The St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS) community celebrated a truly joyous altar feast of The Three Holy Hierarchs on Friday, January 30, as the Seminary welcomed to campus seven hierarchs, a number of other noted clergy and alumni, Seminary trustees, friends, and renowned Orthodox theologian the Very Rev. Dr. Andrew Louth. Later that evening, following the morning’s Divine Liturgy, Fr. Andrew delivered the 43rd Annual Fr. Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture and received an honorary doctorate from St. Vladimir’s.

Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, and President of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, presided over Divine Liturgy at the Seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel. Joining His Beatitude were His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey (OCA); His Grace Bishop John  (SVOTS Class of ’84) of Worcester and New England (Antiochian Archdiocese); His Grace Bishop Irinej (’82) of Washington-New York and Eastern America (Serbian Orthodox Church); His Grace Bishop Nikodhim (’07) of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese (OCA); His Grace Bishop Benedict (’10) of Hartford and New England (OCA); and His Grace Bishop Vasily (’04) of San Francisco and the West (OCA). Among the priests present were—including Seminary clergy, guests, and alumni—Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino (’14 and ’25), Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America; Three Hierarchs Chapel Rector Archpriest Alexander Rentel (’95), SVOTS’ Assistant Professor of Liturgical Theology and Canon Law; Protopresbyter Nicolas Kazarian, Ecumenical Officer and Director of the Department of Inter-Orthodox Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America); Archimandrite Jeremy (Davis; ’04), Archiepiscopal Vicar, Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest (Antiochian Archdiocese), and Seminary Trustee; Archpriest Andrew Louth, Archpriest Emeritus of the Diocese of Sourozh (Moscow Patriarchate); Seminary Spiritual Formation Director Archpriest Michael Nasser; Archpriest Volodymyr Zablotskyy, the Rector of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Yonkers, NY; and Archpriest Bogdan Bucur, SVOTS’ Associate Professor of Patristics.

“When a community celebrates its patronal feast day, they pause to give thanks to all those who came before them to bring us to this point … to express the kingdom of heaven in this place and in this time,” His Grace Bishop John noted as he gave the homily. “Let us remember the Three Holy Hierarchs and their love for each other as we learn to know each other and love each other, so that in unity we can, in one voice, proclaim the Good News and share the life that God chooses to share with the entire world.”

On behalf of Seminary Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie and the entire community, Fr. Alexander Rentel warmly welcomed all the hierarchs and guests at the conclusion of Divine Liturgy. 

His Beatitude then offered a beautiful reflection on the numerology which marked this blessed feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom:

“The grace and peace of these three great saints is multiplied twofold through the presence of the venerable hierarchs and brothers who join me, six in number, for our concelebration today…”

Read Met. Tikhon’s Remarks for the Feast

Strategic Planning for the Seminary’s Future

Part of this busy week at the Seminary, including Friday afternoon, was reserved for a major undertaking by SVOTS administration and the Board of Trustees. Board members engaged in the work of strategic planning that will guide the Seminary for the next several years and beyond. This work was a continuation of efforts that began during the Board’s October 2025 session. During the January session, trustees discussed and discerned important topics about the Seminary's future, work that involves the voice of the Church as well as the Seminary. The Board is eager to ensure this strategic planning reflects the close connection of SVOTS and the Church that has been a strong emphasis of recent administrative and board work overseen by His Beatitude and Dr. Tudorie. Input from stakeholders—including hierarchs, alumni, donors, seminarians, faculty, staff, and others—is part of this ongoing work.

Schmemann Lecture & Honorary Doctorate

As the Fr. Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture got underway that evening, Dr. Tudorie announced a special honor for guest lecturer Fr. Andrew Louth: the bestowal of an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir’s Seminary.

“[Father Andrew] is a great teacher of the Church, a scholar of renown, and one of the most respected voices in patristic studies today, for whose decades of ministry both at the altar and in the library we are deeply grateful,” stated Dr. Tudorie.

