By the grace of God, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Alumnus Archpriest Paul Shafran celebrated his 104th birthday this July. Fr. Paul, the oldest living Seminary alumnus, marked the occasion on July 2. His daughters Nina Shafran and Paula Koerte arranged an in-home celebration with family. Then, on Sunday, July 5, the...

The community of St. Vladimir’s Seminary joyfully celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of Archpriest Alexander Rentel’s ordination to the Holy Priesthood! The Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Rentel is Rector of the Three Hierarchs Chapel and Assistant Professor of Liturgical Theology and Canon Law at the Seminary. “Fr. Alexander has a legacy...

By Sh. Kim Whiteside The Rev. Dn. John Whiteside is entering his third year of study in the M.Div. Program at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Eminence Metropolitan Saba on December 7, 2025, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church of Little Falls, NJ...

The Catechist Certification Program, offered by St. Vladimir’s Online School of Theology, drew nearly 130 participants for its most recent cohort formed in April. Those participants are working to complete the Certification Program this July. The Catechist Certification Program—offered with the blessings of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and His Eminence...

This summer three alumni of St. Vladimir’s Seminary were ordained for the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church’s Diocese of South-West America. The first took place on June 27 as Dn. Geevarghese (Toby) John (M.Div. ’21) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by the hands of His Grace Thomas Mar Ivanios, Bishop...

CrossRoad Summer Institute returned to St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS) this July, bringing another large group of Orthodox high school juniors and seniors to campus. From July 6–16, participants were given a taste of seminary life as they roomed in dormitories, partook in daily prayers at Three Hierarchs Chapel, ate meals...

Today marks the fortieth anniversary of the falling asleep in the Lord of Professor Serge S. Verhovskoy (+August 4, 1986), among the most influential and important figures in the history of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS). Verhovskoy, known affectionately as “Prof,” was Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Ethics, and...