With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of St. Vladimir’s Seminary Trustee Emeritus Mitchell Zunich. Zunich, 93, died on the Feast of Holy Pascha, Sunday, April 19, at his home at St. Mary of the Woods Assisted Living in Avon, OH.

Zunich was born May 10, 1926 in Lorain, OH. He served with the US Army during World War II in the 357th Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division. During his service, he participated in the battles of Rhineland and Central Europe and received the European-African-Middle-Eastern Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, a Good Conduct Medal, a WWII Victory Medal and an Occupation Medal for Germany. His division was awarded the Bronze Star and participated in the liberation of Flossenburg Concentration Camp. Zunich attended the Ohio State University where he earned a bachelor of science in accounting. He founded Mitchell Zunich & Co. Certified Public Accountants, retiring in 2001. He was active in the community, having served as an officer, president, and board member of many organizations including the Lorain Rotary Club, Lorain Salvation Army, Lorain Metropolitan Housing Authority, the City Bank Co., Lorain Family YMCA, Clearview School Board, and St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. In the 1990s, Mitchell and his wife, Violet, helped establish a scholarship for Serbian Orthodox seminarians at St. Vladimir’s so that no young Serbian Orthodox men would be turned away from becoming priests. Zunich was a member of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Lorain, the Serbian National Federation, the Ohio Society of CPAs, and the AICPA.

"Mitch was honored to be on the Seminary’s Board of Trustees," said fellow St. Vladimir's Trustee Emeritus Brian Gerich. "He served many years as one of the four Serbian trustees along with [Trustee Emeritus] Alex Machaskee, Leon Lysaght, and myself.

"During our 1990’s Capital Campaign, I asked Mitch to join with me in establishing endowments for scholarships for Serbian Orthodox students studying to become priests. He immediately accepted, and he and his beloved wife Violet added to their endowment regularly. Mitch was pleased to know that as students graduated they were debt free as they prepared for a lifetime of serving our Lord."

"I remember Mitch as a quiet, decisive, compassionate gentleman who was a staunch supporter of our Orthodox Christian faith and a great contributor of time, talent, and treasure to St. Vladimir's Seminary," added Alex Machaskee. "He was a founding contributor to Monastery Marcha in Richfield Ohio, a decorated veteran of World War II, and a highly esteemed civic leader."

Mitchell Zunich is survived by his sons, Mitch Zunich of Cleveland and Rob (Eva) Zunich of Avon Lake; grandchildren, Neven, Dane, Rada, and Mila Zunich; and sister, Sophie Tyrin of Chicago. Zunich was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Violet M. Zunich (née Kobac) on Sept 7, 2014; infant son, Nick Zunich, in 1959; parents, Nikola & Stanka Zunich (née Kunic); brothers, Demeter, George, Nick, and Mike Zunich; and sisters, Mildred Stamatis, Dorothy Kovan, Nellie Raynovich, and Mary Zunich.

Due to restrictions on social gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, private family funeral services will be held. Hieromonk Nektarije Tesanovic of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church will preside with burial to follow in Elmwood Cemetery in Lorain. Memorial contributions may be made to St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 3355 Grove Ave, Lorain, OH, 44055 or St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 575 Scarsdale Rd, Yonkers, NY, 10707. Arrangements are under the direction of Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave, Lorain. Online condolences may be made at www.gluvna.net. 

May the memory of Mitchell Zunich be eternal!

-- 

(The photo and some information in this article have been reprinted from The Morning Journal.)

5th Annual Academic Symposium
Compelling Preaching Then and Now

Attend the Keynote Address in Person or Online

The Christian Church was established with a firm directive, given by the Risen Lord Jesus Christ Himself: to go forth throughout the world, preaching the Gospel and teaching His commands, making disciples of all nations (cf. Mt. 28:19–20).

Since our Lord uttered His Great Commission to His disciples, how have Christians over the centuries shaped their preaching about Christ and His Gospel? How can their example inform or guide preaching in the Orthodox Church today?

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) has gathered scholars to address Compelling Preaching Then & Now for its Fifth Annual Academic Symposium, to be held November 12–14, 2026. During this two-day interdisciplinary academic conference, the scholars from the Seminary and beyond will explore figures, artifacts, buildings, or works of art from their respective disciplines that exemplify a compelling witness to the Gospel and will reflect on how that can inspire and inform compelling preaching in the twenty-first century. 

