A day of joyful celebration: Commencement 2008 at St Vladimir’s Seminary
dsc_0258.jpgAt St Vladimir’s Seminary, the Class of 2008 joyfully
celebrated their commencement under a big white tent on Saturday, May
17. There were twenty-nine students graduating in five academic programs
and for the first time, the ceremony included the awarding of hoods to
the graduates. The seminarians received twelve Master of Divinity
degrees, eight Master of Arts degrees in General Theology, two MAs in
Religious Education, five Master of Theology degrees, and two Doctor of
Ministry degrees.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman, of the Orthodox Church in America and
president of the seminary, was joined by His Grace Antoun, Bishop of
Miami and the Southeast of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese
of North America in handing out the degrees. Representing the Malankara
(Indian) Orthodox Syrian Church was The Very Rev. Dr P.S. Samuel
Cor-Episcopa.
The day began with a bright paschal Divine Liturgy, with Metropolitan
Herman presiding. During the Liturgy, Priest John Behr, Dean, was
elevated to Archpriest, Priest Alexander Rentel, Assistant Professor in
Canon Law and Byzantine Studies as well as Ecclesiarch was awarded the
dignity of the gold cross, and Protodeacon Kirill Sokolov, Director of
Systems and Lecturer in Liturgics, was awarded the dignity of wearing
the kamilavka.
At two in the afternoon, the Commencement Ceremony began with a brief
prayer service of thanksgiving. Making a colorful procession, students,
graduates, faculty, and trustees walked down from the chapel to a large
tent on the front lawn joyfully singing, “Christ is Risen.” Proud
parents, grandparents, wives, children, other family members and friends
eagerly awaited them in the tent.
Fr Michael Oleksa, a recognized expert on Alaskan missionaries, gave the
keynote address. He is a graduate of St Vladimir’s Seminary and has
spent the last 35 years in Alaska, serving as village priest, university
professor, consultant on intercultural relations and communications and
authoring several books on Alaska native cultures and history. Fr
Michael shared the remarkable life stories of St Herman, St Innocent,
and St Yakov of Alaska and encouraged the graduating class to hold up
these three foundational missionary saints as examples in their future
ministries, emphasizing especially the need to love and learn about
those you will serve. One graduate said, “With his animated
storytelling, Fr Michael brought these saints and founders of our church
to life.” The text of his address can be read here.
The Valedictorian, Rico Gabriel Monge, built on the theme of needing to
love and understand each other as a lesson he learned living in the
seminary community. He also urged his classmates and all those present
to consider the limitations of putting yourself in the others shoes and
how easily it can lead to judgment. Rico was also the recipient of the
St Basil’s award, which is given annually to students in the Master of
Divinity program who rank the highest in academic achievement, one from
each class year. Recipients from the junior (first-year) and middler
(second-year) cl***** will be announced at the start of the fall 2008
semester. The Salutatorian, Evan Freeman, spoke on behalf of the
“younger brothers and sisters” wi****ng the graduates success in their
service to the church, and thanking them for their advice and friend****p.
During a warm and sunny outdoor reception complete with tasty snacks,
faculty and returning students congratulated the graduates. Hugs and
smiles and digital cameras were all around as the graduates celebrated
the end of their seminary days.
This year, graduation included several activities leading up to
Saturday’s ceremony. On Tuesday and Wednesday evening, the commencement
speaker, Fr Michael Oleksa gave two presentations open to the entire
community. Thursday featured a bus trip for the graduating seniors to
the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City with a private tour by
one of the curators and commentary by Adjunct SVS Professor Richard
Schneider. Thursday evening the whole community enjoyed a cookout on
seminary grounds hosted by the Board of Trustees followed by a dance
party. Friday morning a continental breakfast for graduating seniors was
hosted by Fr David Barr, the Alumni Association President.
Concurrent with the end of the semester, the Board of Trustees held
their annual spring meeting and especially enjoyed socializing with the
seminary community during the cookout. A photo gallery from the cookout
and their meeting is available here.
A complete listing of degree candidates together with galleries of
photographs from the Divine Liturgy and commencement ceremony will be
available soon.
May God grant the graduates of the Class of 2008 along with their
families many years and success in their future ministries!
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