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.)

Attend the 2026 Summer Music Institute

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!

Learn More & Register to Attend

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.

As Orthodox Christians, we strive for that inner stillness, hesychia—but St. Vladimir’s Seminary alumna Amber Rose Prather wants to make sure kids and their parents alike know that it’s still okay to move.

Prather authored the new children’s book A Saint’s Guide to Praying with Your Feet from Ancient Faith Publishing. The book is inspired by the life of the sixth-century saint Elizabeth the Wonderworker.

“A lot of Christianity in our culture tends to be very disembodied in the way it approaches faith,” Prather explained in an interview about the book. “It’s very much an intellectual exercise. And Orthodoxy is not just that, it’s not just your mind. There’s holy movement in our faith.” 

As the mother of an active toddler herself, Prather understands the struggles and emotions children and their parents go through as kids learn to control their energy and movement during church services.

“I know the moment where your kid is the one bolting across the church like, ‘Oh, please. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!’ So having a book like this—where you can talk to your kids about the holy ways to move in church and talk to your kids about how God can use what we have to make us holy—can also remind the parents that it’s okay. It’s okay that your kid struggles with something. It's okay that you struggle.”

Watch the full interview about the book on Ancient Faith’s YouTube page.

Amber Rose Prather graduated from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2024 with an M.Div. degree, alongside her husband Andrew. Amber and Andrew met as seminarians at St. Vladimir’s and were married at the Seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel in 2021. Amber also holds bachelor’s degrees in Medieval and Byzantine Studies and Theology and Religious Studies from the Catholic University of America. She has a master's degree in Philosophy, also from Catholic University.

Andrew and Amber were married at the Seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel in 2021.

By the grace of God, Dn. Gregory Hanson was ordained to the Holy Priesthood this winter at Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco—marking a first for St. Vladimir’s Seminary and the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of the West (DOW). Fr. Gregory is the first member to be ordained from the Priestly Formation Cohort, a pilot program developed by the Seminary and the DOW.

The Priestly Formation Cohort launched in January 2025 as a prototype program with the blessing of the Holy Synod of Bishops. It is a three-year course for carefully selected, theologically educated men from the Diocese. Candidates must be individually approved by the Holy Synod before being ordained to the Holy Priesthood. Fr. Gregory, a previous graduate of the OCA’s Diaconal Vocations Program, had been serving as a deacon when he entered the pilot program.

“His Grace Bishop Vasily and the Diocese of the West are firmly committed to residential formation at one of our Orthodox theological seminaries,” explained Archpriest Kirill Sokolov, Chancellor of the Diocese of the West and faculty member at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. “We currently have six seminarians each at St. Vladimir’s and St. Tikhon’s seminaries. 

“This partnership in the Priestly Formation Cohort allows us to ‘tap’ potential priesthood candidates to fulfill pressing needs. The long-standing practice of the Orthodox Church in America invites those who have attended non-Orthodox seminaries to attend seminary for a special one-year program of study. In reality, this cohort model is intentionally not a short-cut but, truly, a longer experience of formation with the highest caliber of seminary instructors.”

Fr. Gregory Hanson is a California native. He was raised Evangelical Protestant, attended Fuller Seminary, and served in youth ministry with Youth For Christ. While at Fuller Seminary he was exposed to the writings of the Early Church Fathers and realized that what the Early Church taught and how it worshiped did not match the denomination he belonged to. So Fr. Gregory embarked on a journey to find the Church that Jesus Christ established, and was received into the Orthodox Church in 1998. He served as reader, then subdeacon, and was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in December 2024. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Zacchaeus Sunday, January 25, 2026, by the hands of His Grace Bishop Vasily (Permiakov). He is assigned to Holy Trinity Cathedral as an associate priest and will benefit from direct mentoring from His Grace and Fr. Kirill. 

Fr. Gregory and his wife, Matushka Hope, are parents of five adult children and five grandchildren.

May God grant the newly ordained Priest Gregory many years!

Photos: Holy Trinity Cathedral

Two institutions profoundly impacted by the life and legacy of Protopresbyter John Meyendorff (February 17, 1926–July 22, 1992) came together this February to celebrate 100 years since his birth. 

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) and the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University hosted a joint, two-day tribute February 6 and 7 to honor Fr. John Meyendorff, one of the most influential Orthodox theologians of the twentieth century.

A scholar of extraordinary range, Fr. John Meyendorff shaped the study of Byzantine theology, Orthodox ecclesiology, and ecumenical dialogue for generations. His dual role as Professor (1959–1992) and Dean (1984–1992) at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and Professor of Byzantine History at Fordham University (1967–1992) made him a unique bridge between Orthodox theological education and the broader academic world.

SVOTS Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie and Dr. George Demacopoulos, Fordham’s Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair of Orthodox Christian Studies, served as chief organizers of the Centennial Tribute.

On the first day of the joint event, St. Vladimir’s Seminary welcomed distinguished former students of Fr. John: His Grace Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevic), Bishop of Washington-New York and Eastern America of the Serbian Orthodox Church and an alumnus of the Seminary (M.Div. ’82); and alumna Dr. Vera Shevzov (M.Div. ’86), Professor of Religion and Director of the Program in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies at Smith College. Two of Fr. John’s four children also delivered beautiful reflections and memories about their father: Dr. Paul Meyendorff, alumnus (M.Div. ’75) and the Seminary’s Fr. Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology Emeritus; and Dr. Anna Meyendorff, a former member of faculty at the University of Michigan.

Following a panikhida at Three Hierarchs Chapel, the Seminary community and guests moved to the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium for the talks and reflections.

“Fr. John’s classes were all inspiring in a most unique way, as they were quite exhilarating,” recalled His Grace Bishop Irinej, “replete with a vast array of intense knowledge, presenting both the broad spectrum and zeroing in at times on pertinent telling detail. … He presented with such piercing perception as though he had come to know the [historic] person of whom he spoke or was physically located at a particular historic event.”

Dr. Paul Meyendorff offered a touching look into Fr. John and their family’s journey from France to the United States and Fr. John’s life and work.

“The last words he said [before his repose]. … his eyes opened, and he said, ‘The Eucharist,’ and what he was seeing was that icon that you may have seen in the back of the apse of [the Seminary Chapel], which he commissioned. … And I think that summarizes his vision … it’s more than eucharistic ecclesiology—it’s life, it’s the Church.”

Listen to the evening’s beautiful reflections below, or on the Seminary’s YouTube channel.

The second day of the Centennial Tribute was the Academic Symposium, “Orthodoxy, Byzantium, and the Rise of Russia Revisited,” hosted at Fordham’s Rose Hill Campus.

Dr. Tudorie was one of several scholars who gave talks at the Symposium, along with Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou, Professor of Theology and Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture at Fordham University; Dr. Nadieszda Kizenko, Professor of History at the University at Albany; Dr. Dimiter Angelov, Dumbarton Oaks Professor of Byzantine History at Harvard University; and Dr. Tikhon Alexander Pino, Director of the Pappas Patristic Institute at Hellenic College Holy Cross.

“When I think about Fr. John Meyendorff, there are two important topics that come to my mind. One is obviously his love and passion and great contribution to the study of St. Gregory Palamas. The other one … the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America,” said Dr. Tudorie, as he introduced his talk, entitled, “Rediscovering St. Gregory Palamas: The Contributions of Frs. Dumitru Stăniloae and John Meyendorff.”

Many of the talks from the Academic Symposium are available to watch in their entirety on the Orthodox Christian Studies Center YouTube channel.

“For me [Fr. John] was smart and witty and funny and enormously gracious, and I feel very honored and very blessed to have known and studied with him, and I'm eternally grateful for his support of my work,” Dr. Papanikolaou noted before his presentation, “Why Do We Need the Essence/Energies Distinction? Virtue as the Missing Link.”

