St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary

OCPM Director Speaks on the Importance of a Ministry that Serves the Needs of the Entire Community

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

On Friday, May 17th, the St. Tikhon's Community was pleased to welcome Fr. Stephen Powley, director of OCPM (Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry). Fr. Stephen served as a prison chaplain for over 20 years and came to challenge the students of St. Tikhon's, and Orthodox Christians everywhere, to leave their "Comfort Zones" and to reflect seriously on the place of prison ministry in each of their lives as they prepare for service to the Church.

OCPM ministers to nearly 1,000 men and women who are in prison or who have recently been released. Among them are over 300 catechumens waiting to be received into the Orthodox Faith.

St. Tikhon's extends its sincere thanks to Fr. Stephen for his inspiring lecture.

Alumni Update: Graduate Helps Launch First Online Orthodox K-12 School

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

On April 15, 2013, Dr. James S. Taylor, PhD, and St. Tikhon's Alumnus Dn. Joel Wilson (STOTS 2012) opened the virtual doors of St. Raphael Orthodox Online Homeschool to the public. Named for St. Raphael of Brooklyn, "the shepherd of the scattered sheep of North America", the founders, along with parents, students, and teachers, intend to be a continuation of St. Raphael's literal journey to minister to the Orthodox faithful who may be sequestered in cities or virtually alone in small rural towns throughout the world.

The new school offers a near-complete integrated curriculum within all four of its programs - Nursery, Elementary, Middle School, and High School. Currently all courses are taught by Dr. Taylor, who has many years of teaching experience in the classical Christian education community, both online and off. However, the plan for the Spring Semester, 2014 includes making the curriculum comprehensive by hiring others to teach Math, Greek, Latin, and the higher Sciences.

Enrollment for both the Summer and Fall Semesters are open now, but space is limited.

For more information on pricing and availability, visitraphaelschool.org or facebook.com/raphaelschool

75th Anniversary Year-Long Lecture Series Continues

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

On Monday May 13, 2013 the seminary was pleased to have The V. Rev. Fr. Edward Hughes, Vicar General of the Antiochian Western Rite Vicariate as a guest of the Seminary.

Fr. Edward celebrated Matins and the Divine Liturgy according to the Western Rite usage in the school chapel. He also provided a thoughtful lecture on the place of the Western Rite for Orthodoxy in America.

The seminary would like to thank all who participated in the services and attended the lecture. The seminary would especially like to thank Fr. Edward for making the trip to South Canaan, PA to speak to us.

Hospitality A' la Ruse

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

St. Tikhon's Century Association is pleased to present the 4th Annual

HOSPITALITY A LA RUSSE featuring Traditional Russian Cuisine

with Balalaika Music & the Podoben Chorus.

SUNDAY, MAY 26, 2013

ST. JOHN’S RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL

ST. JOHN’S CENTER

703 Hill Street, Mayfield, PA 18433

$40.00 per Ticket

Children (under 12) $10.00 per Ticket

Doors Open at 3:00

3:30 pm Reception & Russian Table

6:00 pm Musical Selections

7:00 pm Delicious Desserts & Theme Basket Drawings

Pascha Party!

Sun, 05 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

This years Pascha Party was hosted by the Tekosis family. Avery special thanks to Dn. Panayiotis Tekosis and his wife Mat. Kathryn for openiing up their home for our annual Pascha Party. There was children's activities, sports, singing, and some of the most delicious steak ever prepared on a grill!

Christ is Risen!!

Sun, 05 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Albanian: Krishti Ungjall! Vertete Ungjall!

Arabic: Al Maseeh Qam! Haqqan Qam!

Armenian: Christos harjav i merelotz! Orhniale harutjun Christosi!

Belorussian: Khristos Uvoskros! Zaprowdu Uvoskros!

Chinese: Helisituosi fuhuole! Queshi fuhuole!

Coptic: Pikhirstof aftonf! Khen o methni aftonf!

Czech: Kristus vstal zmrtvy’ch! Skutec ne vstal!

Danish: Kristus er opstanden! Ja, sandelig opstanden!

Dutch: Christus is opgestaan! Hij is waarlijk opgestaan!

English: Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!

Estonian: Kristus on surnuist ülestõusnud! Tõesti ülestõusnud!

Finnish: Kristus nousi Kuolleista! Totisesti Nousi!

