St. Herman Seminary began its 37th year with two
days of orientation. As a special blessing to the students and faculty, the
founder and builder of St. Herman Seminary, Fr. Joseph Kreta, came to give an
opening inspirational talk. Fr. Joseph shared that the building of the
seminary was a enormous undertaking for one man, but it was only with the help
of God and St. Herman that it was possible to do the work. Fr. Joseph gave this
to be a witness to each of us, that it is with the help of God and His saints
that we also can accomplish God’s work in our life, no matter how difficult or large.
Along with Fr. Joseph there were two other guests who were co-strugglers with
him in the early days of the seminary. First was Ben Ardinger, Director Emeritas on the St. Herman Seminary Board. Mr. Ardinger was an important assistant to Fr.
Joseph as they planned and built the buildings that now form the seminary
campus. The next early founder was Judge Roy Madsen, who spoke about the early
legal assistance he gave the seminary so it could become incorporated
in the state of Alaska.At the end of our meeting, many expressed gratitude for the legacy that they have passed down to us. We thanked them
for sharing the early years of the seminary, asking them to continue
to pray for us.
Early Monday morning, August 9th, boats carried around 250 pilgrims through thick
fog to Monks Lagoon, Spruce Island, the
holy habitation of St. Herman for the culmination of the 40th
anniversary celebration. At Sts. Sergius
and Herman of Valaam Church, which is built over the original grave of St. Herman, hierarchs,
priests, deacons, monastics, and laity gathered for Divine Liturgy. The church
became the sanctuary for the clergy and Spruce forest became the nave for the
faithful. During Liturgy, Hierodeacon Andrew was ordained to
the priesthood by Bishop MAXIM Fr. Andrew will be serving the monastic community of St.
Michael Skete on SpruceIsland. By the time the faithful were receiving Holy Communion, the sun broke through the fog and the
day turned sunny. A festal picnic was provided by the Sisterhoods of Holy Resurrection Cathedral and Nativity of Our Lord Church in Ouzinkie, SpruceIsland.
The celebration of the 40th anniversary of the
canonization of St. Herman of Alaska began Friday evening, August 6,
2010, with the praying of the Akathist at Holy Resurrection
Cathedral. Seminarians and families joined their voices in prayer
with the hierarchs, clergy, and laity. The reliquary of St. Herman
was opened so all could venerate St. Herman's relics before being
anointed with oil from the lampada that hangs above his reliquary.
On Saturday evening, August 7, we gathered again at Holy
Resurrection Cathedral for Great Vespers, followed by a soup dinner.
On Sunday, His Beatitude Metropolitan JONAH celebrated the Divine
Liturgy with His Eminence JUSTINIAN, Archbishop of Naro-Fominsk,
Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchal Churches in the USA; His
Grace MAXIM, Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western
America; and His Grace BENJAMIN, Bishop of San Francisco and the
West, locum tenens of the Diocese of Alaska. A host of clergy and
faithful joined together for this joyful and grace-filled Divine
Liturgy.
The celebration of the 40th anniversary of the
canonization of St. Herman of Alaska began Friday evening, August 6,
2010, with the praying of the Akathist at Holy Resurrection
Cathedral. Seminarians and families joined their voices in prayer
with the hierarchs, clergy, and laity. The reliquary of St. Herman
was opened so all could venerate St. Herman's relics before being
anointed with oil from the lampada that hangs above his reliquary.
On Saturday evening, August 7, we gathered again at Holy
Resurrection Cathedral for Great Vespers, followed by a soup dinner.
On Sunday, His Beatitude Metropolitan JONAH celebrated the Divine
Liturgy with His Eminence JUSTINIAN, Archbishop of Naro-Fominsk,
Administrator of the Moscow Patriarchal Churches in the USA; His
Grace MAXIM, Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western
America; and His Grace BENJAMIN, Bishop of San Francisco and the
West, locum tenens of the Diocese of Alaska. A host of clergy and
faithful joined together for this joyful and grace-filled Divine
Liturgy.
The second day of the St. Herman pilgrimage, we welcomed the
Russian delegation for a visit and tour of St. Herman Seminary. The delegation
was headed by His Eminence Justinian, Archbishop of Naro-Fominsk and
Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, and Archimandrite Zacchaeus,
Representative of the OCA to the Moscow Patriarchate. Several Archpriests and
lay members also were part of the Delegation. All were greeted by Archpriest John
Dunlop and the seminarians. The first place the Delegation was invited to visit
was the chapel for prayer followed by a welcoming talk by Archpriest John. Next
all went to view some of St. Innocent’s letters and St. Yakov’s journals from
the archives. Senator Alexander P. Torshin, Vice-Speaker and First Deputy of the
Chairman of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation, presented gifts
to the clergy, professors and seminarians. We were honored to have His
Beatitude Metropolitan Jonah with us while the delegation asked many questions
about the coursework, life and activities of the Seminary. At the end of this
question and answer session, Metropolitan Jonah expressed his insights into the
special mission St. Herman Seminary has in preparing native clergy to serve in
Alaskan parishes, which have a unique life and culture different than any
Russian or American parish. This visit culminated with photo taking and dinner
at the Seminary.
