St. Patriarch Tikhon Library

History

The seminary Library is the focal point for ongoing theological study and scholarly research by our students and faculty. Although the library serves primarily the seminary and Monastery communities, it is also open to our alumni, the faithful of the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, and the larger academic community.

Founded in 1938 and dedicated to the memory of the beloved Bishop of North America (1898-1907), later Archbishop and Patriarch, St. Tikhon (Belavin), the library is the focal point of the academic life of the Seminary. The holdings of our ever-growing collection consist of more than 50,000 items, including approximately 36,000 volumes and 230 current periodicals concentrating on Orthodox Eastern Christianity, with emphasis on the fields of Church History, Patristics, and Hagiography. The Slavic Collection, which numbers some 12,000 monographs and periodical titles ranging from the 17th century to the present day, with a strong representation of East European and Pre-1917 Russian theological works and devotional literature, is a valuable resource for study and research on all academic levels.

Our Collection

Our ever-growing library collection, offering over 50,000 volumes, including 9,000 bound periodical volumes representing 600 titles (of which 200 are currently received) and 4,000 non-print items, is a treasury of Orthodox theological thought and scholarship, and is a valuable resource for study and research on all academic levels. Built on the foundation of the seminary’s original Russian and Slavic collection and donations of numerous private collections (including those of Metropolitans Platon, Leonty, Theodosius, and Herman, Archbishop Kiprian, Bishop Jonah, and many others), the Library is especially strong in the subject areas of Church History, Patristics, Hagiography, and Spirituality. Noteworthy is our Special Collection that houses rare Slavic imprints from the 17th through the 19th centuries.

Of special interest to visitors is the John S. and Lucille J. Guzey Collection of Icons and Antiquities, housed in the Monastery Icon Repository and Museum. Donated to the Seminary by its longtime benefactor and Trustee Emeritus John S. Guzey and his wife Lucille J. Guzey, this extensive collection of icons is the largest in North America.

Our collection is also searchable online, and public access terminals are located throughout the library. Access to our collections is open to all users and is without regard to religious beliefs, ethnic background, or gender.

Our Library Affiliations

The Seminary Library is an institutional member of both the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Theological Library Association. The Libraries of SEPTLA form the nation's largest theological library consortium and comprise over 2,000,000 volumes in theology and related disciplines. SEPTLA Libraries are located within easy driving distance of St.Tikhon's in eastern Pennsylvania and central New Jersey. St Tikhon's students and faculty enjoy direct borrowing privileges at all SEPTLA member institutions.

St. Tikhon's Seminary Faculty and Students also have the privilege of direct access to the nearby Marywood University Learning Resources Center and the Library at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Binghamton, New York, approximately a forty-minute drive from the Seminary.

Library Computer Lab

Students have access to a range of information technology resources that support their academic studies, research, and daily life at the Seminary. Computers are available in the Library, providing access to online research databases, academic resources, seminary systems, and other technology services. Students are expected to use all seminary technology resources responsibly and in accordance with the seminary's published policies and guidelines.