[I am humbled and grateful for the love and support of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. By the grace of God, I serve on the Board of Trustees with men and women committed to offering and building an institution that stands in the legacy of St. Tikhon who offered our Orthodox Christian faith to anyone in North America who would listen.
As I reflect on the service, I will offer for Christ and our Church, let us all be and remain inspired by St. Tikhon who preached: “True civilization consists in giving as many people as possible access to the benefits of life... Since all people originate from one man, all are children of one Heavenly Father; all were redeemed by the most pure blood of Christ, in Whom 'there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free.' All are brothers and must love one another--love one another not only in words, but in deeds as well." (From the sermon preached in San Francisco on June 10/23 1900).
With this legacy given to us, how can look to our world and our Church and do any less? May St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary continue to lead, teach, and train men and women to go out and share the light of Christ as Priests and Royal Priests to the world.]
God Bless You.
Fr. Martin Johnson, Jr
St. Anthony Orthodox Church
Butler, PA
Click HERE to watch Divine Liturgy for Saturday of Souls and Ordination to the Holy Priesthood.
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Tuesday, June 30
8am-9pm
Streaming for Living Waters
A Friend- and Fund-raising Event for St Tikhon's Seminary.
All day long: interviews, lectures, talks, music, tours, fun!
Meet Seminarians, Professors--meet the Rector, Abp .Michael.
Take a live strolling tour of the Seminary and grounds.
Listen to Hank Hanegraaff, the Bible Answerman.
Listen to Jonathan Jackson, who recently played the role of Elder Joseph the Hesychast in a new film.
Meet Nikos Guraros, the head of Pemptousia, essentially the digital media arm of Vatopedi Monastery.
And a most-special guest.
St Tikhon's welcomes you to become a monthly sustainer--to help pave the path for future priests of the Orthodox Church.
To give, visit www.stots.edu/donate
Livestream on our facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/sainttikhons/
And our Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/SaintTikhonsSeminary
Share it around. Tune in when you can. Encourage all to give. Even $5 a month helps us!
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Like graduations across the country, St. Tikhon's had to greatly adjust how we conducted our commencement ceremonies. In so many ways, we are thankful to God that the seminary was able to hold any sort of graduation at all. Our sister school, St. Vladimir's, being right in the midst of America's hardest hit area, was not able to gather in any way, which is such a difficult situation for classmates who have spent these three years toiling together. Our prayers are with them: may this struggle through which they have walked be rewarded with that much more grace in their future ministries to the Church.
On Friday evening, May 29, we gathered the speakers into St. Nikolai's Chapel in the seminary. Some were physically present, but others were present in their pre-recorded video only. Our dean, Priest John Parker, started us off, but not without the technical assistance of Priest Ignatius Gauvain, who, among many other responsibilities at the school, not only has the experience to be able to connect a video stream from the campus out to the world, but also to seamlessly weave pre-recorded speeches into the mix avoiding technical distraction, if at all possible.
First, our 2020 co-valedictorian, Priest Silouan Burns (speaking on behalf of our other valedictorian, Mr. Ian Attila) spoke, followed by a special guest who joined us by video, after having to cancel a trip to the St. Tikhon's community earlier this year due to travel restrictions: Archimandrite Zacharias of Essex. We were delighted to hear his address to our community, made possible through these strange technological connections with which we have all become all too familiar.
Our beloved rector, Archbishop Michael, delighted everybody with a "what every priest needs to know about being a priest" speech, focusing graduates, and us all, on the essentials of a life of ministry in Christ's vineyard. Few of us expected to have Metropolitan Tikhon be able to join us in the flesh. Yes, during the pandemic, he returned back to his monastic home at St. Tikhon's Monastery, which is only across the street, but the monastery has needed to remain more cloistered than ever, for various reasons, but not least among them, the importance to all of us in the OCA that the monastery plays by unceasingly celebrating the Liturgy "on behalf of all and for all". None of us want to jeopardize that unique and essential role the monastery fills.
His Beatitude, Met. Tikhon not only shared his presence with us, via the live-streamed speeches on Friday evening, but also graced us with his presence on Saturday, joined by Archbishop Michael. In these days of difficult and awkward reopening, when it is hard to know when what course of action is acceptable, these two pastors of our Church, who carry such a burden on their shoulders and cannot afford to fall ill, were willing to do what they could to salvage this important rite of passage of the Church's future servants.
We give our thanks to you both, Your Beatitude and Your Eminence, for your presence. May the Lord continue to fill you with his grace as you guide our Church through these difficult times.
We are proud of our new graduates and look forward to see how our Lord uses their skills, talents, experience, and training to benefit the growth and strengthening of the Orthodox Church. Graduates of 2020, may the Lord grant you many years of grace-filled service.
Dcn. Ignatius Strange
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Dear and beloved Friends and Benefactors of St Tikhon's,
Christ is Risen!
