Saint Vladimir’s Seminary has signed a concordat of cooperation with Saint Andrei Saguna Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Sibiu, Romania in an effort to encourage future student and faculty exchanges and other collaborations between the two institutions.
The agreement was signed Monday at the Faculty in Sibiu by Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS), and Priest Nicolae Chifar, the dean of Saint Andrei Saguna Faculty of Orthodox Theology. The signing of the agreement was attended by His Eminence Laurentiu [Streza], archbishop of Sibiu and metropolitan of Transylvania, who blessed the agreement between the two institutions. SVOTS Director of Web Services Alexandru Popovici, a native Romanian, and teachers of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology were also present.
"It is important for us to understand that signing this agreement is only a beginning, and with the help of God we believe that this agreement will evolve and change,” said Fr. Chad. “It is very important for us, those studying theology as a minority in different cultures, to have strong ties with the theological faculties of the mother countries, where Orthodoxy is well rooted in the culture of those countries.”
At the signing, His Eminence Laurentiu awarded Fr. Chad the “Sagunian Cross for Priests" and welcomed him back for future visits to Sibiu. Fr. Chad presented His Eminence and members of the Faculty with books published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press.
President of SVOTS Archpriest Chad Hatfield traveled to Romania along with the Seminary’s Director of Web Services Alexandru Popovici, a native of Romania, to officially present the gift to Pro Vita.
“This is a huge amount of money for our institution,” said Fr. Nicholas Tanase, Pro Vita’s founder. “We are honored to have been chosen by St. Vladimir’s as the 2017 Giving Tuesday partner.”
Pro Vita provides assistance including healthcare and education to families in need. The organization encourages the well-being of family units being torn apart by economic stress, and often prevents the heartbreaking decision by a desperate mother to abort her unborn child. Currently, Pro Vita provides housing and food for 428 people, 312 of whom are children.
According to Fr. Nicholas, the #GivingTuesday money will be used to complete four housing projects.
“Because of the money, we will be able to use these houses three to four months earlier than we initially anticipated,” he added.
Fr. Nicholas greeted the SVOTS delegation at the orphanage in Valea Screzii Village Saturday (Pro Vita also has a presence in the surrounding area and in Valea Plopului). Upon arrival, Fr. Chad and Popovici had lunch with more than 300 children.
“Many of those children were with their mothers who had come to Pro Vita to escape an abusive environment or needed help after electing not to have an abortion,” said Fr. Chad. “It is remarkable to see how many people are positively impacted by the work and vision of one priest,” said Fr. Chad.
In addition to the GivingTuesday partnership, the Seminary’s chapel community has remained in contact with the Pro Vita Association for around a decade. The community has collected clothing and other items to donate to the organization in the past.
Romanian media outlet TRINITAS TV broadcast a story about the SVOTS delegation’s visit and donation to Pro Vita. Watch it below.
St. Vladimir's Seminary,575 Scarsdale Road,10707,Yonkers,US
This year’s Orthodox Education Day (OED) is a special one. Join us as we celebrate not one, but two fiftieth-year commemorations: fifty years of OED and fifty years of St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press!
On Saturday, October 6, we are hosting activities and lectures all day, starting at 10am, to celebrate these two milestones in the history of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Highlights will include a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with the relics of St. Innocent and the Boston Byzantine Choir, public lectures, children and teen’s activities, food, music, book sales, a Keynote Address by John Maddex of Ancient Faith Ministries, and a special first-hand look back at the history of SVS Press and OED led by former Press Director Theodore Bazil and Professor Emeritus David Drillock.
The address by Mr. Maddex will be particularly relevant as we celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of SVS Press, which was founded in 1968 and remains the most active publisher of Orthodox Christian literature in the English language. Maddex is CEO of Ancient Faith Ministries, which operates both Ancient Faith Radio and Ancient Faith Publishing, another major publisher of Orthodox works.
Admission to Orthodox Education Day is free. We hope you are able to celebrate with us! Please do spread the word and share the flyer at your parishes and with your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. May the mission of OED Day and SVS Press—spreading the Gospel—continue to bear much fruit for our Lord!
A new website is preserving and resurrecting hundreds of lectures delivered by illustrious teachers and brilliant theologians of the Orthodox Church in the twentieth century. St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) launched the new site, digi.svots.edu, this June.
The project is a combined effort by St. Vladimir’s Seminary and the Virginia H. Farah Foundation. The website makes available for the first time in digital format older, analog recordings of renowned professors and guest lecturers from SVOTS past and present, including Fr. Alexander Schmemann, Fr. John Meyendorff, Fr. Thomas Hopko, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, Sophie Koulomzin, Jaroslav Pelikan, Veselin Kesich, Fr. Paul Lazor, Fr. John Erickson, Metropolitan Philip Saliba, Fr. John Breck, George Cronk, David Drillock, Fr. John Behr, Serge Verhovskoy, and many others.
