Voices From St Vladimir’s Seminary

In this wide-ranging conversation, Sarah interviews Deacon (soon-to-be Priest) Giorgi Lomsadze, a third-year M.Div. student from the Republic of Georgia. Dn Giorgi shares his path beginning with studying medieval Georgian literature in his home country, to bringing his family to New York to undertake a Master of Arts to better understand liturgical theology as a way to further his academic career, and then, through his experience of the liturgical life at seminary, discovering his calling to priestly ministry. Giorgi also shares the joy and beauty of raising a family immersed in the community and chapel life at seminary, talks about his hopes for his future parish assignment, and gives his thoughts on the challenges and benefits of experiencing Orthodoxy online.

Have you ever met a true missionary, ministering to hundreds of people and caring for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs? SVOTS alumnus Fr Simon Menya (M.Div. '19) is one such inspiring figure. In this conversation with Sarah Werner, Fr Simon describes his upbringing in his wartorn home country of Uganda, his conversion to Orthodoxy, his journey to and through the M.Div. program at St Vladimir's Seminar, and the many facets of his ministry in Uganda as an Orthodox priest and as founder of the Northern Uganda Self-Sufficiency Project (NUSSP).

Fr Simon conducts church services daily; translates Orthodox service books and other texts from English into the local language, Luo; and travels to many small towns and villages in his region to visit the sick, celebrate the sacraments, and catechize new inquirers. Last fall, he oversaw the completion of a new church building dedicated to St Catherine and baptized 33 catechumens into the Orthodox Faith. In addition to this prodigious work, he works with NUSSP to organize medical treatment and the building of new clinics; improve local water infrastructure; offer secondary schooling for children; and facilitate opportunities for adults to practice animal husbandry and farming, among other professional skills.

Listen now to hear directly from a true missionary and servant of Christ, Fr Simon Menya.

In this inaugural episode of the relaunch of the Voices of St Vladimir's podcast, we hear from Dr. Albert Rossi, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services and most senior faculty member at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Dr. Rossi is beloved by generations of seminarians and well-known to the wider Orthodox world through his podcast Becoming a Healing Presence, his books, and his many, many speaking engagements at parishes, conferences, and youth events over the years. In this conversation, Dr. Rossi speaks with Sarah Werner about his life, conversion process, his relationship with his dear departed wife, his close friendship with Fr. Thomas Hopko, his reflections on his many years at St. Vladimir's Seminary counseling students, and his favorite reading recommendations. Listen now to encounter Dr. Rossi in a one-on-one setting as he shares stories and wisdom from his many years of caring ministry in the Church.

Saint Vladimir's Seminary entered into its annual, two-day Lenten Retreat on Clean Monday and Tuesday, March 15 and 16, 2021. Four talks delivered over the two days followed the theme of "Ora et Labora: The Foundations of Spirituality According to the Rule of St Benedict of Nursia." In this final meditation, Fr Nicholas Roth, the Seminary’s Spiritual Formation Director and Ecclesiarch, speaks of “Working Together.”

Saint Vladimir's Seminary entered into its annual, two-day Lenten Retreat on Clean Monday and Tuesday, March 15 and 16, 2021. Four talks delivered over the two days followed the theme of "Ora et Labora: The Foundations of Spirituality According to the Rule of St Benedict of Nursia." Saint Vladimir’s Director of Music Harrison Russin reflects on “Working Alone” in this third of the retreat meditations.

Saint Vladimir's Seminary entered into its annual, two-day Lenten Retreat on Clean Monday and Tuesday, March 15 and 16, 2021. Four talks delivered over the two days followed the theme of "Ora et Labora: The Foundations of Spirituality According to the Rule of St Benedict of Nursia." In this reflection, Dr Vitaly Permiakov, the Seminary's assistant professor of liturgical theology, leads a meditation on "Praying Together."

On January 30, 2021, New York Times bestselling author Rod Dreher delivered the 38th Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture. Dreher’s lecture, “Living in Truth: How the Communist-Era Suffering Church can Prepare Us to be Dissidents,” defined the challenges and explored the gifts the suffering church has for a complacent West. His talk coincided with the publication of A Voice for Our Time: Radio Liberty Talks, Vol. 1, featuring an English translation of Schmemann’s broadcasts into the Soviet Union that began in 1953. This first volume of the two-part series, being published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press, features a foreword by Dreher.

What can be learned from the Orthodox Mission to Alaska? How should the spirit of the early Church in the Roman empire inspire the life of a new parish? Saint Vladimir’s Seminary President Fr. Chad Hatfield offered insights and practical advice on mission planting at Holy Theophany Russian Orthodox Church in Bergen, Norway on December 6, 2019. The talk was organized in part by St. Vladimir's Alumnus Fr. Theodor Svane (’15) and the parish Fr. Theodore serves, Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Mission Parish, also in Bergen.

Saint Vladimir’s Seminary President Fr. Chad Hatfield discusses Orthodox evangelism, drawing from his experience as a missionary in South Africa and Orthodox mission planter in the United States, to an audience at NLA University College in Bergen, Norway. The talk, delivered on December 5, 2019, was organized in part by St. Vladimir's Alumnus Fr. Theodor Svane (’15) and the parish Fr. Theodore serves, Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Mission Parish, in Bergen.

Discover “Music as Liturgy” this summer—from home! Robin Freeman, Director of Music at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, gives listeners a special preview of the 2020 Pan-Orthodox Music Symposium happening June 11 through June 13, 2020. The event, which has been reconfigured to a global online format, is co-hosted by St. Vladimir’s and the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM). It will explore the theme of “Music as Liturgy” with masterclasses, keynote presentations, and workshops. Learn more and register at orthodoxmusicsymposium.org.

St. Vladimir’s Seminary celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA)’s autocephaly Thursday, January 30, 2020. A full-day of events included three workshops on the topic of autocephaly. In the third, “Autocephaly & New Saints,” His Grace, Bishop Daniel (Brum) of Santa Rosa explored the importance and canonization of North American saints including St. Herman of Alaska, who was canonized the same year the Tomos of Autocephaly was granted (but decided upon a year earlier). Excitingly, Bishop Daniel’s talk also touched upon the possibility of new North American saints, notably Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich, d. 1965) and Matushka Olga Michael of Alaska (d. 1979).

St. Vladimir’s Seminary celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA)’s autocephaly Thursday, January 30, 2020. A full-day of events included three workshops on the topic of autocephaly. In the second, “Autocephaly & Evangelism," Archpriest John Parker, dean of Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, delivered a passionate call to action and reminder that "autocephaly is an inner evangelism in reminding all Orthodox Christians that in Christ Jews and Greeks, Turks and Cretans, Romanians, Latinos, Africans, Asians all find true motherland in the nave and at the chalice."

St. Vladimir’s Seminary celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA)’s autocephaly Thursday, January 30, 2020. A full-day of events included three workshops on the topic of autocephaly. In the first, “Autocephaly: The OCA, the Greek Archdiocese, and Antioch," Priest Anthony Roeber, the Seminary's professor of church history, delivered an eye-opening and candid lecture. He sheds light on motivations and circumstances leading up to the granting of the Tomos of Autocephaly in 1970 by the Russian Orthodox Church to the OCA (then known as the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of America) and addressed the reaction of other Orthodox jurisdictions to the Tomos.

St. Vladimir’s Seminary celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA)’s autocephaly Thursday, January 30, 2020. A full-day of events culminated with a passionate, heartfelt 37th Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture delivered by His Eminence, Archbishop Michael (Dahulich). Hear his lecture, "The Gift of Autocephaly," the Mid-Year Commencement Ceremony, and a final reflection from His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon.

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS), Yonkers, NY, and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, Armonk, NY, celebrated fifty years of collaboration with a special event Friday, October 11, on SVOTS’ campus. The event included the annual Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lecture, delivered by SVOTS/St. Nersess Alumnus His Grace, Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and President of St. Nersess Seminary.

At its Commencement Ceremonies Saturday, May 18, 2019 St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) conferred degrees upon twenty-two graduates, including fourteen Master of Divinity, three Master of Arts, and five Master of Theology students. The Seminary also awarded two honorary doctorates, one to His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East (Syriac Orthodox Church) and longtime Seminary Trustee Alex Machaskee. Hear the Commencement Exercises in their entirety, which included remarks from His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and the Commencement Address from Orthodox Church in America Chancellor Archpriest Alexander Rentel.

