A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY
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| Volume 6 Number 21 - Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 |
A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY |
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The Orthodox Christian News Service |
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Metropolitan Herman presides at St. Vladimir Seminary 2004 Commencement Exercises
Earlier in the day, Metropolitan Herman presided at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the seminary's Three Hierarchs Chapel. Concelebrating hierarchs included His Grace, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada and His Grace, Bishop Basil of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, who delivered the commencement address. Eleven Master of Divinity degrees, four Master of Arts degrees, and three Master of Theology degrees were awarded to the graduates by Metropolitan Herman, who serves as the seminary's president. In his address to the graduates, Bishop Basil, a 1973 SVS graduate, reflected on Our Lord's words in John 15:16: "You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit." He recalled how as a seminarian three decades ago he often reflected on these words with feelings of comfort and concern. "There is comfort in being chosen by Christ," Bishop Basil said, "but there is also a sobering responsibility in fulfilling the command to go and bear fruit." Bishop Basil explained how by cultivating humility, the mother of all virtues, one is able to fulfill Christ's command. Co-valedictorians Jeremy Sean Davis and Vitalijs Permjakovs expressed gratitude for what they had received during their three years of seminary studies and interpreted their trials and joys as meaningful through the cross of Jesus Christ. Salutatorian Justin Patterson, a second-year student enrolled in the Master of Divinity program, spoke on behalf of the school's underclassmen. He reminded the community of the diverse, often eclectic, backgrounds represented at the seminary and of the sacrifices that many, including faculty members and seminarian's wives, make in order to devote themselves to the work of the school. The Saint Basil the Great Award for Academic Achievement, presented annually to the highest ranking senior, middler, and junior students, was given to graduating seminarian Richard Paul Rene. The middler and junior recipients will be announced at the beginning of the fall 2004 semester. SVS Dean John Erickson expressed great pride in the class of 2004 which "demonstrated exceptional merit in both academic performance and service to the Church." Also attending the commencement exercises was His Grace, Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, who also serves as a member of the seminary's board of trustees. Following the commencement exercises, refreshments were served as the entire community celebrated the conclusion of another academic year.
Click
here for photos from Commencement Exercises at
St. Vladimir's |
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