At the beginning of the 2014 ecclesiastical year, Professor of Philosophy Dr. Bruce Foltz, an Orthodox Christian and faculty member at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL, will offer a free and public lecture at St. Vladimir's Seminary on "The Truth of Nature." The talk will contrast today's post–modern assumptions regarding the environment with the patristic and historic Christian understanding of what it means to care for God's creation. The lecture, to be held in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium in the John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building on the Yonkers campus, will be followed by a question and answer session and a reception in the Rangos Building's atrium.
His All-Holiness Bartholomew, archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, who received the degree of Doctor of Divinity honoris causa from St. Vladimir’s in 1997, has designated September 1st as a day dedicated to the protection of the environment. As such, the student–led St. Herman's Society for Orthodox Ecology is sponsoring the event, which will also include a tree-planting ceremony at 6 P.M. and the "Akathist in Praise of God's Creation" offered by campus clergy in Three Hierarchs Chapel.
The St. Herman's Society was founded in 2010 to address issues of ecological stewardship. In the 2012–2013 academic year, it organized a cleanup of Crestwood Lake and partnered with the local organization "RiverKeeper" to set up a display about Hudson River environmental concerns.
The Very Rev. Peter Baktis Ch (COL) USA, a military chaplain and member of St. Vladimir Seminary's Class of 1985 (M.Div.), recently earned the highest degree offered by The Army War College, the senior service school for that branch of the military. His graduation on Friday July 26 marks the first time an Orthodox chaplain has been selected to attend the Army War College and thus receive both a Masters in Strategic Studies plus the certification required for all senior assignments, the Joint Professional Military Education Level 1 (JPMEP1). Out of approximately 100 eligible chaplains, six per year are selected to attend the College.
A priest in the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), Fr. Peter has been assigned as the Command Chaplain for the United States Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM), the first Orthodox chaplain to receive this post. "This is a direct reporting unit to the Department of the Army," noted Fr. Peter. "My responsibilities are to supervise, mentor and coach 37 chaplains assigned to the Command all over the world. I will travel throughout the year to Asia, Europe, and Australia as well as various locations in the United States."
Father Peter will also be the advisor to the Commanding General of INSCOM on all religious matters. In addition to developing and implementing programs to help the soldiers and families throughout the Command, he'll also provide counseling and assistance to those assigned to INSCOM's headquarters in Ft. Belvoir, VA.
Read about recent SVOTS seminarians and chaplains-in-training here and here.
The Very Rev. Dr. Steven Voytovich, a licensed professional counselor who spent many years of his career in the field of pastoral care and education, has been named dean of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, effective August 18.
He succeeds The Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Atty, who retired for health reasons after serving as dean for the past three years.
Father Steven brings to this position years of experience as a parish priest, an educator, a presenter at seminars and retreats, a contributing writer for various religious publications, and a frequent presenter at OCA events.
His Grace, Bishop Michael, Ph.D., Rector of St. Tikhon's Seminary and Bishop of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, stated, "I am well pleased that Fr. Steven will be joining St. Tikhon's Seminary as our Dean. His pastoral, leadership, academic and work related credentials are superb and we look forward to Fr. Steven moving St. Tikhon's to new heights. On behalf of the board of trustees, faculty, staff and students we welcome him and offer our prayers for his new ministry."
In 2007, Father Steven represented the OCA and was plenary presenter at the Ninth International Congress for Pastoral care and Counseling held in Krzyzowa, Poland. He served as communications and public relations officer from 2004 to 2007. He also represented the OCA at International Congresses held in Accra Ghana in 1999 and Bangalore, India, in 2004.
Father Steven serves as Director of the OCA’s Department of Institutional Chaplaincies, for which he cocreated and coordinated the OCA Seminarian Internship Program. The Department supports Orthodox Christian men and women serving in institutional chaplaincy roles. From April 2010 until joining Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, he worked as director of Clinical Pastoral Education at Episcopal Health Services, Long Island, NY. During that time, he was attached to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in New Britain, CT, as a supply priest for the Connecticut Deanery, but continued serving in multiple capacities within the OCA.
Father Steven was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius in 1991 and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Grace, Bishop Job, then of the Diocese of New England.
Over the years, he has served as pastor of Three Saints Orthodox Church in Ansonia, CT; Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in Waterbury, CT; St. Alexis Orthodox Church in Clinton, CT.
Father Steven has earned three advanced degrees from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, NY, including a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1999. His thesis was "Orthodoxy and CPE: Education for Ministry Beyond the Liturgical Setting." He holds two masters degrees from St. Vladimir's, including a Master of Divinity Degree, with Commendation for Thesis, in 1990. His thesis topic: "The Ministry of Those Who Suffer." In 1991, he earned a Master of Arts Degree in Liturgical Music and served as choir director of the St. Vladimir's Seminary octet.