READ THE HONORARY DEGREE CITATION

The Very Rev. Dr. Andrew Louth is Professor Emeritus at the University of Durham; Honorary Fellow of the St. Irenaeus Orthodox Theological Institute at Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands; a Fellow of the British Academy; and Archpriest Emeritus of the Diocese of Sourozh (Moscow Patriarchate). He is the author of several books, including St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press’s Greek East and Latin West: the Church ad 681–1071, The Church in History, vol. III (2007); and he has also served as editor and translator for other Press titles over the years.

“I am completely overwhelmed,” said Fr. Andrew upon receiving the honorary doctorate. The honor was a surprise and kept secret from Fr. Andrew until shortly before the Lecture. “St. Vlad’s has always meant a great deal to me, and … over the last thirty years or so [I’ve] kept in touch with the Seminary. … I just feel very, very moved that you’ve chosen to give me this great honor.”

Father Andrew then offered his lecture, entitled, “Shadows and Darkness in Patristic Theology.”

“Orthodox Theology is often regarded, by ourselves and others, as essentially ‘apophatic,’” explained Fr. Andrew in his introduction. “Even though the language of apophatic/cataphatic, affirmation or denial, or negation, was only introduced into Greek Patristic theology by Dionysios the Areopagite in the early sixth century, a negative theology of an unknowable God already had a long history, both among Christian Fathers and among their contemporaries, the philosophers of the Greek Platonic tradition. There has, however, been a tendency to see Greek Patristic theology from the perspective of what is, in truth, Neoplatonic apophaticism, and to regard the various ways in which shadows and darkness feature in the Fathers somewhat as stumbling blocks towards a fully fledged apophatic theology.”

Listen to the entirety of Fr. Andrew’s lecture below, or on the Seminary’s YouTube channel.

At the end of this memorable day of worship, fellowship, and meditation, His Beatitude offered a word of gratitude before concluding the event with prayer.

“Your inspiring exposition … [reflects] the years of prayerful labor and research that you have offered not just for your own spiritual growth and academic growth—or even for that of your students—but for the Church. And we are grateful to you not only for your words but your example, reminding us so clearly how we all must, in a certain sense, pass through those stages of shadow to image and truth.”

Scenes from the Feast Day & Schmemann Lecture

A joint tribute by St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University

Join us for a two-day commemoration honoring the 100th birthday of Fr. John Meyendorff (February 17, 1926–July 22, 1992), one of the most influential Orthodox theologians of the twentieth century.

A scholar of extraordinary range, Fr. John shaped the study of Byzantine theology, Orthodox ecclesiology, and ecumenical dialogue for generations. His dual role as Dean and Professor at St. Vladimir’s Seminary and Professor of Byzantine History at Fordham University made him a unique bridge between Orthodox theological education and the broader academic world. This joint tribute honors that legacy at both institutions where he left an indelible mark.
 

Registration is closed.
 

Friday, February 6 | St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

5:30 PM — Memorial service in the Seminary Chapel followed by reflections on Fr. John’s legacy:

• His Grace Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevic), Bishop of Eastern America, Serbian Orthodox Church
• Dr. Vera Shevzov, Professor of Religion and Director of the Program in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, Smith College
• Dr. Paul Meyendorff, Father Alexander Schmemann Professor of Liturgical Theology Emeritus, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary

Reception to follow, open to all.

Saturday, February 7 | Fordham University, Rose Hill Campus

9:00 AM — Breakfast and coffee 

9:30 AM–12:00 PM — Academic Symposium: “Orthodoxy, Byzantium, and the Rise of Russia Revisited”

Speakers:

• Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, Dean, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
• Dr. Aristotle Papanikolaou, Professor of Theology and Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture, Fordham University
• Dr. Nadieszda Kizenko, Professor of History, University at Albany
• Dr. Dimiter Angelov, Dumbarton Oaks Professor of Byzantine History, Harvard University
• Dr. Tikhon Alexander Pino, Director of the Pappas Patristic Institute, Hellenic College Holy Cross

Attendance at this joint, two-day event is free and open to the public.