“He inspired a whole new generation of Orthodox scholars, all of whom are in his debt,” added Dr. Papanikolaou, “and I’m happy to be included in that group.”

May God remember always in His Kingdom the Protopresbyter John Meyendorff!

Scenes from the Centennial Tribute

Giving glory and thanksgiving to God, the St. Vladimir’s Seminary community celebrated the ordinations of two priests and one deacon in the month of February.

The first ordination took place on February 2, the Feast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple. Seminary alumnus Dn. Habib (Caleb) McGee (M.Div. ’24) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in Houston, TX, by the hand of His Eminence Metropolitan Saba. Fr. Habib currently assists His Eminence at the Antiochian Archdiocese Headquarters in Englewood, NJ.

On February 5, during the OCA Diocese of the South’s annual Pastoral Conference, His Eminence Archbishop Alexander ordained third-year seminarian Dn. Sergio Lopez to the Holy Priesthood at Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Kernersville, NC. Fr. Sergio is well known at Holy Cross, having served a summer internship there under the supervision of Seminary alumnus Fr. Christopher Foley (M.Div. ’06). Fr. Sergio is completing his final semester of studies in the M.Div. program at St. Vladimir’s.

Then on February 15, the Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meatfare Sunday), Metropolitan Saba ordained seminarian Ibrahim Aldaiob to the Holy Diaconate at Virgin Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church in Yonkers, NY. Dn. Ibrahim hails from Homs, Syria, and is in his first year of studies in the Seminary’s M.A. program. Prior to enrolling at St. Vladimir’s, Dn. Ibrahim studied at St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology at the University of Balamand in Lebanon.

May God grant the newly ordained Fr. Habib, Fr. Sergio, and Dn. Ibrahim and their families many years!

More Winter Ordination Announcements:

• Ordinations Ring in the New Year
• Two Malankara Orthodox Alumni Ordained
• Five Seminarians Ordained During Nativity Fast

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, are curious about what seminary life is like, or are planning to apply for the Fall 2026 Semester, then please join us on campus at the St. Vladimir’s Seminary Winter Admissions Open House on February 15-16, 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, speak with seminarians and professors about the spiritual, academic, and residential life at the seminary, and, if applying, schedule interviews. 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, February 14 and to stay through Tuesday, February 17. Meals during the official Open House, February 15–16, 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 January 31, 2026.

Registration Deadline: The registration deadline is Tuesday, February 10, 2026. 

Register Here

2026 Winter Open House Schedule

Sunday, February 15

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 Director of Admissions in Gerich Board Room (Rangos Building) 

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

3:00 p.m. — Tour of Campus

4:00 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, February 16 - A Day at Seminary

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

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

9:00 a.m. — Faculty Roundtable in the Gerich Boardroom (Rangos Building)

10:30 a.m. — Attend classes or schedule individual meetings

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

1:00 p.m. — Attend Choir Rehearsal (optional)

2:00 p.m. — Attend classes or schedule individual meetings

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

5:45 p.m. — Dinner in Germack Refectory

*This is the official end of the Open House; if you would like to stay through the the morning of Tuesday, February 17, please let us know, especially if you would like to attend one of the classes, schedule a meeting with the Director of Admissions, and/or have any meals in the refectory.

Tuesday, February 17

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

"What do you want Protestants to know about Orthodoxy?" an Evangelical church asked St. Vladimir’s Seminary alumnus Fr. Christopher Foley.

Fr. Christopher’s response to that question and other topics appeared in the video “Perspectives on Liturgy & Orthodoxy.” The interview was produced by Center City Church in Greensboro, NC, as part of a series on liturgy and beauty.

“St. Paul says, if you read it in the Greek, [Christ] is the ‘icon’ of the invisible God, the image of the invisible God. ... So the fact that Christ really took on flesh means that matter matters,” reflected Fr. Christopher. “And this is the underpinning of all of our sacramental and liturgical life and understanding, that we participate in Christ through the sacramental life of the Church. So our worship is extremely kind of sensual, in the sense that it engages all of the senses.”

