How could an illiterate desert-dweller with no access to the Scriptures, written or spoken, be so utterly transformed by the Word of God?
In the seventh Light of the World Webinar hosted by St Vladimir’s Seminary, the Rev. Dr Silviu Bunta, a prolific Orthodox author and speaker, drew from the life of St Mary of Egypt in discussing the profound and essential place of the Psalter and the Scriptures as a whole in attaining Christ-like perfection. Fr Silviu delivered his presentation, “A Sweet Light Descended and Enlightened Me: St Mary of Egypt and the Cleansing Strength of the Psalms,” to an online audience on April 25, 2024.
This was a topic dear to Fr Silviu, who has himself produced a translation of the Psalter.
The Scriptures are not a text, he emphasized during the webinar, but the very "life of God within the human person, life which the holy ones have made their own.” St Mary of Egypt, who had been living in the desert, feeding and clothing herself with the Word of God, “is the embodiment of this reality,” said Fr Silviu.
This monthly webinar series features speakers from among St Vladimir’s Seminary faculty, alumni, and friends, speaking on a variety of topics while answering a core question:
How are we Christians to be the light of the world?
Drawing inspiration from feedback received through a recent survey, these webinars aim to address a diverse range of themes that address real and pressing issues facing Orthodox faithful in modern society.
These online webinars are open to the public and free of cost. They are recorded and uploaded to the St Vladimir’s Seminary YouTube channel after the live Zoom event for easy access.
Two other distinguished guests, Dr Robert P. George and The Very Rev. Dr Patrick Henry Reardon, each received honorary degrees during the ceremony: the degrees of Doctor of Canon Law and Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, respectively. The Seminary honored Dr George, an internationally recognized legal scholar and political philosopher, for his tireless advocacy for the dignity of the human person and civil rights as well as his work as an apologist for public morality. Archpriest Henry Patrick Reardon has been a leading voice for Orthodox Christianity in our time. Over the past forty years, he has given numerous conference presentations and retreats in the U.S. and Europe and written over a thousand articles, editorials, and reviews, including for St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly, and many well-loved books such as SVS Press’s Romans: An Orthodox Commentary and Revelation: A Liturgical Prophecy.
During commencement exercises, St Vladimir’s seminarians also honored Dr Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie with the 2024 St Macrina Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award is selected each year by student vote.
Upon receiving the award, he offered his sincere gratitude to the students.
“I have to say, I am speechless.” said Dr Tudorie. “Because this is the very reason I came to St Vladimir’s. I wanted to prove myself as a professor and not [just] as an administrator, and it’s really a great joy for me to receive this award.”
Commencement Address
Honorary degree recipient Dr Robert P. George delivered this year’s commencement address, asking the graduating class to look within themselves as he laid out the profoundly challenging context in which they will continue their lives of ministry and Christian witness.
“The question we face is simply this: Can we muster the courage to be faithful, to boldly bear witness to truths that are unpopular among those controlling the levers of cultural and economic power? Are we willing, if necessary, to pay the costs—the heavy costs—of discipleship?”
Thirty-one graduates comprised the graduating class of 2024: fourteen (14) from the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program, eleven (11) from the Master of Arts (M.A.) program, six (6) from the Master of Theology (Th.M.) program, and one from the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program. (One student received both M.Div. and Th.M. degrees this year.)
“Seminary is a place where we can learn to be a healing presence in a hurting world,” said graduating seminarian Naomi DeHaan, who delivered this year’s salutatory address. “What you, my fellow graduates, have taught me is that before I can be a healing presence to a hurting world—a world where the brokenness of strife and grief oppress us—I have to realize that world is inside, and I am the one who hurts. You have taught me to be vulnerable and open to being healed through you. You, my fellow seminarians, are actualizing the Body of Christ in this world, bringing His strength to our weakness.”
The Rev. Dr Renish Geevarghese Abraham, the class valedictorian, also offered powerful words to his fellow graduates.
“Do not think that we have accomplished everything here. The mark of a good traveler, a pilgrim, a seeker, is to sustain the initial enthusiasm throughout this journey of life. Do not become complacent,” Fr Geevarghese exhorted. “Orthodox spirituality is about our continuous growth in Christ. Complacency is the greatest impediment to growth.
“Christian spirituality does not end with our personal growth,” he continued, noting that the Orthodox pursuit of salvation is not individualistic but collective. “We move into the next realm. Like the tree, we grow out with branches in such a way that we become a source of life, joy, and comfort to the people around us, as the tree to the birds of the air…. The Seminary has laid the foundation for us to grow up. Now is the time to grow out and grow together to be Christ-like.”
May the Lord God grant many blessed and fruitful years of service in His vineyard to the St Vladimir’s Seminary graduates of 2024!
With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Archpriest Elias Ziton, an alumnus and generous supporter of the St Vladimir’s Seminary. Fr Elias fell asleep in the Lord peacefully May 17, 2024, surrounded by his family, at the age of 84. He was pastor emeritus of St George Church of Phoenix, AZ.
"Abouna was loved by everyone that knew him for his unwavering faith, his care for others, and not least his rich and beautiful voice," said The Very Rev. Christopher Salamy, pastor of St George. "It was a joy for me to learn from him, to serve alongside him and to be loved by him. He will truly be missed by our entire parish family."
The Very Rev. Elias Ziton was born on April 19, 1940, to the late Elias and Julia Ziton in Toledo, OH. He was ordained to the holy priesthood in 1965 at the Archdiocese Convention in Boston, MA, the last priest ordained by Metropolitan Antony Bashir who reposed in the Lord six months later.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kh. Lorraine, and his loving brothers Wasfey Ziton and The Very Rev. Fr. Theodore E. Ziton, who also attended St Vladimir’s Seminary (1951–1954).
Surviving Fr Elias are his children Michael (Feirouz), Deborah (Gray), and David (Nesrin); grandchildren Michael Elias Jr., Juliana Rose, Nina, Eli, Marina, and Paris Sophia; as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, and many spiritual children.
Details regarding the funeral service and burial of Fr Elias may be found here at Antiochian.org.
May the memory of Archpriest Elias be eternal!
*Information for this article has been adapted fromAntiochian.org.
