Twenty-nine students graduate from St. Vladimir’s Seminary
Twenty-nine students were honored at commencement exercises at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary here on Saturday, May 17, 2008.
A total of 12 Master of Divinity degrees, eight Master of Arts degrees in General Theology, two Master of Arts degrees in Religious Education, five Master of Theology degrees, and two Doctor of Ministry degrees were awarded. Also, for the first time, graduates were awarded hoods.
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America and President of the seminary, was joined by His Grace, Antoun, Bishop of Miami and the Southeast of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, in distributing the degrees. Representing the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Syrian Church was the Very Rev. Dr P.S. Samuel Cor-Episcopa.
Commencement day opened with the celebration of the hierarchical Divine Liturgy, at which Metropolitan Herman presided. During the Liturgy, the Rev. John Behr, dean, was elevated to the rank of archpriest, while the Rev. Alexander Rentel, assistant professor in canon law and Byzantine studies and seminary ecclesiarch, was awarded the right to wear the gold cross. Protodeacon Kirill Sokolov, director of systems and lecturer in liturgics, was awarded the right to wear the kamilavka.
The afternoon commencement ceremony began with the celebration of a Service of Thanksgiving, after which students, graduates, faculty, and trustees processed from the seminary chapel to a large tent on the front lawn, where the ceremony was held.
The Very Rev. Michael Oleksa, a recognized expert on Alaskan missionaries and a graduate of Saint Vladimir’s, delivered the keynote address. The text of his address may be found on the seminary web site at www.svots.edu/Annual/Commencement_Category/2008-0517-commencementaddress.
The valedictorian, Rico Gabriel Monge, spoke on the necessity of loving and understanding one another and urged his fellow graduates to avoid being judgmental. Rico was the recipient of the Saint Basil’s Award, given annually to the Master of Divinity students from each class who rank the highest in academic achievement.
The salutatorian, Evan Freeman, spoke on behalf of the “younger brothers and sisters,” wishing the graduates success in their service to the Church and thanking them for their advice and friendship.
A reception followed commencement ceremonies.
Earlier in the week, Father Michael Oleksa offered two presentations to the entire seminary community. On Thursday, graduates were treated to a private tour of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art with commentary by seminary adjunct professor Richard Schneider. Later that evening, the board of trustees, who had held their annual spring meeting that week, hosted a cookout for the seminarians, while the Rev. David Barr, alumni association president, hosted a continental breakfast for the graduates on Friday morning.
A complete listing of graduates and photographs from the Divine Liturgy and commencement ceremony are may be viewed on the seminary web site at www.svots.edu.