French: Christ est Ressuscité! En Vérité, Il est Ressuscité!

Gaelic: Erid Krist! G’deya! n erid she!

Irish Gaelic: Tá Críosd ar éirigh! Go deimhin, tá e ar éirigh!

Scots’ Gaelic: Tha Crìosd air èiridh! Gu dearbh, tha e air èiridh!

Georgian: Kriste aghsdga! Cheshmaritad aghsdga!

Greek: Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti!

Hebrew: Ha Mashiyach qam! Ken hoo qam!

Hungarian: Krisztus feltámadt! Valóban feltámadt!

Italian: Cristo è risorto! È veramente risorto!

Japanese: Harisutosu Fukkatsu! Jitsu Ni Fukkatsu!

Latin: Christus resurrexit! Vere resurrexit!

Norwegian: Kristus er oppstanden! Han er sannelig opstanden!

Polish: Khristus Zmartvikstau! Zaiste Zmartvikstau!

Portuguese: Christo Ressuscitou! Em Verdade Ressuscitou!

Romanian: Hristos a Inviat! Adevarat a Inviat!

Russian: Khristos voskres! Voistinu voskres!

Serbian: Hristos Vaskrese! Vaistinu Vaskrese!

Slavonic: Christos Voskrese! Voistinu Voskrese!

Slovak: Kristus vstal zmr’tvych! Skutoc ne vstal!

Spanish: Cristo ha resucitado! Verdaderamente ha resucitado!

Swedish: Kristus är upstånden! Ja, Han är sannerligen uppstånden!

Syriac: Meshiha qam! Bashrira qam!

Ukrainian: Kristos Voskres! Voistinu voskres!

Welsh: Atgyfododd Crist! Atgyfododd in wir!

The Pink is No More!

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Representatives from the monastery brotherhood got a headstart on the beautification preparations for the Annual Memorial Day Pilgrimage. Over the course of a week, several monks worked tirelessly to remove the old pink coat of paint and replace it with a springtime yellow that matches the recently renovated front of the building.

75th Anniversary Commencement Speaker Announced

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

In honor of our 75th Anniversary Celebration the Board of Trustees of St. Tikhon's Seminary in cooperation with the Administration, Faculty, and Staff, is pleased to announce that this year's Commencement speaker will be alumnus Archpriest Daniel K. Donlick (STOTS 1965).

Father Daniel's achievements during his time as Academic Dean of our seminary include on particularly outstanding success: his great labor which in large measure contributed to our seminary being granted the right to bestow the Master of Divinity degree, as well as much of the labor and preparation that went towards readying the seminary to recieve its eventual full membership status from the of the Association of Theological Schools in 2004.

Father Daniel worked many hours for weeks on end in order to prepare the seminary for the evaluations that led to the above achievements. However, he did not feel that this was his most important work, but that his efforts towards fulfilling the seminary's stated mission - namely the preparation of young men to serve the Church in the holy priesthood and as church workers - was his most important duty, more important even than the work towards academic credentials. As he saw it, his duty as Academic Dean was to help students in any way possible - whomever God might send to the school - to be successful in their desire to serve the Lord and His Holy Church. This was the essence of his approach to his work and in this he encourages all to continue.

Father Daniel's service to the seminary began long before his time as Academic Dean. He served as Director of Admissions, and as part-time faculty member from 1971 to 1977. From 1978, he was the Seminary Registrar and was appointed Academic Dean in 1988.

Father Daniel also served the faithful of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania. In 1965, he was assigned to St. Nicholas Church in Olyphant. This followed shortly after his marriage to Delores Marie Bowers and his ordination by Bishop Kiprian. In 1971, he began serving St. Michael's Church in Jermyn, and under his direction, the Good Samaritan Society was organized for the purpose of promoting Christian growth and development through education and charitable projects and programs within the parish and in the community. He also served as Orthodox chaplain at Fairview State Hospital in Waymart, Pa. He was elevated to Archpriest in 1975 by Archbishop Kiprian. In 1978, ill health forced him to relinquish parish duties. He was assigned, however, as rector of the Holy Trinity Mission in Stroudsberg, which he served until 1986, when once again for health reasons, he was compelled to take a leave of absences from this post. (Biographical information taken from 1994 Tikhonaire)

Fr. Daniel continues to serve the St. Tikhon's Community, faithfully contributing to the spiritual formation and growth of the young men and women who come to offer their lives at the feet of Christ's Holy Church. It is this same offering of self for the needs of the faithful that Fr. Daniel has made his life's work .

