TIKHONAIRE
2009
105th
Annual pilgrimage
St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and Monastery South Canaan, Pennsylvania ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA
Dedication This year has marked the 2000th Anniversary of the Birth of Saint Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, whose faithful preaching and tireless labors brought the message of Our Lord and Savior “to the very ends of the world.” Saint Paul was a man of character – zealous and totally committed to Christ. He was a man of prayer – in prison or in court, in the synagogue or alone. The Apostle was a preacher of the Word – “in season and out of season.” He was a member of the Church – no “lone ranger,” but the consummate team player. Paul was a witness to the Resurrection - the central message of his faith and preaching. He was an agent of conversion and change – repentance from sin and purity of heart. He was a servant of the community – presiding at the altar, working in a food kitchen. He was a colleague in suffering – embracing the lonely, depressed, sick and dying. As Paul’s shadow falls upon successive generations of preachers and Church leaders, his contribution in shaping the model for the priest-pastor in today’s parishes remains a valuable measure of the effectiveness of all those called to serve the Lord. As the Acts of the Apostles ends with the stirring announcement that Paul brought his work to its destined completion, “welcoming all who came to him and preaching the Kingdom of God” (Acts 28:30), so it must be for clergy even in the 21st century. At the very center of the only civilization he knew, the Apostle to the Gentiles taught about our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ openly and unhindered. This is the model that every priest is to follow in America in 2009. This is the model that Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary has used to spiritually form and theologically educate the future clergy of Christ’s Holy Church in this country and throughout the world for the past seven decades. As we also conclude the 70th Anniversary Year of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, St. Paul’s exhortation to all of us, but especially to priests, to emulate him rings across the centuries: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (I Cor. 11: 1). This issue of The Tikhonaire is reverently dedicated to this remarkable Saint of whom St. John Chrysostom said, “I love all the saints; but of all the saints, I love Paul the most” … and to all the graduates of this Seminary who have followed in Paul’s footsteps. Eight of the most senior alumni of our theological school are highlighted in these pages. Their priesthoods are remarkable … likened to the model of St. Paul the Apostle: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me … and the life that I live in the flesh I live in the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal. 2:20). Holy Apostle Paul, pray unto God for us … especially for the priests of our Holy Church! II
2 0 0 0 th A n n i v e r s a r y
Bir th of the Holy Apostle Paul III
Dearly Beloved in the Lord, It is with great joy and gratitude to God that I write this first Tikhonaire greeting as Abbot of St. Tikhon’s Monastery and President of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. In recent months, we have seen St. Tikhon’s go through the forge of internal struggles. Such experiences are difficult and must be taken seriously, addressed in a responsible manner. This is the task to which all the administration of both the Monastery and the Seminary commit themselves. The Gospel teaches us that adversity, when dealt with properly, will be for our growth and our salvation. Knowing this, let each on of us face all challenges with unwavering faith and steadfast determination. The health and well-being of monastic life and of seminary communities is critical for the life of the Church at large. Monasticism is a barometer for the spiritual health of a church. Strong, thriving monasteries are an indicator that the church in which they carry out their lives and missions are committed to the prayerful fulfillment of Christ’s teachings in the Holy Gospel. Furthermore, monastics stand as examples and guides in the ascetic life to whichall Christians are called. Though married people and monastics might live out this calling in different ways, all faithful are guided by the same underlying principles. Healthy monastic communities are a source of spiritual strength and guidance for all the faithful. Similarly, an old piece of Russian folk wisdom tells us that the character of a parish is directly linked to the character of its pastor. Loving, faithful, dedicated parish priests nurture parish communities that are also full of love, faith and devotion. For this reason, it is crucial that the seminary environment is one which offers candidates for the priesthood, as well as those students who will go on to become lay leaders in the church, solid formation both academically and spiritually. The St. Tikhon’s monastic brotherhood and seminary community — faculty, staff, students and board — are grateful to all of those who support our efforts. We pray that you will continue to be with us in the journeys of both our institutions, as we continue to fulfill the mission given to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In Christ the weight of each one’s burden is shared by all, and the blessing of each becomes a blessing for the entire Body. Conveying my blessing to all those in the St. Tikhon’s community, and to all our benefactors and supporters, I remain, With love in Christ,
+JONAH Archbishop of Washington and New York Metropolitan of All America and Canada
HIS BEATITUDE, THE MOST BLESSED JONAH, Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada
HIS GRACE, THE RIGHT REVEREND TIKHON, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania
May 25, 2009 Your Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH, Beloved Brother and Concelebrant in the Lord, Venerable Hierarchs, Honorable Fathers, Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, Christ is risen! With joy in the risen Lord, the brethren of the Monastery of SaintTikhon of Zadonsk extend a very warm welcome to all who have traveledin pilgrimage to these holy grounds. It is truly a blessing to gatherin prayer and fellowship during this Paschal Season when the brilliant light of Christ’s Resurrection shines in our hearts, confirming thatthe Lord has conquered hell, corruption and death itself. The reality of the Lord’s victory over death is made manifest by thepresence of the glorified saints who adorn our Church, chief amongwhich is the Most Holy and Most Pure Mother of God, who graces us thisweekend with her wonderworking Sitka icon: The overcoming of death is also made manifest by the life-giving relics of the saints, such asthose of St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre, whose glorified body can be venerated on this 100th anniversary of his repose. The reality of the resurrection is likewise made manifest in every person who bears within himself both the struggles of the Cross and the joy of the Resurrection and makes his own the words of the Paschal Hymn: Yesterday, O Christ, I was buried with Thee, and today I rise again with Thee, in Thy rising. Yesterday I was crucified with Thee, now glorify me, O Savior, in Thy Kingdom (Paschal Canon, Ode III). This is the work of the ascetic, a work which is not reserved for monastics alone but belongs to all Christians, and, in fact, every human being. All of us long to find healing in Christ, Who is the Divine Physician of our souls and bodies; and the ascetical life is the treatment offered to us so that we might purify our hearts and, by God’s grace, enter into His glory. As we gather in pilgrimage during these days of light, may the glory of the Resurrection be ever kindled in our hearts so that we might remember that we are coming to taste a new drink…the fountain of immortality; and as we depart in peace, let us go as lightbearers to meet Christ, who comes forth from the tomb as a Bridegroom, knowing that He is always with us, even unto the end of the world. With love in the risen Lord,
+TIKHON Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania Deputy Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk
T a b l e o f C o n t e n t s – TIKHONAIRE 2009 Board of Trustees, Administration, Faculty, and Staff . . . .1 St. Tikhon’s Graduates and Seminarians . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Student Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Married Seminarians and Families . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Feature Section: Wisdom from Senior Alumni . . . . . . . .27 Archpriest John Govrusik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Archpriest Igor Soroka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Archpriest Daniel Ressetar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Archpriest John Mason . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Archpriest John Nehrebecki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Archpriest Eugene Pianovich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Archpriest Michael Romanchak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Archpriest Makary Targonsky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 St. Tikhon’s 2008-2009 Timeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 2008-2009 Academic Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 66th Seminary Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Summer Camp 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 Clergy Continuing Education Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Annual Golf Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Seminary Orientation and Opening Retreat . . . . . . . . . . .51 Memories from the Holy Mountain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 Alumni Association Hosts Picnic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 38th Annual Adult Lecture Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Orthodox Two Part Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Serbian Choir Visits St. Tikhon’s Seminary . . . . . . . . . . .57 St. Tikhon’s Founder’s Day Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 70th Anniversary of St. Tikhon’s Seminary . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Bishops Mark and Thomas Visit St. Tikhon’s . . . . . . . . . .59 “Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 St. Nicholas Day Party . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 2008-2009 Church School Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62 Metropolitan Jonah Visits St. Tikhon’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64 Christmas Pageant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 Fundraiser at Wusylko Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
27 IN ST. PAUL’S FOOTSTEPS
VIII
Seminarian Families Receive Christmas Gifts . . . . . . . . .66 March for Life 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Fr. Jason DelVitto Addresses Seminarians . . . . . . . . . . . .68 “Learn the Language, Love the People” . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 “Turning Toward” as a Theology of Marriage . . . . . . . . .70 St. Tikhon’s Wives’ Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72 Another Year of Growth for OISM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 A Visit to Emmaus House in Harlem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75 Another Blessed Year for Indian Students . . . . . . . . . . . .76 Dr. David C. Ford Promoted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78 Fr. Constantine Nasr Inspires Seminarians . . . . . . . . . . .79 Vocations Encounter 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 History Made at Philadelphia Campus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Holy Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 PASCHA 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83 Field Education Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 2008-2009 Seminarian Ordinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 St. Tikhon’s Mission Choir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 Student Life at St. Tikhon’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100 The St. Tikhon’s Monastery Community . . . . . . . . . . . .103 104th Annual Monastery Pilgrimage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106 Departed Monastics of St. Tikhon’s Monastery . . . . . . .108 Benefactors and Supporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109 St. Tikhon’s Seminary Scholarships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Benefactors and Scholarship Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 “Adopt A Seminarian” Scholarship Program . . . . . . . . .115 St. Tikhon’s Century Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 An Appreciation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122 Society of the Friends of St. Tikhon’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124 “Mnogaya Leta!” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125 Form of Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126 St. Tikhon’s Bookstore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 St. Tikhon’s Male Choir CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127 Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
64 FIRST VISIT OF METROPOLITAN
86 SEMINARIAN ORDINATIONS
S AINT T IKHON’S
O RTHODOX THEOLOGICAL S EMINARY
B
OARD OF TRUSTEES, ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY AND STAFF
S T O T S
THE BOARD
OF
TRUSTEES
Officers His Beatitude, the Most Blessed JONAH (Paffhausen), Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President His Grace, the Right Reverend TIKHON (Mollard), Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rector Protodeacon Michael Wusylko, M.D., Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2009) John C. Morris, Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2009) Ex Officio Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, Chancellor, Orthodox Church in America Archpriest Michael G. Dahulich, Ph.D., Dean of the Seminary Archpriest Alexander S. Golubov, Ph.D., Academic Dean of the Seminary Hieromonk Sergius (Bowyer), Representative of the Monastery of St Tikhon of Zadonsk Members Paul Chernay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2009) Arthur Dimopoulos, Esq. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2009) John Malinchok . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2009) George Nakonetschny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2009) John P. Schultz, M.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2009) Archpriest Alexander Atty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2010) Archpriest Joseph Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2010) Eli Stavisky, D.M.D., F.I.C.D., F.A.C.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2010) The Rev. William Weir, Esq. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2010) Leda Dzwonczyk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2011) Michael G. Herzak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2011) David R. Jarrett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2011) Michael Pasonick, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2011) Mat. Nina Stroyen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2011) Kory William Warr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2011) Charles W. Webb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2011) Subdeacon Nicholas Blick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (term expires 2012) Archpriest Daniel K. Donlick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Emeritus) Archpriest Sergei Glagolev . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Emeritus) Archpriest Yaroslav Sudick, Ph.D., D.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Emeritus) Walter Palchik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (Emeritus)
2
S AINT T IKHON’S
O RTHODOX THEOLOGICAL S EMINARY
HIS BEATITUDE, METROPOLITAN JONAH
HIS GRACE, BISHOP TIKHON
PRESIDENT
RECTOR ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF LITURGICS
FA C U LT Y S E M I N A RY
THE VERY REV. MICHAEL G. DAHULICH, Ph.D., DEAN Associate Professor of New Testament and Ethics
THE VERY REV. ALEXANDER S. GOLUBOV, Ph.D., ACADEMIC DEAN Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Spirituality
DAVID C. FORD, Ph.D. Professor of Church History
CHRISTOPHER VENIAMIN, D.Phil. (Oxon.) Professor of Patristics
HARRY BOOSALIS, Th.D. Associate Professor of Dogmatic Theology
MARY FORD, Ph.D. Associate Professor of New Testament
THE VERY REV. ELIAS BITAR, D.Min. Adjunct Assistant Professor of Sacred Music
THE VERY REV. DAVID HESTER, SEOD Adjunct Associate Professor of Church History and Patristics
SERGEI ARHIPOV HEAD LIBRARIAN AND REGISTRAR Assistant Professor of Church Slavonic and Russian
4
THE VERY REV. DAVID MAHAFFEY Lecturer in Comparative Theology
THE VERY REV. DANIEL KOVALAK Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Practice
THE VERY REV. DAVID SHEWCZYK Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Practice
THE REV. HIEROMONK SERGIUS (BOWYER) Lecturer in Church Music
IGUMEN GABRIEL (NICHOLAS) Lecturer in New Testament Greek
THE REV. RAYMOND MARTIN BROWNE Lecturer in Scripture
FA C U LT Y
THE VERY REV. JOHN KOWALCZYK Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Practice; Director of Field Education
THE REV. DAVID MEZYNSKI, Ph.D. Cand., DIRECTOR OF STUDENT AFFAIRS Instructor in Theology and Church History
S E M I N A RY
THE REV. MICHAEL DEMKO Ph.D. Cand., Instructor in Patristics
5
FA C U LT Y S E M I N A RY
THE REV. DAVID S. COWAN Lecturer in Pastoral Practice
THE VERY REV. DANIEL K. DONLICK Distinguished Professor of Church History and Academic Dean, Emeritus
THE REV. VICTOR GORODENCHUK Lecturer in Scripture (Diaconal Formation Program)
6
THE REV. JOHN SOUCEK Lecturer in Pastoral Practice
THE VERY REV. GEORGE DIMOPOULOS Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Emeritus
THE REV. TIMOTHY HOJNICKI Lecturer in Pastoral Practice (Diaconal Formation Program)
THE V. REV. NICOLAI BUGA Lecturer in Church History (Diaconal Formation Program)
S E M I N A RY
S TA F F
JOHN PALUCH Director of Food Services and Physical Plant
MARTIN PALUCH Director of Communications and Public Relations
MARY SERNAK Administrative Assistant Office of the Metropolitan
MATUSHKA DOROTHY SULICH Executive Secretary
MARTHA MOSSNER Seminary Cook
THE REV. KYRILL WILLIAMS Assistant to the Director of Food Services and Physical Plant
ROBERT ROTH Volunteer Library Assistant
THE VERY REV. DIONYSIUS SWENCKI Chief Financial Officer
SARAH JUBINSKI Library Consultant
MAT. TAMARA COWAN Coordinator of Students’ Wives Activities
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A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
Martin S. Paluch, Director of Communications and Public Relations; Very Rev. Dionysius Swencki, Chief Financial Officer; Very Rev. Michael G. Dahulich, Dean; His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, Rector; Very Rev. Alexander Golubov, Academic Dean; Sergei Arhipov, Head Librarian and Registrar; Rev. David Mezynski, Director of Student and Community Affairs; John W. Paluch, Director of Food Services and Physical Plant
8
S AINT T IKHON’S
O RTHODOX THEOLOGICAL S EMINARY
GRADUATES AND SEMINARIANS
S T O T S
CLASS OF 2009 GRADUATES
The Rev. Dn. Mircea Airinei
Holy Ascension Orthodox Church Frackville, Pennsylvania
Vasily Dubee
Subdeacon Abey George
St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church Jermyn, Pennsylvania
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Ian Burgess
St. Philothea of Argesh Romanian Orthodox Mission Hagerstown, Maryland
St. Mary’s Malankara Indian Orthodox Syrian Church West Sayville, New York
The Rev. Dn. Patrick M. Burns
Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral Kodiak, Alaska
Michael Habib
St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral Los Angeles, California
GOD GRANT YOU MANY YEARS!
Seraphim Hanisch
SS. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Cathedral Passaic, New Jersey
Iyad Khair
St. Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church Louisville, Kentucky
Edward Henderson
Holy Cross Orthodox Church Fort Meyers, Florida
Hermann Klarr
St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church St. Louis, Missouri
Dana Symeon Kees
St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Houston, Texas
Subdeacon Christopher Mathew St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church Stafford, Texas
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CLASS OF 2009 GRADUATES
The Rev. Dn. George Mathew
The Rev. James McKee
George I. Sharonoff
St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Greater Washington Silver Spring, Maryland
Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church Tacoma, Washington
St. Christina of Tyre Orthodox Mission Fremont, California
Joshua Ryan Smith
The Rev. Dn. Nathan Thompson
The Rev. Dn. James Worthington
St. Andrew Orthodox Church Maple Heights, Ohio
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St. Anthony Antiochian Orthodox Church San Diego, California
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church Pottstown, Pennsylvania
GOD GRANT YOU MANY YEARS!
“...and you shall be witnesses to Me...to the very ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
S E M I N A R I A N S
Nikolai Jesse Breckenridge Holy Assumption of St. Mary Orthodox Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Paul Abernathy St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
The Rev. Dn. John Bohush SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church Endicott, New York
Nicholas Christian Buck Holy Spirit Antiochian Orthodox Church Huntington, West Virginia
The Rev. Dn. Theophan Buck St. John the Wonderworker Orthodox Church Atlanta, Georgia
James Cheriyan St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church Pune, Maharashtra India
Joshua Coolman St. John the Forerunner Orthodox Church Indianapolis, Indiana
Michael Devich St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Cathedral Dallas, Texas
The Rev. John Christianson SS. Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church Ben Lomond, California
14
S E M I N A R I A N S
The Rev. Stephen DeYoung St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Shreveport, Louisiana
Todd Franta Christ the Savior/Holy Spirit Orthodox Church Cincinnati, Ohio
Seraphim Gulin The Holy Myrrhbearing Women Orthodox Church Sacramento, California
The Rev. Daniel M. Hackney All Saints of North America Antiochian Orthodox Church St. Louis, Missouri
Joseph Hazar Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary Livonia, Michigan
Patrick Henre St. George Serbian Orthodox Church Kansas City, Kansas
John Hogg St. George Orthodox Cathedral Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Matthew Howell St. John Orthodox Cathedral Eagle River, Alaska
The Rev. Dn. Methodios Ingalls St. Sophia Antiochian Orthodox Church Dripping Springs, Texas
15
S E M I N A R I A N S
The Rev. John D. Jones SS. Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Church Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Monk Michael (Juk) St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery Church South Canaan, Pennsylvania
Vladimir Kantor SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church Syracuse, New York
The Rev. Stephen Kaznica SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Cathedral Passaic, New Jersey
Andrew Kishler All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church Chicago, Illinois
Jake Kurian St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church Stafford, Texas
Abraham Labrada-Santiago Orthodox Cathedral of the Ascension of the Lord Mexico City, Mexico
Thomas Langdon St. John the Forerunner Orthodox Church Indianapolis, Indiana
Novice Nilus (Lerro) Orthodox Cathedral of the Protection of the Holy Virgin New York, New York
16
S E M I N A R I A N S
Mark Lichtenstein Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Joseph Lucas Holy Assumption Orthodox Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Zachary Lynch Archangel Michael Orthodox Church Pueblo, Colorado
Christopher Maciolek Holy Trinity Orthodox Church St. Paul, Minnesota
Saba Attala Makhouli St. George Orthodox Church Kofer-Yassif, Palestine
John Malcom St. Mary’s Russian Orthodox Church Jamesville, New York
Joel Mathew St. Mary’s Indian Orthodox Church of Dallas Farmers Branch, Texas
The Rev. Daniel C. Mathewson St. Mary Orthodox Church Coaldale, Pennsylvania
The Rev. Dn. Joseph McCartney St. Andrew the First-Called Orthodox Church New Port Richey, Florida
17
S E M I N A R I A N S
Daniel Scott Meyer St. Andrew Antiochian Orthodox Church Riverside, California
Seraphim Mitchell All Saints of North America Orthodox Church Salisbury, CT
The Rev. Milorad Orlic St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church Philadelphia, PA
Derek Aleksei Schmidt Assumption of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ian Shipley St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church Santa Rosa, California
The Rev. Hieromonk Pedro (Siqueira) St. Herman Orthodox Monastery Platina, California
Diju Skariah St. Gregorios Orthodox Cathedral Bellwood, Illinois
Patrick Smith St. Andrew the First-Called Orthodox Church New Port Richey, Florida
Matthew Snowden St. John’s Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church Memphis, Tennessee
18
S E M I N A R I A N S
David Taylor Holy Protection of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church Royalton, Illinois
The Rev. Maximus Regis Urbanowicz St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral Washington, D.C.
The Rev. Archdeacon Nicholas (Terenta) Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos Orthodox Monastery Weaverville, North Carolina
The Rev. Dn. Joel Weir St. Stephen the First Martyr Orthodox Church Crawfordsville, Indiana
The Rev. Dn. Gregory Thompson St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church Campbell, Ohio
Monk Andrew (Wermuth) St. Michael’s Skete Spruce Island, Alaska
Thaddaeus Joel Werner St. Herman Orthodox Church Fairbanks, Alaska
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ST. TIKHON’S SEMINARY
Student Government
(L TO R): Dn. Nathan Thompson, Dn. James Worthington, Patrick Henre, Fr. David Mezynski, Joshua Smith, Michael Habib, Vasili Dubee
Patrick Henre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . President Joshua Ryan Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice-President Michael Habib . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary Dn. James Worthington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer Dn. Nathan Thompson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Married Students Representative Vasili Dubee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dorm Students Representative Fr. David Mezynski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Student and Community Affairs
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S AINT TIKHON’S
O RTHODOX THEOLOGICAL S EMINARY
MARRIED
SEMINARIANS AND FAMILIES
S T O T S
Ma r ri e d Se m i n a ri a n s a n d Fa m i l i e s
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Airinei Family
Buck Family
Burgess Family
Burns Family
Christianson Family
Devich Family
Ma r ri e d Se m i n a ri a n s a n d Fa m i l i e s
Franta Family
Howell Family
Ingalls Family
Jones Family
Kees Family
Kishler Family 23
Ma r ri e d Se m i n a ri a n s a n d Fa m i l i e s
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Landgon Family
Lichtenstein Family
Lucas Family
Lynch Family
Maciolek Family
Mathew Family
Ma r ri e d Se m i n a ri a n s a n d Fa m i l i e s
McCartney Family
McKee Family
Meyer Family
Shipley Family
Smith Family
Snowden Family 25
Ma r ri e d Se m i n a ri a n s a n d Fa m i l i e s
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Taylor Family
Thompson Family
Urbanowicz Family
Weir Family
Werner Family
Worthington Family
S AINT TIKHON’S
O RTHODOX THEOLOGICAL S EMINARY
WISDOM FROM SENIOR ALUMNI
In Honor of the 70th Anniversary of St. Tikhon’s Theological Seminary
S T O T S
SELFLESS SERVICE
An Interview with ARCHPRIEST JOHN GOVRUSIK (Class of 1944) Seminarian John Hogg
A
s I began my interview with Archpriest John Govrusik, it was humbling to realize that the man sitting before me had already been a priest for forty years when I was born. Now that he is completing his 65th year of serving Christ in the priesthood, Fr. John graciously took the time to sit down and share some of his stories and experiences with me. From the time that he was a little boy, his parents took him to church, and so his desire to serve God was an early one. When asked why he decided to go into the priesthood, Fr. John laughed and said with a smile, “I didn’t decide! I was born in the Church and grew up in the Church and it was all I knew.” Although he had always loved the Church, it was something that happened to him when he was a child that really made up his mind to go to seminary. When Fr. John was seven, he was hit by a car and his legs were damaged. His recovery took two years, and during that time, his local priest visited him and comforted him often. That same priest made a point of teaching him to read the Epistle in Slavonic, and even had him direct the choir for a few Sundays. It was that example of service and caring that inspired him, and it was an example that Fr. John 28
has imitated during his long years in the priesthood. When Fr. John first arrived at St. Tikhon’s, it was a much different place than it is today. He and the other seminarians lived in the orphanage with the orphans, although they had a separate room, which they all shared. While he was at St. Tikhon’s, World War II was still going on and food was somewhat scarce. He lived more on spiritual nourishment than on physical nourishment, being taught by Saints.
During Fr. John’s time at St. Tikhon’s, one of the professors was Archbishop ARSENY, who is now locally venerated as a Saint in the Archdiocese of Canada. For Fr. John, His Eminence was a great inspiration and a true father to all of the students. While many of the professors were very strict and demanding with the seminarians, Vladyka was always ready with a kind word to encourage them during difficult times. While he was always kind, Archibishop Arseny also knew how to be tough when love required it. At graduation, His Eminence would take each student aside individually and praise them for what they did well, but also tell them what he expected from them and what their weaknesses were, admonishing them to be careful. Archbishop Arseny’s example provided Fr. John with a model of how to serve Christ as a good shepherd of His sheep. During his ministry, Fr. John has been a blessing to many parishes. In 1944 he graduated from the Seminary, married his wife Olga, and was ordained to the priesthood. Father John and Matushka Olga were then assigned to a parish in Baltimore that had just suffered a split. He helped to bring peace
among the people, and the parish thrived and grew. Under his leadership, they bought property and built their own church. In 1949, he was reassigned to a parish in Monessen, Pa. This parish too was suffering, with many conflicts among the different ethnic groups in the same community. Many young people had left the parish because of the fighting, and the parish had lost its building during the Depression and was renting space. Before he arrived, a priest who lasted two years in the parish was considered to have been there a long time. Fr. John stayed there for 25 years and oversaw the building of a new, larger temple that was fully paid for within three years. While he was serving the parish in Monessen, he baptized the future Bishop BASIL of the Antiochian Archdiocese. He would have stayed at the parish longer, but in 1974, his mother was in a car accident, and so he had to leave parish work temporarily to take care of her. During his time away from parish work, Fr. John served the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh as a peacemaker for parishes in conflict. With God’s help, he was able to foster reconciliation between many priests and their people, as he had done earlier in his own parishes. After a hiatus of a few years, Fr. John took over the parish of the Assumption of St. Mary in Central City, Pa., where he has faithfully served ever since. Along with seeing many changes in the nation over the years, Fr. John has also seen a lot of changes in the Church. Fr. John noted sadly that people have grown cold in their love and more self-centered. He rebuked priests and their families for going into the ministry thinking about
pensions, salaries, and insurance. According to Fr. John, priests used to expect to suffer; they trusted in Christ to provide enough to get by on, and they never starved. He rebuked parishes for looking to get a deal on a priest, trying to avoid having a pastor who has too many children. He said that all of us, both priests and laity, need to worry less about ourselves and more about serving Christ in faith, trusting that
“...all of us, both priests and laity, need to worry less about ourselves and more about serving Christ...”
begrudge them their children, but both worked together in harmony, and the Gospel was preserved and spread in the midst of poverty. On the other hand, Fr. John has been very encouraged to see how many people are coming to the Church. Early on in his ministry, he had to deal with people leaving parishes because of mixed marriages. Orthodox people were marrying non-Orthodox and leaving the Church because the parishes were very closed to outsiders of different ethnic groups and the services were all in foreign languages. Over his 65 years in the ministry, Fr. John has seen this trend reversed. Now that priests have become better about explaining the services and parishes have become more open, he has seen many spouses convert to Orthodoxy and even people who have no familial connection have come and been welcomed into the Church, providing both growth and new energy to the Church in America.
Over the course of my time with Fr. John and his wife, Matushka Olga, I came to realize what a truly godly and faithful couple they are. I saw in Fr. John a man who served Christ and His Church unwaveringly from the time of his childhood and who showed his love for Christ through loving his neighbor and caring for others selflessly. Hearing such wisdom from a man who has served faithfully for so much longer than I have lived, I was reminded just how much all of us can learn from men of his caliber. He will never abandon us. He May God give us all His grace pointed out that even during the to follow Fr. John’s example of Great Depression, priests did not selfless service. worry about money; and the people of God did not abandon them or 29
“NEVER GIVE UP”
An Interview with ARCHPRIEST IGOR SOROKA (Class of 1946) Deacon Joel Weir
F
ather Igor Soroka had just returned from blessing graves after celebrating the Divine Liturgy when I contacted him by phone to conduct an interview for this year’s Tikhonaire. What was remarkable to consider, as we began the interview, was not only the fact that Fr. Igor would be celebrating his 50th Anniversary in the Priesthood this year, but that he has spent all fifty of those years at St. Nicholas Church in Donora, Pa., his first and only assignment. This is a rare and remarkable achievement, especially in this day and age, and one which bears witness to Fr. Igor’s ability to pastor one flock through several generations, and many societal changes. What is Fr. Igor’s secret? Be sincere, stay centered on the liturgical and spiritual life of the community, and never give up on the people. “My orientation from the time of my childhood was centered around the Church,” Fr. Igor remembers. “Through the encouragement of my parents (Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Gregory and Matushka Anastasia Soroka), I made the decision to pursue the priesthood.” Fr. Igor certainly grew up in a “priestly” family. Two of his older brothers, Leonid and Vladmir, also became priests. Although Fr. Igor 30
liturgical services.” The monk Vasily, whose name comes up time and again in conversations with alumni from the early years of St. Tikhon’s Seminary, was among the greatest sources of inspiration and strength for Fr. Igor. “The manner of his prayer life and humility had a great impact upon us,” Fr. Igor said, “It was his countenance – his whole manner, without talking, had a very special spiritual quality that affected us.”
remembers his childhood as involving a great deal of travel (his father was assigned to several different parishes during those years), he nonetheless credits the liturgically centered life of his family and church communities with building the first foundations of his vocation to the priesthood. In 1943, Fr. Igor entered St. Tikhon’s Seminary. He fondly recalls his years at St. Tikhon’s as “very simple and very personal… most of the Seminary life revolved around the Monastery, where a great deal of time was spent in the
Another notable figure in Fr. Igor’s formation at seminary was His Eminence, Archbishop ARSENY. “He was a very colorful character,” Fr. Igor explained. The students had a deep love and respect for Archbishop Arseny, who, as Fr. Igor recalled, would always join them for breakfast, saying very little, but being among the students. Fr. Igor shared that it was a great honor to have been able to serve His Eminence personally during the last days of the Archbishop’s earthly life. “When Archbishop Arseny was in the Scranton Hospital, after he became very sick, Father Basil Stroyen and I would go to the hospital to interpret the language for him, to help him out,” Fr. Igor explained. “Even before he went to the hospital, the students would all take turns going to the Archbishop’s residence to give
him assistance. One of the jobs I remember was braiding his hair, which was quite a task as it was very, very long!” Fr. Igor also recalls the students bringing flowers into the church for His Eminence’s funeral, a truly moving experience. Father Igor graduated from St. Tikhon’s Seminary in 1946 and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 1959. Besides his 50 years of service at St. Nicholas, which included the building of a new rectory, the remodeling of the temple and fellowship hall, the addition of icons and the purchase of additional land, Fr. Igor has contributed much to the translation and publishing of liturgical music for the Orthodox Church in America. Fr. Igor published five different booklets of music for the services of the Divine Liturgy, Vespers, Matins, the Service for the Departed, and a Children’s Liturgy Book. Fr. Igor was motivated by his deep love for the music of the Church, but also out of his desire to provide a resource for priests, especially those serving in mission parishes. “Sometimes a priest has to serve alone, without a choir,” Fr. Igor explained, “and I thought it would be helpful to have all the music right there in one book.” Fr. Igor has also been the director of the Pittsburgh Cathedral Choir for 46 years, a position he continues to hold. When asked about his most memorable moments as a priest, Fr. Igor was reluctant to speak of several experiences he has had, for fear that he might appear to be boasting. However, in the few instances he did share in our interview, there was certainly no boasting whatsoever, but rather a humble acknowledgement
of God’s love and grace. In one such story, Fr. Igor explained how he had recently been released from the hospital after undergoing surgery. While he was waiting for his son to bring the car around to pick him up, he tripped on a curb and could not move. A very small, thin woman appeared and offered him assistance. “What I remember so vividly was how this very small woman picked me up like I was a piece of paper, and then offered me a glass of water,” Fr. Igor explained. “She had no water with her, where was she going to get it? I told her I was fine, and she left.” In another story, Fr. Igor explained how he was in the church one night and the doors were all locked. He looked in the back of the sanctuary and saw a man in all white with three girls, also in white. He went back into the altar and came out in order to ask them who they were, and they were gone. While Fr. Igor speaks with astonishment and wonder at these occurrences, he still counts the baptism of newborn babies as the most memorable and awe-inspiring moments of his priesthood. At the conclusion of our interview, I asked Fr. Igor what advice he would give to someone about to enter the Priesthood? What are the most important things to remember to stay rooted in service to a community, as he has done for fifty years? Fr. Igor concluded our interview by saying, “In your spiritual work and your priestly work, the main thing to remember is to be careful not to judge too much as far as people are concerned. Never give up on a person, no matter what, no matter how far a disagreement goes.
There is always the possibility for reconciliation. Sometimes it’s easier to just not deal with a person with whom you are having a disagreement, but you must keep telling that person that they are important in the Church. Pray for them. Unless you have a solid footing in the relationships with the people around you, the other things you do won’t count as much.” May his wise words and inspiring example remind us always that our ministry is about relationships: relationships with the persons we serve, and with the Person – the Word of God Himself – Who sends us to serve them.
“Sometimes a priest has to serve alone, without a choir, ... and I thought it would be helpful to have all the music right there in one book.”
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“DEEP
AND
ABIDING JOY”
An Interview with ARCHPRIEST DANIEL RESSETAR (Class of 1948) Father John D. Jones
I
asked Archpriest Daniel Ressetar what led him to pursue the priestly vocation. He responded that it seemed like the “natural thing to do.” Father Dan’s answer is perhaps not too surprising. After all, he had two fine role models: his great uncle, the priest-martyr St. Maksym Sandovich, and his father, Archpriest Dimitri Ressetar. Father Dan had other interests as a young man – possible careers as a classical pianist or even as a professional baseball player. But he came from a family dedicated to the Church. When he was 14, he saw his father ordained a priest at St. Tikhon’s. As he said, “The ministry, the priesthood, was always on my mind. No doubt about it.” Father Daniel Ressetar is a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He graduated from St. Tikhon’s Seminary in May 1948, and was ordained a priest in 1958. After serving at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in McAdoo, Pa., and after a tour of active duty as an Air Force chaplain, he was assigned to Christ the Saviour Church, Harrisburg, Pa., in 1965, at the time a mission parish. The parish grew considerably under his guidance, and in 1988 a newly constructed church was consecrated. Father Dan served as an Air 32
occasionally contribute his musical talents as choir master. Father Dan was happy to reminisce about his seminary days. He attended St. Tikhon’s from June 1945 to May 1948. All the classes were taught in Russian. In fact, at that time, few books about Orthodoxy had been translated from Russian into English. Fr. Dan described seminarians’ living conditions “rather poorly developed.” Students lived in a dormitory setting with up to five students per room. The walls and windows weren’t in the best shape. In fact, Fr. Dan recalls one cold winter morning when he discovered a classmate Force Reserve chaplain from 1971- covered with snow that had come in 1983 and was promoted to the window during the night. Lieutenant Colonel in 1976. He has also been actively involved in prison It is worth noting that the first ministry, serving as chaplain at the issue of the Tikhonaire appeared in Dauphin County Prison from 1980- 1948, produced and financed, he 87. He is still active part-time on the notes, by seminarians. Fr. Dan’s class Prison Action Committee of was the first graduating class to be Christian Churches United. featured in the book. Father Dan and his wife, Matushka Theodora, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Palm Sunday, April 20, 2008. He retired from active parish ministry in October 2006 but continues both to serve as a supply priest and to
Father Dan related a special remembrance of Archbishop ARSENY. Archbishop Arseny founded St. Tikhon’s Monastery in 1906, and in 1937 established St. Tikhon’s Pastoral School, which later became St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological
Seminary. Fr. Dan was among several students who assisted Archbishop Arseny as his “valets”. He particularly remembers Archbishop Arseny’s funeral in October 1945. He and Fr. John Rachko dug the Archbishop’s grave. Fr. Dan noted that he is probably one of the few persons still alive who actually knew Archbishop Arseny.
After a delightful discussion about Fr. Dan’s life and ministry, our conversation turned to Fr. Dan’s perceptions about the current state of the Orthodox Church. Fr. Dan regards the tremendous influx of converts as the biggest change in the Church. He also noted that, in his view, too many cradle Orthodox Christians are “passive” about their life in the Church. Rather than getOver Fr. Dan’s decades serving ting involved, he feels, many want to the Church, three events stand out simply stay at home. as particularly memorable for him. One was the consecration of Christ For Fr. Dan, though, the future the Saviour Church in Harrisburg in hope of the Church lies in a “faithful 1988, a “dream come true.” The remnant” who remain dedicated to a consecration had special significance life in Christ. In an earlier printed for Fr. Dan because it coincided with interview, Fr. Dan praised “the dedithe Millennium of the Baptism cation of the strong, small ‘remnant’ of Rus. of parishioners. They strive for theosis. This remnant provides a high A second very special occasion motivation for us priests. We need to for Fr. Dan was his attendance at ‘hang in there’ for the sake of Christ the Glorification of St. Maksym and His Holy Church.” (Sandovich) in Poland in 1994. Saint Maksym was Fr. Dan’s great Fr. Dan believes that creating uncle. He was martyred in 1914 by one autocephalous American Hapsburg authorities in what was Orthodox Church is a major chalthen part of the Austro-Hungarian lenge facing Orthodox Christians in Empire. He was declared a Saint in the United States. He believes that 1994. Fr. Dan attended the glorifica- this is a requirement if the Church is tion service in Poland with his to function “canonically and properMatushka and other priests and ly.” He related several instances hierarchs from the United States. where his efforts to start missions had foundered because of jurisdicThe third very memorable event tional conflicts. He also observed took place when Fr. Dan assisted His that overlapping jurisdictions in the Eminence, Metropolitan IAKOVOS same area present problems in coorof the Jerusalem Patriarchate at a dinating a common mission, educaMidnight Divine Liturgy at the tional programs, and language. Church of the Holy Sepulchre in These issues affect the entire life of Jerusalem. This liturgy was especial- the Church. As he said, “We can’t ly memorable for Fr. Dan since even agree [in the U.S.] after all of throughout the service he could see these years to sing ‘Christ is Risen’ in the tomb and slab where Christ lay English.” He commented that trials, after He was taken down from the divisions and temptations are the Cross. “work of Satan,” who goes after “what is good and true.” Fr. Dan is
hopeful that a single American Orthodox Church might be realized, and prays that it comes quickly. Finally, I asked Fr. Dan whether he had a question to pose for the readers of the Tikhonaire. His response: “When will the Orthodox Church in America really be healed?” He expressed concern that “strong” actions by Church leaders have “turned people off ” rather than promote healing. He also took note of how the Internet has intensified the Church’s recent trials since matters internal to the Church have become known to “the whole world.” Any real healing, he maintains, will require that the Church not “rush to judgment” in disciplining people but rather adhere to the principle that people are innocent until proven guilty. Fr. Dan acknowledged that he has no quick answers to these difficulties, but clearly he feels they constitute an urgent concern for the Church.
“We need to ‘hang in there’ for the sake of Christ and His Holy Church.” It was fascinating for me to hear Fr. Dan’s many stories about his own life in the Church. But beyond anything that he said, I came away struck by what was left unsaid, but yet clearly communicated throughout our conversation: his deep and abiding joy in being able to serve Christ and His Church as a priest.
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AN EVENTFUL PRIESTHOOD An Interview with ARCHPRIEST JOHN MASON (Class of 1950) Deacon Joel Weir
W
hen I first contacted Father John Mason about being interviewed for this year’s Tikhonaire, he responded by saying, “Well, I’ll be happy to talk to you, but I’ll let you know right now, I’ve had quite an uneventful priesthood.” I suspected immediately that I would find otherwise when I interviewed him. After sitting down with Fr. John for an hour before Great Vespers at St. Catherine Orthodox Church in Hagerstown, Md., the parish where he currently serves alongside the rector, Father Dennis Buck, I found my suspicion to be accurate. I realized, however, that Fr. John’s initial understatement revealed the humble pastor’s heart that had been formed from his a faithful priest, steadfast in the daily youth and grown throughout his service of his flock. years as priest, dean, Metropolitan “It was a natural progression for Council member, and spiritual me,” Fr. John explained when asked father to so many. about his vocation to the priesthood, Father John’s 58 years of service “My parents always encouraged me to Christ and His Church, which in school and to serve in the Church has included seven parish assign- however I could, even at a young ments spanning five states and the age.” Fr. John gives a great deal of construction of two new church credit to the community he grew up buildings, is marked by many in, SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox achievements, and certainly would Church in Scranton, Pa. The person be considered “eventful”. But what who had the greatest single influence becomes clear when you listen to Fr. on him, though, was his priest, John is that all of these “events” hap- Father Ignatius Lachno. Fr. Ignatius pen within the context of the life of died three years before Fr. John
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entered seminary, but Fr. John points to his example and encouragement as one of the main reasons he pursued his vocation to the priesthood. “He directed us (kids), he kept us out of mischief most of the time, and he always gave us opportunities to serve at the church.” Father John entered St. Tikhon’s Seminary in 1947. He recalls that his class was a “bumper crop” of ten seminarians. Until then, most classes had a maximum of three students. Everything was in one building, with the dorms upstairs and the classes downstairs. All classes were taught in Russian, which for Fr. John was an additional challenge. “My parents didn’t speak Russian, and at our church the choir director would teach Russian once a week,” Fr. John explained. “This helped a little, but I still spent the first year of seminary basically trying to take notes as quickly as I could in class and then translating the notes the rest of the evening.” Seminarians were required to stay on campus at all times during the week, and were only allowed to leave on weekends with permission. The weekends were generally spent either singing with the Mission Choir or hanging out at Lockwood’s on the corner. But it was a simple monk,
Hieromonk Vasily, whom Fr. John cites as the most influential figure on him from his time at the Seminary. “Hieromonk Vasily spent most of his time in the woods, reciting psalms and chanting,” Fr. John related. “We would hear him out there all the time. It was simply his presence and example that was so uplifting and inspiring to all of us.” Upon graduating from St. Tikhon’s in 1950, Fr. John was ordained to the priesthood on October 9, 1951, by His Grace, Bishop JOHN. Two weeks before he was ordained he was told to visit a parish in Lopez, Pa., which he assumed would be his first assignment. Two weeks later, after his ordination, he and his wife, Matushka Daria, were notified that they would be going instead to Robbins, Ohio. “We didn’t know where Robbins was,” Fr. John explained. “We were three miles away from the place and couldn’t find it. We stopped into a bank that was open and asked them; they didn’t know either. Finally, a wrecker driver pointed us in the right direction. It was certainly in the middle of nowhere.” Shortly after beginning to serve at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church in Robbins, he was asked to serve two additional parishes in Bell Valley and Lore City. Fr. John served the three parishes for just over a year before being transferred to SS. Peter and Paul Church in Altoona, Pa. From 1954 to 1961 he served at another SS. Peter and Paul, this time in Meriden, Conn. It was here that he presided over the construction of a new church building and community center. In 1961, Fr. John was transferred to St. Nicholas in Akron,
Ohio, where he would spend 25 years, again presiding over the construction of a new church building and community center. From 1986 to 1988 he served at Holy Trinity in Yonkers, N.Y., and from 1988-1995 at Holy Trinity in Wilkes Barre, Pa. Since 1995 on he has been at St. Catherine’s in Hagerstown.
morning; it was just Fr. Joseph, his Matushka, his son, and me. We celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the grave, and then hired a helicopter to fly us back in time for the Divine Liturgy in Kodiak.” Fr. John continued, “It was beyond my wildest dreams, you could tell even in how the moss grew in the area around St. Herman’s grave, it was an unbelievably special moment.”