Watch the full interview below. Fr. Foley appears in the video starting around the five-minute mark.

The Very Rev. Christopher Foley is Rector of Holy Cross Church in Kernersville, NC, where he has served since his graduation from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2006, from the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program. In recognition of his many years of faithful service, he was elevated to Archpriest in 2021 by fellow Seminary alumnus His Eminence Archbishop Alexander.

• From Mission to Consecration: Interview with Fr Chris Foley

Do you feel called to serve the Church—whether in ordained ministry, teaching, the mission field, or another much-needed vocation in the Church? Apply to become a seminarian at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS)! 

SVOTS is now accepting applications for the following degree programs for Academic Year 2026–2027: Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Theology (Th.M.) and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.). 

Prospective students may complete the entire application process online, including interviews. The deadline to apply is May 1, 2026, with a late application deadline of June 1, 2026. Scholarships and Financial Aid are available to qualifying applicants.* 

Apply Today

Download the Admissions Catalog

“Throughout the decades of its existence, St. Vladimir’s Seminary has remained faithful to its call and commission: to train men and women who would serve the Church of Christ,” said SVOTS Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie. 

“The Gospel speaks of ‘good and faithful servants’ (Mt. 25:21), but imposes no ‘standard mold’ for ministry. At St. Vladimir’s Seminary we welcome men and women with a wide range of experiences, interests, talents, and goals, representing a variety of jurisdictions. Although they all learn to seek, to treasure, and to cultivate ‘the one thing needful’—the Kingdom of God—the Lord forges them into many kinds of servants to be sent into His vineyard.

“We pray that you listen and discern whether, how, and where the Lord is calling you to serve His Church.”

To explore the different degree programs at St. Vladimir's Seminary and learn more about applying, housing, tuition, scholarships, and other information, visit the Seminary’s Admissions Page. For questions or to schedule a campus visit or interview, contact Zachariah Mandell, Director of Admissions, at admissions@svots.edu or 914-961-8313 x342.

About St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) is a higher education institution that embraces the challenge of serving the Church and the needs of Orthodox Christians in the twenty-first century. SVOTS trains priests, lay leaders, and scholars to be active apologists of the Orthodox Christian Faith, focusing on academic rigor and spiritual formation within a residential Orthodox 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.

*Prospective students who apply after May 1, 2026, will have lower priority for housing and financial aid. The deadline for all financial aid applications, including need-based grants, need-based scholarships, and merit-based scholarships, is May 1. Applications for financial aid submitted after the deadline will be considered only if funds remain available. Notifications of financial aid awards are normally issued with offers of admission.

With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of His Grace Bishop Seraphim (Sigrist), former Bishop of Sendai, an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Bishop Seraphim fell asleep in the Lord on the morning of February 7, 2026.

Bishop Seraphim was born Joseph Sigrist on December 13, 1941, in New York and baptized in a Presbyterian Church. He was brought up in Pleasantville, NY, and studied at Nyack College. While studying at Nyack he began to attend the Orthodox Church and, on completing his degree there, he was received into the Orthodox Church at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in New York. He then began study at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and, after graduating in 1967, went to Japan to assist the Orthodox Church in that country.

In Japan, working first as a teacher in a church-related school and assisting as a deacon at the Toyohashi Church, he was tonsured a monk with the name Seraphim and served first as a parish priest in the town of Nakanida and then, being consecrated in Tokyo on December 19, 1971, from that time served as Bishop of East Japan living in Sendai.

Bishop Seraphim served in Japan for nineteen years, returning to the United States in 1987. He taught in the graduate department of religion at Drew University, wrote three books, and visited Russia frequently in recent years in support of mission especially to youth in Russia.

May Bishop Seraphim’s memory be eternal!

Article adapted from OCA.org

Top Photo: Bishop Seraphim at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in March 2011