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.)
We are excited to announce the return of St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s Summer Music Institute, to be held on campus from June 23–27, 2026, with pre-institute intensive June 22–23.
This year’s Institute will celebrate and explore the planting, cultivation, and flourishing of Orthodox musical traditions in North America, and the musicians who laid the groundwork for the English language liturgical singing of today. Teachers and experts including Alexander Lingas, Vladimir Morosan, Photini Downie Robinson, Juliana Woodill, and Alice Hughes will lead courses of study on vocal technique and choral conducting, as well as advanced seminars on Orthodox music. Come worship, build skills, and enjoy fellowship together!
Registration Information & Schedule Coming Soon.
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.
Bishop Vasily (M.Div., '04) returned to campus for the first time since his ordination to the episcopate in August. His Grace served as a full-time member of the Seminary’s faculty leading up to his ordination, and now continues as part-time faculty as he oversees the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of the West. On Saturday, November 8, Bishop Vasily joined the Seminary community at Three Hierarchs Chapel for the Feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Archangels and the Bodiless Powers of Heaven. The festal celebration was further blessed by the presence of another beloved faculty member and alumnus, Archpriest Kirill Sokolov (M.Div., '07), who flew in from California for the intensive week of the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program. Bishop Vasily then presided over Hierarchical Divine Liturgy the next day on campus.
New Icons in Memory of Archpriest Paul Lazor (+2020)
Following Divine Liturgy on Saturday, Bishop Vasily blessed icons of the Holy Four Evangelists newly adorning the Chapel walls. The four icons are the result of an incredibly generous gift from Matushka Natasha Lazor in memory of her husband, the Very Rev. Paul Lazor (June 28, 1939–May 9, 2020).
Father Paul was an inspirational spiritual father and teacher for generations of Seminary graduates and clergy. He graduated from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 1964, and was married that same year to his beloved Matushka Natasha (Manturoff). After his ordination to the priesthood, by the hands of Archbishop John (Shahovsky) of San Francisco, Fr. Paul went on to serve parishes in Wisconsin and Connecticut. He later returned to the Seminary, where he served for many years as Dean of Students and full-time member of faculty, teaching courses in liturgics and liturgical theology, practical (pastoral) theology, as well as the Russian, Church Slavonic and Greek languages. He also served as priest and rector of the Seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel. During those years of service at St. Vladimir’s, Matushka Natasha worked on the Seminary staff and then for the special education organization BOCES. Father Paul retired from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in June of 2007.
Father Paul and Matushka Natasha at his retirement from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2007.
“Anyone who was a seminarian at St. Vladimir’s when Fr. Paul was Dean of Students will likely remember him in the choir or serving. He was always at services,” remembered Fr. Alexander Rentel, the current rector of Three Hierarchs Chapel. “He loved the services and believed in them, their power to bring us closer to God himself. He loved the services, but he also enjoyed the services. I learned so much from him about the services, organizing them, the underlying method beneath their structure, how to serve, but also just that enjoyment that I mentioned.
“I will always remember a quote, too, from him, which was really from his mother, whom he quoted frequently: ‘Any gift that comes from goodness has an inexhaustible source.’”
The St. Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale sang before a packed audience at Three Hierarchs Chapel and hundreds of online viewers Thursday evening, November 6, in memory of eminent Orthodox Church musician Boris Ledkovsky (1894–1975).
The concert, Fitting and Right, paid tribute to Ledkovsky’s foundational contributions to the repertoire and ethos of Orthodox liturgical music especially in America. One of the founding professors of music at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Ledkovsky joined the Seminary faculty in 1953. His contributions to the school as well as the Church in North America continued until his repose in 1975. The year 2025 marks fifty years since Ledkovsky’s falling asleep.
The Chorale, directed by Seminary Liturgical Music Instructor Zachariah Mandell (M.Div. ’20), performed selections from Vespers, Matins, and Holy Saturday composed and arranged by Ledkovsky, before concluding the evening with a beautiful performance of We Have No Other Help.
A memorable celebration took place on campus as Theodore (Ted) Bazil was honored for his tremendous contributions to St. Vladimir’s Seminary and the Church. On Thursday, October 30, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon bestowed the Primatial Gramota upon Ted Bazil in recognition of his more than fifty years of faithful service.
His Beatitude led an Akathist of Thanksgiving at Three Hierarchs Chapel before the reception of the Gramota.