“My parents always encouraged me in school and to serve in the Church however I could, even at a young age.”
Father John’s life in the priesthood has been marked by such moments, and surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, from his parents, Fr. Ignatius, and the Church community of his youth, to Hieromonk Vasily and his professors at St. Tikhon’s, to St. Herman of Alaska. A priest formed and directed in such a way inevitably passes what he has received along to those whom the Lord places under his care. Fr. John is certainly a great example of this. I was blessed to serve Divine Liturgy the morning after the interview with Fr. John and Fr. Dennis. Before the liturgy, Fr. Dennis and I were discussing a particular liturgical question. “Fr. John does it this way, and I listen to Fr. John,” Fr. Dennis said. I could tell this didn’t just apply to liturgical questions. “We can learn a great deal from Fr. John,” Fr. Dennis continued, “which is why you interviewed him and which I’m sure you understand now.” Indeed, especially those of us who have been called to ministry in the Church can learn much from the words and example of a priest like Fr. John.
It was in 1970, an historical year for the OCA, that Fr. John had one of the most extraordinary experiences of his priesthood. He was in Alaska for the canonization of St. Herman, when he got an unexpected once in a lifetime opportunity. “We were walking back to the hotel, it was after Vigil on Saturday or Sunday, when Father Joseph Kreta approached us and said that I had permission to join him for an early morning liturgy at the grave of St. Herman in Spruce Island. We took a helicopter out early the next
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“LET’S BE WHAT WE’RE CALLED TO BE” An Interview with ARCHPRIEST JOHN NEHREBECKI (Class of 1950) Seminarian Aleksei Schmidt
A
pproaching his 57th anniversary in the priesthood, Archpriest John Nehrebecki is currently serving as Pastor Emeritus to Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Paramus, N.J., one of ten churches he planted in the New York metro area. Yet his role as assistant pastor is anything but provisional; the parish was able to have daily services during all of Great Lent, with services twice a day in Holy Week and Bright Week, largely because of his ability to share the liturgical services with Father David Vernak. Those who know Fr. Nehrebecki could not imagine a less active ministry for the now-retired priest. Yet neither Fr. John, his classmates, nor his teachers thought he would enter the priesthood. Archbishop DMITRY (Magan), a visitor to the seminary, agreed with this sentiment, but nevertheless wanted to be the one to ordain Fr. John should it happen. In June of 1952, he was ordained to the priesthood at the young age of 24 by Archbishop Dmitry (the Archbishop’s first ordination on American soil). Though this seems young by today’s standards, “People were more mature then,” Fr. John told me. When I asked him what accounted for this maturity, he reminded me of the Great Depression and the Second World 36
and the Menaion and sing in the choir. This love of the services carried into, and sustained, his priestly ministry. At his first Vigil service as a priest, the parish choir reminded him so much of his experience at St. Tikhon’s that he remembered the priest’s movements. He spoke of serving his first Divine Liturgy “with awe, and the fear of God.” These would be the most memorable moments of his priesthood, serving in front of the altar. In serving the Liturgy for so many years, there was certainly a danger that it could become routine; yet, in those times, Fr. John would remind himself: “This is real. The assembly is here; War; two events that taught his the Kingdom is here.” generation the value of selfsacrifice. It was fitting, then, that his first meeting with Father Alexander Ordination was the fulfillment Schmemann, whose great love for of a desire Fr. John first had in sev- the Liturgy would inspire For the enth grade. He knew he wanted to Life of the World, would be the minister to people, but was not sure beginning of a long friendship. “Our that this necessarily meant he should problem is liturgical,” this was Fr. be a priest. While his mother had Alexander’s message at that first always wanted him to be a priest, she meeting in Pittsburgh in 1952. Fr. only revealed this to him when he John remembers thinking: “But we was forty years old. He had a love for know how to serve!” Yet he became the services, and always watched convinced that Fr. Schmemann was what was going on in the altar, espe- correct on a deeper level, that the cially during his years at St. Tikhon’s, Liturgy needed to be lived out, needbut he was content to read the hours ed to be proclaimed as not mere rit-
ual, but the fulfillment of man’s life. The exhortation to “depart in peace,” the call to carry the joy of the services into the world and continue the “liturgy after the Liturgy,” would come to shape Fr. John’s ministry. Father John remembers Fr. Schmemann as “incredibly real.” Indeed, even if Fr. Nehrebecki does not share Schmemann’s formation in the émigré community in Paris, there is a stately and dignified air in his measured, direct responses. He told me he was “incredibly indebted” to Fr. Schmemann for his theology, for his friendship, and for the occasion to receive, in Fr. Schmemann’s place, the Tomos of Autocephaly from the Patriarch of Moscow.
...they “must be shown by example” – not always by preaching – “that there is a Truth, and that the Truth is the person of Christ.”
opportunity to teach the faith, taking his cue from the end of the Gospel of Matthew: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” While most parishioners cannot attend all of the daily services, he again looks to the Gospel of Matthew: “where two or three are Speaking of the Tomos and the gathered together in My name, I am future of the Church, Fr. John said, there in the midst of them.” “Let’s be what we’re called to be – the Orthodox Church in America.” Forming relationships with senFor Fr. John, this means, ideally, that ior, more experienced clergy proved there would be an Orthodox com- to be a great help during the first munity in every state capital, and a years of Fr. John’s priesthood. In fact, bishop in every state. While this his first piece of advice for young might seem like a lofty goal, the priests is to seek out these friendpriest who started ten English lan- ships. Not only do they provide the guage churches in ten years suggests young priest with the opportunity to that evangelization begin with those ask advice, but also they give examin the Church already. Then the ples, both of success and failure, that Church can reach out to those of can be more instructive than any other Christian communities, and text in pastoral theology. even those who come from nonChristian backgrounds. Yet he stressFather John also had the benefit es that they “must be shown by of studying under many memorable example” - not always by preaching - and skilled instructors during his “that there is a Truth, and that the time at St. Tikhon’s. He learned Truth is the person of Christ.” to read and perform the services correctly in Slavonic from Father Father John takes seriously the Basil Mussin-Pushkin. Father Basil exhortation of St. Paul to preach in Asnatoff told his students to read and out of season. Even with the every day – a discipline Fr. John still many services that Fr. John serves practices. He learned to love the during the week, he always takes the music of the Church from Father
George Popoff. Evegenii Novitsky and Father Nicholas Bellavin instilled in all the students a love of the Russian Church, and of Russian language and history. Bishop NIKON, the Liturgics teacher, showed a wonderful example of the importance of the services. He always served, and he paid for the subdeacons’ and altar boys’ vestments with his own money. Bishop Nikon saw a connection between liturgical worship and the parable of the talents; he gave the best to those serving with him and expected them to serve with dignity and solemnity. He also recalls with great love the monk Vasily, whom he called “their spiritual father”, and all of the monks who taught them spirituality by example. Speaking of spirituality by example, Fr. John remembers with great reverence his first encounter with Bishop NIKOLAI Velimirovich, who would be canonized St. Nikolai of Zicha. “He was speaking on the Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple, and he taught about raising children in the Temple, so that they too will become temples of the Holy Spirit,” Fr. John recalls, “There’s not a year that the Feast comes around that I don’t think of that.” In his love for the services of the Church and his missionary efforts, Fr. John Nehrebecki, one of the first graduates of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary has certainly taken the work of St. Patriarch Tikhon to heart in his 57 years of the priesthood. As one of the Seminary’s most distinguished graduates, he is a wonderful example of the theological and priestly formation that the seminarians of St. Tikhon’s are called to make their own. 37
“GET OUT THERE AND FIGHT FOR GOD” An Interview with ARCHPRIEST EUGENE PIANOVICH (Class of 1950) Seminarian Zachary Lynch
F
aith is a living thing. It is passed on not so much in paper and ink, but in flesh and blood. The Christian faith is about encounters with persons, and ultimately an encounter with the Person of Jesus Christ. These personal encounters are living links through which Holy Tradition is transmitted. It is my honor to present my brief encounter with Archpriest Eugene Pianovich. Father Eugene Pianovich was born in 1929, the son of Archpriest Paul and Matushka Anastasia Pianovich. He frankly admits that early on he did not think about becoming a priest, although he thought maybe his older brother would. When questioned about what he thought he wanted to do as a profession, he said: “I was interested in medicine, I wanted to be a doctor. I had also signed up for the Navy, but they rejected our whole group. They had no room for new recruits. I said, ‘Well, I gave you the chance, Uncle Sam!’ After this I came to my dad and said, ‘You know, I think I would like to go to seminary.’ He was surprised and told me that I could try it out for a semester. It was a natural process; when I went to seminary, I knew it was the right place.”
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got them one by one.” To go anywhere outside the Seminary the students would have to hitch-hike or catch a ride with a local farmer. “Everything was in Russian and Slavonic – everything! Even at lunch and dinner we had to speak in Russian. They had a coin jar there, and if you did not speak Russian, you had to put a nickel in the jar. I remember that jar.”
The face of St. Tikhon’s was much different when Fr. Eugene entered in 1946. “The Seminary was very primitive, it was very hard,” he said as he shuffled through old black and white pictures. At the time, tuition was $210; the on-campus living fee was $165. “The food was horrible!” he exclaimed, “We were always sick with something. We lived on peanut butter. It was very challenging, but we had a good group and we supported each other.” He shook his head as he remembered waking up in winter with snow on his bed at times. “We walked around in simple clothes; we did not have cassocks – we slowly
Despite how hard it was, Fr. Eugene reflects, “St. Tikhon’s Seminary is a special blessing because of its attachment to the Monastery. Even from the very beginning this was very crucial, because it was ongoing, live training. It was liturgical involvement in everything. That indeed works like osmosis. You begin to take on the liturgical concepts and understanding, a deeper understanding that one does not get in parish life. The monks were a great help. The saintly Father Vasily was a deep inspiration.” The Class of ‘46 was a class of transition. It was the first to have a few lessons taught in English. Also during this time, the Seminary began to move outside the walls of the Monastery. Fr. Eugene and his class helped start the first Student Council, Mission Choir and basket-
ball team, of which he was the first come in on the gloomiest days, we coach. It was also at this time that were all walking around with long the first Tikhonaire was published. faces but his presence would light up everything! He would say, ‘How Father Eugene graduated in beautiful it is! Thank God for this 1950. As he was not married at the lovely time of winter which will time, before being ordained he renew into a resurrection that is served as a choir director in Yonkers, coming.’ He had a divine expression N.Y. for a year. He married his wife that would simply light up the Joanna in February of 1951. They room.” eventually had four children, three girls and one boy. Fr. Eugene was In 1958 Father was moved to SS. ordained to the priesthood on Peter and Paul Church in March 4, 1951. His first parish Springfield, Mass. He would serve assignment was as an assistant priest there until his retirement in 2002. in the Wilkes-Barre Cathedral. In He recollects that when he first came reference to the difficulties of mak- to SS. Peter and Paul the services ing ends meet, Fr. Eugene said, “We were all in Slavonic; at the time of never knew what our salary would his retirement, the services were be. There was no negotiation; you done almost entirely in English. just went and served and whatever “It was a time of transition,” he they paid you, that was it. I knew says.“We were a generation of when I got my first check and it was transitional priests.” $150 a month. We lived on that for the first four or five years. We Father Eugene’s service to the already had our first child, our Church is full of distinctions and daughter, then in three years we had notable achievements. He was made twin daughters, so it was five of us an Archpriest in 1965. He served on on $150. Sometimes I would have to the Metropolitan Council for five go borrow five or ten dollars to get years. In 1971 he traveled to Russia baby food or something for the chil- as a representative of the OCA at the dren. By God’s grace I learned a lot first All Russian Council since the from being there. I was there for 1940s. To list his many other labors seven years. It was a high privilege for Christ would not be possible in and honor to serve at the same altar this short article. that St. Alexis served at.” In parting Fr. Eugene gave a In the academic year of 1956-57 heartfelt message to those pursuing a Fr. Eugene served as a guest lecturer call to ministry: “I think the chalat St. Tikhon’s. It was during this lenge for you today is greater than time that he was blessed to meet we had. We have to bring people in. and work with Bishop NIKOLAI The mission and focus must be findVelimirovich. With deep affection ing God. Until we focus ourselves in he relates, “I had the great honor of that direction, all these things serving on the faculty with Bishop around us are meaningless. Don’t St. Nikolai of Serbia. I served litur- lose heart. Turmoil has been in the gies with him at the monastery. Church from the beginning, from [Those were] some of the most mov- the time of Christ’s betrayal by one ing moments of my life. He would of His own to the present. There
have always been betrayers of the Church from within the Church. It is nothing new. Human nature is there and is subject to the fall. We must not lose faith about the problems we face today. We must have faith. Where there is no godliness in us there will be turmoil, there will be confusion and theft and everything evil that goes with it. The battle lines are drawn. The harvest is ripe now; you have to put on the shield and armor of righteousness and all that God gives you and get out there and fight for God and for our Church.”
“Everything was in Russian and Slavonic – everything! Even at lunch and dinner we had to speak in Russian. They had a coin jar there, and if you did not speak Russian, you had to put a nickel in the jar. I remember that jar.”
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A LEGACY
OF
LOVE
AND
SERVICE
An Interview with ARCHPRIEST MICHAEL ROMANCHAK (Class of 1950) Seminarian Matthew Snowden
I
t was my honor to interview Archpriest Michael Romanchak, a long-time OCA priest now serving a Greek parish in Bethlehem, Pa., for this feature section of the Tikhonaire. I asked Father Michael to recount his years of service in the priesthood. He responded that upon graduation, since he was not yet married, he took an assignment as Choir Director at Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church in Binghamton, N.Y. Two years later, after marrying Julia Knapp, he was ordained to the Diaconate and then the Priesthood, on February 28-29, 1952, by His Beatitude, Metropolitan LEONTY, at the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection in New York City. Parish ministry has not been the His assignment was to serve Liturgy limit of Fr. Michael’s priestly labors. in English and establish a Sunday He served as a volunteer chaplain at School at the Cathedral. the Allentown Psychiatric Hospital After a year at St. Michael’s for 15 years and has been delivering in Syracuse, N.Y., Fr. Michael was meals to the elderly with Meals on sent to Holy Trinity Church in Wheels for nearly as long. He has Catasauqua, Pa., where he served received awards for working with a faithfully for 32 years, retiring on local charity, the United Fund, as the December 31, 1985. Fr. Michael has Orthodox representative. He served remained very active in retirement, as President of the local Orthodox serving as a fill-in priest until 1989 Clergy Brotherhood and served on before taking a position as Assistant the Diocesan Council under Priest at St. Nicholas Greek Archbishop KIPRIAN. Orthodox Cathedral in Bethlehem, Pa., where he continues to serve to Sharing his memories of St. this day. Tikhon’s during his time as a semi40
narian, Fr. Michael reminisces, “The surroundings were very pastoral. All was farmland with cows and horses, which were tended by the monks. The gardens helped to supply the food, which was always wholesome and plentiful. The rooms were sparse and barely adequate. The lack of good accommodations was made up by the enthusiasm of youth. My favorite subjects were liturgics, music, and homiletics. We organized a seminary choir and sang at churches throughout the diocese.” The professor that most inspired Fr. Michael was Father Vasily Amatov, whose stories from his travels and 18-year pastoral ministry in Alaska provided sound advice to hopeful priests. He also treasured his friendship with the monk, Father Afanasy (Shelepoff ), a Russian Athonite monk whose spirituality and love of the Lord inspired the young seminarian. “I do believe his face shone with the incredible uncreated light.” Reflecting on his earliest days as a priest, he relates, “Before serving my first Sunday Divine Liturgy, the first person who came to me for confession was Madame Tolstoy. As the Divine Liturgy began, Professor Nicholas Afonsky and his
outstanding choir rendered the responses. The Metropolitan Opera star Nicolai Geda was in attendance and sang tenor. My favorite deacon, a marvelous bass from Russia of whom I was in awe, Deacon Vsevolod, sang the litanies. I was so enthralled I do not know how I ever concluded my portion of the Divine Liturgy. Shortly afterward, on Holy Thursday, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Leonty washed my feet along with 11 other priests at the Holy Thursday afternoon service. This service was photographed and appeared in a nationally syndicated magazine.”
were major challenges faced by the grave, profound problems facing the older generation. Orthodox Church.”
“Another area of contention was the priest’s salary. My first salary when I was ordained at the Holy Protection [Cathedral] in New York City was $120 per month, with no gratuities. Metropolitan Leonty, of blessed memory, whose salary was $140 per month, gave me an additional $20 each month as he did not wish to receive a greater salary than I. Afterwards, when I was transferred to a small-town parish, it was not unfamiliar to be compensated by parishioners with a chicken, an occasional slab of pork, fruit, or some One of Fr. Michael’s most good cow’s milk. One of my duties poignant memories is of his arrival at was to bless those cows and other Holy Trinity Church. “All the flow- farm animals.” ering trees and shrubs were in full bloom and greeted me with a beauty I asked Fr. Michael specifically and fragrance which seemed strange- what challenges he sees facing ly heavenly. It struck my heart that today’s Church. Emphatically, he this little parish seemed to be des- listed “secularism, apostasy, abortined as the place where I would tion, anarchy, apathy, lack of ascetispend my life and raise my children. cism, atheism, the failure to teach I served this parish for 32 years.” Orthodoxy, unwillingness to be And indeed, it was there that he missionaries, the struggle for God in and Matushka Julia would bring up the political field, etc., etc. [Priests] their two children: Sergius, now a must know apologetics and how to pianist living in McLean, Va., and defend Orthodoxy against other Pavla, the wife of Ambassador religious faiths and the ungodly… Alessandro Cagli, living in Belgium. The great strides in technology and science and in all the professions Listening to Fr. Michael reflect have not led to more morality and on the challenges he and his contem- higher ethical and spiritual stanporaries faced as young priests dards. Conversely, atheism, cults, in those days, it becomes clear and the incursions of Protestantism that in some areas, progress has been and other faiths are producing more made, while in others, the same agnostics and apostates due to the challenges remain for today’s apathy of the Orthodox.” Fr. pastors. Navigating conflicting views Michael remains hopeful “that between the priest and the laity con- future priests, with the aid of the cerning church organization and Holy Spirit and the rise of monastiadministration, as well as issues sur- cism, will not be found wanting in rounding ethnicity and language the fortitude required to defeat the
Amidst this great wealth and breadth of experience, Fr. Michael still identifies his favorite parts of the priesthood with the simple and intimate acts that bring Christ to people
“It struck my heart that this little parish seemed to be destined as the place where I would spend my life and raise my children.” and people to Christ: “the distribution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion and the counseling of the sick and dying.” Certainly he has fulfilled these Holy Mysteries unto the healing and salvation of thousands of faithful over the decades. May we draw inspiration from his legacy of love and service as we honor the legacies of Fr. Michael Romanchak and these other beloved alumni of St. Tikhon’s Seminary!
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“IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE ALASKAN SAINTS” A Portrait of ARCHPRIEST MAKARY TARGONSKY (Class of 1946) Deacon Joel Weir
A
nyone who has studied, even briefly, the history of Orthodoxy in America knows the significance and rich tradition of the Orthodox Church in Alaska. From the arrival of the first Russian missionaries in Kodiak in 1794, through the 19th century, the age of the great Alaskan Saints, St. Herman, St. Juvenaly, St. Peter the Aleut, St. Innocent, and St. Jacob, and continuing to this day, Alaska remains a cornerstone of Orthodoxy in America. The stories of parish priests and their families, who have carried on the legacy of these Saints by serving the communities and remote villages of Alaska, are stories that need to be told, heard, and passed on to the next generations. Saint Tikhon’s alumnus Father Macarius (Makary) Targonsky was in the midst of his sixth year as a parish priest (one year at St. Nicholas Church in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and five at Nativity of the Virgin Mary Church in Osceola Mills, Pa.), when he was approached about serving in Alaska. Father Makary, in a letter sent on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of his Priesthood (2005), recounted the story of Father Roman Sturmer pleading with him to come to Alaska, where “many Orthodox were being stolen by sectarians.” On March 24, 1961, 42
ten-month assignment in Kenosha, Wis. In 1974, he returned to Alaska, where he was assigned to Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church in Kenai and Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord Church in Ninilchik. Fr. Makary served these parishes faithfully for 17 years until his retirement in 1991. He remains attached to Holy Transfiguration Church in Ninilchik.
