May 28, 2014
South Canaan, PA: Four ROCOR Seminarians graduate St. Tikhon’s
Orthodox Theological Seminary
On
Saturday, May 24, St.
Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary OCA held its 72nd annual
commencement ceremonies for the graduating class of 2014. Four of
the graduating seminarians belong to the Russian Church Abroad.
Presiding over the commencement was the seminary president and
Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Tikhon,
Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America & Canada. Also
in attendance were hierarchs of the OCA: His Grace, seminary rector
Bishop Michael of New York & New Jersey; His Grace, Bishop Matthias;
and His Grace, Bishop David of Sitka & Alaska; as well as His Grace,
Bishop Sava of the Serbian Church.
Following Divine Liturgy and brunch on Saturday morning, the nine
graduates, seminarians, faculty, and board of trustees processed
from the seminary building to the grounds behind the church, where
the commencement ceremony was held. Metropolitan Tikhon offered the
opening prayer, followed by greetings from Bishop Michael and
seminary dean Archpriest Steven Voytovich. Each of the speakers made
special mention of Archpriest Alexander Atty of blessed memory, who
served as dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary from 2010-2013, and was
especially beloved by the graduating class. The valedictorian
address was delivered by Priest Moses Hibbard (OCA), followed by the
commencement address, which was delivered by Bishop Sava (who had
graduated from St. Tikhon’s exactly 50 years earlier).
The
four ROCOR graduates of the Master of Divinity Program are: Priest
Michael Lillie and Deacon Edward Batchko (both to be assigned in the
Mid-American Diocese), and Reader Gregory Levitsky and Dmitry Bolbot
(from the Eastern American Diocese). Fr. Michael attended the
Orthodox Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, while Dmitry graduated from Holy
Trinity Seminary in Jordanville in 2011.
Following the ceremony, an honorary banquet for graduates and their
families was held in the parish hall of St. Michael’s Church in
Jermyn, PA, followed by Vespers.
The Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese expresses its
sincerest congratulations to the four ROCOR graduates and to all of
the recipients of the Master of Divinity degree, wishing them God’s
every blessing and many years of service to Christ’s Holy Church!
Republication of materials must include a reference to:
"Eastern American Diocese www.eadiocese.org."
Media Office of the Eastern
American Diocese
