On Sunday, May 15, 2016, commencement exercises were held at Saint Herman Seminary, Kodiak, AK. Five students—Mother Gabriella [Orgain], Matushka Mary Erika Madsen, Priest Joseph Larson, Priest Methodius Nicori, and Subdeacon Luke Levi—graduated, while Subdeacon James Keene received a Church Reader’s Certificate. Former Seminarian Deacon Innocent Philo received a Clinical Pastoral Education Certificate. The graduates will go on to serve parishes and communities across Alaska.
His Grace, Bishop David of Sitka and Alaska opened the graduation ceremony with a prayer and introduced special guests, including Dr. David Ford, Professor of Church History at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA, and Dr. Patricia Wilson Cone of Providence Alaska Medical Center’s Clinical Pastoral Education Program. Archpriest Dr. John Dunlop welcomed the many guests and offered gratitude to the seminary faculty for their sacrifices.
In his commencement address, Dr. Ford spoke on unity in Christ as the very essence of the Church. The Orthodox Church in Alaska holds a special place in North American Church history because it is built on an Alaskan foundation. He urged his listeners to know that they are bonded in unity with the rest of the Church in America and throughout the world as, through Jesus Christ, the whole Body of the Church is kept in oneness of heart and mind.
Dr. Wilson Cone shared her appreciation for the hard work displayed by Deacon Innocent and Mother Gabriella in pursuing their CPE certificates. She spoke of the cooperation between the seminary and Providence Alaska Medical Center and shared her hope to grow and expand cooperative efforts in the future.
Matushka Marilyn Kreta shared her memories of the late Protopresbyter Joseph Kreta, founding Dean of the seminary, after which she presented an archival gift—the first of several donations to the Protopresbyter Joseph Kreta Collection—to the Diocese of Alaska’s Archives, located at Saint Herman’s Seminary.
Before Bishop David closed the program with prayer, Mary Ann Khoury of Outreach Alaska presented the graduates with gifts from their sponsors.
