St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) has signed an agreement of partnership with New Georgian University, the Seminary’s first-ever agreement with an academy in the Republic of Georgia.
Archpriest Chad Hatfield, SVOTS president, represented the Seminary at the Solemn Signing Ceremony of Partnership. The agreement was signed May 2, 2019 at the University campus in Poti. Also at the ceremony was His Eminence, Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti & Khobi, the rector of New Georgian University and the chairman of the Georgian Orthodox Patriarchate's Department of Publishing and Reviewing.
“Through this partnership agreement, we could potentially see new Georgian seminarians at St. Vladimir’s and new publications and translations,” said Fr. Chad. “This is also a good sign of exchange between the Orthodox Church in America and the Georgian Orthodox Church.”
Father Chad traveled to the Republic of Georgia at the invitation of Metropolitan Grigoli. First-year Seminarian Priest Giorgi Tskitishvili, a native of Georgia, accompanied Fr. Chad on the trip.
"Much can be said, as this agreement has many benefits. To mention one, it really opens avenues for Georgian students,” said Fr. Giorgi. “What has been observed through the prism of books now has become touchable. Now they can experience and be partakers of the tradition that St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary has been building for years. These Georgian seminarians will be given opportunity to share what they will learn, and they can become a bridge between past and present which will bear fruit in the future."
During the trip to the Republic of Georgia, Fr. Chad also received an honorary doctorate from New Georgian University, delivered an inaugural lecture, and took part in a full-day conference on the topic of "Church and Modernity" with faculty and theologians.