From August 4-7 Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov led the first Diaconal
Liturgical Practicum to be held in Kodiak. Seminarians joined
participants from the Diocese of Alaska and the Diocese of the West in
learning elements of serving as deacons through classroom instruction,
liturgical labs conducted in the seminary chapel, and by serving daily
Divine Liturgies. In addition, these men benefited from Archdeacon
Kirill's keynote presentation "On Diaconal Vocation," Seminary Dean
Archpriest John Dunlop's "Patristic Perspectives," and a discussion with
His Beatitude Metropolitan JONAH. A highlight of the Practicum was a
trip to Spruce Island to make preparations for the upcoming St. Herman
Pilgrimage and the opportunity to participate in the services of the
Pilgrimage. This event was enjoyed by all, and we hope it is only the
first of many practicums to be held at St. Herman Seminary.
The team came to Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Kodiak and venerated the relics of St. Herman.
OCMC comes to seminary! - 07/12/10
From July 12-14 St. Herman Seminary hosted the orientation session of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center's (OCMC) mission team to Old Harbor, coordinated by Presbytera Renee Ritsi of OCMC and team leader Fr. Anthony Salzman. This team will minister at the Family Camp in Old Harbor on Kodiak Island for the next 10 days. The members of the team--including 3 children and 2 young adults--learned about the history of the Church in Alaska, the background of the village of Old Harbor, the Orthodox tradition of missions, and prepared both themselves and their curriculum "Christ in the Eucharist, Truly a Subsistence Food." Among the purposes of the Family Camp in Old Harbor is to rebuild cultural
identity, teach traditional ways of living to the youth, and celebrate local subsistence ways.
Some of the younger members of the team take a break and play basketball
The team prepared their meals in the seminary refectory
Presbytera Renee spent time helping the team prepare meals when not leading orientation sessions.
Fr. Anthony helps coordinate the team's shopping for supplies to take to Old Harbor.
The team even prepared a special meal for the seminary community!
Fr. Anthony is ready to go!
Fr. Paisius from St. Innocent's Academy takes the team to the airport.
Three Saints Church in Old Harbor, where the team will minister, was founded in 1784.
Learning about the Theotokos . . .
Learning about the Theotokos . . .
singing . . .
singing . . .
praying in the Seminary chapel . . .
praying in the Seminary chapel . . .
and enjoying outdoor activities together!
and enjoying outdoor activities together!
Learning about the Church's feasts
From June 21-25 the Seminary hosted the Vacation Church School of Holy Resurrection Cathedral. Area children learned about the feasts of the Theotokos from "Travelling on the Ark of Salvation" Vacation Church School program. They enjoyed praying in the seminary chapel, learning about the feasts of the Church, singing, playing, and making crafts. Teens from seminary families and the Cathedral community assisted the children as they learned. Pictures to follow. . . .
Your Grace Bishop Benjamin, Father John Dunlop, esteemed faculty, students and guests: it is a great pleasure for me to be here and to make an offering of words to those being honored today.
The theme of my address is theological education. It comes as no secret that for many outside of the seminary community, theological education is nothing more than a costly luxury, which the Church--particularly the Church in Alaska--can do without. For some, in and outside of Alaska, St. Herman’s Seminary has deviated from its intended path by striving to provide a quality theological education to its students, who will return to homes and villages to serve the faithful and to catechize those seeking to enter the new life in Christ.
Theological education is not a luxury, nor is it something the Seminary should abandon for some other curriculum that would deprive this diocese of educating and training leaders who will, in time, give their lives to the building up the local Church in Alaska.
Theological education is a necessity that originates in the parish and is further developed and honed through the seminary. My desire today is to speak about three aspects of theology: Theology and Life, Theology and Mission and Theology and Pastoral Care.
Theology and Life
Theological education is bound to life. It is necessary for life. It provides the means by which the relationship between God and humanity can be best articulated. Theological education, because it is nurtured and sustained by the Holy Spirit, is life giving and life forming. For this reason, it cannot be confined solely to the classroom. Here we can benefit from the wisdom of the venerable Father Georges Florovsky who, in an article on ecclesiology, stressed over fifty years ago that any discussion about the Church needed to move from the classroom and return back to the temple. We can use this advice as we discuss theological education and its spiritual and intellectual components. For it is in the temple or, more specifically, it is in the context of our liturgical worship that theology is best expressed and manifested as the celebration of new and eternal life. When theological education becomes separated from the temple and, therefore, from the life of the local Church, it becomes an artifact that has the elusive past as its only point of reference.
Theology is life and not archaeology. For us, the study of antiquity is but a starting point for discerning the interaction between God and humanity that leads to this very moment and continues into the future. In my experience as an instructor at this seminary and as a parish priest, one of the most dangerous reductions of a theological education that I have encountered has been its divorce from life. How easy it is to turn Orthodox theology into an academic discipline as an academic career without spiritual moorings. While our academies and seminaries must demand academic excellence, the curriculum each may offer must be based on the spiritual life. There is the need to instill in the professors and students the fundamental idea that the study of scripture, history, liturgy, patristics and dogmatics cannot be separated from seeking after the “kingdom of heaven and its righteousness.” Academic excellence cannot be allowed to stand apart from acquiring the Holy Spirit. Understanding theology or theological education as something parallel to the life in Christ inevitably generates its own dynamism that, in turn, manipulates the words proper to God into becoming a false theology. This false theology, resulting from an alien spirituality, abandons its evangelical thrust by replacing human salvation and transfiguration with the illusions of social and political utopias.
The spiritual and intellectual formation of the Orthodox theologian is grounded in the ascetical discipline of the Church. Asceticism seeks to counter a self-centered and self-serving life with one that seeks to love and serve Christ and neighbor. The ascetic ordeal rooted in repentance, prayer, fasting and the reordering of the passions is best summed up by Saint John the Baptist: Christ “must increase, but I must decrease” (Jn. 3:30). These words capture so well the life of the ascetic theologian. They express a way of life that ultimately allows the mind and heart to participate in the creative activity of the Holy Spirit. The outcome of this creativity is a living and true theology that utilizes and responds to the new questions and challenges of the 21st century. Science, technology, globalization, local, national and world politics, the suffering and termination of the unprotected and the innocent, human sexuality and the abuse of the environment are beckoning the Orthodox Church and, therefore, Orthodox theology to enter the fray of modernity.
Theology and Mission
Theology is evangelical. Unfortunately, the missionary responsibility of our Church continues to be undermined by ethnic chauvinism. Until it becomes clear to the Orthodox themselves that every local parish is, by definition, a missionary community and responsible for offering the Gospel to all people, theology will remain separated from life. Every parish must strive to be a center of spiritual and intellectual formation.
Because theology seeks to proclaim the Gospel in time and space, it has by its very nature a missionary and evangelical quality. This means that Orthodox theology cannot be the possession of a particular people. It is universal in scope, offering the saving and transforming power of Christ’s gospel to all nations. Our history teaches us that as the Church sojourned in time and space, it used the culture of empires and nations to articulate a living theology. This is certainly the method employed by the Church Fathers.Knowing the language, art, philosophy, literature, science and politics of their time, they were able to convey the gospel to people of varying intellectual and social backgrounds.They were able to proclaim Christ who is the “same yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8), using the cultural tools that were at their disposal.
Today Orthodox schools of higher learning, especially our academies and seminaries, need to promote and develop the patristic method of using culture for the proclamation of the Gospel. Because they knew their culture well, the Fathers were able to interact with its prevailing ethos. They were able to draw the knowledge of their surroundings into a vibrant ascetical spirituality that enabled them to communicate the Gospel freely and openly.
A theology separated from the culture is ultimately a theology separated from the people. To respond to the culture, especially the challenges posed by the rapid development of science and technology, theology is compelled to creatively interact with its environment so as not to fall into a cultural vacuum. The voice of the Gospel and, therefore, the voice of Orthodox theology will be heard only when the theologian truly knows his audience.
While the missionary thrust of theology is directed toward the world, there is the ongoing need to educate the faithful. Sermons, Bible studies, church school curricula and publications are to raise the level of awareness--need to open the minds and hearts of all the faithful. Theological education has the task of instilling in those who would preach and teach the desire to challenge and elevate the minds and hearts of the faithful, regardless of social and educational backgrounds. Too often theology among the Orthodox is relegated to the ivory tower while what is offered the faithful is of the lowest common denominator. Here we need to remember that Holy Scripture and the subsequent writings of the Fathers were written for the education of the faithful. The high theological caliber of St. John’s Gospel, Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans, and the treatise On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius were and are for the building up of the local Church and not solely for the scientific analysis of academicians.
