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 Exploration and Development of the Ministry of Presence" -- Archpriest John Kowalczyk, Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Practice, Director of Field Education, Saint Tikhon's Seminary – Tuesday, June 18, 6:30 p.m.  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."
 
2) "Sanctify those who love the beauty of Thy house..." -- Igumen Sergius (Bowyer), Abbot of Saint Tikhon's Monastery and Interim Dean of St. Tikhon's Seminary – Wednesday, June 19, 9:00 a.m.  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.
 
3) "Exorcism: A Current Perspective" -- Archimandrite Athanasy, monk of St. Tikhon's Monastery – Wednesday, June 19, 1:00 p.m.  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.
 
4) "Transforming Psychological States into Spiritual Ones: Some Practical Advice from the Fathers" -- Christopher Veniamin, D.Phil. (Oxon.), Professor of Patristics, St. Tikhon's Seminary – Wednesday, June 19, 6:30 p.m.  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.
 
5) "The Glory of Christ-Centered Marriage" -- David Ford, Ph.D., Professor of Church History, St. Tikhon's Seminary –Thursday, June 20, 9:00 a.m.  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.
 
All courses are available for Clergy Continuing Education credit, as approved by Archpriest Ian Pac-Urar.  Cost, which includes room and board, is $50.00 per person.
 
SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULE
 

Tuesday, June 18
 
4:30 p.m. Vespers in the monastery church
5:30 p.m. Dinner in the seminary refectory
6:30 p.m. First Lecture: "The Exploration and Development of the Ministry of Presence" – Archpriest John Kowalczyk

Wednesday, June 19
 
7:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy in the monastery church
8:30 a.m. Breakfast in the seminary refectory
9:00 a.m. Second Lecture: "Sanctify Those Who Love the Beauty of Thy House…" – Igumen Sergius, Abbot
12:15 p.m. Lunch in the seminary refectory
1:00 p.m. Third Lecture: "Exorcism: A Current Perspective" – Archimandrite Athanasy
4:30 p.m. Vespers in the monastery church
5:30 p.m. Dinner in the seminary refectory
6:30 p.m. Fourth Lecture: "Transforming Psychological States Into Spiritual Ones: Some Practical Advice From the Fathers" – Dr. Christopher Veniamin
 
Thursday, June 20
 
7:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy in the monastery church
8:30 a.m. Breakfast in the seminary refectory
9:00 a.m. Fifth Lecture: "The Glory of Christ-Centered Marriage" – Dr. David Ford
12:15 p.m. Lunch in the seminary refectory

The symposium is a service provided by the faculty of Saint Tikhon's Seminary to facilitate the continuing education of priests and deacons as 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 may be sent by e-mail todorothy.sulich@stots.edu.