Princeton professor to speak at 20th annual Schmemann Memorial Lecture Jan. 30

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York, today announced that Princeton University religion professor Dr. Albert Raboteau will be the guest speaker at the 20th annual Fr. Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003, on the seminary campus.
The lecture is free and open to the public, and will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium, preceded by Vespers at 6:30 p.m. in the Three Hierarchs Chapel.

Dr. Raboteau is a widely published author, and current Henry W. Putnam Professor of Religion at Princeton University. His specialties include the history of religion in America and African-American Studies. The topic of his lecture is Orthodox Christianity and American Culture: Conflict or Transformation?

“In some fundamental ways American culture stands in conflict with Orthodox Christianity. Our faith is counter-cultural, for example, in condemning such self-gratifying American ideals as materialism and consumerism,” said Dr. Raboteau. “However, there are aspects of American culture which may challenge Orthodox persons and parishes to a deeper realization of their Christian faith.”

Dr. Raboteau explains that America’s religious pluralism, for example, can challenge Orthodox Christians to embrace and to live out their faith as more than simply a part of their ethnic background, and to develop a renewed sense of mission to reach out actively to include all people.

The Schmemann Memorial lecture, dedicated to Orthodox theological excellence, is held in honor of Fr. Alexander Schmemann who served as dean of St. Vladimir’s Seminary from 1962 until his death in 1983.

Past guest lecturers in the series include Dr. Susan Ashbrook Harvey, professor of religious studies at Brown University; Paul Valliere, professor at Butler University and one of the foremost experts on Russian Orthodoxy and culture; and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America.

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary is a graduate school of theology, whose primary purpose is the preparation of leaders - both clergy and lay - for service to the Orthodox Church and the world at large. The seminary offers a Master of Divinity; a Master of Arts in Christian Education, Liturgical Music, and General Theology; a Master of Theology; and a Doctor of Ministry degree.

The seminary is located at 575 Scarsdale Rd. in Crestwood, New York, between Central Park Avenue and the Bronx River Parkway. For directions to the campus, or for more information, visit their web site at www.svots.edu.