Fr Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture

Renowned Orthodox scholar and author the Very Rev. Dr. Andrew Louth will deliver the 43rd Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture at St. Vladimir’s Seminary on Friday, January 30, 2026, on the Feast of the Three Hierarchs.

The lecture is free and open to the public to attend in person or online. It begins at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST.

Registration is closed.

Fr. Andrew’s lecture is titled, “Shadows and Darkness in Patristic Theology.”

“Orthodox Theology is often regarded, by ourselves and others, as essentially ‘apophatic,’” writes Fr. Andrew. “Even though the language of apophatic/cataphatic was only introduced into Greek Patristic theology by Dionysios the Areopagite, a negative theology of an unknowable God already had a long history. There has, however, been a tendency to see Greek Patristic theology from the perspective of Neoplatonic apophaticism, and overlook the various ways in which shadows and darkness feature in the Fathers. This lecture is an attempt to redress this.”

The Schmemann Lecture is part of St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s yearly celebration of the feast of our chapel patrons, the Three Hierarchs: Holy and Ecumenical Teachers Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon will preside over Divine Liturgy at 9 a.m. that morning at Three Hierarchs Chapel. A light reception will follow the lecture. 

About Fr. Andrew Louth

The Very Rev. Dr. Andrew Louth is Professor Emeritus, University of Durham; Honorary Fellow of the St. Irenaeus Orthodox Theological Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Fellow of the British Academy; and Archpriest Emeritus of the Diocese of Sourozh (Moscow Patriarchate). Author of several books, including The Origins of the Christian Mystical Tradition: from Plato to Denys (1981; revised ed., 2007); Denys the Areopagite (1989); St John Damascene: Tradition and Originality in Byzantine Theology (2002); SVS Press’s Greek East and Latin West: the Church ad 681–1071, The Church in History, vol. III (2007); Modern Orthodox Thinkers: from the Philokalia to the present (2015); and numerous articles, a selection of which can be found in Selected Essays, in two volumes: I. Studies in Patristics; II. Studies in Theology, edited by Lewis Ayres and John Behr (2023).

Seminarians from St. Vladimir’s and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox seminaries offered prayers and marched alongside His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and other Orthodox clergy and laity Friday, January 23, at the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.

The group from St. Vladimir’s Seminary also included Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, His Grace Bishop John (Abdalah), Fr. Michael Nasser, and Fr. Kirill Sokolov.

"After many years of wanting to attend the March for Life, I was thankful that I was able to attend for the first time,” said Fr. Michael. “I was so impressed to see the Orthodox hierarchs, other clergy, and faithful gathered together to pray for an end to the killing of unborn children in our country. And I was thankful our seminarians could see the dedication of these beloved brothers and sisters—and the thousands of others alongside whom we marched—and with whom we could add our own efforts."

“It was wonderful to see so much support for the Pro-Life movement from so much of the Orthodox Church in North America,” said second-year seminarian Benjamin Franks, who helped lead the group of seminarians on the trip. “There were bishops from several jurisdictions present as well as local parishes, and both St. Tikhon's and St. Vladimir’s seminaries. Being together and advocating as one for the Orthodox Christian witness to life was an immense blessing. As seminarians, it is important for our formation to participate in pan-Orthodox engagement in society to advocate for an end to this and all injustice.”

Each year the student-led St. Ambrose Society plays a major role in organizing St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s participation in the March. A few days prior to the March, the St. Ambrose Society hosted an informational session for seminarians with leaders of the group Orthodox Christians for Life (OCL). OCL is a key part of the Orthodox presence at the March every year.

The gathering for the March for Life Rally began at noon Friday at the National Mall. The assembled hierarchs gathered to offer the opening prayer, given by Seminary Alumnus and Trustee His Grace Bishop Irinej (Dobrijevic) of the Serbian Orthodox Church. His Beatitude presided at the Service of Supplication to End Abortion, after which the March for Life began.

