June 23, 2014
Chicago: Two EAD Seminarians complete Mid-American Diocese’s Pastoral School

On Saturday, June 14, the Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America of ROCOR concluded its 10th year of instruction and held its 8th graduation ceremony at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Des Plaines, IL. This year’s graduates included two from the Eastern American Diocese ‒ Deacon George Temidis (member of the Diocesan Council and cleric of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church at the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY) and Reader Andrei Mouravieff (parishioner of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC), as well as Readers Nicholas DeGraaff and Atanas Megerov. Deacon George graduated with Honors.

Earlier that day, a panel of faculty examined the candidates’ knowledge during comprehensive oral examinations, and the candidates defended their theses. At the small graduation ceremony prior to the All-Night Vigil, His Grace Peter, Bishop of Cleveland, Administrator of the Mid-American Diocese, asked that God help the graduates in their service to the Church. Bishop Peter awarded the diplomas, and "Many Years" was intoned for the graduates. Also present at the ceremony was His Eminence Alypy, Archbishop of Chicago & Mid-America.

The Pastoral School provides an intense 60-credit course of study leading to a Diploma of Pastoral Theology, covering Church History, Holy Scripture, Patristics, Apologetics, Dogmatic Theology, Canon Law, Pastoral Theology, and summer courses in both Liturgics and Church Slavonic. Students also complete a practicum to benefit their parish, as well as a thesis. Courses are conducted in an online eCampus, which enables regular interaction between the students and faculty.

 

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese