Metropolitan Hilarion [Alfeyev] delivers Fr. Schmemann Memorial Lecture; Tickets for SVOTS hosted concert Monday, February 7 still available

YONKERS, NY [SVOTS/OCA]—A podcast of the 28th annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture, delivered by His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion [Alfeyev] of Volokolamsk at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary here on Saturday, February 5, 2011, is available on Ancient Faith Radio at href="https://www.ancientfaith.com/announcements/metropolitan_hilarion_the_meaning_of_icon_in_the_orthodox_church">https://www.ancientfaith.com.

“The icon is a silent but eloquent preacher of Orthodoxy, not only within the Church but also outside of it,” said Metropolitan Hilarion as he touched upon the dogmatic, anthropological, ascetic, cosmic, liturgical, evangelical, and moral function of icons within the Orthodox Christian tradition. The attentive and appreciative audience readily peppered His Eminence with questions following his talk and gave him a standing ovation at the close.

Metropolitan Hilarion, who is Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Affairs, maintains personal and institutional ties with Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. In introducing him, Archpriest John Behr, seminary Dean, recalled their friendship that began after their graduation from the University of Oxford, where they both earned doctoral degrees, and he expressed his gratitude for the Metropolitan’s service on the seminary’s Board of Trustees.

Father John noted that Metropolitan Hilarion had been selected as this year’s “Schmemann Lecturer” because of his scholarship and engagement with the wider world and contemporary issues.

Metropolitan Hilarion presents Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God to Fr. John Behr, SVOTS Dean.

“Our former dean, Father Alexander Schmemann, had the seminary at the center of his heart, and his person and work shaped Saint Vladimir’s, but he also spoke to the wider Church and culture at-large,” said Father John. “Likewise, His Eminence holds the conviction that the Orthodox Church does indeed have something to say to the modern world, and he has a passionate willingness to address contemporary issues.”

Following the lecture, Metropolitan Hilarion presented the seminary with an exquisite icon of the Vladimir Mother of God and celebrated Great Vespers with the seminary community in Three Hierarchs Chapel.

On Monday, February 7, Metropolitan Hilarion will attend the US English-language premiere of his opus St. Matthew Passion at New York’s Church of St. Paul the Apostle on Columbus Avenue between 59th and 60th Streets. The concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m., is being hosted by Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, in cooperation with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Tickets are still available at the door.

Additional information may be found on the seminary web site at www.svots.edu.