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!

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

All are invited to an in-person rendition of "Patriarch Abraham," a theatrical performance staged by seminarians and faculty at St Vladimir's Seminary. The performance will take place on Friday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m., in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium.

The text is based on a play originally written in Serbian by Dr Nenad Božović, Professor of Old Testament at the University of Belgrade, and translated by Mihail Golic (M.A.'24). Associate Professor of Old Testament, Dr Michael Legaspi, serves as faculty advisor and narrator for this production.

In "Patriarch Abraham," the major events of the life of Abraham are retold faithfully. The story opens up with the account of Abraham's father, Terah, and the migration of his family to Haran. After several scenes highlighting how Abraham established his home with Sarah following the return from Egypt, a special emphasis is placed on Abraham's encounter with the Lord at the Oak of Mamre. This scene provides an introduction to two significant events in Abraham's life: the birth of Isaac and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The play's underlying message is the importance of trust in God's providence, which Abraham followed at the pivotal points in his life, such as the establishment of the Covenant with God and the Aqedah.

Optional, cash-only donations will be collected by cast members at the door to benefit the construction of a new well in Gulu, Uganda, the hometown of seminarian Dn Richard Okello (M.Div. '25). Contact Daria Mayrose at dmayrose@svots.edu to learn more about contributing to this worthy cause.

Download the flyer

The seventh webinar in the Light of the World Webinar Series is titled “‘A Sweet Light Descended and Enlightened Me’—St Mary of Egypt and the Cleansing Strength of the Psalms.” This webinar will be hosted by the Rev. Dr Silviu Bunta, prolific Orthodox author and speaker, on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 7:00—8:30 p.m. Eastern, via Zoom livestream.

Fr Silviu holds a B.A. degree in theology from the University of Sibiu (Romania), a M.A. degree in biblical studies from the University of Oradea (Romania) and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from Marquette University. He specializes in the study of Second Temple Judaism and Christian origins, focusing particularly on mystical trends in pseudepigraphic and apocalyptic literature. Fr Silviu served as Visiting Associate Professor of Old Testament at St Vladimir’s Seminary from 2020-2022. He is also an active member of the Catholic Biblical Association of America and the Society of Biblical Literature.

This online webinar is open to the public and free of cost. It will be recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel afterward for easy access. Click the button below to register and to receive the Zoom webinar link.

Register 

About the Light of the World Webinar Series: 

This monthly webinar series features speakers from among St Vladimir’s Seminary faculty, alumni, and friends, presenting on a variety of topics while answering a core question:

How are we Christians to be the light of the world?

Drawing inspiration from feedback received through a recent survey we conducted, these webinars aim to address a diverse range of themes related to real and pressing issues facing Orthodox faithful in modern society.

Primate of the OCA His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon visited St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) on April 22, the fifth Sunday of Great Lent.

His Beatitude presided at the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and the ordination of Seminarian Monk Cyril Hanna (M.Div. ‘25) to the Holy Diaconate. Fr Dn Cyril is a member of the Orthodox Monastery of St John the Baptist in Phoenix, AZ. A number of monks from his monastic community and nuns from the sister Monastery of St Macarius made the trip to the seminary to be present at the joyous occasion.

In his homily, His Beatitude drew on the Sunday Gospel reading, in which our Lord recounts His upcoming sufferings in detail, and called on his hearers to “truly lay aside all earthly cares and crucify our minds with Christ” during this last week of Great Lent, and especially during Holy Week. His Beatitude went on to point out that “each year Holy Week invites us back into the mystery of Christ, back into the authentic pattern of our life and salvation. We are not learning a new story, we are being called to experience and live more truly the story that has existed since before the beginning of time… If we allow ourselves to be transformed during this coming Holy Week, by the renewing of our minds, then we hope this renewal will remain with us throughout all the days of the coming year, and even into eternity.”