The Symposium will open with a keynote address on Thursday, November 12, at 7 p.m. (EST), in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium. A reception will follow.

• Dr. Margaret M. Mitchell
  Shailer Mathews Distinguished Service Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature, University of Chicago

“The Son of Thunder Takes the Stage: John Chrysostom’s First Homily on the Gospel According to John”

The keynote address is open to the public. You are warmly invited to join us whether in person or online!

Register to Attend

The second part of the symposium (Friday and Saturday, November 13–14) will consist of scholarly presentations by:

• Dr. Theodora Antonopolou (National & Kapodistrian University of Athens)
• Dr. Mihai Coman (University of Bucharest)
• Cristian Ioan Dumitru (Doctoral Student, University of Bucharest)
• Rev. Dr. Sergius Halvorsen (St. Vladimir’s Seminary)
• Dr. Nadieszda Kizenko (University at Albany, State University of New York)
• Dr. Henry Maguire (Emeritus Professor, Johns Hopkins University)
• Dr. Margaret Mullett (Emeritus Professor, Queen’s University Belfast)
• Right Rev. Dr. Damaskinos Olkinuora (University of Eastern Finland)
• Dr. Bissera Pentcheva (Stanford University)
• Right Rev. Dr. Vasily Permiakov (St. Vladimir’s Seminary)
• Dr. Rossitza Schroeder (St. Vladimir’s Seminary)
• Dr. Niki Tsironi (The American College of Greece)

This portion of the Symposium is open by invitation only. Scholars and students interested in attending the presentations and discussion on November 13 & 14 are asked to email the organizers at symposium@svots.edu.

More information on the presentations and schedule will be available soon.

Funding for this project has been provided by the Lilly Endowment as part of its Compelling Preaching Initiative.

With One Voice:

Sacred Chant, Liturgical Function, and Orthodox Theology

Attend the Keynote Address & Evening Program in Person or Online

What does sacred chant do from the perspective of liturgy? Though their worship traditions differ profoundly, the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches share a distinct ethos and theological vision of liturgy, in which music does far more than adorn prayer. 

In his keynote address, “With One Voice: Sacred Chant, Liturgical Function, and Orthodox Theology,” His Grace Bishop Daniel Findikyan will explore how sacred chant is integral to the liturgy’s very operation, “energizing” it and thus enabling it to build up the Church as the Body of Christ. This insight has profound implications for the Orthodox Church’s (and Churches’) central task and mission today.

The keynote will be part of St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s Colloquium on Oriental Orthodox Liturgical Music in Theological Education. Bishop Daniel will deliver the address on Thursday, October 29, at 7 p.m. (EST), in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium. The evening program will also include a performance of Ethiopian Orthodox liturgical chants by a vocal ensemble from St. John the Baptist Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Boston, MA. A reception will follow.

Register to Attend in Person or Online

The Colloquium on Oriental Orthodox Liturgical Music in Theological Education is the culmination of a series of events, organized by the Seminary’s Institute of Sacred Arts (ISA), exploring commonalities and differences in Eastern and Oriental Orthodox approaches to sung worship. In 2024 the Seminary held a colloquium highlighting Eastern Orthodox liturgical singing. Last May the Seminary hosted Exploring the Orient: Syriac & Armenian Liturgical Chant, and earlier this October held a workshop on Coptic liturgical music. These events have all been made possible through generous grants from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW), Grand Rapids, MI, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. 

Bishop Daniel is one of several expert liturgical music practitioners and scholars from various traditions who are gathering at St. Vladimir’s Seminary for this Colloquium on Oriental Orthodox Liturgical Music. Along with His Grace’s keynote, the Colloquium (Thursday and Friday, October 29–30) will consist of presentations and panel discussions led by:

• Dr. Gabriel Aydin
• Dr. Peter C. Bouteneff
• Dr. Daniel Girgis
• Dr. Habtemichael Kidane
• Dr. Alexander Lingas
• Fr. Arsenius Mikhail
• Dn. Harrison Russin
• Dr. Ani Shahinian
• Dr. Haig Utidjian
• Juliana Woodill

In addition to the keynote address and evening program October 29, members of the public are also welcome to attend any other part of the Colloquium in person. While only the keynote address will be livestreamed, recordings of all presentations and panel discussions held October 29–30 may be made available to the public at a later date.

ABOUT THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Bishop Daniel Findikyan is the former Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and is Professor of Liturgical Studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in Armonk, New York. Prior to his election as Primate in May 2018 he served as Director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), New York. 

