Spiritual Life & Diakonia

Liturgical Services and Choir

Regular participation in the liturgical life of the Seminary is at the very center of seminary life and serves as a major co-curricular component of the educational program. Participation in the daily, weekly, and annual cycles of services is a primary responsibility of every seminarian, fostering the spiritual formation essential for future leaders of the Church. At the direction of the Seminary Rector, students take an active part in reading, serving, and singing in the Seminary Choir as they prepare for lives of faithful service and ministry.

At St. Tikhon's Seminary, all students are expected to participate in the activities of the Seminary Choir. Therefore, all students are required to report directly to the right klieros (choir) of the Monastery Church unless appointed to assist in the Altar. In addition to singing the responses at all required Liturgical Services, the Choir frequently accepts invitations to sing outside the Seminary in Orthodox parishes, thus providing important contact between the Seminary and the parishes in which students one day may serve. As worship is an important facet of Seminary life, as well as of Orthodox life in general, each student's participation is regularly reviewed by the Seminary Administration, taking into consideration regular Liturgical participation, competent fulfillment of reading and serving assignments, Choir participation, and basic knowledge of Orthodox liturgical practice. Any deficiencies in these areas may lead to disciplinary action.

In addition, as part of their spiritual formation, every student in residence is expected to be under the spiritual guidance of one of the Seminary (or Monastery) clergy, subject to the approval of the Seminary Administration.

Diakonia: Community Stewardship

As an act of Christian charity and obedience, as well as service to the larger Seminary community, all students in residence are expected to contribute several hours each week to assigned responsibilities at the Seminary. This diakonia, or community stewardship, is an integral part of seminary life, as the experience of practical involvement in service to the community not only supports the Seminary's daily work, but also accomplishes important formative goals and fosters a deeper understanding of ordained ministry in the Church as service to others.

Assignments reflect the many practical needs of the Seminary and may include Church School, Elijah's Mantle, library service, maintenance and groundskeeping, media and technology, chapel and church care, and assisting faculty or administrators. Some students also serve in appointed or elected roles related to student government, liturgical responsibilities, and special projects. Kitchen Patrol (KP), a separate responsibility shared by every seminarian, also contributes to the daily life of the community but is distinct from diakonia assignments.

Community stewardship also extends to Fall and Spring Beautification Weeks, when students work together to care for and prepare the Seminary and Monastery grounds. Together, these individual and shared responsibilities cultivate humility, cooperation, Christian charity, and a deeper appreciation that ministry is rooted in faithful service to both God and neighbor.

Discipline

The Orthodox church teaches that theology cannot be separated from normal spiritual life. Thus, it is the policy of St. Tikhon's Seminary that academic effort not be separated from spiritual effort and community life of those who are preparing for the Priesthood, as well as for other areas of Church service. As a seminarian, the student is subject to ecclesiastical regulations, moral standards, and behavioral patterns traditionally expected from those preparing for Church service, established as normative by the Orthodox Church and manifested in the Code of Student Conduct established by the Seminary.

Application to the Seminary constitutes agreement to these requirements. Thus, the student is expected to conduct himself as a responsible member of the Seminary community by adhering completely to the code of student conduct during his entire association with the Seminary. Behavior on or off campus, such as breach of discipline, moral lapse, crime, flagrant breach of academic honesty (such as plagiarism), insubordination to authority, or any other action that discredits the individual or the Seminary, may lead to disciplinary probation or, if serious enough, to immediate dismissal. St. Tikhon's Seminary reserves the right to suspend or dismiss by action of the Faculty or its highest authority (the Rector) any student who fails to comply with Seminary discipline. Additional information on Seminary discipline is provided in the Student Handbook, which is supplied to all entering students by the Director of Student Affairs.

Health and Personal Development

Personal formation includes taking responsibility for one's psychological and physical well-being, both of which are essential for faithful and effective ministry. As an important aspect of co-curricular learning, students are encouraged to develop healthy, integrated patterns of life that support both their personal well-being and their future service to the Church. To help foster these habits, the Seminary has an on-campus gym equipped with free weights, treadmills, cardio and strength-training equipment, and a red light sauna for faculty, staff, and student use. While the Seminary does not provide a student health insurance program or maintain on-campus medical facilities, students are referred to local physicians, clinics, or hospitals as needed.