His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Presides Over the 2026 Commencement Exercises of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
The seminaries of the Orthodox Church in America celebrated their 2026 commencement exercises in May. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the commencement exercises of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, offering words of encouragement and his archpastoral blessing to the graduates, their families, and the seminary communities. St. Herman Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska, also marked its commencement exercises with the tonsuring of new readers and the recognition of students and members of the seminary community.
St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary hosted its 86th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
The celebration began that morning with His Beatitude presiding at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Three Hierarchs Chapel. Concelebrating with His Beatitude were His Grace Bishop John, Auxiliary Bishop of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and SVOTS Assistant Professor for Pastoral Theology; His Grace Bishop Nikodhim of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese; His Grace Bishop Benedict of Hartford and the Diocese of New England; and His Grace Bishop Vasily of San Francisco and the Diocese of the West. Also serving were Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, and Archpriest John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.
Following the Divine Liturgy, Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Chapel Rector, welcomed the bishops, visiting clergy, and guests to Three Hierarchs Chapel.
In the afternoon, the seminary community returned to the chapel for a Molieben of Thanksgiving. At its conclusion, the clergy, faculty, and graduates processed into the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium for the Commencement Exercises.
Guests included His Grace Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church’s Northeast American Diocese; His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan of the Armenian Church’s Eastern Diocese of America; the Rev. Mardiros Chevian, Dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary; this year’s commencement speaker, Charles Ajalat, J.D., Hon. J.C.D., and his wife Marilee; family members; friends; and members of the SVOTS Board of Trustees.
The Class of 2026 was comprised of eighteen graduates: fourteen graduated with a Master of Divinity degree, one with a Master of Arts degree, and three with a Master of Theology degree. The graduates were from various dioceses of the Orthodox Church in America, the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Eastern America, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, and the dioceses of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in North America and India.
During the ceremony, Priest John Reavis, class salutatorian, and Priest Nathan Jekel, class valedictorian, offered addresses on behalf of the graduating class.
Charles Ajalat, J.D., Hon. J.C.D. delivered this year’s commencement address. A former trustee of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, he also served as Chancellor of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and has founded multiple Orthodox organizations and initiatives.
At the conclusion of the commencement address, Dr. Tudorie presented him with an icon of St. Vladimir on behalf of the Seminary community, in recognition of the support and generosity he has shown the Seminary over many years.
During the commencement exercises, St. Vladimir’s seminarians honored Zachariah Mandell, instructor in Liturgical Music, with the 2026 St. Macrina Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award is selected each year by student vote. Emil Peter, a graduate and outgoing President of the Student Council, announced the award and presented an icon of St. Macrina to Mr. Mandell. The icon was painted by a member of the graduating class, the Priest Daniel Werner.
The graduates also presented two gifts to the Seminary: a new cutting board for the Prothesis table at Three Hierarchs Chapel and a cross for the St. Thomas Malankara Chapel.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Metropolitan Tikhon, President of the Seminary, offered his closing remarks, reminding the graduates of the unique moment facing their ministries.
“Orthodoxy in America is growing, genuinely visibly, in ways that were not predictable even a decade ago. … Priests who are serving are stretched, doing the work of two and sometimes three men available at all hours to all manner of need. … The founders of this Seminary could not have imagined the church you are graduating into. They planted in soil they could not see. Every priest who has gone before you would say the same. The weight is real. The weight is worth carrying and you will not carry it alone. … Go down with humility so that you may be lifted up by Christ and receive the gifts that he bestows on all of us.”
St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
His Beatitude likewise presided over the 84th Annual Commencement Exercises at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
On the evening prior, Friday, May 22, students and members of the seminary community gathered in the Archangel Michael Convocation Hall. Also present were His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey, Rector of the Seminary, and His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest, who serves on the St. Tikhon’s Seminary Board.
The commencement address delivered by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Kenya from the Patriarchate of Alexandria. His Eminence was unable to attend in person due to international travel restrictions, but offered a message to the graduates where he spoke on the need for the graduates to maintain faithfulness, community, love, and evangelical zeal as they enter a life of service to Christ’s Church.
His Beatitude offered his own remarks following, where he reminded the graduates of the life of prayer cultivated at St. Tikhon’s Seminary during their studies.
On Saturday afternoon, the hierarchs, faculty, and trustees convened to recognize the graduating class. The Class of 2026 had two co-valedictorians, Priest Seraphim Crossman and Priest John Stiff. The valedictory address was delivered by Fr. John, who offered a reflection on the various pathways to ministry and the shared bond which is enjoyed by men entering the priesthood and future leadership roles in the Church.
Archpriest Nikolai Breckenridge, President of the Alumni Association, presented the Alumnus of the Year Award to Archpriest Basil Stoyka of Lorain, OH, in recognition of his long ministry and many loving years of pastoral service.
The Class of 2026 chose Mr. David Getz, Assistant to the Dean, as this year’s recipient of the Father Alexander Atty Service Award, given annually to recognize exemplary sacrificial love within the St. Tikhon’s Seminary community. The award and commemorative icon were presented to David by his long-time friend, co-valedictorian Priest Seraphim Crossman.
His Beatitude and Archbishop Michael conferred a total of fourteen Master of Divinity degrees, twelve Certificates in Diaconal Formation, and ten Certificates in Clinical Pastoral Education.
Seven graduates – Priest Evan Ashmore, Mr. Joshua Brown, Priest Seraphim Crossman, Priest John Jovel, Mr. Kuriakose Kurian, Christopher Mescher, Priest Pedro Sarsama, and Deacon Eugene Schreder – were awarded Honors for their theses and senior projects.
St. Herman Seminary
St. Herman Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska, held its 2026 commencement observance on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
During the commencement, His Eminence Archbishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska tonsured three new readers at the seminary: Mr. Pavel Messenbrink, Mr. Andrei Denicola, and Mr. Nikolai Fisher.
Several students and members of the seminary community were also honored with merit awards in recognition of their diligence, giftedness, and faithful labor in service to the seminary and the people of Kodiak. Among those recognized was Matushka Rachel, the seminary’s Yup’ik language instructor, who concludes her service and enters retirement.
In his commencement address, His Eminence encouraged those who were tonsured and those who received Reader’s Certificates to continue nurturing their love for the Church and the faithful of Alaska, calling them to preserve the holy words, prayers, reverence, and piety of the Orthodox faith.
The Diocese of Sitka and Alaska also announced that all available spots for the 2026–2027 academic year at St. Herman Seminary have been filled.
The Orthodox Church in America offers congratulations to all those who completed their studies and formation at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, and St. Herman Seminary in 2026. May the Lord bless them, their families, and the communities they will serve in their ministries.
Additional photos and information may be found at svots.edu, stots.edu, and sthermanseminary.org
The faithful and parishes of the Orthodox Church in America are urged to intentionally pray for vocations and to support the seminaries, students, faculty, and their families. It is also vital to commit to financially support the three OCA seminaries as they continue the necessary work of providing exceptional education and spiritual formation for the future leaders of the Orthodox Church.
Parishes are reminded of the resolution approved at the 16th All-American Council in Seattle, which calls for parishes of the Orthodox Church in America to allocate 1% of their budget towards the support of these seminaries.
If you want to know more about supporting our seminaries, their work, or learn more about vocation and theological formation, seminary contact information is available here.