May 31, 2014
Jordanville, NY: Graduation Day at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary
Sunday,
May 25, was graduation day at Holy Trinity
Orthodox Seminary. His Grace George, Bishop of Mayfield, Vicar
of the Eastern American Diocese, led the Hierarchal All-Night Vigil
and Divine Liturgy. During the Liturgy, Bishop George tonsured
graduate Roman Kuhnen a reader.
Commencement ceremonies officially began with a procession from the
monastery building to the cathedral. Leading a moleben, Bishop
George was asking God to give His almighty helping hand to the
graduating students. After the moleben, a group photo was taken of
all of the students and faculty of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary.
Everyone then proceeded to the Seminary Hall.
Archimandrite Luke (Murianka; seminary rector) announced the
official opening of the 66th annual commencement ceremonies and
offered the welcoming remarks. Asking God’s blessing on the
graduates and all of the students, Fr. Luke reminded the young men
that "everything we live for should be centered around Christ the
Savior and our salvation... If we are not firmly grounded in our
Faith, if we do not clearly understand what it means to be saved, if
we lose our spiritual balance and an understanding of the boundaries
of the Church, we ourselves will stumble and err,
no longer able to guide those entrusted to us, to say nothing of
bringing others into the Church". The rector encouraged the
graduates and the students to fortify themselves with Christian
courage and use the priceless teaching that they had gathered for
their own salvation and for the salvation of others.
Bishop
George then offered brief remarks on the teachings of Elder Paisios
on how to be a good priest. Archpriest Serge Kotar (Western American
Diocese) shared his experiences as a priest with the seminarians and
guests. Fr. Serge is a graduate from Holy Trinity Seminary, and his
son Nicholas Kotar is one of this year’s graduates. Following Fr.
Serge’s remarks, diplomas were given to the graduates.
That day, the Russian History Museum was also officially opened to
the public after the commencement. During the Hierarchal Liturgy,
Bishop George presented a congratulatory citation to Archpriest
Vladimir Tsurikov on behalf His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of
Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church
Abroad, congratulating him on the opening of the new museum and
thanking him for his hard work.
After the commencement ceremonies, guests had an opportunity to see
the new museum and then proceeded to the monastery lawn to enjoy a
reception.
Photos:
www.jordanville.org
Media Office of the Eastern
American Diocese