Bishop Daniel is a member of the brotherhood of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. He earned his doctorate in Liturgical Studies from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, where he studied under the late Robert F. Taft. S.J. He previously earned the Master of Arts degree in Musicology from the City University of New York and the Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.

Having published numerous articles in scholarly journals and books, Bishop Daniel served as the general editor of an innovative and acclaimed Divine Liturgy “pew book,” used throughout the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and has served as a model for similar liturgical books in other churches and jurisdictions.

Bishop Daniel is also a founding member of the Society of Oriental Liturgy and served as its President from 2016–2018. He is a member of several other academic and ecumenical organizations.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF SACRED ARTS

The Institute of Sacred Arts (ISA) at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary explores the intersection of human creativity and holiness. With a theology that is holistic, and a liturgy that unites multiple artistic disciplines and all the human senses, the Orthodox Christian tradition is ripe for the exploration and celebration of the sacred arts. Since its founding in 1938, St. Vladimir’s Seminary has fostered the study of icons, music, and liturgy. The ISA serves to extend the seminary’s mission in exploring the mutual relationship between theology and the arts by: contributing to the work of people and institutions that practice and reflect on the sacred arts; engaging people and institutions of all backgrounds with Orthodox artistic tradition; inspiring wider public interest in spirituality and the arts. Learn more at www.instituteofsacredarts.com.

Throughout its history, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary has served, and continues to serve, as a training ground for Orthodox men and women, preparing them to serve the Church in its many ministries. The Church needs bishops, priests, and deacons, as well as scholars, teachers, catechists, choir directors, and educated leaders of many kinds. If you feel called to ministry in the Church, are interested in broadening your understanding and experience of the Orthodox Christian Faith, and are curious about what seminary life is like, then please join us on campus at the St. Vladimir’s Seminary Fall Open House on October 18–19, 2026.

At this Open House, prospective seminarians are invited to experience “life at St. Vladimir’s” in its many facets. Worship with the Seminary community in the chapel, attend classes, and speak with seminarians and professors about the spiritual, academic, and residential life at the Seminary. Come and see if St. Vladimir’s Seminary is the place for you!

Transportation: Open House attendees will be responsible for their transportation to and from the Seminary. 

Arrival & Meals: Attendees are welcome to arrive as early as Saturday, October 17 and to stay through Tuesday, October 20. Meals during the official Open House, October 18-19, will be provided free of charge. If your stay extends beyond these dates in either direction, meals will be available for purchase.

Housing: Pending available space, attendees may request to be housed on campus on a first-come, first-served basis for free, at the invitation of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Alternatively, rooms may be booked at the Hampton Inn & Suites Yonkers-Westchester; a block rate is available until September 17, 2025. (*Click the link below to book a room at the discounted rate, or call Hilton Reservations at 914-377-1144 [Option 1] and reference the group name, St Vladimir's Seminary, or the group code, 919.)

Open House Registration Deadline: The registration deadline is Tuesday, October 13, 2026. 

Register to Attend the Fall Open House

Book Your Hotel Stay

2026 Fall Open House Schedule

Sunday, October 18

9:00 a.m. — Divine Liturgy at Three Hierarchs Chapel

10:30 a.m. — Coffee hour & fellowship in the Chapel Basement

11:30 a.m. — Lunch provided in Germack Refectory

1:30 p.m. — Group Discussion with the M.Div. Program Director and Registrar in Gerich Board Room (Rangos Building) 

• Why Seminary?
• Degree Programs
• Tuition & Financial Aid
• Housing
• Admissions Process
• Discussion

3:00 p.m. — Tour of Campus

3:30 p.m. — Q&A with Current Seminarians in Germack Common Room

5:00 p.m. — Dinner in Germack Refectory

Evening — Informal Activities (TBD): socialize, explore the area, rest!

Monday, October 19 - A Day at Seminary

7:30 a.m. — Daily Matins at Three Hierarchs Chapel

8:15 a.m. — Breakfast in Germack Refectory

9:15 a.m. —  Attend classes or schedule individual meetings 

12:15 p.m. — Lunch in Germack Refectory

1:00 p.m. — Attend Midday Meeting Activity (optional)

2:00 p.m. —  Welcome from Dean & Faculty Roundtable in the Gerich Boardroom (Rangos Building)

3:30 p.m. — Meet with Fr Michael Nasser, Director of Spiritual Formation in the Gerich Boardroom (Rangos Building)

5:00 p.m. — Daily Vespers at Three Hierarchs Chapel

5:45 p.m. — Dinner with Dean & fellow prospective students (Germack)

*This is the official end of the Open House; if you would like to stay through Tuesday, October 20, you are more than welcome—please let us know, especially if you would like to attend one of the classes, schedule a meeting with the Registrar/Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and/or have lunch in the refectory on Tuesday.