“On these sacred grounds, you offered yourself, not primarily to buildings and facilities, but rather to the human persons who lived, labored and prayed here,” remarked His Beatitude. “Successive generations of these many constituents have come to know Ted, along with your faithful wife, Claudia, as a pillar of St. Vladimir's Seminary and its mission. But beyond these sacred grounds, you have become known to the wider Church—bishops, priests, deacons, and faithful from many parishes and missions—as an advocate for the work of the local Church here in North America.”
The occasion was further blessed by the presence of His Grace Bishop John (Abdalah), Seminary faculty member and auxiliary bishop of the Antiochian Archdiocese; His Grace Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevic) of the Eastern American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church; and His Grace Bishop Nikodhim (Preston) of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Other members of the Seminary community, alumni, trustees, the extended Bazil family, and friends also gathered for the beautiful ceremony and reception.
It was a fitting celebration of Ted, whose contributions to the Seminary in particular have been so numerous, impactful, and varied, they can scarcely be summarized in any concise fashion.
“What sets Ted apart is not just his enormous energy, which anyone who has tried to keep pace with him knows better than I, but it's the way he channels that energy into service,” Trustee Emeritus Pdn. Peter Danilchick said during the reception. “Whatever the issue, whether problem or opportunity, Ted leaps into the breach, not for recognition, not for reward, but simply because the work needs doing.”
Ted Bazil is the most senior member of the management staff at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Originally hailing from Michigan, he began his time at the Seminary as a student in 1969 after graduating from Michigan State University earlier that year (with a B.S. in Urban Planning, minor concentration in Engineering). He received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from St. Vladimir’s in May of 1973 and began his employment with the Seminary the very next month, in June.
Ted during his seminary years (back row, middle) with members of his family, including cousins Michael, Leonard, Mark, Philip, the future Fr. Thomas, and Matthew; and Frs. Vladimir, Gregory, and Igor.
“Ted Basil, then a student, would see the light on and come in many nights and help me collating orders, ordering books, looking up publishers of books … I was especially impressed with Ted's humility, and at the same time, he showed a genuine interest in theology, bookstore details, and theological publishing. This is when I really got to know Ted, his natural love for St. Vladimir’s.”
Professor Emeritus Dave Drillock was one of several speakers who paid tribute to Ted.
Prof. Drillock went on to recommend to then-Dean Fr. Alexander Schmemann that Ted be hired full time upon graduation. Since then, Ted has been instrumental in the rise of SVS Press and the expansion of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, holding many roles—most of them held simultaneously—including Business Manager, Director of SVS Press, Recording Secretary for the Board of Trustees, Director of Advancement CFRM, Planned Gifts Officer, and acting Chief Operations Officer. He both directed and was the project manager for construction and capital improvements totaling over $20 million, and was the lead person for campus expansion for over fifty years. During his tenure as the Director of SVS Press in its early years in the 1970s through 2013, the Press grew from 2-3 titles to over 500 titles, began generating over a million dollars in annual sales revenue, and established itself as the world’s largest and most active publisher of Orthodox Christian books in the English language.
“Over the decades, Ted has diligently and faithfully shared his talents through acts of service, love, and care in various roles in the Seminary administration,” said Seminary Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie. “As we have been renewing our commitment to the Crestwood campus, moving into a new era of the Seminary's history, Ted has been a constant source of strength, ideas, resilience, and support for our faculty, staff, and students.
“I am honored to call Ted a true friend and colleague,” added Dr. Tudorie. “It has been a great joy and pleasure getting to know him through our shared work over the years.
Dr. Tudorie presented Ted with tokens of appreciation on behalf of the Seminary administration, faculty, staff, and students.
During the reception Thursday, Ted’s eldest son Andrew (Drew) shared more about what makes his father such a faithful and dedicated servant.
“If you know my dad, you know what relationships mean to him. It's one of the most important things that I love about my dad. ... He's just a caring person, and he just keeps in contact with everybody,” Drew Bazil explained. “I mean, sometimes he’ll sit on the couch … and just start going through contacts. ‘Oh, I haven't called this person in a while. Maybe I'll give him a call or her a call and see what's going on.’ He just cares about people, and that's very important.”
Ted’s eldest son Drew spoke on behalf of the Bazil family.
