The new academic year has begun at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville, NY. After a few days of orientation for new students and the traditional Labor Day pilgrimage to the monastery, the annual convocation was held on Tuesday, September 3, in Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov Hall. Faculty members introduced themselves to the new students, explaining which classes they teach and recounting their backgrounds and current academic work. Then it was the new students’ turn to introduce themselves. One by one, they briefly explained where they were from and what had motivated them to come to seminary.

Dean Nicolas Schidlovsky’s short opening address emphasized the importance of St. Tikhon of Moscow as a role model for Orthodox clergymen in America. Dr. Schidlovsky explained the open-mindedness and willingness to actively engage with the problems and peculiarities specific to the American sphere which St. Tikhon brought to his daunting appointment to North America. The dean also highlighted the saint’s ability to bring people together in a mutual striving to fulfill the will of God in missionary work and Church service.

The rector, His Grace, Bishop Luke, also made some enlightening remarks to the seminarians. He stressed several pitfalls to avoid and gave advice on how to manage the stress, workload, and temptations that inevitably arise in the course of any good and praiseworthy undertaking. At the conclusion of the ceremony, and before the group photo, Bishop Luke gave the new students a blessing to wear their cassocks and belts, charging them never to do anything while not wearing the cassock which they would not do while wearing one. His Grace made clear that a seminarian does not cease to be a seminarian when out in the world, but on the contrary; he must apply the same discipline wherever he is and in whatever he is engaged.

His Grace stated, as he has in previous years, that seminary life would bring both blessings and temptations. The one he stressed the most among the latter was the tendency to give up, to imagine that problems cannot be overcome, to get offended by peers and those around oneself, and to simply leave seminary. Overcoming such temptations is foundational to success in seminary studies, and in life in general. Bishop Luke also reminded the young audience that social media can have quite detrimental effects if overused and that this has been the cause for many a late assignment and incomplete coursework. The rector suggested cutting internet usage in half and attempting to use these years of formation to acquire at least a small amount of humility, and to learn to pray. His Grace especially focused on the importance of prayer and its essential importance in pastoral life.

For this 2024-2025 academic year, Holy Trinity Seminary has an on-campus population of 31 students, which includes 18 undergraduate students and 13 graduate students.

Of these, there were 17 returning students and 14 new/incoming students, including seven new undergraduate students and seven new graduate students whose names are listed below:

First-year undergraduate (B.Th.) students include: Andre Slobodticov, Anthony Edwards, Jonathan Rose, John Sheniloff, Kirk Demerath, Riassophore Monk Peter (Zubrikov), and Thomas Kurr.

First-year graduate (M.Div.) students include: Adam Kolokotrones, Basil Carvin, David Alimasi, David Fouladi, John King, Nicholas Wildman, and Vladyslav Nazarchuk.

Following the group photos, an ice cream social was hosted for the students to spend some time getting to know the faculty, as well as one another, better. Glory to God for the successful start of the 77th academic year at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary!

www.hts.edu