Tuesday, October 20 (Optional)

7:30 a.m. - Daily Matins

8:15 a.m - Breakfast in the refectory

9:15 a.m. - Attend class OR individual meetings

12:15 p.m. - Lunch in the refectory
 

Register to Attend the Fall Open House

Book Your Hotel Stay

This fall the community of St. Vladimir’s Seminary continued its exploration of interactions between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox liturgical chant. On Friday, October 2, Seminary alumnus Daniel Girgis (M.A. ’21) led a workshop illustrating the depth and beauty of the Coptic liturgical music tradition.

Girgis, born and raised in New York City, is a lifelong member of the Coptic Orthodox Church. He is a subdeacon and chanter and has spent several years intensely studying Coptic liturgical music. His research focuses on the restoration and preservation of Coptic liturgical tradition through the study of Orthodox theology, the analysis of Coptic liturgical manuscripts, and the oral transmission of Coptic chant. Girgis is currently completing a liturgical study and musical translation of the Coptic Psalmody that will be published by St. Vladimir's Seminary (SVS) Press.

“Some of [these traditional hymns] are really beautiful pieces of music that are very enjoyable and very meditative,” said Girgis, as he explained and demonstrated various musical forms to members of the Seminary community in attendance.

Watch a recording of the workshop below or on SVOTS’ YouTube channel.

The workshop is part of a series of events made possible through a generous grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW), Grand Rapids, MI, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Dr. Alexander Lingas, Professor of Music and Associate Director of SVOTS’ Institute of Sacred Arts, has been guiding efforts to delve into commonalities and differences in Eastern and Oriental Orthodox approaches to sung worship. Last May the Seminary hosted Exploring the Orient: Syriac & Armenian Liturgical Chant and in 2024 held an initiative, also funded by CICW, which highlighted Eastern Orthodox liturgical singing. 

Later this month, on October 29–30, Girgis will return to the Seminary, along with other expert liturgical music practitioners and scholars from various traditions, for the colloquium on Oriental Orthodox Liturgical Music in Theological Education. The event will be open to the public—more information is forthcoming!

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF SACRED ARTS

The Institute of Sacred Arts (ISA) at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary explores the intersection of human creativity and holiness. With a theology that is holistic, and a liturgy that unites multiple artistic disciplines and all the human senses, the Orthodox Christian tradition is ripe for the exploration and celebration of the sacred arts. Since its founding in 1938, St. Vladimir’s Seminary has fostered the study of icons, music, and liturgy. The ISA serves to extend the seminary’s mission in exploring the mutual relationship between theology and the arts by: contributing to the work of people and institutions that practice and reflect on the sacred arts; engaging people and institutions of all backgrounds with Orthodox artistic tradition; inspiring wider public interest in spirituality and the arts. Learn more at www.instituteofsacredarts.com.

ABOUT THE CALVIN INSTITUTE OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW), located at Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an interdisciplinary study and ministry center that promotes the scholarly study of the theology, history, and practice of Christian worship and the renewal of worship in worshipping communities across North America and beyond.
 

ABOUT THE LILLY ENDOWMENT

Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. Although the gifts of stock remain a financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff, and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion and maintains a special commitment to its founders’ hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A primary aim of its grantmaking in religion is to deepen the religious lives of Christians, principally by supporting efforts that enhance congregational vitality and strengthen the leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment values the broad diversity of Christian traditions and endeavors to support them in a wide variety of contexts. The Endowment also seeks to foster public understanding about religion by encouraging fair, accurate, and balanced portrayals of the positive and negative effects of religion on the world and lifting up the contributions that people of all faiths make to our greater civic well-being.

Radical Thanksgiving in Father Alexander Schmemann's Last Homily

“Everyone capable of thanksgiving is capable of salvation and eternal joy.”