Ted’s focus on relationships was evident throughout the celebration, as many friends and colleagues from near and far traveled to St. Vladimir’s Seminary to honor him. Many others who weren’t able to make the trip offered messages of appreciation and congratulations to Ted and his family.
“I have to say that I'm happy,” Ted said to conclude the memorable evening. “I'm happy that [Prof. Drillock and the Seminary] took a chance on hiring me. And finally, I just want to just conclude and say, ‘Where your treasure is there, your heart will be also’ [Mt. 6:21]. This is something that Fr Schmemann always used to quote from Scripture and tell me. And after all these years, I now realize that my treasure is here in this place, in my work, in this chapel, in the Seminary, in this community, my family and my wife, and my faith in Christ. So God bless you all.”
May God grant Theodore Bazil and his family many years! Axios!
The Bazil family (from left): granddaughter Emma, daughter-in-law Sarah, son Drew, Theodore (Ted), wife Claudia, daughter-in-law Alexandra, grandson Summit, and son Justin.
The St. Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale will honor eminent Orthodox Church musician Boris Ledkovsky with a public performance Thursday, November 6, 2025. The free concert will be held at the Seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel and will also be streamed online.
The Chorale concert is a tribute to Boris Ledkovsky (1894–1975), honoring his foundational contributions to the repertoire and ethos of Orthodox Liturgical Music especially in America, and specifically at St. Vladimir's Seminary. The year 2025 marks fifty years since Ledkovsky’s repose.
Theodore (Ted) Bazil (center) at the Seminary bookstore with then-seminarian Fr. Steven Belonick (left) and bookstore volunteer and longtime friend Joseph Domanick, circa late 1970s.
Have you ever enjoyed a book published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press? Have you or has someone you know—perhaps your own parish priest—lived or spent time on campus, worshiped in Three Hierarchs Chapel, or listened to a lecture at the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium from some of the most renowned Orthodox theologians of our times? However you might have interacted with the Seminary, whatever building you stepped into, or whatever good things you might have seen come out of the Seminary over the past half-century—more than likely Theodore (Ted) Bazil played an instrumental role in making it happen. From the time of Fr. Alexander Schmemann’s deanship to the current administration under Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, Ted has been an ever-present, ever-faithful figure over the past fifty-five years at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, working tirelessly in service of the Seminary’s mission.
Ted Bazil is the most senior member of the management staff at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Originally hailing from Michigan, he began his time at the Seminary as a student in 1969 after graduating from Michigan State University earlier that year (with a B.S. in Urban Planning, minor concentration in Engineering). He received his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from St. Vladimir’s in May of 1973 and began his employment with the Seminary the very next month, in June. Since then Ted has held many roles—most of them held simultaneously—including Business Manager, Director of SVS Press, Recording Secretary for the Board of Trustees, Director of Advancement CFRM, Planned Gifts Officer, and acting Chief Operations Officer. He both directed and was the project manager for construction and capital improvements totaling over $20 million, and was the lead person for campus expansion for over fifty years. During his tenure as the Director of SVS Press in its early years in the 1970s through 2013, the Press grew from 2-3 titles to over 500 titles, began generating over a million dollars in annual sales revenue, and established itself as the world’s largest and most active publisher of Orthodox Christian books in the English language.
Over his long history with St. Vladimir’s, Ted has diligently and faithfully shared his talents through acts of service, love, and care in his various roles in the Seminary administration. Inspiringly, his zeal for St. Vladimir’s Seminary has endured, and his tireless work ethic has seemingly never diminished, even after all these years. And Ted and his wife Claudia have been engaged and committed members of the extended Seminary community, generously giving to the Seminary themselves again and again.
In recognition of Ted’s exemplary service to Christ’s Holy Church, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon is set to bestow upon him the Primatial Gramota.
In advance of receiving the honor, Ted graciously sat down to be interviewed about his life and to share memories about his time as a truly irreplaceable figure in the Seminary’s history.
Ted, what was your experience of the Church growing up, and what was it that drew you to St. Vladimir’s Seminary for the first time?
I grew up in a pious, Orthodox family, with a Russian background. My grandfather on my mother’s side was [Mitred Archpriest] Fr. Gregory Soroka, who came from the Belarus region of Russia. He went to the first Russian Orthodox Theological Seminary in Minneapolis. He had four sons, three of them were priests. The Soroka family were accomplished liturgical musicians. I had a very strong Orthodox religious background. Like many people who grew up in the 50s and 60s, the discipline was to go to church and go to all the services that were conducted in Church Slavonic. I had a strong spiritual influence through that side of the family. My father wasn’t a priest. He was a carpenter, but his side of the family were all Orthodox church members.
