With the blessing of His Eminence Nicolae, Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas, His Grace Ioan Casian of Vicina, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, has attended on May 21, 2016 the Commencement ceremony at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY. By the initiative and the efforts of His Eminence Nicolae, two young theologians of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas graduated this year the Master of Theology and the Master of Divinity programs, at the prestigious theological school.
The graduation ceremony started when His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of all America and Canada celebrated Divine Liturgy. His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian of Vicina concelebrated with His Beatitude together with seminary and guest clergy of several Orthodox jurisdictions. His Grace Ioan Casian delivered the sermon, congratulating the graduating class and emphasizing the fact that Ss. Constantine and Helen, celebrated on that day by the Orthodox Church, are examples worthy to be followed. His Grace urged the graduating seminarians to seek Christ in the world, as Ss. Constantine and Helen did.
At the conclusion of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, The Reverend Fr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, gave thanks to His Grace Ioan Casian for his presence in such an important day, not only for the graduating Romanian seminarians, but also for the whole community of St. Vladimir’s. Fr. John also emphasized the fact that His Grace Ioan Casian is the first hierarch of the Romanian Patriarchate serving in the “Three Hierarchs” chapel.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon served a Molieben for the goodness bestowed upon the students, faculty and on all the members of the community during the 2015-2016 academic year. After that, during the Commencement ceremony, the graduating seminarians received their diplomas, which were handed by the hierarchs of their dioceses of origin.
“The Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas is proud of the achievements of its two seminarians, both academically, within the Seminary, and pastorally, within the Archdiocese”, stated His Grace Ioan Casian de Vicina, Vicar of the Archdiocese.
The Reverend Fr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor/CEO of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, emphasized the fact that besides their outstanding academic results, the seminarians of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas have been distinguished through their contribution to the spiritual and cultural enrichment of the community of the American theological institution.
“We give thanks to His Eminence, Archbishop Nicolae for the opportunity that he has given to us, but also for his care. The years of study spent at this theological house helped us not only to enrich our theological knowledge, but also to familiarize ourselves with the realities of the American society, in which the parishes of our Archdiocese are conducting their pastoral and social activities”, stated Alexandru Popovici, a SVS alumnus.
St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary functions under the patronage of the Orthodox Church in America, having the mission to prepare future clergy and lay leaders for the Orthodox Church in America and for other jurisdictions worldwide.
