Ninth annual OCA Diaconal Liturgical Practicum trains deacons and diaconal candidates
Twenty-three deacons and students in the Diaconal Vocations Program of the Orthodox Church in America gathered on the campus of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary here for worship, theological reflection, and focused liturgical training. For the ninth year in a row, this gathering has provided an important opportunity for deacons and candidates to connect with faculty and each other as they seek to expand their ministries at the altar.
The Diaconal Liturgical Practicum began on Sunday evening, July 12, 2015 with supper, introductions, and an icebreaker that helped participants appreciate some of the challenges of learning to serve the divine services correctly. Archpriest Dr. John Behr, Dean of the seminary, formally opened the program with the singing of a Molieben in the seminary’s Three Hierarchs’ Chapel. The Practicum’s beginning coincided with a week of instruction for students enrolled in the seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program and both cohorts were enriched by being able to pray together and to receive a blessing with holy water at the beginning of the week. Father John then led the Practicum in an engrossing study on early martyrdom, Scripture and Eucharist in our lives in Christ and the Paschal passion. As one participant noted, “I would have made the trip to the seminary for this talk alone!”
The next day opened with an early morning celebration of the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Father John and participants of the Practicum. Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov, Director of Diaconal and Late Vocations of the Orthodox Church in America, gathered with participants at 7:00 a.m. to prepare for the Divine Liturgy. “It is not always possible in our parish life for the deacons and servers to be the first to arrive at the church,” explained Archdeacon Kirill. “In these intensive days of training, however, we are able to practice and model the full order of services and all of the preparation required for a peaceful and orderly serving of the divine services. From filling oil lamps to chanting the prayers of the Church, the participants learn best by actively doing and with repetition.”
Following the first liturgy, students practiced proclaiming the Word of God by reading in church and learned about the proper use of their voices in a first of multiple sessions with Archpriest Sergius Halvorsen, Assistant Professor of Homiletics and Rhetoric at the seminary. Sessions on voice featured chanting a section from the Epistles of the Holy Apostle Paul and receiving feedback from Father Sergius and peers on clarity and sound.
Workshops led by Archdeacon Kirill aimed at providing participants with the frameworks, patterns, and skills needed to serve effectively in the Orthodox Church as an attentive server or deacon. Sessions focused on the typical celebration of the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom. Instruction and practice in hierarchical services met in smaller groups to better approach these complicated services with the additional guidance of Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak, Secretary to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon.
Archpriest John Jillions, OCA Chancellor, served Vespers and met with the participants to discuss issues facing ordained clergy and the Church and the Church’s work in this world. As Chancellor, Father John is a member of the Board of Theological Education, which supervises the work of the Diaconal Vocations Program. As on Sunday, a long day of work and study ended at 10:00 p.m. with planning for the following morning’s Divine Liturgy.
On the second day of the Practicum, Tuesday, July 14, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by seminarian Priest Aleksey Paranyuk, Archdeacon Kirill, and Practicum participants. In addition to liturgical workshops led by the archdeacons, Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Assistant Professor of Canon Law and Byzantine Studies and the John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology, taught liturgical theology fundamental to the ministry of the deacon and to the understanding of every Christian.
The Practicum was honored by the presence of His Grace, Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa, Auxiliary Bishop in the Diocese of the West, who came to the seminary for the Practicum at the invitation of Metropolitan Tikhon to preside at the divine services, to be with the participants in conversation, and to meet with them as a group to discuss expectations that the Church has for all men who are called to serve her in ordained diaconal ministry.
Tuesday also marked the eve of the feast of the Holy Great Prince Vladimir, Equal of the Apostles, patron of the seminary. The community joyously celebrated Great Vespers with Practicum participants and those attending the D.Min. program. The celebration was heightened by the prayerful presence of Metropolitan Tikhon, who serves as President of the Church’s seminaries and chairs the Board of Theological Education. He spoke convincingly of the darkness in the world that Saint Vladimir worked to convert to Christ and the encouragement we receive from the saint’s example to us in our own time and place. The celebration continued with a cookout in honor of the feast hosted by the Alumni of the Seminary. Following the festive evening, the Practicum participants continued their work late into the night on reading and voice with Father Sergius.
On Wednesay, July 15, the Practicum experience was crowned by the celebration of the Divine Liturgy for the feast of Saint Vladimir. Bishop Daniel served the full hierarchical order with the assistance of ten priests, six deacons, and Practicum participants who served as subdeacons or sang in the choir.
Participants attended the Practicum from nearly every diocese of the Orthodox Church in America and from other Churches. The “goodbyes” at departure movingly showed that participants not only learned more about the liturgy and their vocations in Church service, but also benefited spiritually from their new connections to teachers and brothers. As one participant explained, “it is a true joy to have received the opportunity to meet you all and to call you friends.”
The Holy Synod of Bishops requires participation in at least two practicums for candidates to complete the Diaconal Vocations Program of the Orthodox Church in America. Ordained deacons benefit from attendance as part of the Continuing Education discipline of the Church.
Further information on the Diaconal Vocations Program is available at https://www.oca.org/dvp. More information on Saint Vladimir’s Seminary and its programs of theological study can be found at www.svots.edu.
A gallery of photos may be viewed here.