Fr. Makary and his wife, Matushka Yvette Marie, arrived in Kodiak, where they began a life of selfless service to the people in Alaska, grafting themselves to the legacy of the great Saints and servants who had gone before them. Fr. Makary was immediately appointed as Rector of Holy Resurrection Church in Kodiak, where he served not only the faithful of that parish, but also served the twelve village chapels attached to Holy Resurrection. He served in Kodiak for twelve years before briefly returning to the lower 48 in 1973 for a five-month assignment in Buffalo, N.Y., and a
When reading Fr. Makary’s words, and hearing the witness of those who have met him throughout his years of service in Alaska, one gets the immediate sense that the spirit of those first Alaskan missionaries burns strong in him. Like the Alaskan Saints, Fr. Makary has not only lived “among the Alaskans” but truly become one of them, for the sake of the Gospel. One of the most poignant examples of this occurred shortly after Fr. Makary and Mat. Yvette Marie arrived in Kodiak. He tells the wonderful story of how he had asked Fr. Roman if they could adopt babies in Alaska. Fr. Roman responded by saying, “Come, Fr. Makary, you can have a whole dozen.” Fr. Makary explained that they had to limit their adoption to five, but arranged the adoption of two more by a lay couple in Kenai and a priestly couple
outside of Alaska. Fr. Makary credits this generous act to simply following the command of Christ in Matthew 18:10,14, “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones … Even so it is not the will of your Father in Heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” Father Makary’s commentary on Matthew 18:12-13: the teaching of the man with the lost sheep, is also indicative of the heart of love and service that he extends to his entire community. “I am of the opinion that the so called ‘nominal Christians’ are those who have gone astray. I’ve spent a sizeable portion of my priestly life with them socially and spiritually. I’ve involved myself also with my good neighbors who are not Orthodox to introduce them to the Orthodox faith – especially the strangers (tourists) visiting our churches.” Fr. Makary has been a highly active and visible member of the Kenai community, participating in the Rotary Club, the American Legion, and in City Council meetings.
where rested the relics of St. Herman in a coffin covered with a shroud painting of the Saint. While they carried the coffin on their shoulders, the pilot removed his cap. Then they went to the smaller chapel of the Virgin Mary Icon to get Father Herman’s klobuk, the heavy metal chains that he wore, and his small hollow metal cross. With these sacred items they returned to Kodiak, and then by vehicle drove to the church, where I placed them inside.”
Jon Osgood, the pilot of that historic helicopter flight, which is depicted on some icons of St. Herman, commented on his encounter with Fr. Makary that day in an article of The North Star (Summer 2005), “To know Fr. Macarius is to know someone who loves to talk. He has many, many stories to tell. On this day however, I can remember him never saying a word. He was extremely concerned … very nervous. He was so quiet that it made me a bit uneasy. I thought he might be wondering, ‘Is it right to remove the bones of Father Herman from such a sacred In March of 1969, Fr. Makary site?’” was given the honor by Metropolitan IRENEY, via a phone call Indeed, Fr. Makary’s humility is from His Beatitude’s secretary, clearly apparent when reading his Father Cyril Fotiev, to retrieve the relics of St. Herman from Monk’s “I AM OF Lagoon for transfer to Kodiak on the THE OPINION THAT occasion of the canonization of St. Herman in 1970. “Within an THE SO CALLED hour,” Fr. Makary recalls, “I flew on a chartered helicopter piloted by Jon ‘NOMINAL Osgood of Kodiak Airways. Because CHRISTIANS’ ARE the beach at Monk’s Lagoon was full of ice, we landed instead on a small THOSE WHO HAVE frozen lake just a short walking disGONE ASTRAY.” tance from the Chapel of Saints Sergius and Herman of Valaam,
own accounts of the highlights of his priesthood. His deep love for the people is shown in a great appreciation and profound respect for how they have blessed him. “And you Orthodox faithful, this includes you, both my parishioners and also you my good neighbors, please do not recall my sins but forgive them for the sake of your love for God. And give glory to God for whatever good work I have done for you … Yes, from you faithful and neighbors I have received your love and even gifts of wisdom.” He also is quick to credit his wife of 51 years, Mat. Yvette Marie, for sustaining him with her “love, humility and patience”, saying, “It’s overdue for me to emulate such virtues.” Father Makary will celebrate his 54 Anniversary in the Priesthood on July 27 of this year. Though retired, he still serves the Liturgy every other Sunday (with Saturday Vespers) and regularly serves Feastdays at Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord Church in Ninilchik. Fr. Makary still serves according to the instructions he learned from Father Joseph Kreta, according to St. Tikhon’s Ustav. The relics that repose in the St. Tikhon’s Monastery Church, which we all venerate regularly were first brought from Monk’s Lagoon by Fr. Makary. Several current St. Tikhon’s seminarians who have had the blessing to meet Fr. Makary speak of his endearing smile, his genuine piety, and his generous love. Fr. Makary is, indeed, an example of a priest following in the footsteps of the great Alaskan Saints, combining a great respect and love for the traditions and holiness of the Russian Orthodox Church with a wide-open heart for the people of Alaska. th
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St. Tikhon’s 2008-2009 Timeline Fall/Spring School Year Highlights, August 2008 – May 2009 August 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Students arrive at the Seminary August 25-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Orientation for New Students
October 12 . . . .Ordination to Diaconate of Sem. Stephen DeYoung, by His Grace, Bishop THOMAS (Antiochian Archdiocese), at St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church, Wilkes-Barre, PA
August 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . Returning Students arrive at the Seminary
October 13-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mid-Term Examinations
August 28-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seminary Opening Retreat
October 14 . . . . . .38th Adult Educational Lecture Series concludes: “The Sacrament of Family Life” Dr. Philip Mamalakis, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
September 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Classes begin September 8 . . . Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos – No Classes September 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alumni Association Picnic for Seminarians and Families
October 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . His Grace, Bishop MARK of Toledo and the Midwest (Antiochian Archdiocese), visits St. Tikhon’s Seminary October 23 . . . St. Tikhon's Seminary 70th Anniversary Celebration
September 11 . . . . . . . . Dr. John Demakis, Health Services Research Consultant, Member of OCAMPR, addresses Seminary community: “Health and Healing in Byzantium: A Legacy to Build On” September 14 . . . . . . . . . . Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross – No Classes September 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .His Grace, Bishop MAXIM, of the Serbian Diocese of Western America and the Belgrade Theological Seminary Choir visit St. Tikhon's Seminary
October 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos Monastery, Weaverville, NC October 30 . . . . . . . . . . . 3rd Annual Youth Talent Show and Dinner November 4 . . . Student-Wives Fall Evening Education Series begins: “Spirituality Within Hermeneutics and Patristics” Dr. Mary Ford, Associate Professor of New Testament St. Tikhon's Seminary November 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feast of St. Michael the Archangel
September 23 . . . . . . . 38th Adult Educational Lecture Series begins: “Christian Marriage and Family” Very Rev. Joseph Purpura, Director of Youth Ministry of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
November 11 . .Dn. Stephen Holley, St. Michael Antiochian Church, Whittier, CA, addresses Seminary community: “Choosing the Right Partner for Life”
September 30 . . . . 38th Adult Educational Lecture Series continues: “The Home as a Little Church” Dr. David C. Ford, Associate Professor of Church History at St. Tikhon's Seminary
November 16 . . . . . . . . . St. Tikhon's Church School Charity Dinner
October 7 . . . . . . . 38th Adult Educational Lecture Series continues: “The Miracle of Dialogue in Marriage” Very Rev. George H. Shalhoub, Pastor of the Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary, Livonia, Michigan
November 21 . . . . . . Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple – No Classes
October 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feast of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Founder of St. Tikhon's Monastery
November 20 . . . . . His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH makes first Primatial Visit to St. Tikhon's Monastery and Seminary
November 21-23 . . . . . Fall meeting of the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement (OISM) at St. Vladimir's Seminary, Crestwood, NY November 22 . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at St. Michael Church in Louisville, KY
October 9 . . . His Grace, Bishop THOMAS of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic (Antiochian Archdiocese) visits St. Tikhon's Seminary
November 23 . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at St. George Church in Terre Haute, IN
October 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annual Founder's Day Celebration, St. Tikhon’s Seminary
November 30 . . . . . . Protodn. Michael and Mat. Mary Wusylko host Dinner-Concert for the benefit of the Seminary, Pittsburgh, PA
October 12 . . .Tonsure of Sems. James Worthington and Ian Burgess as Readers by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church
December 2 . . . . . . . . . . . Representatives of Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America (FOCA) host Dinner and Presentation on Married Student Housing for Married Students and Wives
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December 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Very Rev. Jason DelVitto, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Bridgeville, PA, addresses Seminary community: “Nurturing the Domestic Church: Caring for Clergy and Their Family” December 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eve of the Feast of St. Nicholas – Reception for Seminarians and Families December 6 . . . . Ordination to Diaconate of Monk Sergius (Bowyer) by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church December 6 . Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America (FOCA) distributes Christmas Gifts to Married Student Families
February 2 . . . . . . . Feast of the Meeting of our Lord in the Temple – No Classes February 5 . . . . . Rev. David Rucker, Associate Director of Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), addresses Seminary community February 10 . Student-Wives Spring Evening Education Series begins: “Suffering and Spiritual Life: A Theological Perspective” Dr. Harry Boosalis, Associate Professor of Dogmatic Theology, at St. Tikhon’s Seminary February 15 . Ordination to Priesthood of Deacon John Christianson, by His Grace, Bishop JOSEPH (Antiochian Archdiocese), and His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, at St. Nicholas Antiochian Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA
December 7 . . . . . . . St. Tikhon's Church School Christmas Pageant December 8-12 . . . . . . . . . Final Examinations; Nativity Break begins December 12 . . . . Ordination to Priesthood of Hierodeacon Sergius, by His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH, at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church December 12 . . . . . Mission Choir sings at Trinity Episcopal Church in Carbondale, PA
February 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Century Association Winter Festival held at Genetti Manor, Dickson City, PA February 20 . . . . . . Spring Meeting of the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement (OISM) held at Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville, NY February 21-22 . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at St. Andrew Church in Baltimore, MD
December 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Feast of St. Herman of Alaska
February 22 . . Ordination to Priesthood of Deacon Daniel Hackney, by His Grace, Bishop MARK (Antiochian Archdiocese), at St. Elias Antiochian Church, Sylvania, OH
December 13 . .Ordination to Diaconate of Graduate Kyrill Williams, by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church
February 23-27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mid-Term Examinations
December 14 . . . .Ordination to Diaconate of Sem. Daniel Hackney, by His Grace, Bishop MARK (Antiochian Archdiocese), at St. James Antiochian Church, Williamston, MI January 4 Ordination to Diaconate of Subdeacon Nathan Thompson, by His Grace, Bishop JOSEPH (Antiochian Archdiocese), at St. Peter the Apostle Antiochian Church, San Dimas, CA
February 28 . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at Holy Apostles Mission, Mechanicsburg, PA March 1 . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at Christ the Saviour Church, Harrisburg, PA March 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . Forgiveness Vespers: Beginning of Great Lent March 2-6 . . . . . . First Week of Lent: Seminary Retreat – No Classes
January 7 . . . . . . Ordination to Priesthood of Deacon Igor Ksynyuk, by His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH, at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Transfiguration, Brooklyn, NY January 11 . . Ordination to Priesthood of Deacon Stephen DeYoung, by His Grace, Bishop THOMAS, at St. Ignatius Antiochian Church, Florida, NY
March 7 . . . . . Ordination to Diaconate of Sem. James Worthington, by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church March 7-8 . . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at St. Nicholas Church, Cohoes, NY
January 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Opening of 2009 Spring Semester
March 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at St. Basil Church, Watervliet, NY
January 17-18 . . . . . Mission Choir sings at Catedral de la Ascension del Senor in Mexico City for the Enthronement of His Grace, Bishop ALEJO of Mexico City and all Mexico
March 14 . . . . . . Ordination to Priesthood of Deacon James McKee, by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church
January 22 . . Faculty and Students travel to Washington, DC, to join Metropolitan JONAH and Bishop TIKHON, for the Annual March for Life
March 15 . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at Christ the Saviour Church, Paramus, NJ
January 30-31 . . . . . . . Marriage Retreat at St. Tikhon's Seminary led by Dr. Philip Mamalakis, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care, at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary
March 15 . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at SS. Peter and Paul Church, Bayonne, NJ March 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spring Meeting of Seminary Trustees
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March 21-22 . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at St. Andrew Church, Maple Heights, OH
April 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Holy PASCHA April 20-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bright Week – No Classes
March 22 . . . . . . . . . Ordination to Diaconate of Sem. Patrick Burns, by His Eminence, Metropolitan JOSEPH, at Holy Annunciation Bulgarian Church, Steelton, PA March 25 . . . . . Ordination to Priesthood of Deacon Kyrill Williams, by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church March 28 . Ordination to Full Diaconate of Deacon George Mathew, by His Grace, Metropolitan BARNABAS, and His Grace, Metropolitan NICHOLOVOS, at St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Silver Spring, MD March 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at St. Thomas Church, Silver Spring, MD March 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at Assumption of the Holy Virgin Church, Clifton, NJ March 31 . . . . . . Ordination to Diaconate of Graduate Ted Brinegar, by His Eminence, Archbishop DMITRI, at St. Seraphim Cathedral, Dallas, TX April 4 . . . . . Ordination to Diaconate of Subdeacon Binu Mathews, by His Grace, Metropolitan BARNABAS, and His Grace, Metropolitan NICHOLOVOS, at St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Stafford, TX April 4 . . . Ordination to Subdiaconate of Sem. Christopher Mathew, by His Grace, Metropolitan BARNABAS, and His Grace, Metropolitan NICHOLOVOS, at St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Stafford, TX April 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mission Choir sings at Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church, Binghamton, NY April 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . Very Rev. Constantine Nasr, St. Elijah Church (Antiochian Archdiocese), Oklahoma City, OK, addresses Seminary community
April 25- 26 . . . . . . . . . . .Mission Choir sings at St. George Church, Terre Haute, IN May 1-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at St. Sabbas Monastery, Detroit, MI May 2 . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at Christ the Savior Church, Chicago, IL May 2 . . . . . . . . . . . Ordination to Priesthood of Deacon John Jones, by His Eminence, Archbishop JOB, at SS. Cyril and Methodius Church, Milwaukee, WI May 2-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at St. Joseph Church, Wheaton, IL May 5 . . . . . Very Rev. Peter Gillquist, Chairman of the Department of Missions and Evangelism of the Antiochian Archdiocese addresses Seminary community May 8 . . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at Grace Episcopal Church, Honesdale, PA May 9 . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at the Museum of Russian Icons, Clinton, MA May 9-10 . . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at St. Nicholas Church, Pittsfield, MA May 11-15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Final Examinations May 16 . . . . . . Ordination to Priesthood of Deacon Theophan Buck, by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church May 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at Holy Trinity Church, Randolph, NJ May 18-21 . . . .Work Week – Preparation for the Annual Pilgrimage
April 10-11 . . Annual Vocations Encounter at St. Tikhon's Seminary April 11 . . . . . Ordination to Diaconate of Graduate Jason Franchak, by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church April 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . Mission Choir sings at Three Saints Church, Ansonia, CT April 13-18 . . . . . . . . . Passion Week: Seminary Retreat – No Classes April 18 . . . . . . . .Ordination to Subdiaconate of Sem. Abey George, by His Grace, Metropolitan BARNABAS, and His Grace, Metropolitan NICHOLOVOS, at St. Mary's Malankara Orthodox Church, West Sayville, NY
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May 22-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105th Annual Memorial Day Pilgrimage at St. Tikhon's Monastery May 23 . . . . . . . . . . . 67th Commencement at St. Tikhon's Seminary May 24 . . . . Ordination to Priesthood of Deacon Joseph McCartney, by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church
S AINT T IKHON’S
O RTHODOX THEOLOGICAL S EMINARY
2008-2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
S T O T S
66th Seminary Commencement
FIFTEEN SEMINARIANS were awarded the Master of Divinity Degree at this year’s Graduation ceremony. Delivering the Commencement Address was His Eminence, the Most Reverend SERAPHIM, Archbishop of Ottawa and the Archdiocese of Canada. Other hierarchs participating included: His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN, Seminary President; His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, Seminary Rector; and His Grace, Zachariah Mar NICHOLOVOS, Auxiliary Metropolitan of the American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
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Saint Tikhon’s Summer Camp 2008
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Hundreds of young people from across the country gathered to make new and renew old acquaintances at this year’s Annual St. Tikhon’s Summer Camp. The week-long encounter was held July 6-12 and was appropriately entitled “Best Friends.” The theme focused on the imitation of the lives of the Saints.
CLERGY Continuing Education Symposium The Very Reverend Archpriest Alexander D. Atty, D.Min., the pastor of St. Michael Church in Louisville, Ky., Chancellor of the Antiochian Archdiocese of Toledo and the Midwest, and member of the Board of Trustees of St. Tikhon’s Seminary, was the main presenter at the Third Annual Clergy Continuing Education Symposium, held from June 17-19, 2008, at the Seminary. The theme of the institute was “Parish Management, Renewal and Growth.” Topics examined by Fr. Alexander included Principles of Orthodox Ecclesiology, Parish Council Governance, and Church Growth and Renewal. Nearly 40 clergy graduates of St. Tikhon’s Seminary participated in the event.
11TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Benefits St. Tikhon’s Seminary
After 18 holes of fun in the sun, the St. Tikhon’s Golf Tournament Committee presents faculty member V. Rev. John Kowalczyk with a check for the school.
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Men of Prayer, Men of Scriptures New Student Orientation and Opening Retreat Seminarian Andrew R. Kishler
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n Monday, August 25, twenty-one new students, excited, nervous and “zealous to confirm our call and election” (2 Peter 1:10) began New Student Orientation at St. Tikhon’s Seminary. We started each day with Divine Liturgy at the Monastery Church and were welcomed into the community over the course of the week by His Grace Bishop TIKHON, Father Michael Dahulich, Father Alexander Golubov, Father Sergius, Father Nicodemus, Father David Mezynski, John Paluch, and Professor Sergei Arhipov.
On August 28-29, the new and returning seminarians kicked off the 2008-2009 academic year with the annual St. Tikhon’s Seminary Opening Retreat. The theme of this year’s Spiritual Retreat was “Seminary Life as Preparation for the Priesthood,” featuring presentations by Bishop Tikhon, Father Daniel Geeza, Fr. Michael Dahulich, and Fr. David Mezynski. In addition to the lectures, students participated in Divine Services, including Vigil and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, and a Molieben of Thanksgiving for the Opening of the Academic Year. Friday morning’s
Liturgy also included the blessing for new students to wear the cassock. We are here for many different reasons, but ultimately we come to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the reason the Seminary exists; He is the reason the Church exists. As Fr. Golubov pointed out to us, the way of Jesus is the way of the Cross. Unless we are willing to suffer crucifixion with Him, we cannot truly be His priests in His Church. When St. James and St. John asked our Lord to be placed at His right and left in the Kingdom of God, our Lord responded: “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” (Mark 10:38). May God grant us His grace during our time at St. Tikhon’s Seminary: the grace to hear His Word, the grace to seek His will, and the grace to obey, even to the Cross.
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His Grace encouraged and exhorted us with the words of Father Roman Braga: “Theology without asceticism is like a well without water. We spend too much time arguing theology and we remain in our passions.” Fr. Michael urged us to see our time at St. Tikhon’s not merely as an academic exercise, but a spiritual one, allowing ourselves to be formed by the life of prayer and discipline within the entire
Monastery and Seminary community. “Tradition is the life of the Holy Spirit in the Church,” he taught us. “The two most important things a priest does are preaching and confession.” Fr. Michael exhorted us to become men of prayer and men of the Scriptures as we seek to balance spirituality and worship, academics and family life.