View Photos from the March for Life

With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Archpriest John Pawelchak, an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Father John fell asleep in the Lord on January 17, 2026.

The Very Rev. John Pawelchak was born on February 17, 1954, in Terryville, CT, where he grew up as a member of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Orthodox Church. He began studies at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 1975 and graduated from the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program in 1978. He was ordained to the priesthood in April 1979.

Father John received his first parish assignment at Annunciation Albanian Orthodox Church in Natick, MA. Over the course of many decades of priestly service, he served parishes in Wisconsin, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, and Illinois, dedicating his life to the spiritual care of the communities entrusted to him. He also worked as a professional counselor to those in need.

Father John was predeceased by his parents, sister, and nephew. He is survived by his children and grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Nativity of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church, 416 Ewing Ave, Madison, IL, from 4:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, January 23; the funeral service will begin at 6 p.m. Divine Liturgy is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. at Nativity of the Virgin Mary, with Archbishop Daniel (Brum) as celebrant. Burial will follow at Nativity of the Virgin Orthodox Cemetery in Glen Carbon.

May the memory of Archpriest John be eternal!

Much of the information in this article was adapted from the Irwin Chapel website.

Photo: Protection of the Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Church

The beloved guide to the spiritual life, Unseen Warfare, is now available in a beautiful new edition from St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press.

The new edition has been revised to include a new introduction and a number of footnotes intended to help clarify for the reader the relation of this book to Orthodox spirituality in general and especially to the tradition of the Philokalia, while also providing patristic citations that were previously missing. The book is presented in hardcover (6×9) with dust jacket, perfect bound, and newly typeset for improved readability.

Purchase a Copy

Unseen Warfare is a spiritual classic that explores the inner struggle every believer faces in the pursuit of holiness. Originally written by Lorenzo Scupoli, a sixteenth-century Venetian priest, the book became influential across both Western and Eastern Christian traditions. It was recognized for its spiritual depth by Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, who revised it somewhat, and later substantially refined and translated by Theophan the Recluse in the nineteenth century.

This work draws richly from the wisdom of saints and Church Fathers, uniting insights from a host of Christian sources to guide readers in their spiritual journey. It emphasizes that the true battleground for spiritual growth is within the human heart. As Theophan wrote, “The time of battle is our whole life.” 

With its practical advice on resisting sin and cultivating virtue, Unseen Warfare remains a profound companion for those seeking deeper spiritual discipline and complements other essential works like the Philokalia, with which both Nicodemus and Theophan realized it shared much in common.

The new edition of Unseen Warfare is available for purchase at SVSPress.com.

With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Archpriest Stephen Plumlee, an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Father Stephen fell asleep in the Lord January 14, 2026, at the age of 86.

Born on May 25, 1939, the Very Rev. Stephen Plumlee graduated from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 1969, and was ordained to the priesthood that same year. Following graduation he was assigned to the Chapel of St. Innocent of Irkutsk, an English-language community at the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection in Manhattan.

In the 60s and 70s, Fr. Stephen and his wife, Matushka Lois, were instrumental in organizing monthly trips with seminarians to hospitals and mental health institutions in the New York area. Father Stephen was a licensed and practicing psychotherapist who at one time served as Dean of Students at Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute in Manhattan. As a member of the OCA’s Department of Lay Ministries, he was actively involved in the Church’s official outreach and ministries to people with special needs and disabilities. He had also participated in various activities of the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology, and Religion (OCAMPR).

• READ: “The Handicapped and Orthodox Worship,” by Fr. Stephen Plumlee
• READ: “Some Practical Suggestions for Parish Ministry To People With Special Needs,” by Fr. Stephen Plumlee

Father Stephen was attached to St. Mark Church, Bradenton, FL, in his retirement. During his active priestly ministry, he had served there for several years starting in 1988, and also pastored the English-speaking community at the bilingual Christ the Savior Church in New York City, beginning in 1976, which was then under the leadership of Fr. John Meyendorff. 

