June 16, 2015
"I am the happiest man in the world:" Stojan Andov of Macedonia on his Seminary Life & Preceptors

With great joy and excitement, after studying five years at Holy Trinity Seminary, I graduated and received my Bachelor of Theology Diploma. Indeed, I still can’t believe that I have the diploma in my hands. You have no idea how happy I am, but, at the same time, sad at leaving this place.

 When an individual enters a strange culture, or a foreign country, he feels like a fish out of water. So was I: I was a stranger in a foreign land with foreign people, but we had something in common. It was God, the Church, the Faith. I was one of a few, if I am not mistaken, in the history of this seminary, who came here without speaking English. When I was a first year student, barely speaking English, I said to myself, "Will I ever make it to fifth year? I think I will, won’t I?"

My life taught me to fight bravely and to not be afraid of uncertainty. Consequently, this is how I got on the plane from Skopje, flew to New York City, and then came to Jordanville. While I was on the bus to Syracuse, where Fr. Branko met me, and then brought me to Jordanville, an indescribable feeling passed through my body.

Honestly, I still do not know how I survived during the first year. When I came to the American embassy in Skopje for the entrance visa interview, at first I was rejected with an explanation that I did not speak English. In fact, I had been studying English in high school seminary, but it did not work for me, and once I said to myself, "Stojan, you will never learn how to speak English." But God provides for all of us. I had never hoped nor planned that one day I would come to the United States and study in a school where everything is taught in English. Wondrous are Thy ways, O Lord! This is how it all started.

I like to rejoice, to smile, and sometimes even tease my fellows. I like to travel, to see new places and meet new people. Serving God and being with people is something that makes me happy. I think it is really important to have a gift for making true and faithful friends. I grew up in an orphanage and, as a result, became an extrovert. I am so thankful to God for that opportunity.

…Now I recall my first contact with my confessor and abbot, Fr. Luke. One day, at the end of August 2010, I was coming back from the cemetery and Fr. Luke passed by in his car. He stopped on the road, gave me an apple and pear and smiled to me. He probably knew I did not speak English, so there was no need to talk much. I have kept this fatherly gesture in my heart up to this moment. When we had our first students’ meeting with him, he told us to keep away from all temptations, especially from whispering…

This seminary definitely differs very much from the others, because it is within a monastery, and we live a kind of monastic life. Not everyone could adjust to such a life. It is difficult, but blessed. And I loved it. Before I came here, I was a bit frightened, but the fact that I am going to be in the monastery encouraged me. I knew that if I have temptations, I can always go to the church, cry, beseeching God to help me and I can talk to the abba for advice.

At the seminary and monastery I learned a lot. I learned what monastery life is. I learned to humble myself, to ask for forgiveness… When parents scold their child, he or she usually gets mad at them, without realizing that they do that out of love. So was I in the first years of my life here. When I was scolded, I used to get mad, but as I was growing through the years, I started to realize that they did that out of love. I reacted in such way because I was prideful, selfish, egotistic… And you know what? From now on, I will still be prideful, selfish, egotistic, but at least by living and struggling in this seminary and monastery, I’ve learned how to fight these passions. Here, in the seminary, I was not only studying, but also spiritually growing under the spiritual guidance of Fr. Luke. Many times when he would see me, instead of asking me "How are you doing?" he would say "Какъ спасаешься?" – "How do you struggle?" It was very sweet to hear it.

Something that I really didn’t like at the beginning of my studies was writing papers. I’d never done this before, and the biggest reason why I didn’t like was because of the rules… However, I wasn’t left on my own. The seminary has good professors who would spend time with you, and help you out. One of those was Fr. Andrei Psarev. I even used to go to his house to study with him and get help for my paper. Can you imagine going to your professor’s house? That’s real care!

There are a few things that would forever characterize this school for me: the practical things that I’ve learned here include liturgics, by being involved in church services; the obediences helped me to build up friendship with the monks and understand what monastic life is; frequent confessions helped me grow spiritually; Fr. Gregory’s pastorals classes taught us real examples from his own experience as a priest. I will really miss his classes, just as Fr. Luke’s.

…I would like to thank the professors that I had here, who have always pushed me outside of comfort zone and were willing to answer all of my questions… I probably have been rude to some of you in particular situations, and stubborn, so please forgive me for that!

There is another person, who deserves special appreciation. It is our dean, Fr. Cyprian. He has been 24/7 with us. Every time when I was sick or needed something, I would knock on his door and get treatment. When I was a first year student, I used to get upset with him for various things, but after a few years, I saw how much Fr. Cyprian cares about me and other seminarians. He loves us and cares about us.

The biggest gratitude of mine is to Fr. Luke. As I have already mentioned, to me he was more than the rector. He was my confessor and spiritual father who gave me so many pieces of advice in various situations. In such situations, when I went to confession to Fr. Luke, he told me the following, "Whenever the evil one attacks you, come to me immediately. Do not wait!" Moreover, his Patrology classes are awesome! You would see him speaking about the Holy Fathers with love…

Dear Fr. Luke, I know that you don’t like us praising you, but actually it is not praising… My heart told me to do so. In these past five years, you’ve done so much for me. Indeed, I will miss you a lot. Please continue praying for me!

…After my graduation and my return to Macedonia, my grandfather promised me that he will make a barbecue for me and celebrate, but that’s not going to happen, because he passed away a few months ago. I am sure he rejoices with me on receiving this Bachelor of Theology Diploma.

It is always nice to include some quotes from the Bible, as I just graduated from this Orthodox seminary. This is the reading from the Gospel and is one of my favorite quotes, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." Indeed, I am the happiest man in the world because I have God. I have the One Who "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God."

Glory to God for all things!

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese