St. Herman’s Seminary begins 37th academic year

KODIAK, AK [SHS]—Fifteen seminarians participated in two days of orientation marking the opening of Saint Herman’s Seminary’s 37th academic year.

Four faculty members along with guest speakers addressed the seminarians on a variety of aspects of seminary life.

According to seminary spokesperson Marina Hoffman, the seminarians, all from the Diocese of Alaska, receive scholarship support which covers tuition and books.

“These scholarships are primarily funded through contributions of individual donors who understand the great need to continue their support of the Orthodox Church in Alaska, where Orthodoxy began in America,” said Ms. Hoffman.

Two new seminarians and their families come from villages of about 300 people located between the Yukon and the Kuskokwin rivers.

“This is the region where in 1844 the great native missionary, Saint Yakov Netsvetov, labored for the Church,” Ms. Hoffman added. “Today it is the region in which the Orthodox Church is the strongest in Alaska.”

Also beginning his first year studies is a seminarian, whose father is a priest, from a village on the shore of Lake Iliamna.

“We also are joined by a monastic student from Japan, Father Timothy, and a woman monastic who will be helping to coordinate the women’s group on campus.

“With the new seminarians and returning ones along with their families, this brings the total to 47 who live on campus,” said Ms. Hoffman. “We are also thankful to have two senior students who will be graduating at the end of the school year and begin their labors for the Church in Alaska. In October at the Alaska Diocesan Assembly, we are anticipating that God-willing three seminarians will be ordained into Holy Orders.”

On the first day of the school year, Archpriest Joseph Kreta, the seminary’s founder and builder, offered an inspirational talk. He related how the building of the seminary in the early days was a enormous undertaking for a handful of laborers, who were convinced that with Lord’s help and the intercession of Saint Herman their work would greatly help the future of the Orthodox Church in Alaska. The seminary stands as a living witness to everyone of how, with the help of God and His saints, God’s work can be accomplished.