ON MOUNT Memories From The Holy Mountain
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n the early weeks of June, 2008, I was blessed with the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage to Mount Athos with Dr. Harry Boosalis and fellow seminarians Joseph Lucas and Christopher McGarvey. The majority of our time on Mt. Athos was spent at the Holy Monastery of Iviron. Iviron is one of the oldest monasteries on the Holy Mountain and is home to the icon of Panagia Portaitissa. I cannot express how gracious and hospitable the brotherhood at Iviron was to us. The peace, joy and love they shared with us made our pilgrimage truly wonderful. Some of my most treasured memories are of the time we spent with them. I remember one day after lunch when Joseph, Christopher and I found ourselves sitting in the monastery office talking with Father Christopher, one of the senior monks of the brotherhood. When we commented on how casual and tourist-like some of the visitors 52
seemed to be, Fr. Christopher cautioned us and said that some men come here as mere hikers and sightseers, but it is often these men who unexpectedly find God and leave with the truth of Christ in their hearts. Fr. Christopher also told us that if a man wants hesychia (a watchful, inner stillness in prayer), then he can be in the middle of Babylon and have the peace of Christ in his heart. However, if a man does not want hesychia, then even though he abides in the desert, he will have Babylon in his heart. These words convicted me, for I know that wherever I find myself, I will always have to struggle against the worldly noise in my own heart and intentionally seek inner peace. On another occasion, Father Jeremiah, a Greek Australian priestmonk, invited us to sit on a balcony and have a cup of tea with him after the evening prayers and trapeza (the meal). During our conversation, the topic of evangelism came up. How
does one evangelize a non-Orthodox country? Fr. Jeremiah’s answer was simple: quoting St. Seraphim, he told us, “Acquire the spirit of peace and a thousand souls around you will be saved.” This is often a hard answer for Americans. Most Americans want something external, visible and instant. However, to work on one’s own heart will probably take a lifetime. This is why Athos is often known as “The Garden of the Theotokos.” What is grown and cultivated in this garden? It is the hearts and lives of the monks who live there. The seed of grace has been spiritually planted in them, and through fasting, vigils and prayer the monks help this grace to grow. For this reason the monks of Mount Athos are an example to all men, for we are all called to cultivate the spirit of peace in our hearts so that Christ might have a place to reign there as King and Lord.
ATHOS Seminarian Joshua Coolman
I can remember
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standing in Iviron’s main Katholicon during the Vigil for the Great Feast of Pentecost. As the monks walked around the temple lighting the many lamps, I thought to myself how this place truly was a court of the King. High above the chandelier of many candles which floated in space like the stars of heaven, there was an image of the Pantokrator – He who rules over all creation. Truly, Panagia, the All-Holy Virgin Mother of God, has helped many monks on Athos to cultivate the peace and grace of Christ in their hearts. What a joy it was to be there and to pray with them. It is a joy I hope will always remain in my heart. My brother seminarians and I are grateful to God for the opportunity to travel on this pilgrimage and to the monks of Mt. Athos who shared their wisdom with us.
Alumni Association Picnic
Members of the Alumni Association of St. Tikhon’s sponsored the annual picnic to welcome both the new first-year students and the returning upperclassmen and their families to the Seminary. The event was held on Tuesday evening, September 9, 2008, with the food donated and prepared by the Alumni.
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38th Adult Lecture Series
“Christian Marriage and Family” September 23 “CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE AND FAMILY” Very Rev. Joseph Purpura, Director of Youth Ministry Antiochian, Orthodox Christian Archdiocese September 30 “THE HOME AS A LITTLE CHURCH” David C. Ford, Ph.D., Professor of Church History, St. Tikhon’s Seminary October 7 “THE MIRACLE OF DIALOGUE IN MARRIAGE” Very Rev. George H. Shalhoub, Pastor of the Antiochian Orthodox Basilica of St. Mary, Livonia, Michigan October 14 “THE SACRAMENT OF FAMILY LIFE” Dr. Philip Mamalakis, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
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Orthodox Two Part Music Hieromonk Sergius (Bowyer)
T
he music of the Orthodox Church can be likened to an icon and a window into the Kingdom of God, reflecting and imaging forth the new life which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ brings to us as Orthodox Christians. The liturgical arts of the Orthodox Church have a sacramental aspect and can bear God’s transformative grace when they are embraced with a correct spiritual disposition and within the canonical disciplines of the Church’s ethos and practice. Orthodox music is not an end but a means to an end: to draw closer to the Lord and to live more fervently the sacramental-ascetical life of the Church, fanning the fire of grace that the Church gives to us in the Sacraments. Orthodox music, because it can be a vessel of God’s grace, has tremendous power to
It is within this context that we present “Orthodox Two Part Music.” Orthodox Two Part Music is a resource available online, in print and on CD, as a cohesive representation of the various elements and pieces of Orthodox music which share a common vision and life in Christ. Comprised of Znamenny chant, Byzantine, Romanian, Carpatho-Russian, and Bulgarian chants, Orthodox Two Part Music embraces the commonality of Orthodox chant traditions and presents them in a way that is conducive to worship, change, instruct, and enlighten us, retaining the stylistic continuity so bearing the inspired Spirit-filled necessary to Orthodox prayer, while words of Scriptures, Psalms, aiming to transcend jurisdictional Canticles, patristic homilies and boundaries so that a common hymns written by Saints who them- meeting point of all the Orthodox selves had the transforming, deifying in America can happen within a vision of Christ in Glory. liturgical context.
O
rthodox Two Part Music is given as an offering and a
beginning – it is by no means a finished product. It is our hope that this effort will help Orthodox Christians in
North America broaden their knowledge of and appreciation for the existing Orthodox musical traditions. May this effort be blessed by the Lord, and may it bear fruit in the hearts and lives of all who seek to glorify the One True God!
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w w w . o r t h o d o x t w o p a r t m u s i c . o r g The Orthodox Two Part Music web site, which can be found at: www.orthodoxtwopartmusic.org, was launched in 2008 and provides not only free downloads of all of its music, but also audio files which may be downloaded at no cost, to enable the person-to-person transmission of the Orthodox Tradition which is so critical to maintaining proper and orderly worship. The musical settings on the web site for Divine Liturgy and Vespers are also available as sheet music books and companion CDs; these can be purchased via the web site or from the St. Tikhon’s Monastery Bookstore.
Serbian Choir Visits St. Tikhon’s Seminary
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Members of the Seminary Choir from Belgrade, Serbia, visited and presented choral selections at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, on Monday, September 15, 2008. Accompanying them on their tour across America was His Grace, Bishop MAXIM, of the Serbian Diocese of Western America.
St. Tikhon’s Founder’s Day Celebration
The annual Founder's Day Celebration of St. Tikhon's Seminary took place on October 12, 2008. The festivities began with the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy by Bishop TIKHON. A banquet and program followed in the Seminary auditorium. Making presentations to His Grace were Thomas Donlick, treasurer of the Society of the Friends of St. Tikhon's, and Sarah Jubinski, president of the Century Association.
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70th Anniversary of St.Tikhon’s Seminary
Hierarchs and dignitaries at the main dais at the Banquet.
The Rector cuts the first slice of the 70th Anniversary cake.
Nearly 250 alumni, students and friends filled the auditorium for the festivities.
Bishops Mark and Thomas Visit St. Tikhon’s
His Grace, Bishop MARK, addresses students during his first visit to St. Tikhon’s.
His Grace and the students of the Antiochian Archdiocese.
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Bishop THOMAS offers words of wisdom to future pastors.
Make A Joyful Noise Unto the Lord: St. Michael’s Day Potluck and Talent Show
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n October 30, 2008, St. Tikhon’s hosted the Third Annual St. Michael’s Day Talent Show and Potluck Dinner. This has been one of the favorite recurring events at St. Tikhon’s in recent years, and rightly so. It was a wonderful way for the seminarian families to become better acquainted and learn about one another’s gifts, talents, and interests.
Sarah Langdon speculating upon the future of their own young children’s efforts.
As much as the parents and adults enjoyed the show, it was probably the children themselves who were the most enthusiastic. Not only did they seem genuinely amused and entertained by their friends’ performances, but they were also surprised and delighted by how funny or clever someone could be or how accomplished a singer or musician. Although we spend a lot of time together, we can’t always see the many facets of others without looking through a different window. The talent show provided a positive venue for this. Also, since it was the evening before Halloween, the gathering was an opportunity for the children to dress up: there were Twenty-nine children partic- saints, gypsies, knights, princesses… entertainment age,” where we are so ipated in the talent show, displaying even Marie Antoinette made an often content to sit back and expect an impressive array of talents appearance! others to entertain us, we are still and abilities, including singing able to use our God-given gifts to and instrumental performances on Most significantly, the St. create a flavor of “fun” that is piano, violin, and harmonica; prose Michael’s Day Talent Show stands as uniquely our own and to “make a and poetry recitations; comedy rou- a testimony that even in our “instant joyful noise” to the Glory of God! tines, skits, joke telling, ballet and other dance routines. Performing in front of an audience, even a friendly and supportive one, is an accomplishment for anyone, and all of the children did a great job. For the parents of older children, the seasoned veterans of these types of things, it was touching to see the little ones struggling to master their material and themselves before the “public eye”. Those with younger children remarked on the accomplishments of the older ones, 60
St. Nicholas Day Party
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The annual visit of “St. Nicholas” was a delight to the 82 children of the seminarians and their wives ... and to the students themselves!
Lighting Lamps of Faith:
St. Tikhon’s Church School Activities, 2008-2009 Seminarian Thomas Langdon and Kristin Smith
A
s the saying goes, “A child is not a vessel to be filled, but a lamp to be lit.” The ministry of St. Tikhon’s Church School allows our children to be a constant reminder to us of how Christ calls us to be like them. This joy, encouragement, laughter and purity bring us much more than any paid position ever could. We are blessed with over 50 students in our Church School program (and over 80 children total in our Seminary community)! And with so many families, we are blessed also with many talented and committed student-wives and seminarians, working hard to organize numerous fun and interesting activities for our children. In August, more than 30 chil62
dren and 18 parents participated in the third annual, weeklong Vacation Church School. The theme was “Gifts from God!” Each day groups would rotate between lessons on the Holy Sacraments, taught by Father Michael Dahulich, and activities and
games. The children as always loved afternoon pool time, but the favorite memory was a very generously sponsored trip to Knoebels Amusement Park! “Wacky Olympic Games” and an awards ceremony finished our fun-filled week. In the fall we welcomed students and teachers from St. Michael’s Church in Old Forge, Pa. They visited our Church School classes and joined us for coffee hour. They reciprocated in the spring, with Father John and Mat. Michelle Soucek and all the faithful of St. Michael’s warmly welcoming us with first-class treatment and a delicious luncheon! In our largest production to date, the Christmas Pageant had the older children performing the Story
of St. Nicholas and the younger ones portraying the Story of the Nativity. Their faces shone with the joy of Christmas as families gathered and enjoyed the show and a potluck luncheon. The annual outing to “Disney On Ice” in January was loved by all and wrapped up their successful work! The fasting seasons focused our children on two special charity projects. During Advent, the children put on a very successful Pasta Dinner to benefit the OCA Stocking Project. During Great Lent, the children held a Bake Sale on Palm Sunday to benefit St. George Orthodox Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon. Both fasts culminated in families bringing the joy of the feasts in hymns to those infirm in our local nursing home, Wayne Woodlands Manor. The children also participated in a Pysanky Egg Workshop.
for the formation of our children. We could not have provided our children with such a wonderful year, had it not been for Fr. Michael Dahulich and Mat. Tamara Cowan. We are thankful to them, our parents, our teachers, and most of all to our Lord Himself, Who has provided these great gifts to our children.
Mission shelter in nearby Scranton. They proved to be helpful and willing assistants whenever called upon. This kind of focus on our teens should be as St. John Chrysostom says so well: “With us everything else should be secondary compared to our concern with children and their upbringing in the instruction and teaching of the Lord.”
2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
Unique to our ever-growing community was our large and lively Teen Group, far surpassing in number any previous year at St. Tikhon’s. Ranging in age from eleven up to eighteen years old, with twelve youth as regular participants, the group was composed of young people from all across the country. Even with such a diverse make-up, and the difficulty of uprooting at this age, they formed close bonds and provided a lot of support for each other. The year kicked off with a pizza party and, along with classroom lessons, included recreational gatherings, learning the art of making Pysanky eggs, bowling outings, ice-skating, and movie nights with a relevant theme and discussion.
helped the monks with the care of the cemetery, provided babysitting for lectures so student-wives could attend, as well as being the lead workers for the charity fundraisers. They even showed a caring presence in the wider community, cooking and serving a meal for over sixty homeless persons at the Rescue
The teens also gave of their time Special thanks to our teachers and efforts in service to others. They who cheerfully sacrifice their time 63
Metropolitan Jonah Visits St.Tikhon’s
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Christmas Pageant
The older students presented “The Story of Saint Nicholas.”
The younger children enacted the Nativity of our Lord.
Aidan Lynch portrayed the beloved Archbishop Nicholas, the patron saint of children.
Fundraiser at Wusylko Home
Protodn. Dr. Michael and Mat. Mary Wusylko sponsored a benefit dinner-concert at their home on Sunday, November 30, 2008, and raised $12,000 for the Seminary.
The quartet from the Pittsburgh Symphony delighted all.
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Alumni president, Fr. Nick Wyslutsky addresses the group.
Seminarian Families Receive Christmas Gifts
Various chapters of the New Jersey Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America (FOCA), Holy Dormition Orthodox Church in Binghamton, N.Y., and SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Endicott, N.Y., donated Christmas gifts to distribute among the many seminarian families.
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March for Life 2009 Seminarian Andrew Kishler
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n January 22, 2009, just two days after the election of our nation’s most pro-abortion President ever, a crowd of over 300,000 assembled on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for the annual March for Life. Christians and others who affirm the sacredness of human life gathered once again to remember the millions of unborn children who have lost their lives since the tragic Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade in 1973. The purpose of the March is also, of course, political. The marchers’ intent each year, in the words of the March organizers, is to “remind their elected leaders that the indiscriminate destruction of preborn babies is not only an unmitigated tragedy of moral indifference, but a reprehensible legacy of shame for future that each one of us may bear that Divinity within generations.” ourselves and be deified and sanctified.” His Beatitude spoke of creating a culture where the murder of unborn children is no longer a thinkable option and of the importance of coming to the aid of the many women who think they have no other choice than to abort. He also encouraged us to continue fighting politically to change abortion rights laws, especially laws that allow the gruesome practice of partial-birth abortion.
Metropolitan Jonah proclaimed: “The Orthodox Church from the very beginning has stood absolutely Information about the yearly march may be firm in its support of life from the beginning of concep- found at: www.marchforlife.org. tion to the very last breath that a person takes…A person is something holy, a person is something beautiful. Orthodox Christians for Life has many wonderful A person is something sanctified by God... This is the resources for both pastors and laymen at: foundation of our sanctity of life: that Jesus Christ took www.oclife.org. our human flesh and He filled it with His Divinity, so 67
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Father Michael Dahulich and Dr. David Ford led a group of more than thirty people from the St. Tikhon’s community to participate in this worthy cause. We arrived at Capitol Hill in time to join with Orthodox Christians for Life and to hear His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH address the large assembled crowd.
Father Jason DelVitto Addresses Seminarians Seminarian Paul Abernathy
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eflecting back on my own journey to St. Tikhon’s, few people in my life offered as much loving direction as my parish priest, Father Jason DelVitto, from St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in the greater Pittsburgh area of Bridgeville, Pa. From the very beginning of my life at St. George, Fr. Jason taught me the Orthodox faith by loving me in an Orthodox way. Although Fr. Jason is a remarkable scholar with teaching experience at seminaries and universities, and has a gift for teaching the faith to his flock, it is his humble guidance and simple love that have had the greatest impact on me.
with the students of St. Tikhon’s Seminary.
Father Jason began his discussion by explaining that the priest’s wife is a woman who should do nothing less than be an icon of God’s love and mercy to her husband as he brings the light of Christ into this broken world. Fr. Jason reminded us that someone else after us will be the priest of the parish we will one day serve, but no one else can ever be our wife’s husband. Because of this reality, he implored us to care for our wives, being first and foremost Orthodox Christian husbands, willing to sacrifice ourselves for our wives as Christ sacrificed Himself for This past fall, the Seminary the Church. community at St. Tikhon’s had the honor of welcoming Fr. Jason to Throughout the evening, trust share his experience and offer some was the recurring theme. Fr. Jason profound lessons on the life of a con- reminded us that without free will, secrated family in the parish. A deep there is no real love. Therefore, we understanding for the struggles that must trust our families to walk with face the families of priests prompted us in the parish as unique Fr. Jason to share these experiences persons – persons created in the 68
image and likeness of God, persons whom we love dearly. Fr. Jason reassured us that we will not have to worry about trying to be something we as a family are not – rather, we should simply consider the image of the priest as the ideal layman. In other words, ordination in the Orthodox Church does not change the ontology – the nature – of a man, but allows him to serve by the grace of God in a priestly function. It was through this explanation that he encouraged us to always remember ourselves and our families as a real part of the parish, not separated from or above the laity but living the same life in Christ. As the evening drew to a close, I found myself again thanking God for entrusting me to such a wonderful spiritual father. Upon thinking about all he had done for me and the way in which he had been an example for me by the way that he loved his family and his flock, I prayed that God might prepare and strengthen me to be the kind of husband, father, and priest I know that Fr. Jason is. It was clear from talking with the Seminary brotherhood in the days after Fr. Jason’s talk that he had profoundly communicated love in an Orthodox way, and we were better people for having shared in it. By his example, Fr. Jason clearly exhorted us to lead a genuinely Orthodox life in our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
“Learn the Language, Love the People” Father David Rucker from OCMC Talks Mission Deacon Joel Weir
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Father David began his talk by reading an ancient Greek account of the origins of the altar to the “unknown god,” to which St. Paul refers in the account of his trip to
Father David expressed that this approach of St. Paul’s is at the heart of missions: “Learn the language, love the people.” Expanding on this theme, he told his own story of coming to Orthodoxy in the midst of Protestant missionary work in China. Through questions that the Chinese had raised concerning Christianity, Fr. David realized that the Gospel he and his fellow missionaries were proclaiming was not “Good News” to the Chinese they were trying to evangelize! Father David began to study Eastern Christianity, initially with the desire to learn how to better communicate the Gospel to the Chinese people. What he discovered was Orthodoxy, which, Fr. David said, “to our surprise, made the Gospel truly Good
News for the Chinese, and it transformed it into Good News for us.” Father David also pointed out that missions work is not exclusively about overseas work, but is the task of every Christian, especially those in ministry. “Learn the language, love the people” applies as much to a mission parish in Pennsylvania as it does to a mission parish in Uganda. He shared another poignant example from his own experience as a mission parish priest in Lexington, Ky. He told of a contractor who was working on the church building, who clearly was curious about what went on there but was reluctant to ask. Finally, though, the man asked what “all this” (the icons, etc.) was about. Fr. David explained that he told the man it was a community of love and healing. To us he noted, “Everyone is dealing with some kind of wound or broken relationship. If we can offer people a place to bring those things and to work towards healing… this speaks a language they can understand.” Father David concluded his presentation with a challenge. He asked all of us to pray for the future of missions. He expressed the critical need for clergy, teachers, physicians, and skilled laborers to serve the needs of the rapidly growing mission field around the world. He also encouraged each of us to be mission minded wherever God directs us to serve in our future ministry, as we strive to share the truly Good News of the Orthodox Faith! 69
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n Thursday, February 5, 2009, Father David Rucker, Associate Director of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), visited St. Tikhon’s Seminary to give a presentation and host a discussion on Missions Work in the Orthodox Church. Fr. David shared from his deep wealth of experience as a missionary and student of missiology (the study of culture, language, and history as it applies to missionary work). He and his wife, Matushka Rozanne, have been involved in missions work in twelve nations on three continents.
Mars Hill. Father then read the account in Acts and pointed to St. Paul as the model of the missionary. He explained that St. Paul, rather than focusing on the evil which certainly was around him, found one seed of the truth in the Greeks’ pagan worship and used it to share the Gospel. “Also,” Fr. David said, “St. Paul did his homework; he knew the language and the history; and he knew how to speak to them in a way they would understand.”
“Turning Toward” as a Theology of Marriage St. Tikhon’s Seminary Holds Third Annual Marriage Retreat Deacon Theophan and Matushka Elena Buck
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n January 30-31, 2009, St Tikhon’s Seminary held its third annual Marriage Retreat, led by Dr. Philip Mamalakis, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Dr. Mamalakis teaches classes on pastoral care, marriage and family, and topics related to pastoral counseling. He holds an M.Div. from Holy Cross and a Ph.D. from Purdue University in child development and family studies, specializing in marriage and family care. Most importantly, Dr. Mamalakis is happily married with seven children.
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Dr. Mamalakis began the first session by establishing the theology of the sacrament of marriage – it is not a social institution but an image of the Kingdom of God, sustained by the Holy Spirit, where we experience the mystery of salvation and participate in God’s divine love. Love is God’s gift; and marriage is a journey of acquiring and sharing this gift. We have the possibility of acquiring this perfect love through the many struggles often faced in marriage and family. If we succeed in loving our spouses, then we succeed
in our spiritual life, and vice versa. In this process we learn to crucify our own will, for the sake of the other. Marriage shows us that we cannot love in this Christ-like way if we trust in our own efforts, but with God all things are possible. Dr. Mamalakis taught that one of the greatest struggles within our marriages and other relationships, even with our future parishioners, is communication. In all of our interactions, which he calls “bids for connection” or “bids for closeness,” we reach out to one another, and we respond to one another. Each
response, he says, can be characterized in one of three ways: turning toward, turning away or turning against. When we respond by turning toward, we communicate to our spouse that we “respect them, love them, and are interested in them.” Spouses who learn to turn toward each other’s bids for connection – by putting down their reading or turning away from the computer screen to face their partner – develop a resiliency that equips them to deal with difficult times. We “turn away” when we respond by acting preoccupied, criticizing our spouse’s feelings, or not responding at all. Dr. Mamalakis emphasized that it is through our marriages that we learn to minister to our parishioners. Our parishioners don’t need a “busy and competent priest,” who turns away because he is preoccupied, but a “holy priest” who cares and dignifies parishioners’ bids for connection with an attentive response. Following this in-depth exploration of healthy and sacramental communication, Dr. Mamalakis broke us into couples to exercise turning toward one another. It was a wonderful experience of loving connection that benefited everyone. Following this activity, we were taken through a series of vignettes or hypothetical case studies in small groups to apply the knowledge that we had learned that morning. After this break-out period, we came back together to learn still more about what damages a marriage and how to learn the “art of listening” – not just in our marriages but also in our ministries.