Father Stephen was preceded in death by his beloved Matushka Lois, who fell asleep in the Lord on April 30, 2013.

Funeral services will be held at St. Mark Church in Bradenton, FL. Funeral vigil is scheduled for Monday, January 19 at 6 p.m.; funeral liturgy is Tuesday, January 20, at 9 a.m.; the committal and burial will take place later that day at 2:30 p.m. at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sanford, FL.

May the memory of Archpriest Stephen be eternal!

Photos: St. Mark Orthodox Church

This winter, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Alumnus Fr. Justin Mathews was recognized for his work as CEO of Reconciliation Services and the founder of Thelma’s Kitchen, Kansas City’s first “pay-what-you-can” café.

Fr. Justin received the Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social Entrepreneurship, given by the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMCK), at the UMKC's 39th Annual Entrepreneur of the Year Awards held on December 3, 2025. The awards honor local, national, and global changemakers.

Reconciliation Services is a faith-based nonprofit founded by St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church located on Troost Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri. The street is well known locally as a symbol of generations of racism and poverty the surrounding neighborhood has suffered.

“There are so many partners and neighbors who believe in the dream of tangible, social, racial, and economic reconciliation in our city,” Fr. Justin said as he received the award. “There is no Reconciliation Services, there is no Thelma’s Kitchen, and there is no award tonight without their heart and their sacrificial love for our neighbors most in need.”

Reconciliation Services provides to clients—99% of whom live below the federal poverty line—medical, mental health and dental services, classes, and mentoring programs. Part of their outreach is Thelma’s Kitchen, founded by Fr. Justin in 2018 and located in the same neighborhood as the parish and the nonprofit. Thelma’s Kitchen is a gathering place for delicious meals served up to neighbors, program volunteers, staff, and church people who, based on their ability, pay what they can or chip in with kitchen duties.

In 2023, Reconciliation Services also opened the Chapel of St. Maria of Paris, under the OCA’s Diocese of the Midwest. The chapel was opened at Reconciliation Services’ location on Troost Avenue, and Fr. Justin serves as Priest-in-Charge. The chapel is adorned with iconography by Fr. Justin’s fellow St. Vladimir’s Seminary alumnus, Seraphim O’Keefe (M.Div., 2018).

Third-year seminarian Fr. Jarrod Huffman interned at Reconciliation Services in the summer of 2023 and spoke highly of his experience.

“It’s an amazing organization with a fantastic staff,” said Fr. Jarrod.

Most recently, in 2024, Fr. Justin spoke to the seminarians at St. Vladimir’s and invited them to apply for summer internships at Reconciliation.

The Very Rev. Justin Mathews graduated from St. Vladimir’s Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 2007. In addition to his ministry at Reconciliation services, he is a priest of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Overland Park, KS.

• RELATED: Alumnus helps provide healing along Kansas City’s ‘dividing line’
• RELATED: St. Vladimir’s partners with Reconciliation Services for Giving Tuesday

Top Image: Fr. Justin Mathews receives the Marion and John Kreamer Award for Social Entrepreneurship (Photo: University of Missouri-Kansas City).

This winter, members of St. Vladimir’s Seminary traveled to St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral in Minneapolis to meet with the community and connect with alumni in the area.

The Cathedral generously hosted a special presentation by the Seminary and reception on Saturday, December 13. Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, Associate Dean Dr. Peter Bouteneff, and Director of Admissions and Alumni Relations Zachariah Mandell shared insights into the Seminary’s latest developments and answered questions.

The day before, on Friday, December 12, St. Vladimir's Seminary alumni from parishes across the Twin Cities gathered for a cozy reception, hearing about the state of the institution and sharing cherished memories from their time at the Seminary.