The 36th Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Lecture at St. Vladimir's Seminary proved to be an insightful tribute to Fr. Alexander’s memory. On Wednesday, January 30, 2019, guest lecturer Dr. David Fagerberg, professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame and author of the recently released Liturgy outside Liturgy: The Liturgical Theology of Fr. Alexander Schmemann (Chora Books, 2018), took the audience through a beautiful exploration of what he termed "the house of Schmemann."

St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS) celebrated two milestones at the 2018 edition of Orthodox Education Day (OED) on Saturday, October 6: fifty years of OED and fifty years of St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVS) Press. The day included several highlights befitting the historic celebration, including a passionate call to spread the Gospel as individuals in addition to supporting Orthodox evangelistic enterprises such as SVS Press and Ancient Faith Ministries, delivered by Ancient Faith co-founder John Maddex.

The 2018 Commencement at St. Vladimir's Seminary, held May 19, was truly a blessed occasion. In addition to graduating 20 students from the Class of 2018, the seminary also awarded honorary doctorates to three distinguished figures for their contributions to the Orthodox Church: composer Mitered Archpriest Sergei Glagolev, Dr. David Bradshaw, chair of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Kentucky, and Protodeacon Peter Danilchick, seminary trustee emeritus and former ExxonMobile executive. Hear the Commencement Exercises in their entirety, which included remarks from His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and the Commencement Address from Dr. Bradshaw.

Rome-based Catholic filmmaker Robert Duncan took part in a special, public screening of his documentary Faces Among Icons on April 29, 2018 at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, followed by a panel discussion about the renewal of Orthodoxy in Russia. Duncan was joined on the panel by Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield and third-year Seminarian Priest Christopher Moore. Hear the panel discussion in its entirety as it addressed issues including ecumenical dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, the nature of church-state relations in Russia, and how the Orthodox Church there is addressing social concerns in Russian society.

Priest Anthony Roeber, Ph.D., professor of Church History at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four Lenten talks to the entire seminary community on February 19–20, 2018, as they gathered in Three Hierarchs Chapel for worship and reflection to mark the beginning of the season of Great Lent. Father Anthony based his talks on the “Great Farewell Discourse” of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of St. John (John 14–17). Focusing on the words, “That they may be one, as we are one” (John 17.21), he challenged Orthodox Christians to love, trust, and seek unity with others—whether they are inside or outside the borders of the faith.

Priest Anthony Roeber, Ph.D., professor of Church History at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four Lenten talks to the entire seminary community on February 19–20, 2018, as they gathered in Three Hierarchs Chapel for worship and reflection to mark the beginning of the season of Great Lent. Father Anthony based his talks on the “Great Farewell Discourse” of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of St. John (John 14–17). Focusing on the words, “That they may be one, as we are one” (John 17.21), he challenged Orthodox Christians to love, trust, and seek unity with others—whether they are inside or outside the borders of the faith.

Priest Anthony Roeber, Ph.D., professor of Church History at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four Lenten talks to the entire seminary community on February 19–20, 2018, as they gathered in Three Hierarchs Chapel for worship and reflection to mark the beginning of the season of Great Lent. Father Anthony based his talks on the “Great Farewell Discourse” of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of St. John (John 14–17). Focusing on the words, “That they may be one, as we are one” (John 17.21), he challenged Orthodox Christians to love, trust, and seek unity with others—whether they are inside or outside the borders of the faith.

Priest Anthony Roeber, Ph.D., professor of Church History at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four Lenten talks to the entire seminary community on February 19–20, 2018, as they gathered in Three Hierarchs Chapel for worship and reflection to mark the beginning of the season of Great Lent. Father Anthony based his talks on the “Great Farewell Discourse” of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of St. John (John 14–17). Focusing on the words, “That they may be one, as we are one” (John 17.21), he challenged Orthodox Christians to love, trust, and seek unity with others—whether they are inside or outside the borders of the faith.