Giving thanks to God, we are overjoyed to offer a new resource for those entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We present the Preacher’s Workshop, a semimonthly blog showcasing homilies that exemplify excellence in rhetoric, exegesis, narrative, and imagery. This new resource for preachers is part of St. Vladimir’s Seminary's Compelling Preaching Initiative, which is generously sponsored by the Lilly Foundation.

Our first featured homily is none other than Fr. Alexander Schmemann’s well-known and much-loved “Thank You, O Lord.” Delivered on Thanksgiving Day, 1983, at the Seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel, this was the last homily Fr. Schmemann delivered before he reposed in the Lord on December 13 of that same year. 

What to look for

• Speaking to God - The homily is addressed directly towards God as opposed to the listener. For example, the homily does not say, “Give thanks to the Lord,” rather, it says, “Thank You, O Lord.” This short address is unusual for a typical homily in that it is modeled after a liturgical prayer.
• Repetition - The homily repeats the phrase “Thank You, O Lord, for…” (anaphora), which captures the attention of the listener and draws them into this moving sermon about giving thanks.
• Liturgical Allusion - The second-to-last line uses the structure of a petition from the prayers for blessing water (Baptism and Theophany), “Great are You, O Lord, and marvelous are Your works, and there is no word which suffices to hymn Your wonders.”
• Radical Thanksgiving - The homily follows St. Paul’s exhortation to give thanks to God for all things (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Thanksgiving is offered up for illness, “the sufferings You bestowed upon us”, and the holy noise of children.
   

“Thank You, O Lord”

By Fr. Alexander Schmemann

Everyone capable of thanksgiving is capable of salvation and eternal joy.

Thank You, O Lord, for having accepted this Eucharist, which we offered to the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and which filled our hearts with the joy, peace and righteousness of the Holy Spirit.

Thank You, O Lord, for having revealed Yourself unto us and given us the foretaste of Your Kingdom.

Thank You, O Lord, for having united us to one another in serving You and Your Holy Church.

Thank You, O Lord, for having helped us to overcome all difficulties, tensions, passions, temptations and restored peace, mutual love and joy in sharing the communion of the Holy Spirit.

Thank You, O Lord, for the sufferings You bestowed upon us, for they are purifying us from selfishness and reminding us of the "one thing needed;" Your eternal Kingdom.

Thank You, O Lord, for having given us this country where we are free to Worship You.

Thank You, O Lord, for this school, where the name of God is proclaimed.

Thank You, O Lord, for our families: husbands, wives and, especially, children who teach us how to celebrate Your holy Name in joy, movement and holy noise.

Thank You, O Lord, for everyone and everything.

Great are You, O Lord, and marvelous are Your deeds, and no word is sufficient to celebrate Your miracles.

Lord, it is good to be here! Amen.
 

Illustration by James O’Brien 

This month the St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS) community is celebrating the ordinations of two current seminarians and one recent graduate. Glory be to God!

On Sunday, September 20, His Eminence Metropolitan Saba presided over the ordinations of Dn. John Whiteside to the Holy Priesthood and Christopher Stokich to the Holy Diaconate. The ordinations took place at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY.

“Focus always upon Christ and His Gospel …” Metropolitan Saba instructed the newly ordained on Sunday. “You are studying theology, you know many things about God, about Christ, and about faith. But remember that you need to be so serious with yourselves—to be with God, to struggle spiritually, to purify yourselves, to read the Gospel every day, to prepare yourselves every time you will serve the Holy Liturgy. And at that time, our eyes are opened, and we know Him. When we know Him, we don’t talk anymore about who we study. We talk about who we know, who we live with, who we experience, who we feel. At that time, people can be moved through our speech and our sermons and our preaching.”

Fr. John and Dn. Christopher are seminarians from the Antiochian Archdiocese who are both entering their third and final year of studies in the Seminary’s Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program.

Earlier this month, on September 5, SVOTS alumnus Dn. Solomon Geevarghese Jacob (M.Div. ’25) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at St. Thomas Orthodox Church of India in Warren, MI. Fr. Solomon has been assigned as Vicar of St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Oklahoma City, OK. He has also been serving as the General Secretary of the South-West American Diocese’s Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement.

May God grant many years to the newly ordained Fr. Solomon, Fr. John, Dn. Christopher, and their families!

Metropolitan Saba’s quote is adapted from Antiochian.org.

Photos of the September 20 ordinations by Seminarian Christopher Whittington.

