JORDANVILLE: February 16, 2007
The Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs Celebrated at Holy Trinity Seminary

On February 12, the Orthodox Church solemnly marks the Synaxis of the universal teachers, the Hierarchs St Basil the Great, St Gregory the Theologian and St John Chrysostom. On this day, Holy Trinity Seminary, under the protection of Holy Trinity Monastery, traditionally holds an Act at which the year's studies are reviewed.

Divine Liturgy was celebrated at Holy Trinity Cathedral in the Greek language on this day, at which His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia officiated, along with His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland, Administrator of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, other teachers and visiting clergymen. During Liturgy, His Eminence awarded the nabedrennik to Hieromonk Theophylact, the Dean of Students and Registrar, and to Hieromonk Dionisy, who is a second-year student at the Seminary. Sergei Silva was ordained as a reader.

At 1:30, the Act commenced at the Seminary Hall, which opened with a keynote address by His Eminence, the Seminary Rector, which was read by Bishop Peter. In the address, His Eminence shared his joy on this feast day, and also congratulated those who received the awards and ordination. His Eminence Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand sent a congratulatory message, as did the Chairman of the Education Committee of the Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archbishop Evgeny of Verey, Rector of the Moscow Theological Schools, and His Grace Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan.

After the congratulations were read, the Assistant Dean, Deacon Vladimir Tsurikov, reported on the year 2004-5. Among the highlights were the round table the Seminary hosted on the restoration of canonical communion between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Moscow Patriarchate; and the Fourth Holy Trinity Seminary Colloquium on Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of blessed memory. Deacon Vladimir recounted in detail how the teachers and students of the Seminary actively participated in the work of various other seminars and conferences. Finally, a list of the seminarians who won awards and scholarships for excellence and exemplary life was announced.

A Seminary teacher, AV Psarev, then read a lecture titled "The State of Theological Schools in Russia," after which a everyone enjoyed a luncheon organized by Hierodeacon Seraphim (Baltich), a clergyman of the Novo-Gracanica Metropoliate of the Serbian Orthodox Church and a fourth-year student at Holy Trinity Seminary.