St. Philaret Drozdov of Moscow reminded his flock that every Christian had the duty to learn. Those who preach, teach and write theology are challenged to stimulate all the baptized to know their faith well. St. Innocent Veniaminov, first ruling bishop in North America and later Metropolitan of Moscow emphasized that “it is the binding duty of every Christian, when he reaches maturity, to know his faith thoroughly, because anyone who does not have a solid knowledge of his faith is cold and indifferent to it and frequently falls either into superstition or unbelief” (Indication of the Way into the Heavenly Kingdom). This great missionary bishop helps us to see that theology belongs to everyone who is a Christian. Therefore, it is up to those who have the gift of a formal theological education to cultivate interest and enthusiasm among those seeking Christ.For God “desires all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4).
Just as theology must not be confined to the ivory tower, it also must not become a prisoner of sectarianism. It must not be strangled by an attitude or mind-set that understands and articulates the vision and life of the Church as it is seen though the cloudy lens of ignorance, fear and open antagonism to anything new, different or challenging to the status quo. We are Orthodox Christians living in the West in the 21st century and have no right to pretend that we live in Byzantium or pre-Revolutionary Russia. Both of these worlds are gone. And lest we forget, each of these worlds was fraught with its own inherent problems, heresies and biases.
Theology and Pastoral Care
Throughout this address I have stressed that theology belongs to all the faithful. Yet, because it is the parish priest who potentially has the most influence when it comes to teaching in a local church, I will limit my remarks to his vocation.
Theology and pastoral care cannot be separated. The theologian is pastor and the pastor is theologian. By virtue of his place within the Eucharistic community, the pastor is compelled to share the theology of the Church with his flock. Because the pastor lives and works within a specific community he cannot--must not--limit theology to his archives or to his desk. The pastor-theologian is to convey to the community of the faithful that theology leads one to God’s kingdom. The pastor-theologian is to be perceived as a servant who, like the Lord himself, takes on the struggles and burdens of those in his care. In his Great Catechism, St. Theodore the Studite refers to the heavy responsibility he carries due to those in his care. “For your salvation I have to deliver my frail soul, even shed my blood. According to the works of the Lord, this is the special function of the good and true shepherd. Struggles arise from this, and sadness and anxieties, preoccupation, sleeplessness and despondency.”
These difficult words of the Studite remind us that the pastor is to love and serve the other as he seeks to heal and save the other. In the realm of pastoral care, theology offers comfort and hope. Theology brings the dead to life and prepares the living for death. Theology draws the wounded back to the context of the Church’s worship where, in the context of the Divine Liturgy, everyone and everything acquires its proper identity in relationship to the Triune God.In the context of the Eucharistic celebration we are “endowed” here and now “with the Kingdom which is to come” (Chrysostom Liturgy).
So long as theology is experienced and taught as that which brings us into the Church--into the saving and transfiguring life in Christ--the missionary mandate will not be ignored or compromised. So long as theology is received as a gift that draws us into the ascetical arena, it will continue to build up and fortify the body of Christ.
Finally, so long as theology is accepted with thanks and in a spirit of humility, the divine uncreated light of the Godhead will continue to transform and deify the human person and his surroundings.
Thank you.
Fr. Robert Arida is the dean at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Boston, MA. He and his wife Susan also were teachers at the Seminary in the 1980s. Currently he serves on the Board of Trustees for the Seminary.
Graduate Ishmael Andrew learned basic fundamentals in seminary
By Mike Rostad
Special to the Kodiak Daily Mirror
Reprinted with permission
Father Deacon Ishamel Andrew loves basketball.He dribbles the ball down the court like he invented the game.Effortlessly he shoots from the middle of the floor.Swish.
Undeniably, Andrew is crazy about basketball and knows the game.He loves God and the church even more.After studying four years at St. Herman’s Seminary, he is ready to move on.
This year’s sole seminary graduate, Andrew will be ordained into the Orthodox priesthood during Divine Liturgy at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral Sunday, May 30, with Bishop Benjamin Peterson officiating.
Andrew grew up on the Bering Sea coast in the Yup’ik Eskimo village of Kwigillingok where people survive off the land and water by hunting, gather plants, and preparing food.And they play basketball.
In summer youngsters shoot hoops until dark.Andrew started playing basketball when he was a small guy.
“If (the bigger guys) tried to get me off the court, I’d play anyway.I wasn’t going to let them bully me.I wanted to play just as much as they did.”
Andrew continued to play basketball in high school.
It would be nice that, once Andrew is assigned to a parish, he could continue to play this favorite sport or perhaps even coach a team.But that may present problems.Traveling wit ha team might mean foregoing services at home.That’s unacceptable.Perhaps he may have to let go of basketball, for a while at least.
“Give up what you love the most,” is advice he gained by reading the lives of the saints. “A lot of saints…had to give up that which they loved in the secular world.”
But somehow what they gave up was given back to them.
When Andrew came to the seminary he knew little about the saints and the basic tenets of Christianity.The Holy Trinity was a mystery to him.
