Metropolitan Tikhon encourages St. Vladimir’s graduates to be “watchful servants”

YONKERS, NY [SVOTS Communications/Virginia H. Nieuwsma]

21/5/13

Seventeen graduates from Saint Vladimir’s Seminary are now being sent out as priests, deacons, and lay ministers in service to the Church. At Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 18, 2013, the seminary awarded diplomas in three programs: one Master of Theology, eight Masters of Divinity, and eight Masters of Arts degrees. Graduates represented a broad range of ecclesial jurisdictions and included both Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christians; four priests and one deacon were among the graduates.

Additionally, the Board of Trustees awarded three accomplished Orthodox Christians honorary degrees. Doctorates of Humane Letters honoris causa were bestowed upon Seminary Trustees Brian Gerich and Ann Glynn Mackoul, and upon Mother Inez Ayau Garcia, Abbess of Hogar Rafael Ayau, an Orthodox Christian orphanage in Guatemala.

Commencement crowned the week’s celebrations, which also included the annual Board of Trustees meeting, a Trustee–Student dinner on Thursday evening, and a Friday Trustees dinner with staff and faculty.

On Saturday morning, May 18, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America and President of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, and His Grace, Bishop Nicholas, Auxiliary Bishop for Brooklyn of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, concelebrated the Divine Liturgy, during which second–year seminarian and Commencement Salutatorian Nicholas Roth was ordained to the Holy Diaconate. Metropolitan Tikhon also presided at the afternoon Service of Supplication in the campus Chapel of the Three Hierarchs before joining the faculty, staff, graduates, and visitors for commencement ceremonies. Board of Trustee His Eminence, Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also attended the Service of Supplication and participated in the graduation exercises.The Rev. Dr. Sarah Fogg delivered the Commencement Address. Director of Pastoral Care at Saint John’s Riverside Hospital, Yonkers, NY, Dr. Fogg has supervised dozens of Saint Vladimir students in their hospital visitation and chaplaincy training. Dr. Fogg recalled her personal relationships with seminarians, saying, “As you came for training, I engaged with you in preparing you for pastoral visits. I learned more what hands on pastoral ministry is, as I challenged you with what God has for you. Thank you for seeking me out.”

Metropolitan Tikhon, who in addition to serving as the seminary’s President chairs its Board of Trustees, opened the Commencement Exercises and conferred degrees upon the graduates. In his closing remarks, he encouraged the senior class to remember to be watchful. “Watchfulness will help you preserve all the virtues you have acquired as you go forward into the world. Watch with your heart and do not simply look. Watch your pastors. Watch your flocks. Watch your neighbors. Watch your enemies. Why? So that you might see Christ in others. May God strengthen and bless all of you. May He inspire all of you to take what you have received here, to go out into the world as watchful servants.”

The Valedictorian and Salutatorian were selected by the faculty on the basis of their excellent performance in all aspects of seminary life, including academic work, participation in chapel services, and completion of community service assignments. Class Valedictorian Harrison Russin, who served as Student Ecclesiarch from 2011 through 2013, also earned a commendation for community service. Harrison was awarded the Saint Basil the Great Award for high academic achievement twice during his years at Saint Vladimir’s, and is a gifted musician who sang with the SVOTS Octet all three years. His thesis was titled “The Iconology of Fr. Sergius Bulgakov.” Harrison will begin a Ph.D. program in the fall of 2013 at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, studying in the field of musicology.

“Commencement isn’t the end, it is the beginning,” noted Harrison in his address. “The best analogy for me is to compare this time to Great Lent. Seminary has been a process of death to self, and struggle. Seminary has not been easy—yet today is our Pascha.”

Newly ordained second–year seminarian Deacon Nicholas Roth was Salutatorian. “As you leave today, you join the ranks of those who have come before you,” Deacon Nicholas said. “Our alumni build up Orthodox communities, teach  the Orthodox faith, care for those in need. In your time here you started student organizations, gave back to the community, and worked to teach the Orthodox faith to all who would listen. Today we celebrate all you have done and we look to see more of what you do in the future.”

This year for the first time, the Student Council presented a new award to a faculty member. Decided by student vote, the Saint Macrina the Great Award recognizes the dedication and achievements of a seminary professor. In its inaugural year, outgoing Student Council President Priest James Parnell presented the award to Archpriest Dr. Alexander Rentel, Assistant Professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies and the John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology. Anna Margheritino, wife of Seminarian Sandro Margheritino, was commissioned to paint two icons for the Saint Macrina Award; one will be continually displayed on campus, and each year, another will be presented to the Award recipient.

Archpriest Dr. John Behr, Dean, and Archpriest Dr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO, congratulated and encouraged the graduates as well. “As we said at the Liturgy this morning: ‘Axios Axios Axios!’” exclaimed Father John. “Friends, as you depart from here, never forget the words that Christ said: ‘You did not choose me, but I choose you and appointed you that you should bear fruit.’”

President of the Alumni Association Board Gregory Abdalah presented each graduate with a cherry wood frame to display their diplomas, and welcomed them to the Saint Vladimir’s Alumni Association. “You join over 2000 alumni spread over 20 countries on six continents,” noted Mr. Abdalah. “Just like the Apostles went out and preached the Gospel to world, you act as ambassadors who carry on their legacy, as you take Saint Vladimir’s into the world.”

Photo galleries may be viewed here and here.

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