June 4, 2013
Jordanville, NY: The 65th Commencement of Holy Trinity Seminary
On
Sunday, May 26, 2013,
Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY celebrated its 65th
annual commencement. Candidates who had successfully completed all
requirements were awarded Diplomas of the Bachelor of Theology
degree and the right to wear the seminary graduate’s badge. These
together signify the culmination of years of successful study,
examinations, participation in Holy Trinity Monastery’s divine
services, and labor at monastery obediences. Holy Trinity Seminary’s
Bachelor of Theology degree is accredited by the Board of Regents of
the New York State Education Department, which gives students the
opportunity to further their post-graduate educations.
The graduates prepared all week with comprehensive exams, as well as
preparing a farewell luncheon as a final service to the brethren of
the monastery and their fellow seminarians. The Commencement was
preceded by the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy, which were led
by the First Hierarch of the Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion,
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York. During the Liturgy,
graduate Peter Markevich was ordained to the diaconate.
After
lunch on Sunday, all seminarians, including graduates, gathered
outside the monastery refectoryfor a procession to Holy Trinity
Cathedral, singing "Christ is Risen" as they processed. A
thanksgiving moleben was served, followed by a group picture, and
the procession to the Seminary Hall. The graduation ceremony opened
with the prayer "Christ is Risen," followed by local arrangements of
"The Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Save the Tsar," the national
anthem of the Russian Empire, sung by members of the
seminary/monastery choir.
Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), rector of Holy Trinity Seminary,
officially declared the ceremony open. He gave some encouraging
words to the graduates, followed by an
address by Metropolitan Hilarion. After the First Hierarch came
the keynote speaker, Sergey Chapnin, senior editor of the official
Moscow Patriarchate magazine. Mr. Chapnin, an eminent journalist of
Church matters, had much to say about contemporary religious thought
in Russia and the current state of post-communist Russia concerning
religious matters. He addressed challenges facing the Russian
Orthodox Church today.
At
the conclusion of Mr. Chapnin’s address, Bachelor of Theology
degrees were awarded to the graduates. Before the awards for
excellent academic performance were presented to the students,
Metropolitan Hilarion awarded Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow the
Synodal Order of the Sign, Third Class, in recognition of forty
years of teaching and service to Holy Trinity Seminary, for which he
received a standing ovation from all students, faculty, and guests.
Valedictory speeches were given in Russian and English by Deacon
Peter Markevich and Hierodeacon Seraphim (Nikoloski), respectively.
The Commencement ceremony concluded with prayer, followed by a
festal luncheon for all in attendance. We congratulate the class of
2013 and wish them many years of fruitful service to the Holy
Orthodox Church!
Photos: www.jordanville.org
Story and photos courtesy of
www.jordanville.org