It was only in college that I started to understand more about the theology and history of the Church. I began attending church while at MSU and became good friends with the local Orthodox priest, who served the campus and local community. His name was [Mitred Archpriest] Photius Donahue. He was a Professor of History at the university. Father Schmemann and other members of the SVS faculty knew him and participated in his annual Orthodox catechetical conferences organized at the university. Father Photius taught a survey course on the Orthodox Church. Through this experience and readings in his course, I began to better understand the depth and tradition of the Orthodox Church. I got involved with the OCF. We had a large OCF with around 200-300 students. They made me president and I took on some leadership roles. I was on fire about learning more about the faith. This began my academic and spiritual interest in Orthodox theology and history. Father Photius opened my eyes to all of this.
Toward the end of college, I had a personal tragedy in my family. My sister passed away from an accident at a young age. I started to reconsider where my life was going. Then I met Fr. Schmemann during a church presentation in Michigan. He inspired me. He revealed another dimension to the possibilities of my life. He talked to me about the Seminary. I wanted to visit, and I did visit and eventually enrolled. I came to SVS in ’69 as a full-time student. It was a great time. It was a small community, but the community wasn’t much smaller than it is now—we had 80 to 90 students. The facilities were so much more humble, much smaller and tighter. Students today no longer share rooms. In those days we all did. We had up to three in a room in two common dormitories. We were young and we forged friendships and did everything together. Choir trips to parishes on the weekends were a highlight. I got to know the faculty well. I loved it. It was such a change coming from a major university, going from large classes to small classes with the same classmates every day for years. We had great respect for the faculty, our mentors and teachers. The liturgical experience was profound and our spiritual life intense.
Ted during his seminary years (back row, middle) with members of his family, including cousins Michael, Leonard, Mark, Philip, the future Fr. Thomas, and Matthew; and Frs. Vladimir, Gregory, and Igor.
What are some of your fondest memories of learning from some of those incredible teachers— Schmemann, Meyendorff, and others?
I remember every time we left Fr. Schmemann’s class. He always began the class by saying, “I have three points to make,” and then never got to the third point [laughs]. But it didn’t matter, because whatever he gave us in those two points was more than enough!
I have very fond memories of Fr. Schmemann. He was my dean, in charge of everything, and also my father-confessor. He was a great communicator. I often heard him effectively speak from the humblest to the most exalted audiences. He gave me direction but never told me what to do, either in confession or working at the Seminary. He wasn’t looking after my day-to-day operations. He was a person, in both his preaching and his presence, who would inspire you to do better. He gave you freedom and required you to work things out for yourself. This was especially true in his confessions. He gave direction but left you to work out your own salvation, which he always monitored to see if you were making progress. He imbued that kind of leadership quality to people at the Seminary at this time. That was a significant thing—he empowered people. I think that is what Dr. Tudorie is now trying to do. He’s trying to empower leadership at the Seminary and give back those responsibilities to each of the persons that have been delegated their work.
Father Meyendorff was a very different type of person. Father Schmemann was very extroverted, urbane, Parisian and Russian. Meyendorff was similar in this way but was more reserved. It took him a little longer to get to the point. His classes in both history and patristics were complete and detailed but were always related to the larger and more catholic universal history of the Church. I almost guarantee that most of his students still have his class notes! He would teach facts about Church history and provide theological insights using interesting stories from the Church Fathers. His explanation about the intricacies of the ecumenical councils and the relationships during these theological debates made history and patristics alive, not simply facts. You remember his stories. Meyendorff was incredible at doing that.
There were such great teachers in that generation—Schmemann, Meyendorff, Kesich, Hopko ... I realized transitioning from university to the seminary how significant they were. You go through so many professors in college, and then you get to seminary and there are only a few professors. They were so far advanced as teachers because they conveyed not only the material, the information, but they inspired you to read more, to do more, and research the topics yourself. That’s very rare. Interestingly, a few of us were in the last class ever to attend a course with Fr. Georges Florovsky down at Lehman College. Father Schmemann encouraged us to take this course. This was a real highlight being able to take a course from Fr. Florovsky. In my student years, I was profoundly inspired by the faculty’s dedication and knowledge, and wanted to share this in some significant way.