He grew up learning about Ellam Yua, viewed as creator in traditional Yup’ik teachings.He requires that His creatures respect the land and its inhabitants.
His creatures feared that Ellam Yua would punish them if they didn’t hunt, gather, and harvest properly.
When the men hunted seals, they would butcher the animal, pour water through its mouth and throw the head back into the ocean, asking its spirit to return in the form of another seal.This was done to please Ellam Yua so that he would grant greater success in future hunting trips.
Coming from a predominantly Moravian community, Andrew also learned about the Christian God and his Son, Jesus Christ – who is necessary for salvation.The Holy Spirit was another divine personage Andrew heard about.
“I didn’t understand that the Holy Spirit could abide in a person and had anything to do with God and Jesus,” Andrew said.
With two different views of the Creator and three disconnected persons of the Trinity, Andrew was confused.Which was more important and if in any way, were they the same, he wondered.
When Andrew attended St. Herman’s Seminary he saw the connection between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, also known as the Holy Trinity.
When he learned flowed from his hind to his heart and soul.
Andrew sorts through his culture’s ancient beliefs through the prism of Orthodox Christianity.HE said he respects his culture, but there are things that need to be filtered out.
“Sometimes I feel like there’s battle and confusion between the traditional way of living and Christian way of living.”Some of the traditions, such as giving the first catch to those in need, respect for people and Elders, animals and the land, properly caring for food and avoiding waste, are very Christian.
“We learn that the Orthodox Christian way of life fulfills the traditional way of life.But the traditional way of living is limited.The Church completes it.”
Through his seminary training Andrew has been able to see how the environment is affected by sin – a violation of humanity which separates one from God, his fellow human beings, the animals, and the earth and sea.
Subsistence hunting resources are declining because of the lack of respect for Yup’ik and Christian ways of living, Andrew said.The decline is a result of unhealthy social relationships, domestic violence and substance abuse.
People fail to see that their sinful living may be possible reasons for a decline in their resources, which their subsistence lifestyle ultimately depends on for survival, Andrew said.
Andrew is cut to the heart when he realizes that much work needs to be done in his and other Alaskan villages.
“When I look back it stabs my heart.There was no priest in my village (currently there is.) There was no catechizing.There is so much work that needs to be done.”
Much of that work must be done by the priest whose job is to “teach in a caring and loving way,” Andrew said. “He must make sure there is a stable and steady liturgical cycle going on in the parish.How else are parishioners going to be able to participate in the sacraments?”
As Andrew reflects over his adolescent and early adult years, which were relatively recent, he concludes that “it is very important to work with the youth.They’re the next leaders.We must give them the tools.”
They are vulnerable to the influences of secular culture.
When he was a teenager, Andrew was enamored with sports heroes.(He loved basketball.)
Now he has new criteria.
“The Gospel says we should not worry about what we’re wearing, what we’re going to eat.Let God take care of that.Trust and faith in God are what the people should be learning.”
Father John Dunlop, Seminary dean, professor and mentor, said Andrew represents young Native priest who are able to reflect on their culture, asking “What is in it that is Christian, and what do I need to filter out?”
Andrew is able to bridge his traditional way with the Orthodox way, he said. “Ishmael will do well.He is a gifted person.In time, he will be a good pastor.
“He is an inspiration for younger people (who, through his example) see that they can serve in leadership positions in the church.We are blessed to know him and see his growth and maturing in the faith.”
Andrew said that, even though he will be graduating in a few days, he is still learning.
“I’ve learned some very important things, such as the purpose of life, why I was created.We owe our whole life to God.
“I love being in the seminary – the lifestyle, the constant services.
“Seminary is just a pinch of what there is to be learned, “ Andrew said.“I’m at the beginning.They give us the tools.Now I will be on my own.”
Andrew faces his impending ordination with a sober realization that “This is serious business I’m getting myself into.I start to get the feeling, ‘What am I doing here? Why am I doing this?’”
He takes a deep breath and, just like the skillful basketball players who is planning his next move, sees his part in the game.
“This is the kind of life I should be living, serving God.Life is no our own.We owe our lives to God.”
On Sunday, third-year student Andrei Tepper will be ordained into the diaconate.
The St. Herman’s Seminary graduation and banquet will take place at St. Mary’s gymnasium at 5 P.M. The keynote speaker will be Fr. Robert Arida, dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Boston, and former St. Herman’s professor.
Fr. John opened the night
St. Herman Commencement Exercises
On Sunday, May 30, St. Herman Seminary held its 37th annual commencement at St. Mary's parochial school. The Seminary graduated the Priest Ishmael Andrew, and awarded reader's certificates (two-year program completion) to Subdn. Michael Nicolai, Subdn. Anders Wassillie, and Yako Pavila. The keynote speaker was Fr. Robert Arida, dean of Holy Trinity cathedral in Boston, MA.
