St. Vladimir’s Seminary receives international award
His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, presented the “Unity of Orthodox Peoples Award” to Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary [SVOTS], Crestwood, NY, at a special ceremony in Moscow on Thursday, January 21, 2010.
The seminary was selected to receive the award by the International Foundation for Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations for its activity “aimed at strengthening the unity of Orthodox nations through theological education.” Patriarch Kirill chairs the foundation’s board of trustees.
Accepting the award on behalf of the seminary were Archpriest John Behr, dean, who was accompanied by the school’s chancellor and associate chancellor for advancement, Archpriest Chad Hatfield and Mr. Theodore Bazil. Also present at the award ceremony was Archimandrite Zacchaeus, representative of the Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate.
Similar awards were presented to His Holiness, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; His Excellency, Russian President Dimitry A. Medvedev; and Serbian cinematographer and director Emur Kusturica.
Following the ceremony, the seminary representatives met with Patriarch Kirill at his working residence, at which time he spoke of his respect and love for the former deans of the seminary, Archpriest Georges Florovsky and Protopresbyters Alexander Schmemann, John Meyendorff, and Thomas Hopko, whom he knew personally. He also commended the seminary for bringing the richness of Orthodox theology to the New World while maintaining a proper place within the Church’s Tradition.
Photos of the meeting may be found on the web site of St. Vladimir’s Seminary.