Hear the recording of His Beatitude’s homily

The Rev. Dr Gregory Christakos (D.Min. ‘24) presented his doctoral research in a webinar entitled “The Anatolian Genocide: Understanding Narratives Of Tragedy From An Orthodox Perspective,” at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Director of the Doctor of Ministry program, the Very Rev. Sergius Halvorsen gave introductory remarks, inviting all those interested in pursuing a D.Min. to apply for the 2027 cohort, which begins classes this coming fall semester.

In this presentation and discussion, Fr Greg talked about the trauma of genocide, in this case specifically of Orthodox Christians in Asia Minor in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire (late 19th century to 20th century). He first provided a brief history of the Anatolian Genocide, which is also referred to in ethnic terms (e.g. the Armenian Genocide), and argued that the killing which occurred was not primarily ethnically motivated–anyone who practiced the Orthodox Christian faith in the region of Anatolia was brutally targeted.

Fr Greg went on to address a very contemporary question: why should we, over a century later, dwell on this terrible, yet seemingly distant part of our past? Quoting St Paul in Gal. 6:2, Fr Greg encouraged his listeners to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” As Orthodox Christians, we should have an understanding of past genocidal events and those who were martyred as part of them. Remembering and commemorating these traumatic events as part of our history and identity, regardless of our own ethnic background, helps us to cultivate Christ-like empathy so that we can “identify with others’ pain and stand up and oppose genocidal activity now.”

In his conclusion, Fr Greg discussed how we process narratives of trauma through the lens of Orthodox Christianity and how we use the various tools in our Orthodox toolkit to understand and move forward through such events.

To listen to Fr Greg’s presentation of his graduate research project for the D.Min. program at St Vladimir’s Seminary, and to read his final project paper, click the buttons below.

Watch Webinar Recording

Read Fr Greg’s D.Min. Project

About the Doctor of Ministry Program

The Doctor of Ministry degree at St Vladimir's Seminary enhances the practice of ministry for ordained and lay ministers in the Orthodox Church. The program integrates enhanced competencies in pastoral analysis with skills necessary to lead students to an advanced understanding of the nature and purposes of ministry. Working in communities of teachers and learners, the students gain deeper knowledge about the practice of serving others in Christian love as they grow in spiritual maturity as ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The D.Min. program at St Vladimir's Seminary provides priests, chaplains, and other pastoral professionals with advanced knowledge and skills in order to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering. Integrating doctoral-level academic work with pastoral spirituality, this program will help you to acquire and refine the skills to minister to those whom God has called you to serve. Please consider joining us in a doctoral program that will give you an opportunity to foster deep and lasting friendships as we engage in work that contributes to authentic spiritual and pastoral renewal. The next D.Min. cohort will commence in Fall 2024. Through the generous support of Protodeacon Peter and Tanya Danilchick, qualified DMin students can receive financial support from the Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies.

About the Speakers

Fr Gregory Christakos

Fr Greg Christakos grew up in the Merrimack Valley area of Massachusetts.  He studied at the University of Virginia and Trinity College, Oxford, and graduated from UVA with a B.A. in history.  After six years of working in the legal field in Charlottesville, VA, Fr Greg discerned a calling to the priesthood and attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA. During this time, he did an exchange semester at St Vladimir’s Seminary and graduated from Holy Cross with a Master of Divinity degree in 2005.  Shortly thereafter, he married the former Eleni Pitsillides and was ordained.  

After serving as the assistant pastor at St Spyridon Cathedral for six years, Fr Greg was named pastor of Sts Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church in Marlborough, MA., where he continues to serve.  Fr Greg concluded his formal education at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary with a D.Min. in 2024.  His many interests include genocide studies, linguistics, and religious minorities in the Near and Middle East.