Today, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Michael, we are able to open our online Continuing Education to all those interested--clergy and laity alike.
St Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary's customary Continuing Education Conference is moved online this Summer. While we far prefer the incarnational gathering, it is our hope that this online way might allow a wider participation from alumni, other clergy, and lay leaders. This year's conference topic, related to mission and ministry, is suitable for both Clergy and Laity alike.
We are presently limited to 150 registrants.
The Title:
Mission and Ministry: A Vision of the North American Saints in Action.
5 Dynamic Speakers
Mon-Fri, June 8-12, 1-330p (eastern)
$125
Visit the website to read more and to register.
We will send login-credentials with registration.
Please join us and spread the word.
May the Lord watch over you and yours, navigating re-entry into the liturgical and parish life!
Yours in Christ,
Fr John
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St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary announced its 2020 Commencement plan today. Having extended the Semester by one week while restructuring for the COVID-imposed move to online instruction, graduation exercises will take place on Friday and Saturday, May 29 and 30, 2020.
Friday evening, May 29, will feature the hybrid live-online portion of Commencement. The evening will feature various Commencement Speakers, including His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, President of the Seminary; His Eminence Archbishop Michael, Rector of St. Tikhon’s; in addition to this year’s commencement speaker, Archimandrite Zacharias from the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist, Essex, England. Archimandrite Zacharias is a disciple of recently-canonized Saint Sophrony and long-time friend of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary. Further details of the broadcast will be forthcoming, both here and at the seminary’s website here. A recording will also be made available through Ancient Faith Radio.
On Saturday, May 30, following all protocols and directives given by public health officials of Wayne County, PA, the seminary will proceed with commencement exercises in a very limited and private manner, honoring the graduating students and their families as able. Due to the fluid nature of the pandemic, a full plan is still being finalized. Because of social distancing requirements, and other Wayne County directives, the commencement exercises on Saturday May 30 will be closed to those outside the immediate seminary community.
5.27.2020 Update from Fr. John Parker, the Dean of St. Tikhon's Seminary:
We are working hard this week to finalize our Graduation ceremonies. A reminder: Friday evening, 6:30-7:45PM. Live on our Facebook Page. There will be a few other ways to login as well. TBA.
5.28.2020 Update from Fr. John Parker:
Dear All:
Please join us tomorrow evening. Below is the announcement.
Yours in Christ,
Fr John
Friday Night!
Archimandrite Zacharias (Zacharou) of the Stavropegial Monastery of St John the Baptist, Essex, delivers the commencement address, “Now is the Judgment of this World,” for St Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary’s 78th Commencement Exercises tomorrow night: Friday, May 29. The broadcast runs 6:30-7:45pm.
St Tikhon’s congratulates our Co-valedictorians, Fr Silouan Burns and Mr Ian Attila. In all we celebrate the dedicated labors of our 15 MDiv Graduates, four of whom finish with honors for their theses.
Ian Attila, Honors in Patristics for his thesis, “The Work of Christ in Baptism According to St. Mark the Monk.” Mentor: Christopher Veniamin, D. Phil.,(Oxon.)
Deacon Ambrose Inlow, Honors in Patristics for his thesis, “The Rational and Noetic Soul According to St. John Damascene.” Mentor: Christopher Veniamin, D. Phil., (Oxon.)
Priest Vjekoslav Jovicic, Honors in Church History for his thesis, “Many are Called, But Few are Chosen: An Orthodox Refutation of the Universalism of David Bentley Hart”. Mentor: David C. Ford, Ph.D.
Priest Ephraim Tauck, Honors in Pastoral Arts and Praxis for his thesis, “Addiction: An Exploration of Treatment for Orthodox Clergy”. Mentor: V. Rev. John Kowalczyk, Cand. Theology
St Tikhon’s welcomes and invites you to join our Live Stream Broadcast on the following channels. We thank our broadcasting partners at St Tikhon’s Monastery and Ancient Faith Radio.
6:30PM-7:45PM
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020
St. Tikhon's Seminary Facebook
St. Tikhon's Monastery YouTube
St. Tikhon's Monastery Facebook
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THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020
It is with faith in our Risen Lord that we inform you of the passing into eternal life of our beloved father, grandfather, brother, friend, and pastor, The Right Rev. Archimandrite Elias Bitar, in the afternoon of May 21, 2020.Father Bitar leaves behind a lifelong legacy as "the voice of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America." During his nearly forty years in the priesthood, he has been a Lecturer in Liturgical Music (with a specialty in Byzantine music) and Practical Theology at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary, Vicar General of the Archdiocese, and the residing priest for churches in California and New Jersey. Father Elias studied for his Master of Divinity degree at St. Vladimir's from 1972–1975, and subsequently earned a Doctor of Ministry from the Seminary in 2001.