He also earned a Master of Arts Degree in Community Counseling from Fairfield University, in Fairfield, CT, in 2005, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota in 1986.
Father Steven, 50, and his wife, Matushka Cindy, live in Guilford, CT. Matushka Cindy is choir director at Three Saints Church in Ansonia, CT, and is a marketing representative for Stony Creek Urgent Care facilities in Branford and Orange, CT.
Of his appointment as Dean of St. Tikhon's Seminary, Father Steven said: "In accepting this position I look forward to supporting St. Tikhon's mission of providing quality theological education including personal, spiritual, and pastoral formation to those whom God has called to serve His vineyard."
The entire St. Vladimir's Seminary community congratulates Alumnus The Very Rev. Dr. Steven Voytovich on his new appointment as Dean of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary. May God grant him many years!
In his first visit to St. Vladimir's Seminary, episcopal Board of Trustees member His Eminence Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC), presided over Vespers in the Seminary's St. Thomas Chapel, a space dedicated to the Malankara Orthodox students on campus. Joined by area clergy, Metropolitan Mar Nicholovos was greeted by our Dean and Professor of Patristics The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, who participated in a meeting after the service with His Grace.
"We spoke about ways in which to ensure that the education and formation we provide to Malankara students is of the highest possible level," summarized Fr. John, "and of ways in which we can be of further service to the Malankara church. I look forward to seeing our relationship grow and flourish in the years to come."
The Catholicos of The East and Malankara Metropolitan His Holiness Baselius Mar Thoma Paulose II appointed Metropolitan Mar Nicholovos to his post following the retirement of His Grace Metropolitan Mathews Mar Barnabas, whose last visit to St. Vladmir's was in October of 2011. The Malankara Church has 90 parishes and congregations in North America. Its ancient, apostolic roots harken back to the churches established by the apostle Thomas, who preached the Gospel in the state of Kerala, India. Also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox communion of over 3 million faithful.
Choirs from two local theological schools representing Eastern and Western Christendom will jointly present an a cappella concert titled “Magnificat: Hymns to the Mother of God from the East and West” on Monday evening, November 25, 2013, 7:30 pm, at St. Jean Baptiste Church, 184 East 76th Street, New York City. The Male Choir from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, of the Orthodox Church in America, will join with a Schola from St. Joseph's Seminary (Dunwoodie) of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, in praise of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, who holds a place of honor in both traditions.
Music selections from the Orthodox tradition for the concert will illustrate the Eastern Church’s feasts dedicated to the Theotokos (Greek for “Mother of God”), while music from the Roman Catholic tradition will include time-honored hymns of laudation to the Virgin Mary, taken from ancient chant and from the classical period up until modern times, such as O Sanctissima by Beethoven (1770–1827) and Ave Maria by Biebl (1906–2001).
College Education Day, in honor of former seminary Dean Father Alexander Schmemann, will take place Saturday, October 5, 2013 on our campus. The day will feature both The Rev. Christopher Foley (alumnus, '06), currently rector of Exaltation of Holy Cross Church, High Point, NC, and The Rev. Joel Weir, a graduate of St. Tikhon's Seminary and currently rector of St. Stephen the First Martyr Orthodox Church, Crawfordsville, IN.
Both priests will speak about their transformative spiritual encounters with Fr. Alexander's writings, among them his book, For the Life of the World, which they claim set them upon the path to Orthodox Christianity and deepened their faith in Jesus Christ. The book, translated into at least 12 languages, celebrates its 50th year of publication. The first edition was printed in 1963 by the National Student Christian Federation.
The day is being arranged by Pdn. Joseph Matusiak, director of Admissions and Alumni Relations at St. Vladimir's, who is issuing special invitations to several Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) chapters on college and university campuses across the United States. "In this unique year," said Pdn. Joseph, "our Events Committee decided to dedicate what normally is Orthodox Education Day to the spiritual growth of college and university students.
"Although because of the growing interest in College Education Day we find that we will not be able to accommodate the general public to our campus for this special event, we will be podcasting the two talks by Fr. Christopher and Fr. Joel, and we hope our usual 'Ed Day' patrons will listen in to these moving presentations and keep us in thought and prayer on that day."
For more information, contact Pdn. Joseph at 914.961.8313 x328, or jmatusiak@svots.edu
Note: This event for college students is replacing Orthodox Education Day this year!
Download a PDF of the "For the Life of the World" Conference here.
Downlod a JPG of the "For the Life of the World" Conference here.
Download a PDF flier of all Fall 2013 Events at SVOTS here.
Email a JPG flier of all Fall 2013 Events at SVOTS here.
The July issue of Wonder, a monthly publication of the Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministries of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), features contributions from four St. Vladimir's Seminary alumni authors. The articles, centered around the theme "A Vision of the OCA in the 21st Century," explore the identity and purpose of the Church as it ministers in the unique and challenging environment of the American continent. Alumni authors in the issue include The Very Rev. Michael Koblosh, SVOTS '68, "Orthodoxy Is Not Here By Accident"; The Very Rev. Eric Tosi, SVOTS '96,"Anna and the Church"; Dr. Peter Bouteneff, SVOTS '83 and associate professor of Systematic Theology, "Growing From Our Ethnic Roots"; and Mr. Andrew Boyd, SVOTS '12, "Just the Church."
"Taking inspiration from successful OCA youth magazines from previous decades, the editors of Wonder have a vision," explained Managing Editor and OCA Youth Director Andrew Boyd. "We seek to offer our youth and young adults thought–provoking content from a variety of original sources—professors, bishops, priests, lay–leaders, monastics, and other students. Through this means, we hope to encourage them to critically engage their faith rather than simply being passive bystanders."
The thirty–seven online issues have addressed a wide range of topics, from Christians in the workplace to reflections on the Divine Liturgy. Articles are aimed at stimulating discussion, and are also intended to be used as supportive material for those engaged in campus and young adult ministry. Some of the pieces are complemented by accompanying discussion questions, and are available as downloadable PDFs. To find out more about Wonder, contact Editor Dn. Jason Ketz (SVOTS '12) at wonder@oca.org.
The Very Rev. Dr. Michael Kovach, the last surviving member of the first graduating class of St. Vladimir's Seminary in 1943, fell asleep in the Lord on Friday morning, July 12, 2013, at Mount Joy Hospice and Community Care, Mount Joy, PA. He was 94 years old.
After his marriage to the former Olga A. Hubiak (+2011), he was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood, going on to serve the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America (Metropolia) for 27 years and the Orthodox Church of America for 42 years. He also spent 26 years on the faculty at Millersville University, having earned his Ph.D. in American History from the University of Pittsburgh. Most recently, he was attached to Christ the Saviour Church, Harrisburg, PA.
Father Michael was commissioned during WWII as a U.S. Army Military Chaplain, as the first Orthodox chaplain in the Army. In 2011, he was honored at the Seminary's annual campus open house, Orthodox Education Day, which that year celebrated the theme, "For God and Country." The day honored Orthodox Christian serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, especially military chaplains.
Services for Fr. Michael will be as follows:
Sunday, July 14, visitation at Christ the Saviour Church, Harrisburg, PA, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., at which time the Funeral Service for a Priest will be celebrated
Monday, July 15, visitation will resume at 8:00 a.m., followed by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m., followed by interment at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery Cemetery, South Canaan, PA.
In lieu of flowers, contributions for the establishment of a religious education fund may be sent to Christ The Saviour Church, 5501 Locust Lane, Harrisburg, PA 17109. More information may be found on the Website of the Orthodox Church in America.
St. Vladimir's Seminary Assistant Professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies and The John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology Fr. Alexander Rentel, has recorded his "Travelogue and Final Reflections" featuring the recent SVOTS trip to Turkey, Greece, and Mt. Athos. Accompanied by the Orthodox Church in America's Diocese of the South Chancellor The Very Rev. Marcus Burch, Dean and Professor of Patristics The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, and Rufus Behr, Fr. Alexander and eleven students spent over two weeks on a pilgrimage and study tour in the historic heart of Byzantine Christianity.
Writes Fr. Alexander, "This trip afforded us the opportunity to visit the great centers of Hellenic Orthodoxy: Constantinople, Thessalonika, Mt. Athos, and Athens. All along the way we enjoyed warm hospitality, an opportunity for pilgrimage, the fellowship of each other, and the enormous fun of sightseeing and travel. Students were able to take part in this trip at a low monetary cost due to the generous benefactions of two anonymous donors who are great friends of the Ecumenical Patriarch and wished to help make possible this trip. Needless to say, the Seminary—and all of us who went on this trip—thank these two donors for their generosity.