Seminary faculty, circa 1970s, with Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor).
Did you feel called to ordained ministry as a seminarian?
No, my interest was theological and spiritual, not so much liturgical. I wanted to learn the history, the theology, and find the resources that Christ’s Church offered. I knew that I couldn’t find this myself. My former college professor led me to that, and then I started to find other things. I read Fr. Schmemann’s For the Life of the World (the first edition, 1964) and both Fr. Meyendorff and Bp. Kallistos Ware’s first editions of The Orthodox Church, and studied Isabel Hapgood’s service book. I wasn’t called to the ministry (actually, no one ever called me!) but I think I was always called to serve the Church somehow. I eventually found that niche in working for the Seminary and doing everything that I did.
What led to you being hired by the Seminary right after graduation, and how did you get involved with SVS Press?
I started doing things around the Seminary while I was a student. Everyone had jobs. My interest was in books. We had a small theological bookstore, just selling to students. We had two or three seminary Press books at the time. David Drillock was basically running it. Professor Verhovskoy wanted to close it because it wasn’t making much money, but Dave Drillock refused. He said no, thought we could do better, and he and Fr. Schmemann had the vision and dream to somehow use the bookstore to transition into the Press. They needed someone to help make it a reality. I was that person and got involved in helping develop the product while I was a seminarian. I was only volunteering, doing the work outside of my assigned seminary job. At one point Father Michael Oleksa and I put together a 124-page annotated book catalog. The books we featured of course weren’t Press books, as we only had two or three at that time, but we included a lot of quality theological books being sold by university presses. We put the catalog together and mailed it out to parishes and alumni. That’s how we started to use the bookstore as the sales arm of SVS Press. We developed a plan to sell these books outside of our normal orbit, and it was successful. I graduated that year, and wasn’t married. Fr. Schmemann came to me and said, “Why don’t you stay at the Seminary and help build the Press?” I knew David Drillock was behind that, because he was kind of the architect of the Press and understood what was going on. Father Schmemann knew that, but also said they could use some of my other skills that I had in planning and engineering to help physically develop and expand the facilities and campus. So that’s how I transitioned into my position at the Press and stayed at the Seminary.
SVS Press is extremely rare in how profitable it is, especially considering it’s attached to a small, non-profit religious school. Even large, well-known university presses mostly lose money and operate at a deficit! How did you go about growing SVS Press so tremendously into what it is today?
It was interesting because after I married my wife, we didn’t have children for five years. Claudia was a flight attendant for Pan Am Airlines, always doing international travel for a large part of the week. This afforded me the possibility of spending a tremendous amount of time working to build the Press. For five years, I know that I would often spend six to seven days a week, from ten to sometimes eighteen hours a day, working to build the Press, focusing on that work. Dave Drillock and I worked together. He taught during the day, and was the Secretary and later CFO, but would come over in the evenings to help me when he could. We did this together, and that is how we built a foundation for the Press.
We saw opportunities at that time. For example, we found a group of small patristic titles, On the Incarnation, On the Christian Sacraments, and St. John Chrysostom’s On the Priesthood, which were published in the UK by SPCK. We bought the rights and published them under SVS Press. We saw the popularity of these texts. These books launched what became the Popular Patristics Series. In the beginning, Fr. Meyendorff and Fr. Erickson were very helpful in identifying important patristic texts to translate and finding translators for new materials, e.g. St. Basil’s On the Holy Spirit among others. At the time there were large, often poorly translated patristic texts published in expansive and expensive editions such as the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. We saw the Orthodox interest and necessity in publishing new, fresh, and readable patristic texts focused on a particular theme. Our patristic publications were small and inexpensive. This series became a tremendous success. Now we have something like seventy-five volumes in the series using this model.
Another important way the Press grew: In the 60s it started with the publication of a few faculty works; by the 70s we brought publication rights to some very popular and important books like The Orthodox Way by Kallistos Ware and books by other Orthodox figures who weren’t part of the Seminary faculty. Then we expanded our publication net even more and looked for works that weren’t necessarily written by Orthodox authors. These new titles represented the theology of the Orthodox Church and some from various traditions too, such as the Coptic, Syriac, and Armenian traditions. Occasionally we identified some respected Catholic and Anglican authors to publish some significant books on history, theology, and liturgical theology. We often published or bought publications or translations and North American rights from respected English Christian or French Roman Catholic publishers. We published these books in the US market and paid them royalties. We don’t co-publish much anymore. Either authors come to us with a manuscript or the Press through the Faculty Publication Committee solicits new titles from authors on various topics. That’s one of the big things that has changed.
