Giving thanks to God, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) hosted its 85th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
The graduating class of 2025 began the day celebrating the Divine Liturgy at Three Hierarchs Chapel, presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and fellow OCA hierarchs His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey, His Grace Bishop Nikodhim (Preston) of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese; His Grace Bishop Benedict (Churchill) of Hartford and New England. Also in attendance were many members of the SVOTS Board of Trustees, which had just concluded its semi-annual on-campus meetings.
During the Divine Liturgy, seminarian Dn. Daniel York (Th.M. ‘25) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by the hand of His Beatitude.
Following a midday recess, clergy, trustees, graduates and their loved ones gathered in Three Hierarchs Chapel for a Service of Thanksgiving before processing to the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium at the John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building for the 85th Commencement Exercises. Joining His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon at Commencement were several notable guests: His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey (OCA); His Grace Bishop Nikodhim (Preston) of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese (OCA); His Grace Bishop Benedict (Churchill) of Hartford and New England (OCA); His Grace Metropolitan Thomas Mar Ivanios of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Diocese of South-West America; His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan of the Armenian Church’s Eastern Diocese of America; St. Vladimir’s Seminary Alumnus and Board of Trustees Executive Chair the Right Rev. Archimandrite Jeremy Davis, Archiepiscopal Vicar for the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest, representing His Eminence Metropolitan Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA); Dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary The Rev. Mardiros Chevian; and four guests in honor of graduating seminarian from Uganda, The Rev. Dn. Richard Okello (M.Div. ‘25): former trustee John Milosevic and his wife, Janet; Founder of Lift Up Uganda Sue Nelson, and Susan Harbiger.
Watch the Commencement Exercises of 2025
Read the 2025 Commencement Program
Honors
Another distinguished guest, Trustee Emeritus Rev. Protodeacon Peter Danilchick, who celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his diaconal ordination on Commencement day, was honored for his long service and commitment to St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Interim Seminary President and Academic Dean, Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, presented Pdn. Peter with a handpainted icon of St. Peter and recounted the many contributions made by Protodeacon Peter to the seminary over the years—in particular, his pivotal role in reviving the Doctor of Ministry program, his establishment of the Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies, and his far-reaching publications on servant leadership, including his latest book, The Theology of Leadership: Servant, Sacrifice, Shepherd, Leader.
“Fifty years ago today, you were ordained to the holy diaconate. Since that time, you have embodied a life of diakonia—of service—in Christ's holy Church. Your ministry has included service to the Orthodox Church worldwide: across the globe, in Asia, the South Pacific, and Europe,” said Dr. Tudorie. “As a deacon of the Orthodox Church in America, you have selflessly shared your time, talent, and extensive experience to support numerous ministries and to promote accountability and best practices among those working to build up the Body of Christ, protecting and safeguarding the weak and most vulnerable among us. St. Vladimir’s Seminary has been uniquely blessed by your generosity.”
During commencement exercises, St. Vladimir’s seminarians also honored Dr. Michael Legaspi with the 2025 St. Macrina Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award is selected each year by student vote.
Graduating seminarian and Student Council President Laura Ionescu (M.Div. ‘25) presented Dr. Legaspi with a hand-painted icon of St. Macrina, following a yearly tradition at St. Vladimir’s Seminary.
Laura then proceeded to present the 2025 Class Gift, a specially commissioned icon of Christ the Sower, offering heartfelt gratitude on behalf of her fellow graduates:
“The Class of 2025 chose to commission this icon in honor of what we feel we have received during our time here. We have received seeds of formation through the classroom, chapel services, community service, and by intentionally living in this community of wonderful people…
“This icon not only represents what we were given, but also reveals our calling going forward—as priests, deacons, altar servers, clergy wives, choir directors, teachers, administrators, and all those who minister to others out of love for God and love for neighbor. It is our hope that we might follow in Christ’s footsteps and sow the seeds of the Gospel wherever we go.”
Commencement Address
Professor Emeritus, the Very Rev. Dr. Paul Tarazi delivered this year’s commencement address. He was met with a warm welcome from Dr. Tudorie, who quoted a current faculty member who studied under Fr. Paul, saying, “Everything good I offer to my students, anything that truly helps them to read Scripture and to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ–I am simply repeating what I learned from Fr. Paul, for which I am forever grateful.”
Fr. Paul drew on his deep knowledge of the Holy Scriptures to exhort the graduating class, reminding them, “you are invited by the apostle [Paul] to forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead and press forward towards the call of God, who began his work that he would bring to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Fr. Paul also instructed the graduates to engage their parishioners in reading the Scriptures in context, and gave them practical resources and reading recommendations.
Watch the Commencement Address
The Class of 2025
Twenty-six graduates comprised the graduating class of 2025: thirteen (13) from the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program, ten (10) from the Master of Arts (M.A.) program, and three (3) from the Master of Theology (Th.M.) program.
“We have trained in many things to prepare ourselves for many things,” said graduating seminarian Jaime Rall (M.A. ‘25), who delivered this year’s salutatory address. “Perhaps it is also true that we have each in our own ways, trained for just the one thing, the one and only needful thing, we have trained to love–to love God and to love our neighbor…
“Amidst the challenges of seminary life, we have been granted so many opportunities to learn how to love when it did not come easily, when we did not feel love, when we had to follow our master first and only later, learn what that meant…
“Let us rejoice that we may abide in the love of Christ as we go forth to shine in the world as his own to the glory of God.”
The Rev. Dn. Matthew (Galen) Wiley, the class valedictorian, also offered powerful words to his fellow graduates, using the example of the forefather Jonah in the Old Testament to reflect on the faithfulness of God who continually “provides” through every trial. Dn. Matthew challenged his fellow graduates to go forth as prophets into a world like Nineveh, knowing that God will provide what is needed. “We kick, we scream, and God provides,” summarized Dn. Matthew. “We say, ‘We will not,’ but we do. And God provides.”
Following the valedictory address, the newly reestablished St Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale performed two hymns, led by Zachariah Mandell, director of the Chorale and Instructor of Liturgical Music at St Vladimir’s. The first piece was an arrangement of Gladsome Light, was composed by salutatorian Jaime Rall, and the second, the Koinonikon of Pascha—“Receive the Body…,” was written by prolific liturgical music composer Tikey Zes, who recently fell asleep in the Lord.
Watch the St Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale at Commencement
His Beatitude Met. Tikhon gave the closing remarks for the ceremony, encouraging the graduates to take courage for their ministries in an “absurd” world. “You have been given the tools, the wisdom, the knowledge, and the formation to plunge into this labyrinth of the absurd—not to be swallowed up, but to emerge as guides for the lost and the despairing.”
May the Lord God grant many blessed and fruitful years of service in His vineyard to the St. Vladimir’s Seminary graduates of 2025!
