Seminarian Dn. Andrew Ritchey

Deacon Andrew Ritchey is in his second year at St. Tikhon’s Seminary. He and his wife met at their home parish of St. Symeon Orthodox Church in Birmingham, Alabama, and moved to St. Tikhon’s just a few months before welcoming their daughter, Margaret. They are also expecting another daughter in May.

Service to Christ and His Church has always been Dn. Andrew’s top priority. He was born into the Church and grew up singing in the choir and serving in the altar. Over the years, those childhood ministries grew into leading the altar servers for many years, while his love of church music led him to serve as choir director for two years before entering seminary.

In addition to being a full-time seminarian, Dn. Andrew owns and operates The Orthodox Design Company, an Orthodox-based graphic design business. In his free time, he enjoys creative endeavors with an Orthodox focus, including building miniature churches and monasteries, composing music, practicing photography, and developing Orthodox children's resources such as books, television shows, and board games.

When asked about choosing a seminary, Dn. Andrew said that St. Tikhon’s stood out because of its rich spiritual history and its proximity to America’s oldest Orthodox monastery. His experience since arriving has been grace-filled and joyful, and he looks forward to what the coming years will bring.

When asked what he loves about St. Tikhon's, Dn. Andrew says: