Inter-seminary movement meets at Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY

Over 60 student pose for a photo with His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, during the OISM spring meeting on February 9-11, 2007 in Jordanville, NY.

JORDANVILLE, NY [OCA Communications] — Over 60 students from five North American Orthodox seminaries gathered at Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary here February 9-11, 2007, for the spring meeting of the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement [OISM].

“The event marked the first time in OISM’s 40 year history that a meeting was held on the sacred grounds of Holy Trinity Monastery,” said Deacon Stephen Vernak, a student at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA.
“The participants spent three days in spiritual retreat, fellowship, and in conducting business meetings.”

Highlights included attending the services at the monastery cathedral of the Holy Trinity; an address to the seminarians by His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia; an extensive tour of the monastery and seminary grounds; and the election of Kevin Meyers, a student at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, as OISM new president. The students also viewed a slideshow presentation of OISM’s October 2006 pilgrimage to Saint Herman Seminary, Kodiak, AK, and Spruce Island.

The possibilities of launching an OISM web site and holding a symposium featuring the work of OISM seminarians were also discussed.

“We were most grateful to Metropolitan Laurus for his blessing to hold the meeting at Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary; to the monastery brotherhood and seminary community for their warmth and hospitality; and to our respective school administrations for supporting our participation in this historic event in the life of Orthodox theological education on this continent,” Deacon Stephen added.

In addition to students from Holy Trinity and Saint Tikhon’s seminaries, students from Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, NY; Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA; and Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, also participated in the gathering. Students from Saint Herman’s Seminary, Kodiak, AK, were unable to make the transcontinental journey, but hope to participate in future meetings.

Photo gallery of OISM holds historic first meeting at ROCOR monastery