Dr. Mamalakis came to the students and wives of St. Tikhon’s Seminary equipped with a passion and love for marriage and family. He truly imbued us with this love and inspired us by his extensive experience and knowledge of the topic. He taught us not only to build up our families but how to transfer this skill to build up our future parishes by how we show love to our future parishioners. We were so grateful that he responded to our invitation; surely our marriages and parishes will be stronger for it if we apply what he taught us.
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More dangerous still is “turning against” each other – yelling, mocking, swearing, or otherwise showing aggression. This communicates to our spouses that “we want to hurt them, we want nothing to do with them, and we don’t respect them.” Anger is not always bad, Dr. Mamalakis maintained, but as the Apostle Paul said to the Ephesians, “be angry and do not sin.” We need to turn toward one another and communicate “why” we are angry. Otherwise, when we turn against our spouses, we are in effect turning against God – and what we need the most in these moments, when we are at our wit’s end, is God’s grace!
A Visit to Emmaus House in Harlem “Not for the poor, but of the poor, and with the poor”
- Fr. David Kirk
Monk Andrew (Wermuth)
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Father David Kirk’s life and work were shaped by the era he was born into and the times he lived to see. Throughout the course of his life he encountered many remarkable figures in 20th century American life, including William Faulkner, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Dorothy Day. It was precisely his work in the Civil Rights Movement that led him to meet a Syrian
He reposed on May 23, 2007 – the day after he had conducted an in-depth interview with the American nun, Mother Nectaria, for the magazine Road to Emmaus and Greek schools, Fr. David was (Spring 2008, #33). He left the ordained into the priesthood, and direction of Emmaus House to shortly thereafter founded Emmaus Albert and Julia Raboteau and the pastoral ministry to OCA priests Fr. House in Harlem. John Garvey and Fr. Martin Kraus. Father David’s vision was about transformation of lives in communiIn addition to the personal ty, not just temporary shelter or exchange we gained from visiting, “helping out”. “If you stayed you Emmaus House was an eye-opener had to get some kind of therapy,” to a ministry “not for the poor, but Fr. David once said, “If you were an of the poor, and with the poor.” It addict, you started with Narcotics was a reminder that Christ’s saving Anonymous meetings – you had to work was and continues to be cengo for ninety days, every day. You tered on the transformation of had to stay clean, work on a new life, human beings. At the same time it is get into a discipline, and you also precisely the kind of work that can had to go out and get some kind of transform and renew the vitality of education at night.” Additionally, the Church. Emmaus House fed about 500 each day. Later, “The Traveling Kitchen” developed: a van, which drove through the city and fed the homeless. In 2004, Fr. David was received into the Orthodox Church by a 75
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n February of 2009, a group of five students from St. Tikhon’s visited Emmaus House in Harlem, N.Y. We were blessed to pray in the chapel and talk with residents about the journey from the streets to a God-centered life in the Emmaus community. That evening a benefit for Emmaus House was held at St. Nicholas Carpatho-Russian Church featuring Rachmaninov’s Vespers. One of the senior residents, Darrel, gave a moving word about Emmaus House founder, Father David Kirk’s vision and his own personal renewal through Emmaus. Three weeks later, we were able to accompany “The Traveling Kitchen” in their mission of feeding the homeless.
Melkite priest, Father Joseph Raya, who did not believe segregation to be “ordained by God.” David was soon baptized in the Melkite Church. After working with Dorothy Day, former colleague in Rome, His spending time in semiEminence, the Most Reverend nary in Rome, taking Archbishop NATHANIEL. While classes at the Russian his physical strength allowed, he served liturgy in the Emmaus House chapel. Later, he attended Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Manhattan.
members who have become marginalized. In April, Khouria Sharon Nasr visited with the wives and discussed the importance of nurturing our family life and supporting our husbands. It was immensely helpful for us to hear the stories and the wisdom of these faithful, exemplary women. A Wives Evening Education Series is offered to promote our theological and spiritual understanding. This program features condensed evening courses taught by Seminary professors. In November, Dr. Mary Ford, Associate Professor of New Testament, offered two lectures on “Spirituality Within Hermeneutics and Patristics,” explaining that there are multiple meanings in Scripture and that, when we read it, we must
learn to subject our own presuppositions to the consensus of the Saints, who have left us their God-guided interpretations. In February, Dr. Harry Boosalis, Associate Professor of Dogmatic Theology, continued the series with “Suffering and Spiritual Life: A Theological Perspective.” He explained that suffering is an inevitable part of our fallen state, common to all, and central to salvation – if we endure it patiently and let it drive us to a deeper reliance on God. In helping parishioners, we must not search for answers as much as suffer with them in love. In March Dr. Boosalis finished with “The Spiritual Significance of Icons in the Orthodox Faith,” teaching that when we venerate icons, we honor not wood and paint but the Lord or
the Saint depicted in the image. The wives are very grateful to the professors for donating their time and talents for these special classes. The student-wives also have opportunities to teach in the Church School program, learning skills and activities that will be useful in parish ministry. There are also many opportunities to learn beside our husbands, such as the Seminary classes, the Marriage Retreat held in January and the guest lectures provided for the seminarians and the wider St. Tikhon’s community.
The administration, staff, and volunteers of the Seminary put forth great effort to meet our needs and form us as future clergy wives. We feel very blessed and thankful for these opportunities that form us to do the Lord’s work alongside our husbands.
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In addition to these “formal” opportunities to learn and serve at the Seminary, there are many occasions when the wives simply get together for an evening and enjoy one another’s company. All of these shared experiences form friendships that will support us all in our future ministries, wherever we may be. Truly, our time at St. Tikhon’s is a time we will never forget.
Another Year of Growth for OISM Seminarian Edward Henderson
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ehold now, what is so good or so joyous as for brethren to dwell together in unity? (Ps. 132:1)
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he Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement (OISM) was founded in the 1960s with the hope of fostering greater fellowship among seminarians attending Orthodox Seminaries in North America. Over time the organization faded away, but in 2004, it was revived and has continued since then. Currently, OISM holds two official meetings during the academic year: one in the fall and one in the spring. Retreats are also occasionally held.
ORTHODOX INTER-SEMINARY MOVEMENT
President. One of the comments he made was that Holy Trinity Seminary’s involvement in OISM has helped them to feel more a part of the greater Orthodox presence in North America. It has also contributed to improved relations between ROCOR and the OCA, as acknowledged in Metropolitan HILARION’s greeting to the 15th All-American Council, which stated, “We look with joy at the positive I have had the great blessing to fruits of our cooperation that have be regularly involved in this fellow- already appeared: the close collaboship since coming to St. Tikhon’s ration of our Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary. Since 2007, I have served Seminary in Jordanville with both as a representative of our Seminary St. Vladimir’s and St. Tikhon’s to the organization and as its secre- Seminaries.” At the Spring 2009 tary. OISM meeting, Ephraim Willmarth was re-elected as President. During this time, OISM has seen a number of positive developAlong with Holy Trinity ments. When I first became Seminary’s increased involvement, involved, Holy Trinity Seminary in OISM has seen greater involvement Jordanville, N.Y., participated only by Saint Herman’s Seminary in as an associate member. With the Kodiak, Alaska; the Toronto Greek reconciliation of the Russian Orthodox Theological Academy in Orthodox Church Outside Russia Canada; Saint Andrew’s College in (ROCOR) and the Moscow Winnipeg, Ontario, Canada; and Patriarchate, Holy Trinity Seminary Christ the Saviour Seminary in has been welcomed into full mem- Johnstown, Pa. One of the goals of bership in OISM. OISM is to raise enough funds to cover transportation costs for semiAt the Spring 2008 OISM meet- narians from Saint Herman’s ing, Ephraim Willmarth, a seminar- Seminary, so that they may more freian at Holy Trinity, was elected quently attend OISM events. In 74
response to this goal, the student government at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology has already voted to allocate $850 annually for OISM. Saint Vladimir’s Seminary is also exploring the possibility of allocating similar funds. OISM is also considering using such funds to engage guest speakers and develop a website. OISM is also trying to give an academic focus to the meetings. Previous meetings have seen guest speakers and presentations by seminarians on a given subject. At the Fall 2008 meeting at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Hierodeacon Iosif (now Archimandrite) of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, N.Y., gave a presentation on Saint John of Kronstadt. By God’s grace and through the intercessions of the Theotokos, the patroness of OISM, our humble fellowship is growing and expanding. Stronger relations exist now between the participating seminary communities. Moreover, our fellowship genuinely fosters authentic unity among Orthodox Christians on this continent.
A Visit to Emmaus House in Harlem “Not for the poor, but of the poor, and with the poor”
- Fr. David Kirk
Monk Andrew (Wermuth)
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Father David Kirk’s life and work were shaped by the era he was born into and the times he lived to see. Throughout the course of his life he encountered many remarkable figures in 20th century American life, including William Faulkner, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Dorothy Day. It was precisely his work in the Civil Rights Movement that led him to meet a Syrian
He reposed on May 23, 2007 – the day after he had conducted an in-depth interview with the American nun, Mother Nectaria, for the magazine Road to Emmaus and Greek schools, Fr. David was (Spring 2008, #33). He left the ordained into the priesthood, and direction of Emmaus House to shortly thereafter founded Emmaus Albert and Julia Raboteau and the pastoral ministry to OCA priests Fr. House in Harlem. John Garvey and Fr. Martin Kraus. Father David’s vision was about transformation of lives in communiIn addition to the personal ty, not just temporary shelter or exchange we gained from visiting, “helping out”. “If you stayed you Emmaus House was an eye-opener had to get some kind of therapy,” to a ministry “not for the poor, but Fr. David once said, “If you were an of the poor, and with the poor.” It addict, you started with Narcotics was a reminder that Christ’s saving Anonymous meetings – you had to work was and continues to be cengo for ninety days, every day. You tered on the transformation of had to stay clean, work on a new life, human beings. At the same time it is get into a discipline, and you also precisely the kind of work that can had to go out and get some kind of transform and renew the vitality of education at night.” Additionally, the Church. Emmaus House fed about 500 each day. Later, “The Traveling Kitchen” developed: a van, which drove through the city and fed the homeless. In 2004, Fr. David was received into the Orthodox Church by a 75
2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
n February of 2009, a group of five students from St. Tikhon’s visited Emmaus House in Harlem, N.Y. We were blessed to pray in the chapel and talk with residents about the journey from the streets to a God-centered life in the Emmaus community. That evening a benefit for Emmaus House was held at St. Nicholas Carpatho-Russian Church featuring Rachmaninov’s Vespers. One of the senior residents, Darrel, gave a moving word about Emmaus House founder, Father David Kirk’s vision and his own personal renewal through Emmaus. Three weeks later, we were able to accompany “The Traveling Kitchen” in their mission of feeding the homeless.
Melkite priest, Father Joseph Raya, who did not believe segregation to be “ordained by God.” David was soon baptized in the Melkite Church. After working with Dorothy Day, former colleague in Rome, His spending time in semiEminence, the Most Reverend nary in Rome, taking Archbishop NATHANIEL. While classes at the Russian his physical strength allowed, he served liturgy in the Emmaus House chapel. Later, he attended Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Manhattan.
Another Blessed Year:
Indian Orthodox Students Continue to Thrive at St. Tikhon’s Seminarian Diju Skariah pig-roast luncheon being held; and afterwards they toured the grounds.
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t was another blessed year for the Indian Orthodox students here at St. Tikhon’s Seminary. Just a year ago, Dn. Daniel Mathai completed the Master of Divinity degree program and moved on to complete a six-month liturgical training program at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam, Kerala, India. Dn. Daniel is the second Indian Orthodox student born and raised in this country to graduate from St. Tikhon’s Seminary. Near the end of the past academic year and over the summer of 2008, we were honored to have three Indian Orthodox parishes of the Northeast region visit St. Tikhon’s Seminary and Monastery. On Saturday, May 10 we were blessed to have Rev. Fr. Thomas Paul and the youth of St. Basil Orthodox Church (Franklin Square, N.Y.) visit us. Following a brief Bible study on the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, we were able
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to give them a full tour of the Monastery and Seminary grounds. On Saturday, May 17, 72 parents and Sunday School children of St. Thomas Orthodox Church (Philadelphia) visited us – the most visitors we have had at once. We were blessed to begin the day with the Saturday morning prayers in English followed by a devotional message from senior seminarian Ted Brinegar, on the Holy Spirit and the Theotokos. Following Noon Prayer and lunch, the visitors were also given a full tour of the Monastery and Seminary grounds. On August 16, 2008, Rev. Fr. Mathew C. Chacko and over fifty parishioners from Saints Baselios and Gregorios Orthodox Church (New Brunswick, N.J.) visited the Seminary. Seminarian Abey George had served as the summer parish intern there and extended an invitation to come and visit the Seminary at the conclusion of his internship. The parishioners were able to join in the
At the beginning of the new academic year, the Seminary welcomed two new Indian Orthodox seminarians, bringing the total number to seven. Joel Mathew, a member of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church (Farmers Branch, Tex.), joined us after completing his undergraduate and graduate studies in accounting and working for a year with Ernst & Young, LLP. James Cheriyan joins us this year as the first Indian international student to study at St. Tikhon’s. James completed two years of his Seminary education at St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary, Nagpur, India and received the blessing from Metropolitan COORILOS to complete the Master of Divinity program at St. Tikhon’s. These two individuals are truly passionate about the Church and are a great asset to the St. Tikhon’s student body. During the week of September 8-12, we were blessed once again with the presence of Metropolitan IVANIOS from Kottayam, Kerala, India. We were able to witness his smile, humor, love and humility in person and hear numerous stories as well as words of wisdom that served as an inspiration for all of us. His Grace challenged us to develop our spiritual lives through the disciplines of fasting, meditation, reading, daily prayer and study of the Scriptures. Throughout the week, we were able to witness these disciplines being
practiced in his life. His Grace led us in the daily prayers, ate with us, conversed with us, and took personal time out for reading, solitary prayer and meditation. His Grace was welcomed by the Seminary community at the annual Alumni Association Picnic. Later in the week, he also met with Fr. Michael and enjoyed seeing the Monastery and Seminary grounds. His love for nature, especially flowers, could be seen in his close examination of every single plant and tree that we passed by during our walks. We are forever grateful for His Grace’s willingness to come visit us and spend time with us. May the Lord God bless his ministry in the Church and grant him many years. Throughout the fall semester, we were blessed by the visits of Metropolitan NICHOLOVOS, Assistant Metropolitan of the Diocese of Northeast America. His Grace came on a weekly basis, staying overnight and teaching us Malankara Church History. We were also blessed to pray together and share numerous meals and conversations. His Grace has always been supportive of his seminarians, and we are thankful for the time he took each week to come and teach us.
During the trip, Fr. Michael offered a retreat message to more than 300 youth as well as a Bible study on the theme for the Centennial Celebration, “Arise and Shine.” He also met with His Holiness the Catholicos and received his blessings. His Holiness was grateful to St. Tikhon’s Seminary for welcoming students of the Indian Orthodox Church in order to receive their priestly formation and expressed extreme joy to see Fr. Michael in India. In response, Fr. Michael conveyed greetings from His Beatitude Metropolitan JONAH and His Grace, Bishop TIKHON and offered an icon of St. Tikhon to His Holiness on behalf of the Seminary community. Throughout the week, Fr. Michael also had the opportunity to meet with several other Metropolitans of
After his return to America, Fr. Michael spoke often of his experiences in India and was grateful for the opportunity he received. We are truly thankful to Fr. Michael for his role in our lives as a spiritual father, role model, mentor, friend and teacher. On Tuesday, March 11, 2009, second-year seminarians Jake Kurian and Diju Skariah were invited to speak on Indian Orthodoxy at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church, Jermyn, Pa. Jake gave a brief history of the Indian Orthodox Church, and Diju presented some historical places of the Church in India, using pictures from Fr. Michael’s visit. They ended the presentation with chants from the Saturday Common Prayer. The parishioners were very receptive, expressing a great appreciation for the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Special thanks to Fr. John Kowalczyk and the parishioners of St. Michael’s for this blessed opportunity. All in all, the 2008-2009 academic year was a blessed one for all of us. This year, three of our brothers, Dn. George Mathew, Dn. Christopher Mathew, and Dn. Abey George will be graduating, and we extend our prayers and love as they continue in the ministry the Lord has prepared for them. We hope and pray that more will join the Seminary community from the Indian Orthodox Church, and we will continue in this relationship that we have had over the past years.
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In December of 2008, the Seminary’s Dean, Fr. Michael Dahulich, visited India for one week, upon the invitation to be one of the main speakers for the Centennial Celebration of the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement, one of the largest Christian spiritual youth organizations in India. The celebrations were held at SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Parumala, Kerala, India from December 2631, 2008.
the Church and joined thousands of faithful to receive His Holiness Abune PAULOS, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
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Dr. David C. Ford Promoted
t their March 20, 2009 meeting, the Board of Trustees of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary voted to promote David C. Ford, Ph.D., to the rank of full Professor of Church History, in recognition of his outstanding service to the Seminary for the past twenty years and his distinguished record of teaching, research, and publication. Dr. David has been teaching at St. Tikhon’s since the fall of 1989, when he and his wife Dr. Mary were hired to teach Church History and Hermeneutics, respectively. Over the past 20 years, he has taught courses covering all epochs of Church History, including courses on the History of the Early Church, Byzantine Church History, the History of Slavic Christianity, American Religious History, and the History of Orthodoxy in America. He has also taught courses in other departments: Marriage and Family Life, Foundations of Christian Morality, Contemporary Ethical Problems, and a course on the practical writings of St. John Chrysostom. In 2003, he was named Chairman of the Department of Church History and Patristics at the Seminary, a position he still holds. From 1994 until 2005, he served as the Secretary for the Faculty Council of our theological school. He also serves as the faculty editor of By The Waters, the annual publication of writings by the students at St. Tikhon’s Seminary; faculty editor and consultant for the Tikhonaire; and member of the editorial committees for the St. Tikhon’s
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has written numerous encyclopedia articles, journal articles, and book reviews. He has given many lectures and retreats over the years, and he delivered the 2006 Commencement Address at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, N.Y. Working with Dr. Mary, he has written the Orthodox Christian Ancient History and Social Studies Curriculum, designed for elementary Theological Journal and the 2004 and high school age students, for use Self-Study Report written to achieve in home schooling or as supplemenaccreditation for the Seminary from tal material for children attending the Association of Theological public or private schools. Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). Dr. David earned his B.A. in History from Colgate University; his Dr. Ford has published two M.Div. from Oral Roberts books – Marriage as a Path to University; and his Ph.D. in Church Holiness: Lives of Married Saints (co- History and Historical Theology authored with his wife, Dr. Mary), from Drew University. His dissertaand Women and Men in the Early tion was entitled “Misogynist or Church: The Full Views of St. John Advocate? St. John Chrysostom and Chrysostom – as well as Prayer and the His Views on Women.” During his Departed Saints, a booklet in the university years, he earned the popular Conciliar Press series. He is Colgate War Memorial Scholarship, currently working on three more Phi Beta Kappa membership at books: Church History, a major revi- Colgate, and Outstanding M.Div. sion and expansion of the second Student at Oral Roberts, and he half of Volume 3 of the “Rainbow defended his Ph.D. dissertation Series” of catechetical books written “with honors” at Drew. by Fr. Thomas Hopko; St. Tikhon of Moscow in America, 1898-1907: Dr. David is a member of the Various Sermons and Writings, a Orthodox Theological Society in translation work being done in col- America and the American Society laboration with Alex Maximov; and of Church History. The Pastoral Heart of the Early Church: How Pastoral Care Prevails For these reasons and many over the Sectarian Mindset in the more besides, the Board of Trustees Church of the First Six Centuries. has bestowed the distinction of “full Professor” on Dr. David C. Ford, in Along with Dr. Mary and Fr. recognition of his two decades of Theodore Petrides, he wrote nearly service to St. Tikhon’s Seminary and all of the one-page thematic articles to theological education in the for the Old Testament portion of the Orthodox Church in America. new Orthodox Study Bible. He also
Fr. Constantine Nasr Inspires Seminarians
Father Constantine Nasr of St. Elijah Church in Oklahoma City addresses the seminarians on the important topic of missions and evangelism; his wife, Khouria Sharon, explains to students’ wives the importance of being a loving support to their husbands in the work of priestly ministry.
Vocations Encounter 2009
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Potential new students visited St. Tikhon’s over the Palm Sunday weekend, prayerfully considering their possible vocations and examining the call and the work of the priest through the example set by Saint Paul the Apostle, whose 2000th Anniversary of birth has been commemorated this year.