On the Feast of the Three Hierarchs Tuesday, January 30, 2017, St. Vladimir's Seminary hosted a marvelous evening program featuring the 35th Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Lecture. Seminary alumnus Dr. Scott Kenworthy presented the Schmemann Lecture, entitled, “St. Tikhon of Moscow (1865–1925) and the Orthodox Church in North America and Revolutionary Russia.” Dr. Kenworthy described St. Tikhon’s pastoral responsibilities both in North America and Russia, and noted how 21st-century Orthodox Christians could benefit from the well-documented spiritual struggles and challenges that the saint experienced.

Dr. Kenworthy is Associate Professor of Comparative Religion and Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies at Miami University (Oxford, OH). He is currently writing a new, comprehensive biography of St. Tikhon.

Archpriest Michael Oleksa delivered a powerful, enlightening, and heart-felt message on the campus of St. Vladimir's Seminary Saturday, September 1, 2018, as part of the Seminary's celebration of the Ecclesiastical New Year. The distinguished alumnus and author beautifully weaved the history of the Alaskan Mission and the work of St. Herman and others into the present, as the Orthodox Church continues to defend the native peoples of Alaska and uphold the sanctity of the created world. Fr. Michael passionately implored Orthodox Christians everywhere to draw upon the past and modern-day experience of Orthodoxy in Alaska in witnessing Christ to all nations.

During Missions Weekend 2017, held at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary October 20–21, Metropolitan Ambrosios (Zographos) of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea, laid a patristic foundation for missionary work by Orthodox Christians, using 16 principles from the writings of St. John Chrysostom. His fascinating and uplifting talk was titled, “St. John Chrysostom’s Constitution for Christian Witness: Universal Principles and Their Relevance for Korean Orthodox Identity.”

Dr. Christine Chaillot speaks about the relations between the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches. She gave her talk on Orthodox Education Day, held at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Saturday, October 7, 2017. Referring to her latest work, The Dialogue between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, Dr. Chaillot explains the initial dispute that split the two church bodies in the 5th century following the Council of Chalcedon, and she also informs us about contemporary ongoing official dialogue and current increased rapprochement between the two faith communities.

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary held its annual open house, Orthodox Education Day, Saturday, October 7, 2017. This year’s timely theme was “Modern Martyrs: Christians of the Middle East and North Africa.” In his keynote address titled, “Dying, and Behold, We Live: Martyrdom in the New Testament,” biblical scholar the Reverend Dr. George Parsenios, Associate Professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Sessional Professor of New Testament at St. Vladimir’s, focused on the writings of St. Paul and the Gospel of Saint John, texts that indicate how suffering is connected to assimilation to Christ and being “in Christ.” Father George emphasized how the actions of both ancient and modern martyrs continue to teach us that “the meaning of life is death,” and “that if you want to live the Resurrection, the only path is to carry the Cross.”

Dr. Alice-Mary Talbot presented the 4​th annual Father John Meyendorff Memorial Lectu​re at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary on Friday, September 15​, 2017.​ ​Her presentation, titled, Varieties of Monastic Experience in Byzantium, 800–1453, opened a window into Byzantine monasticism that revealed a culture as rich and diverse as the personalities of the monks and nuns who embraced it.​ She highlighted the many ways one could be a Byzantine monk or nun, and the continuous tensions in Byzantium between the eremitic (solitary living) and coenobitic (community living) forms of monasticism.

St. Vladimir's Seminary's 75th Commencement, held May 20, 2017, included several distinguishing moments: granting degrees to 16 graduates in three academic programs; remarks to graduates by His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, of the Orthodox Church in America; the commencement address by His Grace the Right Reverend John of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America; the appointment of Archpriest John Behr to the newly established “Father Georges Florovsky Distinguished Professorship of Patristics"; and the bestowal of the St. Macrina Award upon Archpriest Chad Hatfield, Seminary President.

On February 27–28, 2017, Priest David Mezynski, associate dean for Student Affairs at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four lenten reflections during the two days of intensive liturgical services that annually mark the beginning of Great Lent for the seminary community. Using a story-telling format and employing a variety of sayings from the desert monastics, Father David focused on the theme of gratitude as the fruit of repentance, and especially pinpointed two main obstacles to true repentance: 1) feeling no awareness of sin, with a consequent refusal to change; and 2) possessing a despairing attitude, with a consequent inability to receive forgiveness.