Father Elias Bitar is survived by his children Katrina, Sr. Ignatia, Martha, Mikey, Antony, and Madeleine, as well as his grandchildren Zachary, Jacob, Samia, and another granddaughter on the way.
He is reunited in His heavenly kingdom with his wife Kh. Joanne, and his parents Sadallah and Zahwe Bitar.
In light of our current circumstances, we look forward to your visit at a later time. When arrangements are made, we will send the information to be a part of the live streamed funeral online with us.
In lieu of flowers, kindly send all donations to The Monastery of St. Nina in Union Bridge Maryland, where Fr. Bitar resided.
Christ is Risen, Truly He is Risen!
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The Mitred Archpriest Nicholas Timpko, age 78, beloved husband of Matushka Anastasia Kowal Timpko fell asleep in the Lord on May 16, 2020, at Griffin Hospital with his family by his side.
The story was featured on our OCA website. Read the entire article HERE. Memory Eternal to Father Nicholas Timpko.
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Christ is Risen!
Dear All,
Please join me in asking God to grant His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, many years on the occasion of his anniversary of consecration to the Episcopate.
May 8, 2010
Ten years today.
Many years, Vladyka!
Yours in Christ,
Fr John
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In the Name of the Lord, I ask your blessing, Most Blessed Master!
Dear Beloved Faculty, Staff, Students, and Board of St Tikhon's,
Christ is Risen!
I am asking for one dollar.
And a share.
And 100% participation.
That's all.
Well, except I might ask you to share more than once today!
Please share one dollar with your alma mater today.
And, of your charity, would you invite (by sharing this email or the links below) your parishioners to join YOU in sharing one dollar? One wee mite?
In Bright Week, more than 20,000 people viewed our St Tikhon’s choir members singing a virtual version of Christ is Risen. If each of you who viewed gave $1, the seminary would raise the funds needed to support our Seminarians for one month—approximately $20,000.
We know times are tight for us all. So we remember the widow who put in her two mites—all she had. Behold the Power of MITE!
We share another Paschal Video with you—one of my favorites (give it a minute--it has to go to outer space to open, and it is a large file). A beautiful Paschal hymn written by our canonized Rector, St Nikolai Velimirovich. And sung "Covid Style" by Professor, Students, and Alumni together!
We will send some other neat St Tikhon's living history from our archives throughout the day. And maybe even an encouraging prize or two throughout the day.
Like, forward, share, and please support a seminarian with at least $1.
Show the power of WEE MITE.
With your wee mite, WE WILL meet our goal!
20,000 views, $1 donation, $20,000, 1 day.
What is one of the first lessons your mother taught you when you were little? Share! Share! Share!
Share on Facebook.
Or forward this email to your friends and email lists.
If you prefer not to give on Facebook, click HERE to give on St Tikhon's Website.
Yours very gratefully, in the Risen Christ,
Fr John
PS Thanks for helping. $1 from many friends helps 43 students train to serve in the Orhtodox Church, and perhaps to be your future pastor! Click the photo below to donate.
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DEEPEST SYMPATHY is expressed to Archpriest John Bohush, his sons Reader Matthew and Deacon Mark, and all their family, on the falling asleep in the Lord of his beloved sister and their aunt, Matushka Nina Stroyen.
Matushka Nina was the wife of Archpriest Basil Stroyen, who served as the Dean of St. Tikhon's Seminary, the first Orthodox chaplain in the history of the U.S. Air Force, and a parish priest.
In her own right, Matushka Nina was the Editor of the beloved publication The Orthodox Herald, and a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Tikhon's Seminary until her passing.
A Personal Reflection:
Matushka Nina was a woman of deep faith, strong conviction, and sincere love for the Lord and His Church. She was a stalwart defender of Orthodox Tradition, a champion of education at all levels, and a defender of those in need. She was known and loved throughout the country and all over the world by the readers of The Orthodox Herald ... and she will be missed by her friends, by the St. Tikhon's Seminary community, and by the clergy and faithful of our Church in America. Eternal be her memory!
Grant rest eternal in blessed repose with the Saints, O Lord, to the soul of Thy newly-departed handmaiden, the ever-to-be-remembered + Matushka Nina, who has fallen asleep, and make her memory to be eternal! Vechnaya pamyat! -- Christ is Risen!
With love,
Vladyka Michael
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Fr John Parker, Dean of the Seminary, hosted a live call-in show on Ancient Faith Radio, "Here I am: Send Me!", with Fr Chad Hatfield, President of St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. Listen HERE, to a recording of the hour-long program. Attached at that link, also find an essay written by Fr John on Vocation, originally published in the 2019 Tikhonaire, and another by Mother Christophora, Abbess of Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Ellwood City.
Physical Address:
178 St. Tikhon's Road
Waymart, PA 18472
Mailing Address:
Post Office Box 130
South Canaan, PA 18459
Phone: 570-561-1818