Priest Ishmael Andrew receives his Diploma of Orthodox Theology
Subdn. Michael Nicolai receives his Reader's Certificate
Yako Pavila receives his Reader's Certificate
Subdn. Anders Wassillie receives his Reader's Certificate
All current SHS students
Subdn. Anders and his family
Fr. Ishmael and his extended family
Mary Ann Khoury, from Outreach Alaska, presents graduation gifts
The perfect bag for Fr. Ishmael
A set of vestments from his Outreach Alaska sponsor
Fr. Ishmael briefly spoke
Traditional Yup'ik dancing
Vesting of the bishop
2010 Commencement Exercises at St Herman Seminary
On Sunday, May 30th, 2010, St. Herman Seminary graduated Priest Ishmael Andrew, who had been ordained to the priesthood earlier that morning by His Grace, Bishop Benjamin. A fellow seminarian, Andrei Tepper, was ordained to the Holy Diaconate as well. Axios! Axios! Axios!
Fr. Ishmael, waiting with aer, to be offered as a gift
"Command!"
First litany
First prayer
Ordination and Graduation:Sunday, May 30, 20109:00 A.M.Hierarchical Divine LiturgyHoly Resurrection Cathedral410 Mission RoadPriestly Ordination of Deacon Ishmael AndrewDeaconate Ordination of Subdeacon Andrei TepperGraduation Banquet and Commencement Ceremonies:Sunday, May 30, 20105:00 P.M.St. Mary’s Parochial School2932 Mill Bay Rd.Commencement Speaker – TBAAttention Board Members:Saturday, May 29, 20108:00AM Board BreakfastRefectory, St Herman Seminary9:00AM Board MeetingSt. Matthew Classroom, St Herman Seminary
RADACT, Spring 2010
From May 19-21, the students participated in Regional Alaskan Drug and Alcohol Counseling Training provided here at the Seminary by Janet Carter. This training, funded through a generous grant by OCMC, provides essential counseling skills to work with problems which plague Alaskan villages, such as domestic violence, alcohol abuse, and suicide. Students participate each semester, and earn credits toward a Counselor Technician training, which enables them to be hired as a Substance Abuse Counselor by Native corporations; multiple priests in the Diocese of Alaska work such jobs, earning supplementary income.
Fr. Paisius of St Innocent and Yako toss shells on the graves at the cathedral
Radonitsa
On April 13th, the second Tuesday after Pascha, the Seminary celebrated Radonitsa. After a litya at the cathedral, St. Innocent's Academy joined the seminary to visit the two Kodiak cemeteries, the "Russian" and the "American." We sprinkled the red eggshells on the graves while joyously singing "Christ is risen!"
The windmill on the left, along with three other windmills, provides electricity to Kasigluk and surrounding villages
Dn. Irenaios to Kasigluk
Seminary faculty member Dn. Irenaios Anderson spoke at a church school teacher workshop in Kasigluk for teachers and clergy of the Kuskokwim Deanery. He spoke on the unique nature of Orthodox education and introduced the curriculum of the Orthodox Christian Education Commission (OCEC) to the workshop participants, who came to Kasigluk from several villages in the area.
On Monday morning, a three-man Russian film crew came to Kodiak to write about the Russian influence on Alaska, specifically on Alaskan Orthodoxy. They recorded vespers at the Cathederal, filmed the students singing in class, interviewed Fr. John about his own Russian heritage, and filmed some footage of the archives.
Hopefully in about two months, we'll see the seminary on "Russia Today!"
Fr, Ignatius speaks on pastoral care
St. Vladimir's at St. Herman!
For the past six days, the students and staff at St. Herman have hosted three visitors from St. Vladimir's Seminary: Fr. Chad Hatfield, Chancellor of St Vladimir's, and two student deacons, Ignatius and Lucas. On Thursday morning, Fr. Dn. Ignatius gave a presentation on pastoral care and counseling; in the afternoon, Fr Chad spoke on missiology. On Friday, Fr. Dn. Lucas spoke on homiletics, and in the afternoon, each student gave a brief homily to show what he had learned. St. Herman was very blessed by their presence, and is eager to continue the blossoming relationship between the sister seminaries.
St Herman's own M Gabriella and Fr John join with Fr Chad, Fr Ignatius, and Fr Lucas
Fr Lucas
Ephrim listens intently
Paying careful attention
Preach it!
Student preacher Prokopy
Taking careful notes
Triumph of Orthodoxy
The faithful of St Herman Seminary, Holy Resurrection Cathedral, and St Innocent Academy joined together on the first Sunday of Lent to celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy, commemorating the Triumph of Orthodoxy in 843 and the final restoration of icons under the Patriarch Methodius.