On February 27–28, 2017, Priest David Mezynski, associate dean for Student Affairs at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four lenten reflections during the two days of intensive liturgical services that annually mark the beginning of Great Lent for the seminary community. Using a story-telling format and employing a variety of sayings from the desert monastics, Father David focused on the theme of gratitude as the fruit of repentance, and especially pinpointed two main obstacles to true repentance: 1) feeling no awareness of sin, with a consequent refusal to change; and 2) possessing a despairing attitude, with a consequent inability to receive forgiveness.

On February 27–28, 2017, Priest David Mezynski, associate dean for Student Affairs at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four lenten reflections during the two days of intensive liturgical services that annually mark the beginning of Great Lent for the seminary community. Using a story-telling format and employing a variety of sayings from the desert monastics, Father David focused on the theme of gratitude as the fruit of repentance, and especially pinpointed two main obstacles to true repentance: 1) feeling no awareness of sin, with a consequent refusal to change; and 2) possessing a despairing attitude, with a consequent inability to receive forgiveness.

On Sunday, March 5, 2017, Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, was guest homilist during the Great Vespers service celebrating the Sunday of Orthodoxy, at Holy Ghost Russian Orthodox Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut—whose rector is Archpriest Steven J. Belonick, seminary alumnus (M.Div. ’77). The parish hosted the event, which was sponsored by the New England Clergy Association.

On February 27–28, 2017, Priest David Mezynski, associate dean for Student Affairs at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four lenten reflections during the two days of intensive liturgical services that annually mark the beginning of Great Lent for the seminary community. Using a story-telling format and employing a variety of sayings from the desert monastics, Father David focused on the theme of gratitude as the fruit of repentance, and especially pinpointed two main obstacles to true repentance: 1) feeling no awareness of sin, with a consequent refusal to change; and 2) possessing a despairing attitude, with a consequent inability to receive forgiveness.

Father Ivan Moody—prolific composer, sought after conductor, editor of sacred music, and author and lecturer—speaks on "The Past, Present, and Future of Orthodox Music" in this public conversation. He touches upon everything from deciphering early musical notation written on papyri to creating fresh repertoire in sacred music, and from the “monophony and polyphony wars” in church history to the therapeutic function of music in contemporary church and society.

The Very Rev. Fr. Dr. John Behr, the Dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Dr. Bishop Anba Suriel of the Coptic Diocese of Melbourne, Dean of St. Athanasius Coptic Orthodox Theological
College, Australia, and the Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Athanasius K. Farag, Dean of Pope Shenouda III Coptic Orthodox Theological Seminary, speak at the book launch of the new SVS Press book by Pope Shenouda The Life of Repentance and Purity.

For his last class on Evangelism, Fr. Chad Hatfield, the Chancellor of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, hosted three priests for a panel responding to questions raised by the Seminarians. The three priests were Fr. John Parker from Mt. Pleasant, SC. and Chairman of the Dept of Evangelism of the OCA, Fr. Michael Elias, pastor of St. Mary Antiochian Orthodox Church, Brooklyn, NY, and Fr. Michael Sorial, pastor of St. Anianas Coptic Orthodox Church, Princeton, NJ. All three are SVOTS grads.

At its commencement exercises on Saturday, May 31, 2014, St. Vladimir's Seminary awarded diplomas in three programs to 21 graduates: four Master of Theology, eight Master of Divinity, and nine Master of Arts degrees. Among the graduates were five priests and one deacon, who will join the ranks of alumni clergy serving the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches in the U.S. and around the world. Archbishop Job (Getcha) gave the commencement address.

Here is the fourth of Archpriest John Behr's four meditative talks to St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary's community during the first two days of Great Lent on the topics "Our Response to the Call of God," "Holding Our Tongue," and "Holding Our Mind." Father John, the Dean of St. Vladimir's, was this year's leader of the rigorous annual retreat that marks the beginning of the Great Fast for seminarians, faculty, and staff at St. Vladimir's.

