Seminary graduations

It's the time for graduations. Below is a potpourri of photos and stories from seminaries in the US. I expect other seminaries to put out news articles this week and next - I'll post them as they become available.

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Bishop Joseph of Los Angeles receives an honorary doctorate from St. Tikhon's

(A-DOLW) - Much to the surprise of His Grace, Bishop JOSEPH, the faculty, trustees and students of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary bestowed on Sayidna the Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa. In a gesture of brotherly love in Jesus Christ, His Grace, Bishop MICHAEL (outgoing seminary dean and now Bishop of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, Orthodox Church in America) personally announced the award, recognizing Sayidna’s lifelong efforts to spread the Holy Gospel everywhere he has lived and shepherded. The honorary doctorate described Sayidna as a “loyal son of Antioch and devoted father in North America, illumined educator and patient shepherd, inspiring churchman and loving archpastor.” You can read the entire citation here.

Sayidna then had the honor and distinct pleasure of addressing the graduating class of 2010, their families and friends at the 68th Commencement exercises at St. Tikhon’s. At this institute of spiritual learning and refinement, Sayidna’s message centered on knowledge, but not the secular type that traps us in this world and deprives us from the life to come. Sayidna reminded the gathering that “the Theologian is one who prays.” His Grace’s message often cited that pillar of spiritual knowledge, the ecumenical teacher St. Basil the Great. Though this archbishop of Caesarea did not abhor secular learning, Sayidna quoted him as saying “the arrogance of philosophy has nothing in common with humility.”

His Grace reminded the graduates that this seminary experience must allow them to “incarnate the Faith into the language and ethos of our contemporaries through our own holy practice. We must study to speak effectively from such a holy life; but we must heed St. Gregory Palamas as we do so, lest we become ‘captive to vain philosophy.’ We must be conversant in the issues at stake today. However, we must remember to lead our hearers and followers away from these ‘mirrors and shadows’ into the Substance itself, our Faith.” Sayidna closed his commencement address by reminding the graduates who have studied the priesthood to live as priests, and cultivate their experience with the help of their bishop, senior clergy and laity who are diligent in their ministries, and emulate them.

Prior to his address, Sayidna presented Diocesan graduate Rev. Fr. John Christiansen with his degree, the Master of Divinity (M.Div) degree. Sayidna will remain at the seminary through Monday, when he will take part in the 106th annual St. Tikhon’s Seminary Memorial Day Pilgrimage.

Eastern and Oriental Orthodox graduates of St. Tikhon's

(OCA) - Many Orthodox Hierarchs, clergy and faithful gathered in South Canaan, PA on the weekend of May 28-31 to take part in the 106th Annual St. Tikhon of Zadosnk Orthodox Monastery Memorial Day Pilgrimage.

The beloved weekend of traditions officially began on Friday afternoon when His Grace, Bishop TIKHON of Philadelphia celebrated the Blessing of Waters at the monastery well. This was followed by the daily celebration of Vespers, and a public meal provided by Igumen Sergius and the monastery brotherhood.

On Saturday, May 29 Bishop TIKHON was joined by His Grace, Bishop ALEJO of Mexico City and His Grace, Bishop MICHAEL in the concelebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Monastery church. Bishop TIKHON ordained Deacon Benjamin Tucci to the Holy Priesthood during the divine service.

Following hospitality offered by the monastery brotherhood, Igumen Sergius and many pilgrims welcomed the Miraculous and Myrrh-Streaming Hawaii Iveron Icon of the Mother of God to the pilgrimage. Those who were blessed to be present at the greeting of this Icon were able to venerate and receive some of the precious myrrh which flows forth in abundance from this sacred image of the Mother of God. The icon was on display for veneration in the Monastery church throughout the pilgrimage weekend.

At 2pm on Saturday, His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH, President of St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, officially opened the the school's 68th Annual Commencement Exercises. More than 30 degrees were conferred on a graduating class which included many newly ordained priests and deacons representing numerous diocese across four jurisdictions. Of the degrees awarded, most notable was that of the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, awarded to His Grace, Bishop JOSEPH of Los Angeles and the West of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America by the Faculty and Board of Trustees of St Tikhon's. His Grace, the commencement speaker for this year's graduation, went on to exhort the class with profound words concerning the pursuit of true Theology as that which is rooted in a life of prayer. The graduating class also heard from the seminary's Rector, His Grace, Bishop TIKHON, and the seminary's Dean, His Grace Bishop MICHAEL. The commencement ceremonies were followed by the Resurrectional Vigil in the monastery church.

On Sunday morning, on the Feast of All Saints and in the presence of the Miraculous and Myrrh-Streaming Hawaii Icon of the Mother of God, His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH was joined by brother hierarchs and clergy in celebrating the Divine Liturgy at the monastery church. Concelebrating with His Beatitude were His Grace TIKHON, His Grace ALEJO, and His Grace MICHAEL. Also joining His Beatitude were Igumen Sergius, OCA Chancellor Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, and clergy from throughout the country.

That evening, at a banquet hosted in honor of the newly graduated seminarians, those present were again blessed to hear from their beloved hierarchs. Though remarks were directed specifically at those students who, having graduated, are now preparing go out in to the world to serve the Church and Its faithful, all who were in attendance were greatly moved by the vision of transformation which was the common thread in the evening's remarks. Throughout the course of the evening, extremely generous donations were given to both the Seminary and the Monastery by the St. Alexis Foundation, the St. Tikhon's Centennial Association, and the St. Tikhon's Alumni Association.

Graduations at St. Vladimir's

(SVOTS) - With jubilant ceremony, thirty St. Vladimir’s seminarians received their diplomas at Commencement on Saturday, May 22, amid a throng of family, friends, and fellow classmates. Eager, hopeful, and grateful, the Class of 2010—among them 12 priests—celebrated the end of their formal studies and the beginning of a variety of ministries in service to the Orthodox Church in North America and abroad. Fr. Andrew Cuneo, class valedictorian, left his fellow students with a word of wisdom: "As a departing class, we pray for nothing less for you than contact with the living God, the living saints, the fire which descends and warms the heart in chapel and classroom alike."

Highlights of the joyful day included:

• The bestowal of two honorary doctorate degrees, upon His Grace, The Right Rev. Basil (Essey), bishop of the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America), and upon Mr. Albert Foundos, a member of the seminary’s Board of Trustees
• The bestowal upon the graduating class of 17 Master of Divinity degrees, 7 Master of Arts degrees, and 6 Master of Theology degrees
• The Commencement address by Mr. Albert Foundos, “Where My Treasure Is”
• The Valedictory address by graduate Fr. Andrew Cuneo, and the Salutatory address by seminarian Michael Soroka
• The bestowal of the St. Basil Award for Academic Achievement upon graduates Fr. Andrew Cuneo, Christopher Evan McGarvey, and Fr. Theophan Whitfield
• The ordination of graduate Fr. Simeon B. Johnson to the Holy Priesthood, and the ordination of seminarian Dn. Dunstan Lyon to the Holy Diaconate
• A meditation on seminary life conducted by graduate Fr. Theophan Whitfield, for the benefit of the Board of Trustees

Please view our gallery of Commencement 2010 photos, by Robert Lisak, and see more photos by becoming a Fan of the St. Vladimir's Seminary Facebook page.