With Bishop Daniel Findikyan, an alumnus and former faculty member of the Seminary, at the 2006 launch of the AVANT Series published by SVS Press in collaboration with St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.
There was another significant transition at the Press. At first, our market was Orthodox. Our initial market was Orthodox believers and parishes. But the market changed, and we began to expand beyond the traditional Orthodox audience, which actually grew the Press and grew its influence. That transition was tremendous. I don’t know the proportions now of how many non-Orthodox versus Orthodox people read our books and use our material—just go on Amazon and start reading reviews. You can surmise most of those people aren’t Orthodox. So many people have “read” their way into the Orthodox Church by reading a Press book!
SVS Press was created as a “mission.” I feel certain we never lost sight of this purpose. This is the raison d’être for SVS Press to exist. We hope that our publications are transformational and serve to guide spiritually and inform our readers. It’s significant that we established a model that made the Press profitable, which is unheard of for a university press. This is accomplished by keeping the expenses and prices of books low, while publishing the right material and distributing to expanding markets.
We were always a small operation, but very active. There was no template for us already set. You learned on the way, learned how to publish, learned what would sell, how to do acquisition, how to edit, how to design, how to find printers, and then warehouse, market, and manage the operation. There were always things you learned as you went along, and this grew our knowledge about everything.
After all that tremendous work to build the Press and doing countless other things at the Seminary, you “retired” as SVS Press Director in 2013. But it seems we just wouldn’t let you leave! And you still have so much enthusiasm for the work of the Seminary, and are working as tirelessly as ever. How have you kept that fire kindled year after year?
Well, there are a number of things. Number one is that, since I did so many things—I was the Director of the Press (that just fell into my lap), the COO, the business manager; I was charged with construction and property acquisition, fundraising, planned gifts—so it was never boring. I was always doing something different and something more exciting and something more challenging. And the great thing about that is that when you have the freedom to do things and you see successes, that feeds your passion. You know when it happens, and see it’s being done for the greater good. You want to be part of that, and it feeds your passion to continue. Then you throw that in with those inspirational leaders that you’ve met and worked with. It’s a wonderful formula.
Another element of the joy of being here is serving the Seminary. I never felt that I was called to anything else except to do this work. But part of the joy of being here is meeting so many people through the years: seminarians, alumni, new faculty, previous faculty, staff, and others such as the Board of Trustees and donors. For over twenty-five years I was recording secretary for the Board, and I met and got to know all the Board members. They stepped up their participation, especially at critical times when we were doing capital campaigns and supported these projects. They were so sacrificial and dedicated. They gave so much of their time and talents, and treasure. The fact that people like that sacrifice for the mission of the school inspired me. You hope that you can emulate them by some modicum of example. I met so many people like that through the years. I won’t use names, because I will forget someone. There are so many of them who were so instrumental in the life of the Seminary, both trustees and other donors. Then occasionally you met some really bright stars, like Jaroslav Pelikan, whom I got to know personally. My wife Claudia and I were godparents to his wife Sylvia when she was brought into the Orthodox Church in the chapel, and are godparents to one of his grandchildren. He just was a remarkable person who was a real rock of faith and knowledge. You are blessed to meet people like this on occasion. If I were not in this position, I would never have that opportunity. It is the gift of being at SVS so long that you are given these opportunities.
With Jaroslav Pelikan
As I mentioned, I had my hands in so many things. When I formally retired, I just stayed on part time, and helped the Seminary where needed. I sit in on meetings and share my experience when requested. I find that I am still interested in what is going on here and am not bored. I still come to work, get to meet people, and do different things. So even though I’m not doing all the things that I did before, I still am excited by the challenge of what goes on and seeing the changes, seeing how the Seminary has grown and has developed, and where it’s going. I’m very hopeful about the future of St. Vladimir’s.
With David Drillock (middle) and Protodeacon John Eby (+2021), a fellow alumnus of the Seminary and longtime SVS Bookstore manager.
One of the people you met here became your wife! Can you tell us how you and Claudia met?
