Metropolitan Tikhon, Archbishop Nikon ordain two SVOTS seminarians
On the Feast of Three Hierarchs, two senior class seminarians at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary here were ordained as clergy in the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
Deacon Nicholas Roth was ordained to the priesthood by His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese, while Alessandro Margheritino was ordained to the diaconate by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon. The ordinations took place in the seminary chapel, which is dedicated to the Three Hierarchs.
“It was a wonderful day, and I was glad to be able to share it with Deacon Alessandro,” said Father Nicholas. “I am excited about beginning my ministry, and I look forward to laboring in the vineyard with the support of my wife, Matushka Mary.”
Prior to enrolling at Saint Vladimir’s, Father Nicholas served as a Captain in the US Army. He enlisted as an infantryman in 2001, and was subsequently deployed overseas for three separate assignments: in Iraq from 2005–2006, and again from 2007–2008 after being commissioned a Second Lieutenant; and then in Afghanistan from 2009–2010. Father Nicholas has served as a sacristan at Three Hierarchs Chapel, as a representative on the Student Council, and as liaison to the Student Council for the Saint Herman of Alaska Student Ecology Group.
Deacon Alessandro reflected, “Saint Vladimir’s forms us through theological, liturgical, and pastoral training. But no matter how ‘prepared’ you might feel, when led to the altar through the Holy Doors, standing before the Holy Gifts for the first time, you feel a great sense of unworthiness. Then you realize more than ever that it is only with God’s grace and the prayers of the faithful that you can begin your ministry.”
Born and raised in Palermo, Italy, Deacon Alessandro has been a faithful member of Saint Gregory of Nyssa Church (OCA), Columbus, OH. He has served in short-term missions with the Orthodox Christian Mission Center and International Orthodox Christian Charities in Albania, Kenya, and Louisiana. At the seminary, he is president of Student Council, and currently is under the mentorship of Archpriest Michael Westerberg at Holy Transfiguration Church, New Haven, CT during his senior year. His wife Anna, who is from Moscow, Russia, is an iconographer.
Read the full story on the Seminary’s Website.