“It is our dream to share with the world the voices of illustrious Orthodox Christian speakers and theologians who shed light on important aspects, historical moments, and even spiritual movements of the Orthodox Christian Church in the twentieth century, especially in North America,” said Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield, who is also among the dozens of speakers whose recordings are featured on the new website.
Between the early 1970s and the late 1990s, cassettes of many class lectures, seminars, and institutes held on the campus of St. Vladimir's Seminary were often accessed by library patrons. However, as audio technology rapidly advanced and the public began to discard their cassette players, use of the library's cassette collection languished, and important voices once heard in the Orthodox Church were silenced.
Funding from the Virginia H. Farah Foundation for this digitization project brought to life and light the voices of these Orthodox Christian luminaries, helping to spread their ever-relevant words "to the ends of the world" (Ps 19.4). Moreover, the Foundation's funding for this initial project provided a solid basis for SVOTS library staff to build future digital collections—another important step in a continuing endeavor to keep pace with advancing technologies.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of this project,” said Eric Namee, president of the Virginia H. Farah Foundation. “Personally, I was deeply affected by a talk given by Fr. Alexander Schmemann when I was a young man. It’s a privilege to help make Fr. Alexander’s voice, and the voices of so many other great teachers, accessible to everyone.”
In partnership with the Foundation, SVOTS Web Services Director Alexandru Popovici converted around 500 cassettes held in the Seminary’s Father Georges Florovsky Library to digital format, making their contents accessible and portable not only to a new generation but also to a global audience.
“It was a long but very rewarding process,” Popovici explained. “I spent more than six months working to digitize the tapes and to build the online platform which hosts the recordings. It was worth it, knowing that those incredible resources will be available for many more people.”
Access to the recordings on digi.svots.edu is free but requires registering for a free account. To register and learn more about the project, visit digi.svots.edu.
About the Virginia H. Farah Foundation
The Virginia H. Farah Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation dedicated exclusively to the work of the Orthodox Christian Church. The Foundation looks for creative projects and programs that serve as catalysts for progress in the Church and have a lasting impact. Its grant recipients are engaged in all areas of Church life, from humanitarian efforts and missionary labor to education and scholarly work. The Foundation’s goal is to facilitate the work of organizations and projects that will help spread the Orthodox Christian message while carrying out the work of the Church in the world.
Eight students have been accepted into the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) and will form the 2021 D.Min. Cohort.
Comprised of clergy, chaplains and ministry professionals from six different jurisdictions, this cohort brings a new level of diversity and pastoral experience to the program.
"One of the great strengths of the D.Min. program is the community of teachers and learners that come together to address the most pressing challenges facing the Church today,” noted Fr. Sergius Halvorsen, D.Min. program director. “The diversity and expertise of the students in the 2021 Cohort will foster an outstanding learning experience. I can't wait to begin working with this group!"
This is the third cohort of students that have entered the Doctor of Ministry since it was revived as a hybrid program in 2014. Combining online learning and brief onsite intensives, the hybrid program allows students to complete their studies while living and working at home. Financial aid is available through the generosity of the Danilchick Family Endowment for Pastoral Studies.
The 2021 Cohort will begin their work with a mandatory six-week orientation program starting in mid-July. Coursework will begin in September.
Limited space is still available in this cohort. Potential students who hold a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree and have at least three years of ministry experience are encouraged to apply for the D.Min. program. For additional information, contact D.Min. Program Director Fr. Sergius Halvorsen.
Will you be at the 19th All-American Council (AAC) this July? Or will you be in the St. Louis area around that time? Meet us there for an Alumni and Friends Reception!
The SVOTS event will be held from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, July 24. at St Louis Union Station Hotel, the venue for AAC.
St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) has narrowed down the number of candidates for the position of Academic Dean, and a final decision is expected to be made soon.
The seminary’s Board of Trustees convened in May to discuss the final candidates.
“There is no doubt that the final candidates represent strong qualifications,” said Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield. “They come with extraordinary gifts and achievements that would benefit the seminary greatly.”
“I want to thank His Beatitude and the members of the Academic Dean Search Committee for their labors in getting to this final stage in the process,” added Fr. Chad.
The Search Committee was tasked with finding a visionary and inspiring Academic Dean with the skills, energy, and experience to advance the academic mission and current programs of the Seminary as well as to develop new programs to meet the needs of the Church and the world in the 21st century. The new dean will serve as the Chief Academic Officer, whose primary responsibilities are to lead and supervise the faculty and to oversee all academic activities of the seminary, under the supervision of the seminary’s President. The Academic Dean is appointed by the Board of Trustees and reports directly to the President.
Eighth Day Books,2838 E. Douglas,67214,Wichita,KS,US
We’ve added another great event to the Seminary’s weekend in Wichita. After Jazz Night June 1, join us at a young adult gathering at Eighth Day BooksSaturday, June 2. The event will feature President of St. Vladimir’s Seminary Archpriest Chad Hatfield. Snacks and drinks will follow. Eighth Day Books has specialized in classic books across the disciplines of art, science, and the humanities since 1988, and has collaborated with SVOTS in the past. Most recently, Eighth Day hosted a book signing featuring SVS Press author Edith Humphrey. The young adult gathering begins at 7:30 p.m. Contact Matushka Robyn Hatrak for more information.
A Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) student is determined to help strengthen the commitment of Orthodox Christians to compassionate ministry to the poor and suffering, and is looking for input to complete his research.
The heart of the work is a survey related to the focus of the study.
Help Fr. Theophan’s research by taking the survey here.
“Father Alexander Schmemann provides the inspiration for this project,” he stated. “In 1965, Father Alexander wrote about the need to replace the false ideal of ‘serving the parish’ with the concept of ‘the parish as servant.’”
Research results and analyses from The Servant Parish Project will be published on Fr. Theophan’s project page in draft form as they become available.
On Saturday morning, His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, archbishop of Washington and metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), presided at Divine Liturgy at Three Hierarchs Chapel. He was joined by clergy from among the student body, faculty, and Board of Trustees, including Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield, Assistant Professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies Archpriest Alexander Rentel, board member and Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Archpriest John Jillions, and Chair of St. Vladimir's Seminary Alumni Association Board Archpriest David G. Barr.
Commencement began at the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium following the Divine Liturgy, lunch, and a Molieben. After His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon officially opened the Commencement Exercises, Fr. Chad Hatfield welcomed the graduates and guests and offered a look back at what he called “a remarkable academic year” at the seminary. (Highlights of Academic Year 2017-2018)
Among the many distinguished guests were two representatives of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary leadership: Bishop-Elect and Alumnus Very Rev. Daniel Findikyan, who was recently elected primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and Priest Mardiros Chevian, the Dean of St. Nersess. Their presence was particularly meaningful at this Commencement, as 2018 marks the fiftieth year of cooperation between St. Vladimir’s and St. Nersess Seminaries. Additionally, at the 2018 ceremonies graduating seminarian Timothy Aznavourian became the first Armenian student chosen to deliver the Salutatory Address at a SVOTS commencement.
The Commencement Address was delivered by Dr. David Bradshaw, chair of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Kentucky. He spoke to the graduating class of the need to share, in particular, three beautiful aspects of Orthodox Christianity still largely unknown or misunderstood in the secular world: Orthodox worship, the wisdom and example of saints and monasticism, and forgiveness.
“If I have learned anything over the years that I have spent teaching, it is that our secular friends want and need this treasure,” he said.
Dr. Bradshaw was also one of three people who received honorary doctorates at the 2018 Commencement. St. Vladimir’s Seminary conferred the honorary doctorates to Dr. Bradshaw, composer Mitered Archpriest Sergei Glagolev, and Seminary Trustee Emeritus Protodeacon Peter Danilchick for their outstanding contributions to the Orthodox Church.
“Their contributions align so fittingly with important facets of St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s mission, namely, leadership and stewardship, academia, and the sacred arts,” said Fr. Chad when the honorary doctorates were announced earlier this spring. “As such, we could not be more pleased to honor these three distinguished individuals.”
Dr. Bradshaw was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity, Protodeacon Peter the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (D.H.L.), and Fr. Sergei the degree of Doctor of Sacred Music.
Following Dr. Bradshaw’s address and the conferral of degrees, graduate Dimitrios Nikiforos delivered the Valedictory Address.
“The day of commencement often finds us at a disorienting moment, standing at the crossroads of unfamiliar paths…” said Nikiforos. “However, today Christ tells us, through the Prophet Jeremiah, ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths; ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and I will give rest for your souls’ [Jer 6.16].”
Mr. Nikiforos concluded his address by thanking God, fellow seminarians and their families and spouses, the trustees, and donors to the seminary for helping make this achievement possible for the Class of 2018.
Student Council President Angelo Niqula then presented the St. Macrina Award for Excellence in Teaching, selected each year by student vote, to SVOTS Director of Music Robin Freeman
“This professor maintains a cheerful demeanor and a personal interest that not only keeps us from stagnating, but the fruits of her labor constantly show in the progress we have made in both the classroom and the chapel,” wrote one student, whose comments Niqula shared before presenting the award.
At the conclusion of the Commencement Exercises, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon offered closing remarks for the Class of 2018, sharing a moving story about a cheerful email he received from an eleven-year-old girl in the midst of her struggle with cancer, which she passed away from not long after sending the email.
“Even as she faced this tremendous physical suffering…and the reality of her own approaching death, she never lost the joy of living, nor did she grow bitter or angry,” said His Beatitude. “I only met her once, when I brought her communion, but her joyful example along with her Christ-like longsuffering confirmed for me that truly the glory of God is revealed in a human person—sometimes most brightly in the most trying of circumstances.”
“And it was a reminder to me,” he continued, “that there is no work that is more necessary than caring for our broken and hurting fellows, all of whom, like us, are made in the image and likeness of that glory.”
“I have this as a source of inspiration in my own life, and I hope that you also can find such inspiration in your own journeys.”