History Made at Philadelphia Campus:
First Six Students Graduate from Diaconal Formation Program Father Victor Gorodenchuk
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n the recent past we have witnessed an increased interest in the Orthodox Faith by those who are seeking a deeper and more ancient practice of Christian life. This interest is evidenced by the number of mission parishes that continue to open throughout the country and by the number of converts who find the Orthodox Church. We also can see an increasing number of those enrolled in our Seminary programs. This gives us hope that our Lord continues to provide the candidates for future ordinations into the holy priesthood who will shepherd His flock and will continue to spread the message of the Orthodox Faith in this country. 80
Yet in spite of this increase in interest on the part of many Orthodox men to serve as priests, there seem to be fewer opportunities for a structured training of those who desire to enter into the service of Diaconate. The preparation for this rank of Orthodox clergy does not require a full three years of Seminary training. Yet a welltrained deacon could be of great assistance to a parish priest, not only in helping during church services but also in leading educational classes, working with youth, visiting the sick and shut-ins, etc. To be a deacon in a parish one should have both deep piety and commitment to the service of the Church as well as a proper education in Church Order, Scripture, Orthodox Theology and Church History. Up until now a candidate to the Diaconate who was not able to attend classes at one of our Orthodox Seminaries could only fulfill these educational requirements for ordination by taking correspondence courses. This obviously has its own limitations since it does not allow for live interaction between a student and an instructor. Also the task of hands-on training of a future candidate for the Diaconate was left solely in the hands of a parish priest
who often is very busy with other responsibilities. In July of 2007 there was an announcement that St. Tikhon’s Seminary was starting a new offcampus extension program with the specific goal of providing an opportunity for Diaconal Formation. This program offers an equivalent of the first year of Seminary training. Since the courses that are being offered by this program are the same as those taught on Seminary campus, they can go toward a full Seminary degree if a student chooses to be enrolled full-time. St. Stephen’s Orthodox Cathedral in northeast Philadelphia was chosen as the site for this program due to the available facilities that would meet the requirements of the program. The location of the program can be easily accessed by those living in the major metropolitan areas of New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, Delaware and eastern Pennsylvania. Among the many advantages of this program is the fact that it takes place on Saturdays during the school year. This allows those who have full time employment to still be able to take classes. Every Saturday the students start with Divine Liturgy followed by six hours of classes with breaks for breakfast and lunch. The day concludes with the service of Great Vespers and once a month with the service of the All-Night Vigil. With such a schedule the students are able to participate both in course education as well as
We are very much encouraged by the interest in this program shown by the faithful of our area. Currently we have ten students enrolled in the program. This year we are celebrating the graduation of our first class, consisting of six students. Looking ahead we hope that this program will continue to be a wonderful opportunity for the Orthodox parishes in the area to prepare faithful men for the service of the Diaconate. We are confident that through the faithful service of those who participate in the Diaconal Formation Program, the Orthodox parishes in our area will be strengthened in their witness to the Apostolic Faith. We ask your prayerful support and hope that throughout the country more and more people will be dedicating themselves to the service of the Holy Orthodox Church.
Instructors and Students
Fr. Victor Gorodenchuk Lecturer in Scripture
Fr. Nicolai Buga Lecturer in Church History
Fr. Timothy Hojnicki Lecturer in Liturgics and Homiletics
Fr. David Mahaffey Lecturer in Dogmatic Theology and Spirituality
GRADUATES
Jay Adams
Benjamin Daniel
Joseph McCusker
Michael Pasonick
Joseph Semon
Andrew Temple
Jeff Lobalbo
Nick Tsiadis
George Zlatkowski
STUDENTS
Jacob Hando
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2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada has accredited this Diaconal Formation Program offered by St. Tikhon’s Seminary.
DIACONAL FORMATION PROGRAM 2008-2009
in liturgical practicum by serving as altar servers, singing in the choir and reading. Also, the deacons from area parishes join us during the services on a regular basis to allow the students to observe how the services are celebrated with a deacon.
Holy Week
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Christ is Risen!
PASCHA 2009
Indeed, He is Risen!
2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
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Field Education 2007-2008 In recognition of outstanding work in Field Education, representatives of SCI Waymart, Wayne Memorial Hospital and Wayne Woodlands Manor honor the seminarian-interns with certificates of recognition at the annual awards ceremony held at the theological school each May.
SCI WAYMART
“I was in prison and you came to Me... WAYNE WOODLANDS MANOR
...I was sick and you visited Me... WAYNE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
... Amen, amen, I say unto you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of My brethren, you did it to Me.” Matt. 25:40
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F IELD E DUC ATION A WARDS C EREMONY
2007-2008 Certificate Recipients ~ May 15, 2008 ~ Ted Brinegar
Rev. Philip Kontos
George Sharonoff
2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
REV. DN. MIRCEA AIRINEI MATTHEW BAKER ATHANASIUS BECKWORTH TED BRINEGAR JOHN BRUNNETT IAN BURGESS VASILI DUBEE REV. GEORGE ELLIOTT REV. ISAAC FARHA JASON FRANCHAK ABEY GEORGE MICHAEL HABIB SERAPHIM HANISCH EDWARD HENDERSON SYMEON KEES IYAD KHAIR HERMANN KLARR REV. PHILIP KONTOS REV. DN. IGOR KSYNYUK CHRISTOPHER MACIOLEK REV. SERAPHIM MAJMUDAR REV. DN. DENNIS MATHAI CHRISTOPHER MATHEW REV. DN. GEORGE MATHEW JAMES MCKEE REV. DN. NIKOLAS MEYERS REV. DAVID MORETTI JOHN MURRAY REV. DN. ADAM SEXTON GEORGE SHARONOFF RYAN SMITH NATHAN THOMPSON ADRIAN ULMER REV. MAXIMUS URBANOWICZ KYRILL WILLIAMS JAMES WORTHINGTON
Rev. Isaac Farha
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2008 - 2009
Seminarian Ordinations
Y
ou did did not not choose choose Me, Me, ou
but I chose you and appointed you but I chose you and appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain... and that your fruit should remain... (John 15:16) (John 15:16)
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2008 - 2009 Seminarian Ordinations
REVEREND DEACON GEORGE ELLIOTT was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Sunday, May 18, 2008 by His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN, then Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, in the Monastery Church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk, South Canaan, Pennsylvania.
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2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
SEMINARIAN JOEL WIER was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Sunday, June 1, 2008 by His Eminence, the Most Reverend JOB, the Archbishop of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest, in Saint John the Forerunner Orthodox Church, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2008 - 2009 Seminarian Ordinations
REVEREND DEACON NIKOLAS MEYERS was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Sunday, July 20, 2008, by His Grace, the Right Reverend JOSEPH, Bishop of Los Angeles and the West (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese), in St. Andrew Church, in Riverside, California.
REVEREND DEACON ADAM SEXTON was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Sunday, August 10, 2008, by His Grace, the Right Reverend TIKHON, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania and Rector of the Seminary, in St. Tikhon’s Monastery Church in South Canaan.
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2008 - 2009 Seminarian Ordinations
MONK SERGIUS (BOWYER) was ordained to the Diaconate on December 6, 2008, by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, and to the Priesthood on December 12, 2008, by His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH, in the Monastery Church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk in South Canaan, Pa.
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2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
SUBDEACON NATHAN THOMPSON was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Sunday, January 4, 2009, by His Grace, the Right Reverend JOSEPH, the Bishop of Los Angeles and the West, at Saint Peter the Apostle Antiochian Orthodox Church in San Dimas, California.
2008 - 2009 Seminarian Ordinations
REVEREND DEACON IGOR KSYNYUK was ordained to the Priesthood on Wednesday, January 7, 2009, by His Beatitude, the Most Blessed JONAH, the new Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Transfiguration, in Brooklyn, N.Y.
SEMINARIAN STEVEN DEYOUNG was ordained by Bishop THOMAS, of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, to the Diaconate on October 12, 2008 in St. Mary’s Church, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and to the Priesthood on January 11, 2009, at St. Ignatius Church, Florida, N.Y.
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2008 - 2009 Seminarian Ordinations
REVEREND DEACON JOHN CHRISTIANSON was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Sunday, February 15, 2009, by His Grace, Bishop JOSEPH, and His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, at the Saint Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles, California.
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2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
REVEREND DEACON DANIEL HACKNEY was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Sunday, February 22, 2009, by His Grace, the Right Reverend MARK, Bishop of Toledo and the Diocese of the Midwest (Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese), at St. Elias Church in Sylvania, Ohio.
2008 - 2009 Seminarian Ordinations
SEMINARIAN JAMES WORTHINGTON was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Saturday, March 7, 2009, by the Seminary Rector, His Grace, the Right Reverend TIKHON, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, in the Monastery Church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk.
REVEREND DEACON JAMES MCKEE was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on March 14, 2009, by His Grace, the Right Reverend Bishop TIKHON of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, at the Monastery Church of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk in South Canaan.
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2008 - 2009 Seminarian Ordinations
SEMINARIAN PATRICK BURNS was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Sunday, March 22, 2009, by His Eminence, the Most Reverend Metropolitan JOSEPH of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church at Holy Annunciation Bulgarian Orthodox Parish in Steelton, Pennsylvania.
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2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
SEMINARY GRADUATE KYRILL WILLIAMS was ordained to the Diaconate on Saturday, December 13, 2008, and to the Holy Priesthood on the Feast of the Annunciation, Wednesday, March 25, 2009, by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, in St. Tikhon’s Monastery Church, in South Canaan.
2008 - 2009 Seminarian Ordinations
SUBDEACON GEORGE MATTHEW was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on March 28, 2009, by His Grace, Metropolitan Mathew Mar BARNABAS and His Grace, Auxiliary Metropolitan Zachariah Mar NICHOLOVOS, at St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Washington D.C.
SUBDEACON THEODORE BRINEGAR was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Tuesday, March 31, 2009, by His Eminence, the Most Reverend DMITRI, the Archbishop of Dallas and the Diocese of the South, at Saint Seraphim of Sarov Cathedral in Dallas, Texas.
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2008 - 2009 Seminarian Ordinations
SUBDEACON BINU MATHEWS was ordained to the Diaconate on Satruday, April 4, 2009, by His Grace, Metropolitan Mathew Mar BARNABAS and His Grace, Auxiliary Metropolitan Zachariah Mar NICHOLOVOS, at St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Stafford, Texas.
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2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
SEMINARIAN CHRISTOPHER MATHEW was ordained to the Subdiaconate on April 4, 2009, by His Grace, Metropolitan Mathew Mar BARNABAS and His Grace, Auxiliary Metropolitan Zachariah Mar NICHOLOVOS, at St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Stafford, Texas.
2008 - 2009 Seminarian Ordinations
SEMINARY GRADUATE JASON FRANCHAK was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Saturday, April 11, 2009, by His Grace, the Right Reverend TIKHON, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, in the Monastery Church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk in South Canaan.
SEMINARIAN ABEY GEORGE was ordained to the Subdiaconate on April 18, 2009, by His Grace, Metropolitan Mathew Mar BARNABAS and His Grace, Auxiliary Metropolitan Zachariah Mar NICHOLOVOS, at St. Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Church, West Sayville, N.Y.
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Is Our Lord Calling You
To The Holy Priesthood? T
oday, perhaps more than ever, there is a crucial need for dedicated priests to serve Our Lord and His people.
With the many instances of human suffering and human loneliness abounding, not only within our very parishes, but in our communities as well, the need for the dedicated pastor becomes more apparent and ever urgent. “If you will be a servant to this people” (I Kings 12:7), enter St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in order to prepare to be that good pastor, that good shepherd who will “lay down his life for his sheep.” IF YOU HAVE EVER WONDERED WHETHER YOU ARE CALLED TO THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD, WE INVITE YOU TO CONTACT OUR SEMINARY FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS
St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary P.O. Box 130 South Canaan, PA 18459 (570) 937-4411 • www.stots.edu
St. Tikhon’s Mission Choir 2008-2009 MEMBERS OF ST. TIKHON’S MISSION CHOIR Patrick Henre Christopher Maciolek Hermann Klarr Joseph Lucas Joshua Coolman Hieromonk Sergius (Bowyer) Edward Henderson Thaddeus Werner Derek Schmidt Dn. Gregory Thompson Dn. Patrick Burns Nikolai Breckenridge
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FALL 2008 – SPRING 2009 MISSION CHOIR SCHEDULE PROTECTION OF THE MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS MONASTERY WEAVERVILLE, NC
NOVEMBER 22
ST. MICHAEL CHURCH LOUISVILLE, KY
NOVEMBER 23
ST. GEORGE CHURCH TERRE HAUTE, IN
JANUARY 17-18
CATEDRAL DE LA ASCENSION DEL SENOR MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
FEBRUARY 21-22
ST. ANDREW CHURCH BALTIMORE, MD
FEBRUARY 28
HOLY APOSTLES MISSION MECHANICSBURG, PA
MARCH 1
CHRIST THE SAVIOUR CHURCH HARRISBURG, PA
MARCH 7-8
ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH COHOES, NY
MARCH 8
ST. BASIL CHURCH WATERVLIET, NY
MARCH 15
CHRIST THE SAVIOUR CHURCH PARAMUS, NJ
MARCH 15
SS. PETER AND PAUL CHURCH BAYONNE, NJ
MARCH 21-22
ST. ANDREW CHURCH MAPLE HEIGHTS, OH
MARCH 28
ST. THOMAS CHURCH SILVER SPRING, MD
MARCH 29
ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY VIRGIN CHURCH CLIFTON, NJ
APRIL 5
DORMITION OF THE VIRGIN MARY CHURCH BINGHAMTON, NY
APRIL 12
THREE SAINTS CHURCH ANSONIA, CT
APRIL 25-26
ST. GEORGE CHURCH TERRE HAUTE, IN
MAY1-2
ST. SABBAS MONASTERY DETROIT, MI
MAY 2
CHRIST THE SAVIOR CHURCH CHICAGO, IL
MAY 2-3
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH WHEATON, IL
MAY 8
GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH HONESDALE, PA
MAY 9
MUSEUM OF RUSSIAN ICONS CLINTON, MA
MAY 9-10
ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH PITTSFIELD, MA
MAY 17
HOLY TRINITY CHURCH RANDOLPH, NJ
2008 – 2009 ACADEMIC YEAR
OCTOBER 26
St. Tikhon’s Student Life
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St. Tikhon’s Student Life
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St. Tikhon’s Student Life
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S AINT TIKHON’S
O RTHODOX THEOLOGICAL S EMINARY
THE ORTHODOX MONASTERY OF ST. TIKHON OF ZADONSK
S T O T S
St. Tikhon’s Monastery Community
BROTHERHOOD OF ST. TIKHON’S MONASTERY (L to R): , Novice Dimitri (Tsvetkov), Hieromonk Sergius (Bowyer), Novice Nilus (Lerro), Igumen Gregory (Zaiens), Hieromonk Alexander (Mayba), Monk Nicodemus (Kentop), Metropolitan JOHAH, Bishop TIKHON, Riasaphor Monk Michael (Juk), Monk Kyrill. Not pictured: Archimandrite Jerome (Newville), Igumen Gabriel (Nicholas) and Hieromonk Innokenty (Chmerko),
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ST. TIKHON’S MONAS TERY
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St. Tikhon’s Monastery Holds
104th
Annual Pilgrimage
S
the Master of Divinity degree at the festivities. The Vigil Service was celebrated at 4 PM that day in the Monastery church. The high point of the Vigil was when representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church On Saturday, the Hierarchical Outside of Russia, Hieromonk Divine Liturgy was celebrated Nikolai and Reader Isaac, brought at 9:00 AM. That afternoon the wonder-working Kursk-Root at 2:00 PM, the 66th Annual Icon into the Monastery church. Commencement of St. Tikhon’s On Sunday, May 25, the Seminary took place in the school auditorium. His Eminence, Arch Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was bishop SERAPHIM of Ottawa and concelebrated by Metropolitan Canada delivered the commence- Herman, Archbishop Seraphim, His Beatitude, Metropolitan ment address, as fifteen St. Tikhon’s Bishop Tikhon, who delivered the HERMAN, Primate of the Seminary graduates were awarded homily, and His Grace, Bishop Orthodox Church in America, presided at the four-day celebration. Over the course of the Pilgrimage, he was joined by His Grace, Bishop TIKHON of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, and several hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America and the Moscow Patriarchate. even hierarchs, scores of clergy and thousands of faithful from across the country gathered in South Canaan, Pa., over the Memorial Day weekend of 2008 for the 104th Annual Pilgrimage to St. Tikhon’s Monastery. The highlight of this year’s pilgrimage to North America’s first Orthodox monastery was the presence of the relics and miraculous icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the wonder-worker of Russia, and the Wonder-Working KurskRoot Icon.
The Pilgrimage formally opened at 4:00 PM, on Friday, May 23, with a Procession welcoming the relics and icon to the Monastery grounds. 106
Vespers and Matins were celebrated in the Monastery church, followed by a procession around the temple, the Akathist to St. Seraphim and the veneration of his relics.
The choir for Monday’s Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was directed by the Rev. Fr. David Cowan of All Saints Church in Olyphant, Pa.
His Grace, the Right Reverend BENJAMIN, delivers the homily.
BENJAMIN of San Francisco and the West. Vespers and Matins were served at 4:00 PM, after which a Grand Banquet honoring the members of the 2008 graduating class was held at the Genetti Manor in Dickson City, Pa.
Metropolitan Herman, His Eminence Archbishop JOB of Chicago and the Midwest, Archbishop Seraphim, His Grace Bishop NIKON of Boston, New England and the Albanian Archdiocese, Bishop Tikhon, Bishop Benjamin, who delivered the sermon, and His Grace, Bishop MERCURIUS of Zaraisk, the Administrator of the Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in the USA. After the Divine Liturgy, a Memorial Service was celebrated for all the departed hierarchs, clergy and faithful at the gravesite of Metropolitan LEONTY of blessed memory.
Memorial Day itself was the culmination of the four-day Monastery Pilgrimage. Monday began with an early Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by the ordained clergy of this year’s graduating class, in the Monastery church at 7:30 AM. The traditional Pilgrims’ Procession to the Monastery and the greeting of the Primate and the concelebrating hierarchs began at 9:15 AM, At 2:00 PM, the Service of followed by the Hierarchical Divine Intercession before the WonderLiturgy in the pavilion. Working Kursk-Root Icon, with the The Hierarchical Divine anointing of the sick, infirm and all Liturgy was concelebrated by pilgrims, was celebrated in front of
the Monastery’s icon repository. The homily for this healing service was offered by Fr. Michael G. Dahulich, the Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary. The Pilgrimage officially concluded with the celebration of Vespers and Matins in the Monastery church at 4:00 PM on Monday. Throughout the weekend, the Wonder-Working Kursk-Root Icon and relics and icon of St. Seraphim were venerated by thousands of pilgrims. The Monastery community is grateful to all the hierarchs, clergy and faithful who flocked to St. Tikhon’s hallowed grounds once again this year for worship, fellowship and retreat. May God grant all pilgrims His blessings and enable us all to gather once again next year at the sacred Center of Orthodoxy in South Canaan.
ST. TIKHON’S MONAS TERY
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Departed Monastics of St. Tikhon’s Monastery Metropolitan IRENEY Metropolitan MAKARY Metropolitan VLADIMIR Metropolitan ALEXANDER Metropolitan THEOPHAN Metropolitan THEOPHILUS Metropolitan PLATON Metropolitan LEONTY Archbishop PALLADIUS Archbishop BENJAMIN Archbishop KIPRIAN Archbishop ARSENY Archbishop JERONIM Archbishop NIKON Archbishop DIONYSIUS Archbishop JOHN Archbishop SYLVESTER Archbishop ANATOLY Archbishop APPOLINARY Archbishop DIMITRY Archbishop VITALY Archbishop AMVROSSY Archbishop EVDOKIM Archbishop ALEXIS Archbishop ADAM Archbishop ANTONIN Archbishop INNOCENT Archbishop SERAPHIM Archbishop JOHN Archbishop JOASAPH Archbishop VLADIMIR Archbishop PHILLIP Archbishop VALERIAN Archbishop TIKHON Archbishop NICHOLAS Bishop EMMANUEL Bishop JOASAPH Bishop ANATOLY Bishop JOASAPH Bishop AGATHANGEL Bishop JOSE Bishop STEPHEN Bishop PAUL
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Bishop BORIS Bishop STEPHEN Bishop VJACHESLAV Bishop PETER Bishop JOHN Bishop POLICARP Bishop PAUL Bishop BASIL Bishop MARK Bishop PETER Bishop JONAH Bishop ANTHONY Bishop AMPHILOKY Bishop ANTHONY Bishop NESTOR Bishop JOHN
Hegumen Varsonofy (Stephanov) Hegumen Mavriky Hegumen Nicholas (Shambura) Hegumen Roman (Serdynski) Hegumen Gamaliel (Allman) Hegumen Gennady (Eykalovich)
Archimandrite Anthony (Repella) Archimandrite Luke (Sirkun) Archimandrite Andronik (Elpedinsky) Archimandrite Varnava Archimandrite Inna Archimandrite Ioanniky (Kraskoff) Archimandrite Peter Archimandrite Seraphim (Oblivantsev) Archimandrite Nikifor (Kapitanchuk) Archimandrite Vasily (Philipoff) Archimandrite Sebastian (Gyza) Archimandrite Hilary (Madison) Hegumen Kiprian (Chupek) Hegumen Hierotheos (Lucik) Hegumen Laza Hegumen Anastasii Hegumen John (Morozoff) Hegumen Rodion Hegumen Prokopy Hegumen Pachomy (Deliman)
Hierodeacon Constantine (Shwed)
Hieromonk Tikhon (Rostovsky) Hieromonk Alexander Hieromonk Michael Hieromonk Nifont Hieromonk Paisii Hieromonk Jacob Hieromonk Myron
Monk Mitrophan Monk Naum (Sepciuk) Monk Sergei (Udics) Monk Anthony (Duchaine) Novice Phillip
May Their Memory Be Eternal!