The Very Rev. Sergius Halvorsen

The Very Rev. Sergius Halvorsen (M.Div. ‘96; Ph.D., Drew University, 2002) is Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Rhetoric at St Vladimir's Seminary and serves as director of the Doctor of Ministry Program. In addition to teaching homiletics and rhetoric, he also teaches courses in Christian education and the sacred art of narrative. Fr Sergius is a priest of the Orthodox Church in America, he is attached to Holy Transfiguration Church in New Haven, CT, and has contributed to a number of "Archangel Voices" recordings. He currently lives in New Haven, CT, and serves part-time as a chaplain at Yale New Haven Hospital. He loves gardening, hiking, biking, and reading biographies and fiction.
 

Online Webinar via Zoom Live-stream (register below to receive link)

Fr Greg Christakos (D.Min. ‘24) will present his doctoral research in a webinar entitled “The Anatolian Genocide: Understanding Narratives Of Tragedy From An Orthodox Perspective,” at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Director of the Doctor of Ministry program, the Very Rev. Sergius Halvorsen will give introductory remarks.

In this presentation and discussion, Fr Greg talks about the trauma of genocide, in this case specifically of Orthodox Christians in Asia Minor in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire and the foundational time of the modern Republic of Turkey. After a brief, digestible history of that event, we will discuss why as Orthodox Christians we should have an understanding of it as part of our history, regardless of our own ethnic background. Fr Greg will then discuss how we process narratives of trauma through the lens of Orthodox Christianity and how we use the various tools in our Orthodox toolkit to understand and move forward through such events.

Join us for this needed and timely presentation on the appropriate Orthodox Christian approach to processing stories of trauma.

This webinar will be open to the public for online attendance. To attend the webinar, register at the link below. There is no entrance fee, but donations are much appreciated and will directly benefit St Vladimir’s Seminary.

Registration is closed

About the Speakers

Fr Gregory Christakos

Fr Greg Christakos grew up in the Merrimack Valley area of Massachusetts.  He studied at the University of Virginia and Trinity College, Oxford, and graduated from UVA with a B.A. in history.  After six years of working in the legal field in Charlottesville, VA, Fr Greg discerned a calling to the priesthood and attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA. During this time, he did an exchange semester at St Vladimir’s Seminary and graduated from Holy Cross with a Master of Divinity degree in 2005.  Shortly thereafter, he married the former Eleni Pitsillides and was ordained.  

After serving as the assistant pastor at St Spyridon Cathedral for six years, Fr Greg was named pastor of Sts Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church in Marlborough, MA., where he continues to serve.  Fr Greg concluded his formal education at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary with a D.Min. in 2024.  His many interests include genocide studies, linguistics, and religious minorities in the Near and Middle East.

The Very Rev. Sergius Halvorsen

The Very Rev. Sergius Halvorsen (M.Div. ‘96; Ph.D., Drew University, 2002) is Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Rhetoric at St Vladimir's Seminary and serves as director of the Doctor of Ministry Program. In addition to teaching homiletics and rhetoric, he also teaches courses in Christian education and the sacred art of narrative. Fr Sergius is a priest of the Orthodox Church in America, he is attached to Holy Transfiguration Church in New Haven, CT, and has contributed to a number of "Archangel Voices" recordings. He currently lives in New Haven, CT, and serves part-time as a chaplain at Yale New Haven Hospital. He loves gardening, hiking, biking, and reading biographies and fiction.
 

About the Doctor of Ministry Program

The Doctor of Ministry degree at St Vladimir's Seminary enhances the practice of ministry for ordained and lay ministers in the Orthodox Church. The program integrates enhanced competencies in pastoral analysis with skills necessary to lead students to an advanced understanding of the nature and purposes of ministry. Working in communities of teachers and learners, the students gain deeper knowledge about the practice of serving others in Christian love as they grow in spiritual maturity as ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The D.Min. program at St Vladimir's Seminary provides priests, chaplains, and other pastoral professionals with advanced knowledge and skills in order to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are suffering. Integrating doctoral-level academic work with pastoral spirituality, this program will help you to acquire and refine the skills to minister to those whom God has called you to serve. Please consider joining us in a doctoral program that will give you an opportunity to foster deep and lasting friendships as we engage in work that contributes to authentic spiritual and pastoral renewal. The next D.Min. cohort will commence in Fall 2024. Through the generous support of Protodeacon Peter and Tanya Danilchick, qualified DMin students can receive financial support from the Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies.