Earlier this month, Subdn. Michael Nicolai represented St. Herman Seminary at the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement held at St. Tikhon's Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania. He also was able to stay at St. Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, New York, for a night.
Great Lent Begins at St. Herman Seminary
This week, Great Lent began at St. Herman Seminary.Classes are cancelled for the first three days of the Fast as staff and seminarians attend a full liturgical cycle in the chapel, complete with Great Compline and the Kanon of St. Andrew each evening at the Cathedral.
Let us receive with joy, O faithful, the divinely inspired announcement of Lent.Like Ninevites of old, like harlots and publicans who heard John preaching repentance through abstinence, let us prepare for the Master’s communion performed in Zion.Let us wash ourselves with tears for its divine purification.Let us pray to behold the fulfillment of Pascha, the true Revelation.Let us prepare for adoring the Cross and Resurrection of Christ our God!Do not deprive us of our expectation, O Lover of Man!
The faithful of Kodiak were blessed this past weekend with a visit from the Locum Tenens of the Diocese of Alaska, Bishop Benjamin of San Francisco.While here, His Grace ordained seminarians Anders Wassillie and Michael Nicolai to the rank of sub-deacon.Furthermore, he ordained St. Herman staff member Irenaios Anderson to the Holy Diaconate.Congratulations to the newly ordained!
His Grace prepares to ordain seminarians Anders and Michael to the subdiaconate
Anders is tonsured
Subdns Andrei and Anders lead Subdn Irenaios to his ordination
"Command, Master!"
The grace divine...
Axios! Axios! Axios!
The new deacon's first litany
After the prayer behind the amvon
Eis polla, eti despota!
Go Hermits!
During the long, dark winter days here in Alaska, one of the more popular activities is basketball. "Ball" -- as we call it -- is a village sport at least semi-related to its Lower 48 counterpart. It is very competitive, fast-paced, and tends toward becoming full-contact.
The Hermits won second place in the Winter league and hope to get first in the current Spring league.
When Thou, O Lord was baptized in the Jordan, The worship of the Trinity was made manifest, For the voice of the Father bore witness to Thee, And called Thee his beloved Son, And the Spirit in the form of a dove, Confirmed the truthfulness of his word O Christ our God, who hast revealed Thyself And hast enlightened the world, glory to Thee!
Per Native Alaskan tradition, each year after Nativity (Slaviiq), community members participate in "starring."
Starring is a Native Alaskan practice roughly akin to Christmas caroling, and practiced by different Native Alaskan tribes. In the village, everyone follows a large, brightly colored paper star with an icon as it went from house to house. In each house, the star is spun while songs in Yup’ik (in our case), Slavonic, and English are sung.In some customs, this is followed by a short homily.Then food is served, ranging from candy and cookies to a full meal.In the Kuskokwim tradition, gifts are distributed by the hosts to each guest; these include bowls, spoons, socks, towels, or shampoo.Then the star moves on to the next house.While the custom was brought to Alaska from Ukraine nearly 200 years ago, it has become a truly Alaskan Orthodox custom, and – while both fattening and exhausting – is a wonderful celebration of the Nativity.
Christ is born!Christos rozdayetsya!Kristussaq Yuurtuq!
In late December, the students were treated to two excellent back-to-back lecture series. The first, by acclaimed bioethicist Dr. H. Tristram Engelhardt, consisted of three lectures, centering on the post-Christianity of Western culture and the appropriate response by Christians.
The second was a single lecture by Kodiak-local Dr. Weston Fields, the Executive Director of The Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation. It covered a bit of the history of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and included some detailed photographs of the scrolls.
St. Nicholas Day Party
The Nativity semester ended on December 19th with a St. Nicholas Day party. Everyone enjoyed food, candy, and a visit from St. Nicholas himself!
Olga and Inna built a gingerbread church (with some help from the kids!)
Koby turned 7 years old!
Andrei and Alicia enjoy the music
Thanksgiving Feast!
For Thanksgiving Day, the Seminary held a feast in the refectory. Herman and Olga, our cooks this year, served delicious turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. Each of the families also contributed their Thanksgiving favorites, and our table was spread with everything from piroq to green beans, akurtaq to jello salad. After dinner musical selections included Fr. Juvenaly's piano performance of Chopin, and traditional Yup'ik dance lead by Michael and his family.
Tatiana and Andy, along with baby Christina, enjoy the feast
Michael, his wife Ann, and his daughter KyeAnna yuraq
The dessert table, surrounded by children
Alma and Ephrim pose for the camera
Ephrim holds Christina
Ephrim and Arianna laugh as the music begins
Lady and three of her children: Adam, Evon, and Agafia
Michael and Ann enjoy the "Alaskan turkey" (wild duck)
Michael prepares his drum
Olga and Herman, the best cooks!