"When Fr. John and I first conceived of this trip, we had in mind the importance that travel had in our formation. As is well known, travel broadens horizons and allows for the appreciation of different perspectives, and is an essential part of any formation....we wanted to give our students similar opportunities..." Read the rest of Fr. Alexander's "Travelogue and Final Reflections."
accompanied by SVOTS alumnus and Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America's Diocese of the South The Very Rev. Marcus Burch, SVOTS Dean and Professor of Patristics The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr and his son Rufus, - See more at: http://www.svots.edu/content/diary-pilgrimage-constantinople-and-mt-athos#sthash.pAr2I95F.dpuf
This trip afforded us the opportunity to visit the great centers of Hellenic Orthodoxy: Constantinople, Thessalonika, Mt. Athos, and Athens. All along the way we enjoyed warm hospitality, an opportunity for pilgrimage, the fellowship of each other, and the enormous fun of sightseeing and travel. Students were able to take part in this trip at a low monetary cost due to the generous benefactions of two anonymous donors who are great friends of the Ecumenical Patriarch and wished to help make possible this trip. - See more at: https://www.svots.edu/voices/faculty/travelogue-and-final-reflections#sthash.r8ySQ9L7.dpuf
This trip afforded us the opportunity to visit the great centers of Hellenic Orthodoxy: Constantinople, Thessalonika, Mt. Athos, and Athens. All along the way we enjoyed warm hospitality, an opportunity for pilgrimage, the fellowship of each other, and the enormous fun of sightseeing and travel. Students were able to take part in this trip at a low monetary cost due to the generous benefactions of two anonymous donors who are great friends of the Ecumenical Patriarch and wished to help make possible this trip. - See more at: https://www.svots.edu/voices/faculty/travelogue-and-final-reflections#sthash.r8ySQ9L7.dpuf
This trip afforded us the opportunity to visit the great centers of Hellenic Orthodoxy: Constantinople, Thessalonika, Mt. Athos, and Athens. All along the way we enjoyed warm hospitality, an opportunity for pilgrimage, the fellowship of each other, and the enormous fun of sightseeing and travel. Students were able to take part in this trip at a low monetary cost due to the generous benefactions of two anonymous donors who are great friends of the Ecumenical Patriarch and wished to help make possible this trip. - See more at: https://www.svots.edu/voices/faculty/travelogue-and-final-reflections#sthash.r8ySQ9L7.dpuf
Dean and Professor of Patristics The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr recently journeyed to Egypt as the guest of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria. The SVOTS dean was accompanied by His Grace Bishop Suriel of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Melbourne and Affiliated Regions. Bishop Suriel is familiar with St. Vladimir's Seminary; during his years of ministry in North America in the 1990s he studied towards a Masters degree on the Yonkers campus and has served as a guest lecturer at the seminary's Eastern–Oriental Orthodox Symposium. In March of this year, Bishop Suriel visited the Seminary to discuss a cooperative relationship between SVOTS and St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Theological College in Donvale, Victoria.
In Egypt, Father John spoke on "Orthodox Theological Education in the Twenty-First Century" at the "Theological and Ecclesiastical Institutes Seminar," called by Pope Tawadros to explore the spiritual formation of theological students. Held at the Anaphora Institute, a retreat and training center near the desert road between Cairo and Alexandria, the seminar featured talks by eminent Coptic bishops, clergy, and scholars.
such as the keep built by the Emperor Justinian." During the conference, Bishop Suriel arranged for Fr. John and Pope Tawadros II to meet. "For over an hour we discussed issues pertaining to the Coptic Church, St. Vladimir's Seminary, theological education, and how we might cooperate in future endeavors," said Fr. John.
"From the time I arrived and was warmly greeted and escorted through customs 'VIP style' in Cairo," added Fr. John, "my host Bishop Suriel could not have been more thoughtful and gracious. In one marvelous day, for instance, we visited the Egyptian Museum with its extraordinary collection of antiquities; the Coptic Museum in Old Cairo, with its amazing collection of very early frescoes; the various churches of Old Cairo including the famous Hanging Church; and finally, the 'Sound & Light Show' at the Pyramids of Giza. He also traveled with me after the conference to the monasteries in the desert of Scetis. At Baramous Monastery I spoke to the monks for several hours about my recent work on the themes of life, death, and our humanity." As the political situation became increasingly tense over the course of Fr. John's stay in Egypt, Bishop Suriel arranged for Fr. John to depart on an earlier flight, ensuring his safe passage to the Cairo airport.
After Bishop Suriel's March visit to St. Vladimir's, first–year Coptic seminarian Mina Andrews explained his contribution to the Coptic Church. "He is a pioneer in the establishment of the first accredited Coptic Seminary in the diaspora. His Grace's vision has been very much influenced by the late Pope Shenouda III and His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, and his work is not only recognized in his diocese but in the church at large."