“It was such a joy to be back at St. Mary's, and to see and talk to so many friends, Seminary alumni, and interested folks from across the Twin Cities,” said Mandell, who served as choir director at St. Mary’s before he joined the staff at St. Vladimir’s. “St. Mary’s is as hospitable as ever, and the Orthodox churches in the Cities remain a shining example of a healthy Pan-Orthodox community.” 

“It was a wonderful, cold day when the leadership of St. Vladimir's Seminary came to Minneapolis for a visit. The positive momentum and clear transparency was palpably exciting for everyone in attendance,” said Paul Karos, a St. Mary’s parishioner and supporter of the Seminary who also wrote the new SVS Press book, The Ultimate Building Project: The Human Person. “As an author, it was humbling for me to now be published by such an honorable institution in the life of the Church. We simply want to say ‘thank you’ for sacrificing in making the trip to visit us!”

The occasion also served as a nod to the historic role Minneapolis played in Orthodox theological education in North America. In 1905, Archbishop Tikhon, later Patriarch of Moscow (+1925), recognized the need for American-born-and-raised clergy and decided to establish a permanent seminary. Opened in 1905 in Minneapolis, it was transferred in 1913 to Tenafly, NJ, and renamed St. Platon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. During the eighteen years of its existence, it produced two generations of priests who, at a difficult moment in the life of the Church, assured the continuity of Orthodox Christianity in America and its progressive integration into American life.

The Seminary’s visit to Minnesota was facilitated by St. Mary’s clergy, including the Cathedral’s Dean Fr. Andrew Jarmus and Seminary Trustee Dn. Philip Wagner, along with other members of the St. Mary’s community including Trustee Emeritus Dr. Frank Cerra.

If you are interested in bringing members of St. Vladimir’s Seminary to your parish, or want to learn more about getting your parish involved in the mission of the Seminary, visit our Parish Partners page and contact Ginny Nieuwsma, Chief Advancement Officer, at ginnyn@svots.edu or (914) 961–8313 x317.

• Related Story: NC Parish Connects with Seminary at Coffee Hour 

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Giving glory and thanksgiving to God, more seminarians and alumni were ordained to holy orders at the conclusion of 2025 and the start of the new year. In addition, two alumni priests were elevated in rank.

HOLY PRIESTHOOD

In east Africa, Seminary alumnus Dn. Richard Okello (M.Div. ’25) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on December 28 at the newly consecrated Holy Temple of St. Nicholas in Akonyibedo, Gulu City, Uganda. Father Richard serves the Holy Diocese of Gulu and Northern Uganda (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria). His ordination was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Symeon of Fthiotida (Church of Greece).

On the Feast of Theophany, January 6, third-year seminarian Dn. Jarrod Huffman (M.Div. program) was ordained a priest by the hands of His Eminence Archbishop Daniel. The newly ordained Fr. Jarrod is a seminarian of the Orthodox Church in America’s Diocese of the Midwest. The ordination took place at Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago.

HOLY DIACONATE

Another alumnus, Subdeacon Subin Shaji (M.Div. ’22), was ordained to the Holy Diaconate a few days earlier on January 3. Deacon Subin’s ordination was presided over by His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho, Archbishop of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in North America.

Third-year seminarian Emil Prisquilas Peter (M.Div. program) was tonsured a subdeacon in his native India, at St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral in Kalyan West in the greater Mumbai area. Subdeacon Emil is attached to the Diocese of Bombay of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, under His Grace Bishop Geevarghese Mar Coorilos.

ELEVATIONS

Two alumni of the Antiochian Archdiocese were elevated to the dignity of Archpriest. Father Lucas Rice (M.Div. ’11) was elevated by His Eminence Metropolitan Saba during His Eminence’s visit to Fr. Lucas’s parish, St. Michael Church of Louisville, KY, Jan. 2–4. 

Metropolitan Saba then traveled to St. James Church of Loveland, OH, Jan. 4–5, where he elevated its pastor, Fr. Nabil Fino. Father Nabil studied at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2002 and 2003, following his graduation from Birmingham Theological Seminary.

May God continue to guide their ministries and grant them all many years!