Too much excitement for one day
Anders, with Justina and Koby, anxiously await the blessing to begin
Yako relaxes while listening to Chopin
Iconography
For the last few weeks, the Seminary has been blessed to have Ina, a Russian woman, staying with us and painting two icons for the chapel: St. Seraphim of Uglich and St. Panteleimon. In addition, she very graciously allows students, wives, and children to come watch her paint and learn to draw themselves.
Thanks in part to airfare assistance from Holy Cross, St. Herman’s seminarian Anders Wassillie had the privilege of attending the Fall 2009 meeting of the Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement at Holy Cross Seminary in Boston, MA.Representatives from many North American seminaries were present at the event.The purpose of such meetings is to foster friendships and collegiality among rising church leaders and clergy in North America.
On October 31st, the greater St. Herman's community held an All Saints party. Participants dressed up as their favorite saint and tried to stump the panel of expert judges, giving as clues in the form of poems, as well as stories from the lives of their saints. Other festivities included playing "chubby bunnies" and bobbing for apples, as well a delicious potluck and lots of candy.
Theresa dressed up as St. John of San Francisco, complete with beard
St. John the Baptist and his head, by two brothers
Justina dressed up as St. Katherine
Nicolai siblings
Thor was St. George's dragon
Jimmy playing chubby bunnies
How many marshmellows can you put in your mouth?
The adults didn't want to be left out of the fun!
Bobbing for apples
Meeting of Seminary Leaders
Seminary leaders from St. Vladimir's, St. Herman's, St. Tikhon's, Holy Trinity, and Holy Cross met in late October to discuss inter-seminary cooperation and the various programs in which each seminary is engaged. This was the second such meeting.
M Neila's cell, located on the South side of the island
Pre-Matushki Society's trip to St. Nilus - 10/23/09
On Friday, October 23, three seminary women and five girls went out for a three-day retreat to St. Nilus Island, a woman's skete located about 20 minutes from Kodiak. The four resident monastics treated us to a refreshing weekend of worship, work, and hospitality as we attended daily services, picked mushrooms, chopped wood, and enjoyed fellowship and delicious meals in the trapeza. As we left, they made us promise to come back soon --- a promise we will happily keep!
M Neila lighting the lamps in the chapel attached to her cell
Matushka Anastasia chopped wood.
We spent a long time walking in the woods and picking mushrooms
Fr. Martyrius graciously ferried the crew in the Archangel, the monk's boat
M Nina, the superior, shows us the new saw mill
Anna and Arianna looking at photos
Looking down the cliff
The five girls: Katherine, KyeAnne, Theresa, Anna, and Arianna
The forest floor
Redoing the chapel floor
For the past ten days, seminarians have been re-finishing the floor in the All Saints of Alaska Chapel. Led by Fr. Symeon, a monk from Spruce Island, and Michael, a student handyman, the seminarians have put many hours into polishing, filling, and refinishing the entire floor, making it smooth and shiny.
Today the seminary celebrated our altar feast, the feast of All Saints of Alaska.Last night, we had a full chapel for the vigil service, including friends from both Holy Resurrection Cathedral and St. Innocent’s Academy.This morning, after a prayerful liturgy, Fr. John blessed the first-year men to wear the cassock, reminding them of the position and service expected of a seminarian.Finally, everyone relaxed over a delicious brunch of eggs, sausage, waffles, and fruit served by our wonderful cook, Olga.
Janet Carter, the RADACT presenter
Janet Carter, the RADACT presenter
Students and visitors practice what they are learning
Students and visitors practice what they are learning
Andrei and Michael, a guest, realize that motivational interviewing is harder than it looks
Andrei and Michael, a guest, realize that motivational interviewing is harder than it looks
On September 9-11th, Janet Carter, M.Ed, came to St. Herman Seminary from Anchorage to present Regional Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor Training, also known as RADACT. RADACT is the State of Alaska’s program to deliver behavioral health training to selected communities, and is a key component for the training required for becoming a certified Chemical Dependency Counselor. The seminarians and staff were joined by behavioral health workers and alcohol counselors from the local community for intense training in motivational interviewing and group counseling. Training in alcohol counseling is crucial for clergy in rural Alaska, and such training forms the core component of the fourth year of studies at St Herman’s. St. Herman’s would especially like to thank the Orthodox Christian Mission Center for their generous donation that helps make such training possible.
Fr. John, Yako, and Fr. Juvenaly show off the catch of fish
Fr. John, Yako, and Fr. Juvenaly show off the catch of fish
The priests in front of a barabara at Monk's Lagoon
The priests in front of a barabara at Monk's Lagoon
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