YONKERS, NY—Giving thanks to God, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) began its 2026–2027 Academic Year on Monday, September 7. A large group of new seminarians isn’t the only change following the summer break—physical improvements to the campus and enhancements to the Seminary’s spiritual formation program are all part of SVOTS’ response to the evolving needs of seminarians and the Orthodox Church in North America.

Thirty-three (33) students are beginning their first year of studies on campus at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. The incoming class is composed of both single and married students; two (2) are women.

• Twenty-four (24) of the new seminarians are enrolled in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program.
• Seven (7) are enrolled in the Master of Arts (M.A.) program.
• Two (2) others are non-degree students.

Among the new seminarians is Jordan Christman (Antiochian Archdiocese), whose home parish is St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Christian Church in Spring, TX. He moved to campus with his wife Heather and their four young daughters.

“Our priest kept reminding us that it’s not just me going to Seminary; it’s our family. This will be a formative period for our four daughters as well. It’s also for them to get used to being in this type of environment, the liturgical life, having access to all the services every day. What a blessing!”

Jordan and his fellow first-year seminarians represent eight (8) Eastern and Oriental Orthodox jurisdictions:

• Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (13 seminarians)
• Orthodox Church in America (10)
• Armenian Apostolic Church (5)
• Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (1)
• Moscow Patriarchate in the USA (1)
• American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of North America (1)
• Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, Malankara Archdiocese (1)
• Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (1)

In addition to the incoming class, the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program has recruited another eight (8) students to form its newest cohort.

Counting the incoming class, SVOTS’ total student body is 98. Many more are enrolled in courses through St. Vladimir’s Online School of Theology this fall, including eighty-nine (89) students in the Online School’s Catechist Certification Program. (More than 130 others were certified as lay catechists over the summer.)

“We love our new and returning seminarians and are deeply committed to their growth and formation,” said Seminary Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie. “The status quo in North American Orthodox churches has given way to rapid changes. Our new seminarians are keenly aware of this. Their hearts are drawn to the spiritual needs of others and they have left everything familiar in order to respond to the urgency of this moment.”

The needs of the growing Church and her seminarians have prompted St. Vladimir’s Seminary to undergo numerous efforts that are beginning to take shape this academic year. Among those, the most visible is the construction of three new apartments in the Seminary’s Bazil Building (which previously housed offices and a gym). The added housing for seminarians will increase the Seminary’s capacity to accommodate and train as many future Church leaders as God entrusts into its care. The ongoing project also reflects the larger number of married students enrolling in recent years compared to the higher numbers of unmarried seminarians seen in previous generations. Construction on the new apartments is expected to be completed in the following weeks.

The Seminary is also enhancing its Spiritual Formation Program & Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) offerings to better prepare students—as well as their families—for the realities and challenges they will face in ministry. Fr. Michael Nasser, SVOTS’ Director of Spiritual Formation and Field Education, spearheaded alongside the Dean a new spiritual formation program that includes peer learning groups, sessions with experienced pastoral leaders, relational study courses that focus on youth ministry, training in financial management, and programs that teach relationship and communication skills. This includes a refresh of the long-running St. Juliana Society (SJS), with the intent of aiding student spouses and other women on campus in their preparation to serve the Church as well as strengthening bonds of fellowship and support. In addition, several returning seminarians took part over the summer in the new SVOTS-sponsored, community-based CPE program. (This CPE offering at the Seminary was added to the ongoing hospital-based program). Participants assisted Orthodox parish priests in a variety of ministries over a 12-week period, supervised by Fr. David Alexander.

The Very Rev. Dr. David Alexander (SVOTS Class of 2011) is one of several faculty and staff members who have recently joined St. Vladimir’s Seminary. He is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Other new members of the Seminary community include:

• The Right Rev. Dr. Vahan Hovhanessian (SVOTS Class of ’89), Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies;
• The Very Rev. Dr. Philip LeMasters, Professor of Christian Ethics;
• The Rev. John Black (’23), Lecturer in Liturgical Music;
• Christina Christ, Assistant Director of Donor Relations;
• Catherine Kraft, Staff Accountant;
• Timothy Morrow, Lecturer in Liturgical Music;
• Kh. Vicky Nasser, Cash Applications Specialist;
• Christopher Nolan, Chief Operations Officer.

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 strives to serve the Church, engage the world, and awaken hearts to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. SVOTS trains priests, lay leaders, and scholars, focusing on academic rigor and spiritual formation within a residential Orthodox Christian 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.

