This winter, members of St. Vladimir’s Seminary traveled to St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral in Minneapolis to meet with the community and connect with alumni in the area.
The Cathedral generously hosted a special presentation by the Seminary and reception on Saturday, December 13. Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, Associate Dean Dr. Peter Bouteneff, and Director of Admissions and Alumni Relations Zachariah Mandell shared insights into the Seminary’s latest developments and answered questions.
The day before, on Friday, December 12, St. Vladimir's Seminary alumni from parishes across the Twin Cities gathered for a cozy reception, hearing about the state of the institution and sharing cherished memories from their time at the Seminary.
“It was such a joy to be back at St. Mary's, and to see and talk to so many friends, Seminary alumni, and interested folks from across the Twin Cities,” said Mandell, who served as choir director at St. Mary’s before he joined the staff at St. Vladimir’s. “St. Mary’s is as hospitable as ever, and the Orthodox churches in the Cities remain a shining example of a healthy Pan-Orthodox community.”
“It was a wonderful, cold day when the leadership of St. Vladimir's Seminary came to Minneapolis for a visit. The positive momentum and clear transparency was palpably exciting for everyone in attendance,” said Paul Karos, a St. Mary’s parishioner and supporter of the Seminary who also wrote the new SVS Press book, The Ultimate Building Project: The Human Person. “As an author, it was humbling for me to now be published by such an honorable institution in the life of the Church. We simply want to say ‘thank you’ for sacrificing in making the trip to visit us!”
Paul Karos is a retired Wall Street executive who holds a degree in Orthodox theology.
The occasion also served as a nod to the historic role Minneapolis played in Orthodox theological education in North America. In 1905, Archbishop Tikhon, later Patriarch of Moscow (+1925), recognized the need for American-born-and-raised clergy and decided to establish a permanent seminary. Opened in 1905 in Minneapolis, it was transferred in 1913 to Tenafly, NJ, and renamed St. Platon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. During the eighteen years of its existence, it produced two generations of priests who, at a difficult moment in the life of the Church, assured the continuity of Orthodox Christianity in America and its progressive integration into American life.
The Seminary’s visit to Minnesota was facilitated by St. Mary’s clergy, including the Cathedral’s Dean Fr. Andrew Jarmus and Seminary Trustee Dn. Philip Wagner, along with other members of the St. Mary’s community including Trustee Emeritus Dr. Frank Cerra.
If you are interested in bringing members of St. Vladimir’s Seminary to your parish, or want to learn more about getting your parish involved in the mission of the Seminary, visit our Parish Partners page and contact Ginny Nieuwsma, Chief Advancement Officer, at ginnyn@svots.edu or (914) 961–8313 x317.
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