Vyechnaya Pamyat!
S AINT TIKHON’S
O RTHODOX THEOLOGICAL S EMINARY
BENEFACTORS
AND SUPPORTERS
S T O T S
St. Tikhon's Seminary Scholarships Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese of America Scholarship Anonymous Donors Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America Scholarship Plinio and Matilde Atena Memorial Scholarship Nicholas and Pearl Berezniak Scholarship Teresa Dobrowolska Bratic Memorial Scholarship Endowment Radovan Bratic Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fr. George Burdikoff Scholarship Bushallow Family Scholarship Foma Filipovich Pushka Bushallow Memorial Scholarship Betty Jo Chernay Memorial Scholarship Paul Chernay Scholarship Theodore and Dorothea Cimos Scholarship Norman and Janet Cross Scholarship Katherine DeLarm Scholarship Very Rev. Daniel Donovan Memorial Scholarship Very Rev. Michael & Mat. Anna Dziama and Son Peter Scholarship Dr. George J. Farha Scholarship Theodore and Elizabeth Fedora Scholarship Fr. Alexander Fedoronko Memorial Scholarship Fr. Richard and Mat. Cassiane Flom Scholarship Franklin Homeowners Assurance Company Scholarship Endowment Mary B. Fritz Scholarship George and Elie Haddad Scholarship George Hasenecz Memorial Scholarship George and Elaine Heider Scholarship Fr. Paul Holoviak Memorial Scholarship Christine Hotrovich Memorial Scholarship John and Mary Ann Hrywnak Scholarship Archpriest Michael Hutnyan Memorial Scholarship Jobby and Suja Jacob Scholarship David Jarrett Scholarship Laura Jones Scholarship Anthony Jubinsky Memorial Scholarship Stephen and Anna Kopestonsky Scholarship Jim Kopoulos Memorial Scholarship Dr. Nicholas Kostich Memorial Scholarship Archpriest Stephen Karaffa Memorial Scholarship Kotzer Karpato-Russ Scholarship The Ivan V. Koulaieff Educational Trust Fund Scholarship John and Helen Kowansky Scholarship George and Mary Lescisin Scholarship Stevens and Carolyn Mafrige Scholarship Matushka Karen Mahaffey Memorial Scholarship Joseph and Anna Martin Memorial Scholarship John and Margaret Morris Scholarship Mutual Fire Foundation Scholarship Mutual Fire, Marine and Inland Insurance Company Scholarship Endowment Stefan and Barbara Nafranowicz Scholarship 110
BENEFACTORS AND SUPPORTERS
Alla Nakonetschny Memorial Scholarship Archpriest Michael Nakonetschny Memorial Scholarship Archpriest John and Matushka Eugenia Nehrebecki Scholarship Elsie Skvir Nierle Scholarship OCA Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania Scholarship OCA Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania Scholarship OCA Diocese of New England Scholarship OCA Diocese of Washington and New York Scholarship Mary Opalak Scholarship Dr. Behzad and Barbara Parhizgar Scholarship Lydia Pelitsch Scholarship Peter and Margaret Pilip Scholarship Raymond and Mary Pisaneschi Memorial Scholarship Protopresbyter Joseph Pishtey Memorial Scholarship Fr. Basil Prisacarou Memorial Scholarship Peter and Sue Radakovich Scholarship Robert Roth Scholarship The Russian Orthodox Theological Fund Scholarship The David Sawaged Family Scholarship Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America Scholarship Father Roman (Serdynski) Memorial Scholarship Archpriest Andrew Shuga Memorial Scholarship Mary Skvir Memorial Scholarship Smerznak, Medak and Kidwell Scholarship Helen Sobolowski Memorial Scholarship Very Rev. John and Khouria Elizabeth Sommer Scholarship Archpriest Pavel Soucek Memorial Scholarship Patrick and Judy Stanley Scholarship Mr. and Mrs. Steve Stolaruk Scholarship Kory Warr Scholarship William and Maria Witiak Memorial Scholarship Endowment Christ the Saviour Church Scholarship (Harrisburg, Pa.) Christ the Saviour Church Scholarship (Paramus, N.J.) Holy Ascension Church Scholarship (Frackville, Pa.) Holy Cross Church Scholarship (Williamsport, Pa.) Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos Monastery Scholarship (Weaverville, N.C.) St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Scholarship (Allison Park, Pa.) St. Andrew Church Scholarship (Baltimore, Md.) St. Elijah Church Scholarship (Oklahoma City, Ok.) St. George Cathedral Scholarship (Charleston, W.Va.) St. George Church Scholarship (Houston, Tex.) St. John the Evangelist Church Scholarship (Memphis, Tenn.) St. Mary Church Scholarship (Coaldale, Pa.) St. Michael Church Scholarship (Jermyn, Pa.) St. Michael Church Scholarship (Broadview Heights, Oh.) St. Michael Church Scholarship (Old Forge, Pa.) St. Nicholas Church Scholarship (Pittsfield, Mass.) St. Paul Church Scholarship (Houston, Tex.) SS. Peter and Paul Church Scholarship (East Herkimer, N.Y.) St. Thomas Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Scholarship (Washington, D.C.) 111
Benefactors and Scholarship Sponsors Michael and Arlene Pasonick, co-chairmen of the St. Alexis Foundation, spearheaded the raising of nearly $100,000 for the Seminary this year, half of which was their own donation. They are shown presenting the contribution to the Seminary Rector, Bishop TIKHON.
For the second consecutive year, Holy Cross Church in Williamsport has “adopted” Deacon Joel Weir with a full $6,000 per academic year scholarship. Pictured with Deacon Joel is the rector of the Williamsport parish, the Very Rev. Archpriest Daniel Kovalak, a member of the Seminary faculty.
Among the newest members of the “Adopt-aSeminarian” Scholarship Program Honor Roll is St. Paul’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Houston. Faithful of the new Western Rite parish offered more than $10,000 in donations. Fr. Richard Petranek is pastor of St. Paul’s.
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Benefactors and Scholarship Sponsors Dr. Behzad and Barbara Parhizgar, members of St. Nicholas Church in Pittsfield, Mass., established a $6,000 “Adopt-a-Seminarian” Scholarship in their name. Mrs. Parhizgar is pictured with the St. Tikhon's Mission Choir and St. Nicholas pastor, Fr. Barnabas Fravel.
Members of the Women’s Association of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Allison Park, Pa., raised $6,000 as a full scholarship for a seminarian. Very Rev. Archpriest Paul Suda, Dean of the Cathedral, is pictured with the group.
BENEFACTORS AND SUPPORTERS
A member of St. Tikhon’s Monastery church and Volunteer Librarian Assistant at the Seminary, Robert Roth has donated a $6,000 “Adopt-aSeminarian” Scholarship this past academic year. The recipient of the award is first-year student Zachary Lynch, shown with his family and Mr. Roth.
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Benefactors and Scholarship Sponsors Parishioners of St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Church in Oklahoma City offered nearly $25,000 in scholarship assistance to St. Tikhon’s seminarians. Donors are shown with their pastor, Very Rev. Economos Constantine Nasr.
Thanking the faithful of Christ the Saviour Church in Harrisburg for their continued support of the “Adopt-a-Seminarian” Program is their pastor, Fr. Stephen Vernak. Recipient of the $6,000 full academic year scholarship is Aleksei Schmidt, a second-year M.Div. student from Pittsburgh.
Very Rev. Michael G. Dahulich, Ph.D., Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary receives a check for $6,000 from Very Rev. John Kowalczyk and Kay Fiderko, treasurer of St. Michael’s Church in Jermyn, Pa. The recipient of the scholarship is parish vocation, graduating senior Vasily Dubee.
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“Adopt a Seminarian” – St. Tikhon’s Scholarship Program St. Tikhon’s Seminary is a theological graduate school whose primary purpose is to spiritually form and theologically educate the future deacons, priests, and bishops of the Orthodox Church in this country. Located in South Canaan, Pennsylvania (northeast of Scranton), the Seminary presently has a record enrollment of 117 students, from every ethnic jurisdiction in North America and various national churches throughout the world. The Seminary is attached to St. Tikhon’s Monastery, the oldest Orthodox monastic community in North America. Founded more than 100 years ago by thenArchbishop of North America, St. Tikhon of Moscow, and blessed by then-Bishop, St. Raphael of Brooklyn, the Monastery gave birth to the Seminary as a pastoral school to help educate priests for the missionary diocese of America (rather than pull monks out of the Monastery to serve in various parishes). The Seminary’s relationship to the Monastery remains its single greatest asset. The Monastery provides the seminarians with the ability to attend and participate in the full cycle of divine services every day, and affords each student the opportunity to have a monastic as his spiritual father-confessor. Students who choose to attend St. Tikhon’s cite the Seminary-Monastery relationship as the most important reason for coming, and those who graduate look back and say the Monastery was the most important influence in Seminary life. No other Orthodox graduate seminary in the United States has this benefit in forming pastors.
A parish or organization may offer an annual scholarship as a community project: for example, 20 persons donating $25 a month (or $300 per year) to equal a full $6,000 scholarship; or 10 persons donating $25 a month (or $300 per year) as a semester scholarship of $3,000. Once a scholarship donation has been received by the Seminary, it is awarded to an academically deserving student who is in financial need. The school notifies the donor – the individual, parish or organization – of the name of the recipient and sends them a biography and photograph of him (and his family). The student then stays in communication with the donor, not only thanking the benefactor for the scholarship but also apprising them of his progress in his studies towards Ordination. The Seminary further encourages the student and donor to meet in person. To date, eight parishes lead the “honor roll” in giving full scholarships each year: Christ the Saviour Church, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Holy Ascension Church, Frackville, Pennsylvania Holy Cross Church, Williamsport, Pennsylvania Protection of the Theotokos Monastery, Weaverville, North Carolina St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Allison Park, Pennsylvania St. Elijah Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma St. Michael Church, Broadview Heights, Ohio
St. Michael Church, Jermyn, Pennsylvania In addition, eleven other parishes are donors of partial, one-semester scholarships: Christ the Saviour Church in Paramus, N.J.; St. Andrew Church in Baltimore, Md.; St. George Cathedral in Charleston, W.Va.; St. George Church in Houston, Tex.; St. John the Evangelist Church in Memphis, Tenn.; St. Mary Church in Coaldale, Pa.; St. Michael Church in Old Forge, Pa.; St. Nicholas Church in Pittsfield, Mass.; St. Paul Church in Houston, Tex.; SS. Peter and Paul Church in East Herkimer, N.Y.; and St. Thomas Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in Washington, D.C. Nearly 80 individuals or organizations also offer either a full or partial scholarship. A Seminary scholarship is an investment in the future of Christ’s Church. While the amount of the donation will not accrue interest for the individual or parish, something far greater is its benefit: You will have a future priest praying for you every day of his Seminary career, thanking God for your donation; and someday, when he stands at the Holy Altar as a priest, you will be remembered at every Liturgy he offers to Christ. Your gift will also be a fulfillment of the words of the Scripture, spoken by the Holy Apostle St. Paul: “In all things I have shown you that while working hard one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts of the Apostles 20:35). Seminary scholarship donations should be made payable to St. Tikhon’s Seminary with a note designating the name of the scholarship, and mailed to the following address: Saint Tikhon’s Seminary c/o Fr. Michael Dahulich Post Office Box 130 South Canaan, PA 18459 Thank you for your consideration of this appeal, and may God bless and keep you in His loving care.
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BENEFACTORS AND SPONSORS
The majority of students at St. Tikhon’s are married and live off campus, because as yet there is no married student housing; many of them have children. Neither they nor the single students who live in the dormitory are able to work because of the fulltime course load, the hours of Church services they are required to attend, and the extra time needed for after-school study. Therefore, many of the students who do not have income saved in advance are not in a position to pay their tuition and other costs and are unable to seek employment to fund such expenses. Thus, the school seeks for these students scholarships that are subsidized by parish churches and benefactors.
The cost of a full scholarship is $6,000 a year. The cost of a scholarship for a single semester is $3,000, and scholarships can be given in smaller increments as well. Scholarships may be given by parishes – in the parish’s name (for example, Christ the Saviour Church, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Scholarship) – or by individuals, in their own name, in the name of members of their family, or in Loving Memory of family members or friends who have fallen asleep in the Lord.
ST. TIKHON'S CENTURY ASSOCIATION St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary South Canaan, Pennsylvania 18459 (570) 937-4411 Vice President Mary Sernak Treasurer Maria Proch
His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH, Honorary President His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, Honorary President Very Reverend Joseph Martin, Spiritual Advisor Sarah B. Jubinski, President
Secretary Mat. Gloria Martin Financial Secretary Mat. Dorothy Sulich
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SPIRITUAL FUTURE? Join St. Tikhon's Century Association Today and Protect our Inheritance! Thirty-eight years ago, a group of dedicated Orthodox Christians formed the Century Association to ensure the best possible future for St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary. The primary purpose of the Association is to provide spiritual support and financial assistance for the educational programs offered by the Seminary. Through annual membership contributions, donations, and fund raising projects such as the Winter Festival, the Association has contributed thousands of dollars to the Seminary. This funding allows the Seminary to continue to provide the highest quality of theological education and spiritual formation to men who are preparing for Ordination to the Holy Priesthood. St. Tikhon's graduates serve the spiritual needs of Orthodox faithful throughout the world. Alumni also serve the Church in educational and musical positions and help strengthen the bonds of Orthodox fellowship. Please join the members of the Century Association as we continue in our dedication to protect the sacred and holy work of the Seminary. Joining the Century Association confirms your love of God and His Holy Orthodox Church and your sincere interest in strengthening our Faith for future generations. Our children, their children, and the generations to follow are depending upon us.
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THE SOCIETY OF THE F R I E N D S O F S T. T I K H O N ’ S P.O. Box 130
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South Canaan, PA 18459
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(570) 937-4411
His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH, Honorary President His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, Honorary President Very Rev. Daniel K. Donlick, Spiritual Advisor John W. Paluch, President Protodeacon Gabriel Petorak, Vice-President Mrs. Alice Boga, Secretary
Matushka Dorothy Sulich, Financial Secretary Reader Thomas Donlick, Treasurer Charles Yacovelli, Auditor
For 40 years, The Society of the Friends of St. Tikhon’s has labored to fulfil its sole purpose: the offering of spiritual and financial support to the communities of St. Tikhon’s Monastery and St. Tikhon’s Seminary Through the decades, thousands of pious Orthodox Christians – clergy and laypersons alike – have offered their fervent prayers, their time and talents and financial gifts, for the benefit of St. Tikhon’s Seminary. Their generous contributions and numerous “labors of love” have resulted in more than one million dollars in support for our center for theological education and spiritual enrichment in South Canaan, Pennsylvania. The members of the Society remain undaunted in their commitment, inspired and encouraged by the words of our Father among the Saints, John Chrysostom, the golden-mouthed Archbishop of Constantinople: “For in nothing do we draw so close to God as in doing good to man.” They have achieved great things for our Seminary and Monastery by loving and caring, giving and sharing on behalf of others, and in the name of Christ. Much still needs to be accomplished at our Center of Orthodoxy in South Canaan. We need your prayers, your talents, and your support. Won’t you please consider becoming a member of The Society of the Friends of St. Tikhon’s?
Annual Membership $20.00 Name __________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________ City _______________________________ State ____________ Zip ___________
For further information or correspondence contact:
T h e S o c i e t y o f F r i e n d s o f S t . Ti k h o n ’s St. Tikhon’s Rd. P.O. Box 130 South Canaan, Pennsylvania 18459-0130 Phone: (570) 937-4411
Memory Eternal! Grant rest eternal in blessed repose, O Lord, to Thy servants, the departed members of the Society of the Friends of St. Tikhon’s who have fallen asleep, and make their memory to be eternal!
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Многая Лета!
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(888) 454-6678
www.stspress.com
St. Tikhon’s Bookstore has a display area of approximately 7000 sq. feet. We offer a full line of custom made items including vestments, icons, church furnishings and bells at competitive prices. The Bookstore is operated for the benefit of the Seminary and Monastery. It offers its services to students, priests, parishes and visitors. The Bookstore has an excellent assortment of Orthodox and other Christian publications, CDs, audio and video tapes and various other items from all over the world.
SING PRAISES TO OUR GOD A Selection of Orthodox Liturgical Hymns
A New CD Recording by the Male Choir of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary THE FIRST STUDENT CHOIR RECORDING FROM ST. TIKHON’S IN A DECADE! Available from St. Tikhon’s Bookstore
CREDITS
Published with the blessing of His Beatitude, The Most Blessed Metropolitan JONAH, President and His Grace, The Right Reverend Bishop TIKHON, Rector
Tikhonaire Staff Very Rev. Michael G. Dahulich, Ph.D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Senior Editor Rev. Fr. David Cowan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Editor Rev. Fr. John Soucek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Art Director, Design and Layout Editor Innocent Neal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Design and Layout Editor Rev. Dn. Joel Weir, John Malcom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Student Editors Joshua Coolman, Michael Habib, Joseph Hazar, Abraham Labrada-Santiago, Martin Paluch, George Sharonoff . . . . . . . . . . . . .Photographers Matushka Dorothy Sulich, Mary Sernak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising Special thanks to those who contributed photographs for use in this publication.
~ GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS! ~ © 2009 St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
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105th Annual Pilgrimage Schedule St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Orthodox Monastery South Canaan, Pennsylvania
100th Anniversary of the Repose of St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre
May 22 – 25, 2009 The Brotherhood of St. Tikhon’s Monastery invites all to gather with our beloved Hierarchs, Clergy, and faithful Orthodox Christians for prayers and spiritual renewal at America’s oldest Orthodox Monastery.
Friday, May 22nd, 2009 3:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m.
Greeting of the Sitka Icon of the Mother of God – Blessing of the Well – and the Official Opening of the 105th Pilgrimage Vespers and Matins – Monastery Church Akathist to the Miraculous Sitka Icon of the Mother of God Meal in the Monastery Trapeza for all Pilgrims
Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 9:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
Hierarchical Divine Liturgy – Monastery Church Meal in the Monastery Trapeza for all Pilgrims 67th Annual Academic Commencement of St. Tikhon's Theological Seminary Commencement Speaker: Metropolitan Jonah, Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada Resurrection Vigil – Monastery Church Meal in the Monastery Trapeza for all Pilgrims
Sunday, May 24th, 2009 9:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m.
Hierarchical Divine Liturgy – Monastery Church Meal in the Monastery Trapeza for all Pilgrims Vespers and Matins – Monastery Church* Meal in the Monastery Trapeza Grand Banquet – Genetti Convention Center, Dickson City
Monday, May 25th, 2009 7:30 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
Divine Liturgy – Monastery Church* Young Adults’ Procession from Diocesan Center to Pavilion for Liturgy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy – Pavilion Akathist to St. Alexis – Monastery Church Molieben to the Most Holy Theotokos and Anointing of the Sick, Infirm and of all Pilgrims – Monastery Bell Tower Vespers and Matins – Monastery Church *Priests will be available during services for private confession at these times.
St. Tikhon’s Monastery and Seminary A Center of Orthodoxy
LEGEND 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.
Monastery Church of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery Dormitory Monastery Dining Hall (Trapeza) Garage St. Seraphim of Sarov Shrine Monastery Well Chapel Comfort Facilities Metropolitan THEODOSIUS Museum (Top level) & St. Tikhon’s Bookstore (Bottom level) Fr. Maumovich Memorial Pilgrims Shrine Fr. Nahum’s Chapel Old Bookstore (Original Seminary Library) Bell Tower and Icon Repository/Museum Metropolitan LEONTY’s Tomb Original Fr. Toth’s (St. Alexis) Tomb All Saints of America Shrine Metropolitan PLATON’s Chapel Monastery Mausoleum
19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34.
St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary Faculty Residence Pavilion St. John the Divine Chapel Metropolitan LEONTY Dormitory Christ the High Priest Shrine Millennium of Baptism of Rus Shrine St. Nicholas Shrine SS. Cyril and Methodius Shrine Memorial to the Departed Members of the Russian Catholic Mutual Aid Society St. Peter Walking on the Water Shrine Christ and the Little Children Shrine Christ Enthroned Shrine Christ and the Pilgrims Shrine Millennium Bell Tower Maintenance Building