St. Vladimir’s Seminary Receives Distinguished Russian Guests
This fall, St. Vladimir’s Seminary welcomed two prestigious guests to its campus: the Minister for Justice of the Russian Federation and the President of The International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations (IFUOCN). Both Russian visitors from reflected upon the renowned reputation of the seminary and its influence in Orthodox Christian circles worldwide.
The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr (left) received news that St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY, of which he is dean, has been awarded the “Unity of Orthodox Peoples Award,” bestowed by The International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations (IFUOCN), based in Moscow. Professor Valery A. Alekseev, president of the Russian foundation (center), and Archimandrite Zacchaeus Wood (right), representing the Moscow Patriarchate, recently traveled to the seminary to announce the decision and to issue an invitation to the official awards ceremony in Moscow in 2010.
[Photo: Joseph Olas] |
On Sunday November 1, 2009, the seminary administration welcomed The Honorable Alexander V. Konovalov, the minister for justice, and his wife, Maria Suslina, who attended the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by His Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah, primate of the Orthodox Church in America. Mr. Konovalov, a devout Orthodox Christian, has had a long-standing interest in the works of the former dean of St. Vladimir’s, Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann, particularly his views on the challenge of secularism. Coincidently, Mr. Konovalov was able to meet the wife of Fr. Alexander, Matushka Juliana, who happened to be visiting the seminary chapel the same day. The current seminary dean, The Very Rev. John Behr, engaged Mr. Konovalov in a discussion of Fr. Alexander’s works and gave him and his wife an informal tour of the campus.
On Sunday October 25, 2009 Professor Valery A. Alekseev, president of The International Foundation for the Unity of Orthodox Christian Nations (IFUOCN), attended Divine Liturgy and announced that the seminary had been chosen to be the recipient of its major annual award—the “Unity of Orthodox Peoples Award.” The annual prize is given “for outstanding activity aimed at strengthening the unity of Orthodox nations and promoting Christian values.” Former recipients include several heads of state, various churchmen and institutions, and political and cultural figures, among them, former Russian president Vladimir Putin, Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Serbian filmmaker, actor, and musician Emir Kusturica.
The IFUOCN selected the seminary as the award recipient at its September board meeting. In January 2010, the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Kirill I, will chair the presentation ceremony of the IFUOCN in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, and will officially bestow the award, which also includes a monetary prize. The dean and the chancellor of St. Vladimir’s both plan to attend the event.
This fall, the Minister for Justice of the Russian Federation fulfilled a long-standing wish to visit St. Vladimir’s Seminary, based on his admiration for former dean, Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann. From left, Maria Suslina, wife of the Minister for Justice, Alexander V. Konovalov, pictured next to her; Metropolitan Jonah, who celebrated Divine Liturgy the day of the visit; current seminary dean, Archpriest John Behr; and Theodore Bazil, Associate Chancellor for Advancement at the seminary.
[Photo: Andrey V. Chumakov] |
The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir’s, expressed his delight at the seminary’s selection, saying, “Throughout our history deans and faculty members have worked tirelessly for Orthodox unity. We are encouraged by the foundation’s recognition of this, and we will strive ever harder for the unity of the body of Christ.”
Chancellor of the seminary, The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, concurred, stating, “Recently, a bishop, an alumnus of our school, told me, `St. Vladimir’s Seminary serves no one particular archdiocese or jurisdiction of Orthodox Christians in America, but rather the global Orthodox Church.’ This award reflects the truth of that bishop’s observation.”
Established in 1938, St. Vladimir’s Seminary prepares clergy and lay leaders to serve the Orthodox Church worldwide and promotes theological study and research. The seminary has a multi-national student body, and counts more than 900 clergy among its 1,800 alumni, with 39 bishops around the globe, including one patriarch, His Holiness Abune Paulos of the Ethiopian Tewahedo Church.
More information about the IFUOCN and the international award may be found at www.fepn.ru.