The Light of the World Webinar Series was born from survey feedback gathered in late 2022 from St Vladimir’s Seminary constituents. One of the issues respondents asked to hear about most was gender; accordingly, the Light of the World Webinar Series has now addressed gender twice: identifying its definition according to Scripture in November 2023, and again for the March 2024 session with a specific focus on womanhood. The webinar on March 28, titled “Lighting Your Lamps with the Wise Bridesmaids: a Discussion on Biblical Femininity,” was co-hosted by Mother Devorah Salamon (M.A. ‘23), and Sister Anastasia Colchester (M.A. ‘23), both members of St Macarius Monastery in Phoenix, AZ.

Mother Devorah and Sister Anastasia each have fascinating backgrounds as former atheists and students of 21st-century feminist theory, and both came to a new understanding of femininity through their individual encounters with Christ in the Orthodox Church as adults. During the course of the webinar, both Mother Devorah and Sister Anastasia introduced their graduate research related to the topic of biblical femininity, completed in 2023 for their M.A. degrees from St Vladimir’s Seminary, and also spoke about their inspiring journeys from a life very much in the world to their current monastic callings. 

The Q&A session following the speakers’ presentations was moderated by Seminary President, the Very Rev. Dr Chad Hatfield, who read questions from listeners about how to transition from a worldly approach to femininity to a Christ-oriented one. He thanked the speakers for their pointed and in-depth presentations and commentary, and also urged listeners to make a contribution to St Macarius Monastery, which is now striving to complete housing for the monastic community growing there. 

Chief Advancement Officer, webinar orchestrator, and SVS Press Director, Sarah Werner, also thanked the speakers for their valuable insights and encouraged listeners to support current students at St Vladimir’s Seminary by making a donation to the scholarship fund at svots.edu/give. She also introduced Sister Anastasia’s upcoming book with SVS Press, You Are Mine, a raw and unflinching account of her transformation and conversion from New Age and occult spirituality to life in Christ in the Orthodox Church (available for pre-order here).

To watch the recording of the sixth session of the Light of the World Webinar Series, “Lighting Your Lamps with the Wise Bridesmaids: a Discussion on Biblical Femininity”, click the button below.

Watch Webinar Recording

To read the written version of Sister Anastasia’s talk, click the button below:

Read Sister Anastasia’s talk

About the Light of the World Webinar Series

This monthly webinar series features speakers from among St Vladimir’s Seminary faculty, alumni, and friends, speaking on a variety of topics while answering a core question:

How are we Christians to be the light of the world?

Drawing inspiration from feedback received through a recent survey, these webinars aim to address a diverse range of themes that address real and pressing issues facing Orthodox faithful in modern society. 

These online webinars are open to the public and free of cost. They are recorded and uploaded to the St Vladimir’s Seminary YouTube channel after the live Zoom event for easy access. 

The sixth webinar in the Light of the World Webinar Series is titled “Lighting Your Lamps with the Wise Bridesmaids: a Discussion on Biblical Femininity” It will be co-hosted by Mother Devorah Salamon (M.A. ‘23), and Sister Anastasia Colchester (M.A. ‘23), both members of St Macarius Monastery in Phoenix, AZ, and recent graduates of St Vladimir’s Seminary. 

Mother Devorah and Sister Anastasia each have fascinating backgrounds as former atheists and students of 21st-century feminist theory, who each came to a new understanding of femininity through their individual encounters with Christ in the Orthodox Church. In this presentation, each will share her personal journey into the Orthodox Faith as a woman of our times, and both will introduce their graduate research related to the topic of biblical femininity. This webinar will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2024, from 7:00—8:30 p.m. Eastern, via Zoom livestream.

