YONKERS, NY—Giving thanks to God, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) kicked off its 2025–2026 Academic Year on Monday, August 25, with new faces among the student body, faculty, and staff.
Twenty-seven (27) students—including both men and women, single and married—are beginning their first year of studies in their respective degree programs: nineteen (19) in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program, seven (7) in the Master of Arts (M.A.) program, and one (1) in a specialized program.
One of those first-year seminarians, Michael Uhr, hails from the Atlanta area, where he was a member of St. John the Wonderworker Orthodox Church (OCA) with his wife Andrea and son Noah.
“I first became aware of St. Vladimir’s Seminary around a decade ago, when two of my close friends and their families were here,” said Michael. “I saw the transformation that happened in their lives as a result of their experiences at SVOTS, and their effectiveness in ministry is evident to those that know them.
“Andrea and I discussed Seminary early on in our marriage and we trusted that the Lord would guide us here once the time was right. After seeking wise counsel, we agreed that this was the season to make this leap of faith.”
The Uhr Family: Michael, Andrea, and Noah
Michael and his fellow first-year seminarians represent six (6) Eastern and Oriental Orthodox jurisdictions:
- Orthodox Church in America (15 seminarians)
- Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (6)
- Armenian Apostolic Church (3)
- Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, Malankara Archdiocese (1)
- Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (1)
- Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (1)
Counting the incoming class, SVOTS' total student body is eighty-seven (87) seminarians across its M.Div., M.A., D.Min., and Th.M. degree programs.
“The Gospel of our Lord and His calling to the Church resound throughout St. Vladimir’s Seminary at the beginning of this and every academic year: in the vigorous singing and chanting in our Three Hierarchs Chapel; in the joyful shouts of children and their parents on our campus playgrounds; in the faculty voices in our classrooms; and in the stories of the new seminarians who, like the Apostles, have left everything to follow Him,” said Seminary Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie.
Dr. Tudorie welcomes new students and their families following a Moleben at Three Hierarchs Chapel.
“In good conscience, I assure all our new and returning seminarians and their families that we do see your sacrifices. We do know that many of you have left behind jobs, opportunities, houses, and friends to follow God’s call,” added Dr. Tudorie. “Speaking on behalf of the faculty and staff, we are committed to honoring your decision by living out our own vocation to serve the Lord and His Church by serving you, our students. To the best of our abilities, we all—seminarians, faculty, and staff—seek to do our work in a way that is Christ-centered, student-focused, and education-driven.”
New members of faculty and staff have also joined the Seminary as the 2025–2026 academic year begins:
Fr. Michael Nasser introduces himself to the incoming class.
“I have been blessed with so many wonderful settings in which to serve my ministry, from a small but vibrant mission to a large, bustling parish, as well as serving as a camp director and missionary in between,” Fr. Michael reflected. “I now find myself at St. Vladimir's and am thrilled to share what I have learned with the next generation of leaders of the Church. I couldn't feel more blessed.”
May the intercessions of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, our patron Great and Holy Prince Vladimir, and all the saints be with our seminarians, faculty, and staff as a new academic year commences in service to Christ!
About St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) is a higher education institution that embraces the challenge of serving the Church and the needs of Orthodox Christians in the twenty-first century. SVOTS trains priests, lay leaders, and scholars to be active apologists of the Orthodox Christian Faith, focusing on academic rigor and spiritual formation within a residential Orthodox community. The Seminary is chartered by the University of the State of New York and accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) to offer the following program degrees: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology, and Doctor of Ministry. Learn more at www.svots.edu.
Top Photo: Incoming seminarians attend a faculty presentation before the first day of classes.