By the grace of God, St. Vladimir’s Seminary alumnus Protopresbyter Gregory Gilbert continues to serve with distinction in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Effective September 1, Fr. Gregory has been appointed Dean of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City.  

Fr. Gregory was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 2015 and has faithfully served the Church in a number of significant pastoral and administrative capacities. He previously served as Proistamenos of communities in Bel Air, Maryland, and Upper Darby, PA; as Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Theologian in Tenafly, NJ; and most recently as Chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey. 

In entrusting Fr. Gregory with the spiritual and pastoral leadership of the Cathedral, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America expressed his confidence in Fr. Gregory’s priestly experience, theological formation, and devotion to the Church.

The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Gregory Gilbert was born and raised in Knoxville, TN, and grew up as a Southern Baptist. After graduating from high school, he attended Davidson College in Davidson, NC, where he studied Classics (Ancient Greek and Latin) and met his future wife, Presvytera Catherine, with whom he has five children. After college, he taught Latin for three years at a private high school in Nashville, TN. During this time Fr. Gregory first encountered and embraced the Orthodox faith, and subsequently began his theological training at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, where he received his M.A. in Theology in 2004. After seminary Father and Presvytera moved to the Washington, D.C., area so that he could pursue graduate studies at the Catholic University of America, where he received a second M.A. in 2008 and a Ph.D. in 2014. 

In his research, Fr. Gregory specializes in the writings of the Church Fathers. He has traveled a great deal in both Greece and Cyprus, including a year spent conducting doctoral research as a Fulbright Fellow (2011-12) at the American School of Classical Studies in Athens (at the Gennadios Library). While in Greece, Fr. Gregory also completed the coursework and examination for the Diploma of Byzantine Chant, issued by the Greek Ministry of Culture. After returning from Greece, Fr. Gregory spent two years as an adjunct lecturer in the Ancient Studies Department at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

While serving in the Metropolis of New Jersey Fr. Gregory received the offikia of Economos and Protopresbyter by the hand of His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos.

May God grant Fr. Gregory, Presvytera Catherine, and their family many years!

Sections of this article have been adapted from the Orthodox Observer as well as the Holy Trinity Cathedral website.

Top Image: Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia, Archbishop Elpidophoros, and Fr. Gregory Gilbert (Photo: Orthodox Observer)

Strengthen Your Knowledge of the Orthodox Faith

Join Orthodox Education Day August 29!

What question would you like to ask St. Vladimir’s Seminary professors and guests during Orthodox Education Day? 

This year’s program features six unique one-hour sessions, each exploring a different topic in Orthodox faith and life. Led by St. Vladimir’s distinguished faculty and guest scholars, these sessions are a chance to learn from some of today’s leading Orthodox voices—and to ask your own questions. All Education Day gifts will benefit the general St. Vladimir's Scholarship Fund.

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Orthodox Education Day Schedule of Topics

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Unity in a Divided World - 10 a.m. EDT (7 a.m. PDT)

In our polarized culture of North America and with all the increasing tensions abroad, how might the Church address and minister to our fragmented world? 

Orthodoxy in the Trenches: Alumni in Ministry - 11 a.m. EDT (8 a.m. PDT)

What are our St. Vladimir’s alumni witnessing with regard to seekers and converts? What ministry trends and challenges are they experiencing at the parish level? How is today’s seminary education emphasizing pastoral formation and preparation, and how does someone discern a call to the priesthood? What needs are there for lay leadership and service at the parish level?

The Book of Job and Suffering - 12 p.m. EDT (9 a.m. PDT)

Fr. Thomas Hopko once wrote, “There is no life in this world without suffering. The   cessation of suffering comes only in the Kingdom of God.” How are we to understand the inevitability of suffering in this life, and what should be our proper response to it?

Artificial Intelligence and the Church - 1 p.m. EDT (10 a.m. PDT)

Grok, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude: what are Orthodox Christians to make of AI, and in what ways should our Faith inform our approach to it?

Internet Apologetics - 2 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. PDT)

There are benefits AND dangers of learning and reading about Orthodoxy online as we encounter countless social media influencers, videos, podcasts, and blogs. What is the proper role and conversely, the pitfalls, of the many online resources now available to the faithful Orthodox Christians and spiritual seekers?

Responding to Church Growth - 3 p.m. EDT (12 p.m. PDT)

We’ll examine the available data and insights related to the unprecedented growth of the Church in North America, and also discuss ongoing and future Seminary plans to respond to that growth and need.

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