The online webinar is open to the public and free of cost. It will be recorded and uploaded to our YouTube channel afterward for easy access. Click the button below to register and to receive the Zoom webinar link.

Registration is closed.

About the Light of the World Webinar Series: 

This monthly webinar series features speakers from among St Vladimir’s Seminary faculty, alumni, and friends, presenting on a variety of topics while answering a core question:

How are we Christians to be the light of the world?

Drawing inspiration from feedback received through a recent survey we conducted, these webinars aim to address a diverse range of themes related to real and pressing issues facing Orthodox faithful in modern society.

Former Professor of Church History and Dean Emeritus, the Very Rev. Dr John Erickson returned to St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) to deliver the keynote address for the 2024 Colloquium on Liturgical Music in Eastern Orthodox Theological Education. Fr John gave his talk “Identity, Authenticity, Fidelity: Stories From the Last Century and What We Might Learn From Them Today” to a large crowd in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium and an audience of almost 200 registrants online.

Colloquium facilitator, Dr Alexander Lingas gave the introduction for Fr John, noting his well-known scholarship in Church history and highlighting his less-publicized yet prolific contributions to Orthodox liturgical music in America. Dr Lingas also expressed his gratitude to Fr John Erickson for his guidance and pastoral instruction during his younger days as a visiting scholar at St Vladimir’s Seminary during Fr John’s tenure as Professor and Dean, echoing the sentiments of many SVOTS alumni.

Fr John opened his presentation by quoting Henry Glassie, a distinguished historian of material culture: "History is not the past. History is a story about the past, told in the present, and designed to be useful in constructing the future." Throughout his talk, Fr John told various interwoven stories about the development of Orthodox liturgical music in America over the last century, reminding the audience of the efforts put forth in decades past to develop a common sense of Orthodox identity that crossed jurisdictional lines through adopting a shared “musical vernacular.” One remarkable example of these 20th-century pan-Orthodox endeavors was the First National Eastern Orthodox Religious Cultural Festival, which took place in Pittsburgh in August 1963. Fr John reviewed the various liturgical selections sung at this unique event, attended by over 11,000 people from multiple jurisdictions, describing the gathering as “a high point” in the “visible expression of Orthodox unity in America.” 

In the latter portion of his talk, Fr John gave many further examples of the “musical vernacular” employed in Orthodox choirs across the United States, and posited the benefits of adapting appropriately to our current intercultural Orthodox milieu, while incorporating our ancestral musical traditions without being completely overshadowed by them. He also presented an array of practical ways to adjust liturgical singing practices to suit the choir makeup and ability of each local parish.

Fr John concluded his presentation by relating some of his personal experiences, dwelling fondly on his time at St Vladimir’s Seminary and relating the ways that the seminary influenced not only liturgical music in American Orthodoxy but also liturgical practices such as frequent communion and evening Presanctified Liturgy. During the Q&A session following the talk, senior St Vladimir’s staff member, Ted Bazil, gave a short tribute to Fr John’s many years of dedicated service and positive influence within the seminary community.

 The 2024 Colloquium on Liturgical Music in Eastern Orthodox Theological Education was made possible through a Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Watch the recording of the talk by John Erickson by clicking the button below.

Watch Lecture Recording

Some of the invited scholars and members of the SVOTS faculty panel for the 2024 Colloquium on Liturgical Music in Eastern Orthodox Theological Education. From left: Anastasia Kappanadze (St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary), Deacon Harrison Basil Russin (SVOTS), Dr Nicholas Schidlovsky (Dean of Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville), Dr Alexander Lingas (SVOTS), the Very Rev. Dr John Erickson (SVOTS former professor and Dean Emeritus), guest of Dr Schidlovsky, and Deacon Petar Kozakijević (Serbian Orthodox Church, Metropolis of Zagreb and Ljubljana).