Here is the third of Archpriest John Behr's four meditative talks to St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary's community during the first two days of Great Lent on the topics "Our Response to the Call of God," "Holding Our Tongue," and "Holding Our Mind." Father John, the Dean of St. Vladimir's, was this year's leader of the rigorous annual retreat that marks the beginning of the Great Fast for seminarians, faculty, and staff at St. Vladimir's.

Here is the second of Archpriest John Behr's four meditative talks to St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary's community during the first two days of Great Lent on the topics "Our Response to the Call of God," "Holding Our Tongue," and "Holding Our Mind." Father John, the Dean of St. Vladimir's, was this year's leader of the rigorous annual retreat that marks the beginning of the Great Fast for seminarians, faculty, and staff at St. Vladimir's

Here is the first of Archpriest John Behr's four meditative talks to St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary's community during the first two days of Great Lent on the topics "Our Response to the Call of God," "Holding Our Tongue," and "Holding Our Mind." Father John, the Dean of St. Vladimir's, was this year's leader of the rigorous annual retreat that marks the beginning of the Great Fast for seminarians, faculty, and staff at St. Vladimir's.

In a presentation centering on Christian identity, Archimandrite Zacharias, a monk of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, Tolleshunt Knights by Maldon, Essex, England, inspired an audience of more than 100 people with what he termed "domestic theology," that is, "simple things, in Church life that bear profound consequences. Father Zacharias, a disciple of Father Sophrony (of blessed memory) who was a disciple of St. Silouan of Mount Athos, emphasized the importance of each Christian becoming a living temple of God, but in particular, priests.

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and noted author Jay Richards was the keynote speaker at the Conference on Poverty, May 31 - June 1, 2013, at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Co-hosted by the Acton Institute, the event featured speakers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who offered fresh ideas for Orthodox Christians on how to effectively minister to the poor. Other speakers and panelists included Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, St. Vlad's alumnus and officer in the National Council of Churches; Seminary Trustee Dr. Nicholas Pandelidis; Fr Philip LeMasters, Dean of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University in Abilene, TX; Michael Miller of the Poverty Cure at Acton; John Couretas of Acton; and director of FOCUS North America in Pittsburgh, Subdeacon Paul Abernathy.

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and noted author Jay Richards was the keynote speaker at the Conference on Poverty, May 31 - June 1, 2013, at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Co-hosted by the Acton Institute, the event featured speakers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who offered fresh ideas for Orthodox Christians on how to effectively minister to the poor. Other speakers and panelists included Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, St. Vlad's alumnus and officer in the National Council of Churches; Seminary Trustee Dr. Nicholas Pandelidis; Fr Philip LeMasters, Dean of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University in Abilene, TX; Michael Miller of the Poverty Cure at Acton; John Couretas of Acton; and director of FOCUS North America in Pittsburgh, Subdeacon Paul Abernathy.

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and noted author Jay Richards was the keynote speaker at the Conference on Poverty, May 31 - June 1, 2013, at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Co-hosted by the Acton Institute, the event featured speakers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who offered fresh ideas for Orthodox Christians on how to effectively minister to the poor. Other speakers and panelists included Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, St. Vlad's alumnus and officer in the National Council of Churches; Seminary Trustee Dr. Nicholas Pandelidis; Fr Philip LeMasters, Dean of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University in Abilene, TX; Michael Miller of the Poverty Cure at Acton; John Couretas of Acton; and director of FOCUS North America in Pittsburgh, Subdeacon Paul Abernathy.

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and noted author Jay Richards was the keynote speaker at the Conference on Poverty, May 31 - June 1, 2013, at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Co-hosted by the Acton Institute, the event featured speakers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines who offered fresh ideas for Orthodox Christians on how to effectively minister to the poor. Other speakers and panelists included Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, St. Vlad's alumnus and officer in the National Council of Churches; Seminary Trustee Dr. Nicholas Pandelidis; Fr Philip LeMasters, Dean of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University in Abilene, TX; Michael Miller of the Poverty Cure at Acton; John Couretas of Acton; and director of FOCUS North America in Pittsburgh, Subdeacon Paul Abernathy.