’s March for Life (Photo: OCA.org).
“It was wonderful to see so much support for the Pro-Life movement from so much of the Orthodox Church in North America,” said second-year seminarian Benjamin Franks, who helped lead the group of seminarians on the trip. “There were bishops from several jurisdictions present as well as local parishes, and both St. Tikhon's and St. Vladimir’s seminaries. Being together and advocating as one for the Orthodox Christian witness to life was an immense blessing. As seminarians, it is important for our formation to participate in pan-Orthodox engagement in society to advocate for an end to this and all injustice.”
Each year the student-led St. Ambrose Society plays a major role in organizing St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s participation in the March. A few days prior to the March, the St. Ambrose Society hosted an informational session for seminarians with leaders of the group Orthodox Christians for Life (OCL). OCL is a key part of the Orthodox presence at the March every year.
Hierarchs at the March (from left): Bishop Andrei (Hoarște), Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard), Bishop John (Abdalah), and Archbishop Michael (Dahulich).
The gathering for the March for Life Rally began at noon Friday at the National Mall. The assembled hierarchs gathered to offer the opening prayer, given by Seminary Alumnus and Trustee His Grace Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevic) of the Serbian Orthodox Church. His Beatitude presided at the Service of Supplication to End Abortion, after which the March for Life began.
View Photos from the March for Life