It happened after I returned to the Seminary as a student. After my second year I had to take a hiatus from my studies, because I suffered a bad injury to my knee and needed surgery. I went back to Michigan and had a lot of reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation. In those days you didn’t leave the hospital and had to stay there for weeks. I returned to St. Vladimir’s the year after my surgery on Holy Thursday. I met Claudia that day for the first time. I was introduced to her by my cousin, Michael Soroka, who was a seminarian. She was the daughter of an Orthodox priest and was employed by Pan American Airlines. I met her in the chapel on Holy Thursday. We never separated since and share a wonderful life together. We think of Holy Thursday as a special time.
Ted and Claudia
That is so beautiful! Is Claudia still working these days?
She is still a flight attendant and works for Delta Airlines. In fact, that’s a part of our life too. She has afforded us the opportunity for both myself and our two sons to travel all over the world for free. We’ve been able to visit so many ultimate destinations that I could not have otherwise afforded.
Ted and Claudia celebrating their 50th anniversary with their family.
Can you talk about your sons and now grandchildren as well?
My oldest son, Drew, lives on my same street in Crestwood with his wife Sarah and my thirteen-year-old granddaughter. He’s a professional structural engineer and a project manager for the new NYC Hudson Tunnels. My other son is Justin. He works as an electrician for the entertainment industry. He comes back occasionally and works out of the New York City region. He and his wife Alexandra have our two-year-old grandson.
We have a very close family. We go on family trips together and get together often. It’s a nice time of life to share so much.
With sons Andrew and Justin
What else do you enjoy doing—maybe something people don’t know about you, even if they’ve worked or known you for a long time?
Well, aside from my absolute love of mountains, national parks, the great outdoors, extensive hiking, and canoeing, I think what most people don’t know about me is that I enjoy Hallmark-type of movies with my wife [laughs]. Some of them are great!
With alumnus and faculty member Gregory Abdalah (now The Rev. Dn. Gregory) at the Seminary’s 75th anniversary celebration in November 2013.
Having seen so much history at St. Vladimir’s Seminary under so many different leaders and administrations, what are your thoughts on the direction of the Seminary moving forward?
I think now, with this new leadership and direction under Dr. Tudorie and with the present Board, faculty, and staff, it bodes well for the future. There are some exciting possibilities that I see for development in all the areas. I think the right people are in place to do that. In my previous role as the Director of Advancement and Planned Giving, I have been blessed with getting to know incredibly generous donors that give in measure of their blessings. They support, believe in, and pray for the mission of the Seminary. Our school could not exist without their support to sustain the annual budget. Planned gift estates and capital campaign donors have provided transformational gifts that resulted in the growth of the Seminary’s programs and facilities. Our benefactors look for something hopeful and want to see things accomplished. We’re moving in the right direction. It’s our job to stay on the narrow path, work hard and do our best—we pray that God bless our efforts!
At the 75th anniversary celebration in Nov. 2013. Pictured (from left to right): Seminary Chancellor/CEO Archpriest Chad Hatfield; Alumni Association Board Chair Gregory Abdalah; Alex Machaskee, 75th Anniversary Co-Chair; Matushka Sharon Rubis and Tatiana Hoff, Banquet Co-Chairs; Tony Kasmer, 75th Anniversary Co-Chair; Theodore Bazil, Master of Ceremonies; Seminary Dean Archpriest John Behr.
The renowned Professor R.W.L. Moberly joined a notable group of Orthodox biblical scholars on the campus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS) this October with a firm question in mind: Is there, or could there be, a distinctively Orthodox mode of biblical scholarship?
The theme “Orthodox Biblical Scholarship Between Church and Academy” guided SVOTS’ Fourth Annual Academic Symposium, held October 16–18, 2025.
Orthodox interpreters are relative latecomers to the field of biblical studies. When the discipline came into its modern form in the mid- to late-eighteenth century, it received its shape largely from Protestant scholars. Among Jewish and Roman Catholic scholars, there were some pioneers and “early adopters” in the beginning stages, but it was not until the twentieth century that these two groups fully entered the discourse. As we enter the middle part of the twenty-first century, Orthodox biblical scholars, when compared with these groups, hardly seem visible at all within the wider academy, and “Orthodox biblical scholarship” is poorly known, if known at all, outside Orthodox countries.
Fr. Silviu Bunta and Fr. George Parsenios in discussion with Prof. Moberly.
