On June 9, the 6th Sunday of Pascha ‒ that of the Blind Man ‒ Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, NY held commencement exercises at the conclusion of its 76th academic year. The day began with a hierarchal Divine Liturgy concelebrated by His Eminence Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal & Canada, and His Grace Luke, Bishop of Syracuse and rector of the seminary.

A Thanksgiving Moleben was served at 2:00 PM, following an academic procession to the monastery cathedral led by Dean Nicolas Schidlovsky and Dr. Alexander Pavuk (commencement speaker), members of the administration, the board of trustees, faculty in residence, and the entire student body. Archbishop Gabriel, Bishop Luke, and participating clergy offered the moleben for the seminary’s successes and in supplication for divine blessings on all those who help to perpetuate the institution. The responses during the molebien were sung by the Holy Trinity Seminary choir, concluding with Te Deum, composed by D. Bortniansky.

Following a group photograph in front of the iconostasis, a second procession from the cathedral to the seminary hall, including Archbishop Gabriel and Bishop Luke, began the commencement ceremony. Seminary Dean Nicolas G. Schidlovsky, Ph.D., led the 11 graduates (from the on-campus degree programs) into the main Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov Hall located in the Dean Nicolas Alexandrov Seminary Building.

The ceremony began with the singing of the Troparion of Pascha, followed by the national anthem of the United States, and "God Save the Tsar."

Bishop Luke (B.Th. class ‘78) delivered the welcome remarks.

Next, Protodeacon Andrei Psarev, Ph.D., professor of Canon Law and Russian Church History and director of Undergraduate Studies, introduced this year’s undergraduate valedictorian, Reader Yevgraf Jakimowicz, who delivered his collegial address on behalf of the undergraduate class of 2024.

Priest John Boddecker, senior lecturer of Sacred Scripture, Department of Scriptural Studies & Exegesis, and director of Graduate Studies, then introduced this year’s graduate valedictorian, Reader Timothy Zelinski, who delivered his collegial address on behalf of the graduate class of 2024.

Alexander Pavuk, Ph.D, associate professor of History at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD then gave the commencement address, titled: "Facing the Spirits of Our Age with both Reason and Heart." Dean Schidlovsky’s introduction of Dr. Pavuk is available here, an audio recording of Dr. Pavuk’s remarks is available here, and the text is available here.

Dean Nicolas then thanked Dr. Pavuk for his address. The program moved on to the main event: the conferral of degrees. Dean Nicolas read the following text:

"By the recommendation of Holy Trinity Seminary’s Faculty Council and the resolution of the Seminary Board of Trustees, I hereby bestow the degree of Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) upon the following six students of the Class of 2024." Each graduate was handed his degree by Dean Schidlovsky, received a blessing from Archbishop Gabriel and Bishop Luke, and was presented his alumni medallion by Priest Ephraim Willmarth, director of Admissions, assistant dean, and registrar.

The following were the undergraduate degree recipients: valedictorian Yevgraf Jakimowicz, summa cum laude; William Paul Morin, cum laude; Elijah Naasko; Alexei Orloff, cum laude; Nicholas Michael Pavuk, and Andrey Slivin, cum laude.

This text form was repeated for the following four graduate students who received the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree: Leif Olof Borg, cum laude, Priest Theodore Foley, cum laude, John Keller; and graduate valedictorian Reader Timothy Daniel Zelinski, cum laude.

The dean then conferred the Certificate in Pastoral Studies (CPS – two year on-campus program) on Nikolai DuPre.

The final conferral was the Certificate Theological Studies (CTS – independent study) on Hieromonk Macarius (Ruegemer; cleric of Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV).

Following the conferral of degrees, awards for excellence and diligence were presented by the dean to the following students:

B.Th. Freshman year:

Excellence: Thomas Lyall

Diligence: Morgan Maudiere and Roman Wlodkowski

B.Th. Sophomore Year:

Excellence: John Kurr

Diligence: Dario Rancic

These awards included a copy of Beginning to Pray by Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom). This gift was given to the recipients from Dean Schidlovsky.

Archpriest Serge Lukianov (B.Th. class of ‘81), Rector of St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ delivered remarks inspiring to all in attendance, as well as charging all alumni of the seminary and all rectors of ROCOR parishes to inspire their faithful to generously support the seminary. Fr. Serge then gave each of the graduates of the class of 2024 gifts from the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral’s Benevolent Fund.

At the conclusion of these presentations, Reader Yevgraf Jakimowicz and Reader Timothy Zelinski were each presented the 3rd Annual Holy Seminary Achievement Award. This award was instituted in 2022 and sponsored for the second year in a row by Stefan, Christian, and Ivan Andreev of the Jordanville Monument Company in memory of their father, Michael Stefanov Andreev. A check for $800 was presented to Reader Yevgraf by Christian and Ivan Andreev, and a check for $1,050 was presented to Reader Timothy, also by Christian and Ivan.

Archbishop Gabriel (B.Th. class of ’84) then gave remarks inspiring the graduates in their service to the Church and referencing his experiences in Jordanville during his own seminary years in the 1980’s.

Finally, Dean Schidlovsky delivered his "Charge to Graduates."

Photos, refreshments, and fellowship followed in the newly renovated Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov hall.

www.hts.edu