St. Tikhon's Continuing Clergy Education Symposium

Fri, 17 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

In association with our 75th Anniversary Celebration, St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary is pleased to present the 2013 St. Tikhon’s Continuing Clergy Education Symposium to be held from Tuesday evening, June 18, through lunchtime on Thursday, June 20.

The list of speakers to be included in this year’s symposium includes:

1) "The Glory of Christ-Centered Marriage" -- David Ford, Ph.D., Professor of Church History, St. Tikhon's Seminary.

A brief study of various Church Fathers and contemporary elders extolling the glory of Christ-centered marriage - especially in light of the various attacks on and increasing confusion about traditional marriage in our society as a whole. In particular, we will undertake a close study of Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra's classic sermon entitled "Marriage: The Great Sacrament." References will also be made to the Lives of the Married Saints.

2) "Transforming Psychological States into Spiritual Ones: Some Practical Advice from the Fathers" -- Christopher Veniamin, D.Phil. (Oxon.), Professor of Patristics, St. Tikhon's Seminary

The description: "How do we live as Christians? Or perhaps a better way of framing the question would be, How do we die every day as disciples of Christ in this broken world of ours? This presentation aims to give some practical advice on living the commandments of Christ, based on the theology of the Church Fathers.

3) "Sanctify those who love the beauty of Thy house..." -- Igumen Sergius (Bowyer), Abbot of St. Tikhon's Monastery and Interim Dean of St. Tikhon's Seminary

Perspectives on Living the Liturgy: The course outcome is to have a renewed appreciation and love for the Divine Liturgy and Liturgical life of the Church with the understanding that it is the school whereby we are initiated into the mystery of eternal life. The lecture will focus on Biblical-Patristic sources to enlighten the listeners as to the centrality of the Church's Liturgical life while hopefully gaining a greater understanding of how they are the primary tool for the Church's outreach and evangelism.

4) "Exorcism: A Current Perspective" -- Archimandrite Athanasy, monk of St. Tikhon's Monastery

The course will look at an overview of ancient and modern understandings of exorcism, the purpose of the exorcism prayers, how to discern case by case what issues might be affecting an individual's and when and when not to consider an exorcism, the importance of having recourse to the Bishop, and modern medicine, and resources for discernment and contextual applications.

5) "The Exploration and Development of the Ministry of Presence" -- Archpriest John Kowalczyk, Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Practice, Director of Field Education, St. Tikhon's Seminary

The Ministry of Presence: "When two or three are gathered in My name, I am in their midst" (Matt. 18:20). The Orthodox pastor explores the "prayerful ministry of presence" with the application of the theology of the sanctification of time. The presentation will aid the Orthodox pastor in navigating in difficult pastoral scenarios which will be found "outside his comfort zone."

Courses: Available for Clergy Continuing Education, approved by Fr. Ian Pac-Urar

Dates: June 18-20

Cost: $50 per person (This includes room and board.)

This is a service provided by the faculty of St. Tikhon's Seminary, to facilitate the continuing education of clergy (priests and deacons), mandated by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America.

Registrations can be made by phone at the seminary's main number 570-561-1818.

Or you may email your registration to dorothy.sulich@stots.edu.

Impromptu Lecture Series at Monastery Features Students and Faculty of Seminary

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

During the month of April, a series of informal talks was given in the trapeza (church hall) of the St. Tikhon's Monastery Church during the Coffee Hour. The general theme of the series was "The Place of the Bible in Our Church." The series was well received by the parishioners of the Monastery Church.

On April 7, Dr. David Ford spoke about the Canonization process of the 27 books of the New Testament. The following Sunday, Dn. Theophan Warren, a first-year Seminarian, explained how seeing the crucial need for Holy Tradition to provide the proper interpretation of the Bible helped to bring him into the Orthodox Church from Protestantism. Then on April 21, Dr. Mary Ford presented various interesting facts about the New Testament. And for the final session of the series, newly ordained Fr. David Morrison, a third-year student, told the fascinating story of how he and his family moved from Evangelical Protestantism into Holy Orthodoxy. A professional musician, he began his presentation with singing one of his own songs.