During the Symposium Dr. Moberly, considered among the top biblical scholars in the world, delivered the Keynote Address, entitled, “Orthodox Biblical Scholarship: Possibilities and Prospects.” In it, he remarked that one of the ironies of the historical-critical method that gave rise to modern biblical studies, and continues to dominate the field, is that it often leads to scholarship which is not biblical at all—texts are examined for their pre-biblical content as stand-alone works, rather than as part of a whole, biblical corpus.
“The core subject matter of Scripture is not primarily ancient history, but God,” he asserted.
Over the two days which followed Prof. Moberly’s Keynote Address, Symposium organizer Dr. Michael Legaspi and an impressive lineup of other Orthodox scholars delivered presentations, including:
The Rev. Dr. Michael Azar (University of Scranton);
The Very Rev. Dr. Silviu N. Bunta (University of Dayton);
Dr. Lydia Gore-Jones (St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College);
Dr. Rebecca Luft (St. Herman Theological Seminary);
The Rev. Dr. George Parsenios (Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology;
The Rev. Dr. Eugen Pentiuc, in absentia (Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology);
The Rev. Dr. Cosmin Pricop (University of Bucharest);
Dr. James Wallace (Christian Brothers University); and
The Rev. Dr. Daniel York (Orthodox Church in America, Diocese of the West).
Dr. Lydia Gore-Jones was among the scholars who traveled from great distance to participate in the symposium. Prof. Gore-Jones is Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies at St. Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College in Sydney, Australia.
“It was a wonderful few days of stimulating discussion among fine scholars, and I am so grateful to all of them for traveling to be here for the Symposium,” said Dr. Legaspi. “I am also thankful for the support of our Dean, Dr. Alex Tudorie, in hosting this event.”
“My hope is that this Symposium has given each of us, and all who watched and participated, something to think about to help us all do our work of studying and proclaiming the Scriptures to the best of our ability.”
Dr. Michael Legaspi, Associate Professor of Old Testament at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, was the primary organizer of this year’s Academic Symposium.
With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Ms. Eleana Silk, an alumna of St. Vladimir’s and longtime librarian at the Seminary. Eleana fell asleep in the Lord on October 21.
Eleana was born in Detroit, Michigan, and studied zoology and geology at Michigan State and George Washington University, working as a computer programmer before enrolling at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in the 1980s. She went on to complete a Master of Divinity degree in 1986 and a Master of Arts in Christian Education in 1988. She then graduated with a Master of Library Science degree from Columbia University in 1989.
Eleana eventually joined staff as assistant librarian and later head librarian of the Seminary’s Father Georges Florovsky Library. She served faithfully for many years until her retirement in 2019, and was also known in the Seminary community for her generosity in support of seminarians and their families.
Eleana with Fr. Chad Hatfield at her retirement celebration at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2019.
In addition to her work for the Seminary, Eleana remained an active member at all levels of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), serving on the OCA’s Metropolitan Council and Department of History and Archives; co-editing the book The Legacy of St. Vladimir (SVS Press, 1990); and writing articles for The Orthodox Church, The FROC Journal and the OCA's Resource Handbook for Lay Ministries. Silk also served as secretary of the Orthodox Christian Education Commission (OCEC).
Funeral services for Eleana will be held on Friday, October 31 at 10:30 a.m. at the Monastery of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, 175 St. Tikhon's Road, Waymart, PA 18472.
What does “classical education” really mean—and what does it look like when rooted in Orthodox Christianity?
Saint Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press’s new book Into the Light, edited by David V. Hicks and Anthony Gilbert, brings together reflections from twenty-one Orthodox Christian educators who explore how the Church can recover and reshape the classical tradition for today. These essays offer more than theory; they show how Orthodox parishes and families can engage in the formation of children through an education grounded in liturgy, wonder, humility, and the pursuit of truth.
Readers will find encouragement, ideas, and lived experience—from those starting schools in their parishes to those teaching in classrooms or homeschooling at their kitchen tables. Whether you’re a priest discerning the next step in your parish’s mission, a parent seeking a life-giving alternative to the public school system, or an educator wondering what makes a school Orthodox and classical, this book offers clarity and practical guidance.
Ultimately, it points to the true goal of education: to lead children from darkness into the light—not just of knowledge, but of Christ Himself.
Into the Light: Classical Education and Orthodox Christianity is available in paperback (6×9) at SVSPress.com.
