Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Livestream Services for the Glorification of the Righteous Olga of Kwethluk
    • Washington state targets priests, confidentiality of confession with discriminatory law
    • Archbishop George of Cyprus Speaks Exclusively to “The National Herald” on the Dethroned Metropolitan Tychikos of Paphos
    • ‘The heart of Orthodox monasticism’: Historic monasteries on Mount Athos damaged by earthquakes
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate Issues Statement on Status of Saint Catherine Monastery of Sinai
    • Council of Nicaea anniversary is call to Christian unity, speakers say
    • Call for Nominations: 2025 Medal of Saint Theodora Award
    • Save the Date: October 11, 2025 – Frederica Mathewes-Green to Headline OCL’s 38th Annual Conference
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
    • Home
    • OCL
      • About OCL
      • Leadership
      • OCL News
      • OCL Publications
      • Focused Study and Research Topics
      • OCL Archives at DePaul University
    • Orthodox News & Links
      • Orthodox News Stories
      • Headlines & News Archives
      • Governance & Unity
        • Governance Top Stories
        • Governance & Unity Essays
        • Grassroots Unity in Action
      • OCL Forums
      • Orthodox Christian Laity News
      • Web Links
    • Audio & Video
      • Audio Index
      • Video Index
    • Contact
    • Make a Donation
    Orthodox Christian Laity
    You are at:Home»Orthodox News»Seminary graduates 22 students; Honorary doctorate awarded to Syriac patriarch, trustee

    Seminary graduates 22 students; Honorary doctorate awarded to Syriac patriarch, trustee

    0
    By Webmaster on May 23, 2019 Orthodox News, Orthodox News Top Stories
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Telegram WhatsApp Copy Link

    Source: St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

    View the photo gallery

    2019 Commencement at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

    [SVOTS Communications / YONKERS, NY]  At its Commencement Ceremonies Saturday, May 18, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) conferred degrees upon twenty-two graduates, including fourteen Master of Divinity, three Master of Arts, and five Master of Theology students, and the Seminary also awarded two honorary doctorates.

    On Saturday morning, His Beatitude the Most Blessed Tikhon, archbishop of Washington and metropolitan of All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), presided at Divine Liturgy at Three Hierarchs Chapel. At the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude elevated Rev. Dr. David Mezynski, the Seminary’s Director of Residential Life and Admissions, to the dignity of archpriest.

    Metropolitan Tikhon officially opened the 2019 Commencement Exercises Saturday afternoon, followed by welcoming remarks from Seminary President Archpriest Chad Hatfield. Among the many distinguished guests were His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, patriarch of Antioch and All the East of the Syriac Orthodox Church; His Eminence Nicolae (Condrea), Metropolitan of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas; His Eminence Mor Dionysius John Kawak, archbishop and patriarchal vicar of the Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church for the Eastern United States of America; His Eminence Ayub Mor Silvanos, archbishop of America, Canada & Europe Regions of the Malankara Syriac Knanaya Archdiocese; His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Seminary Board member; and His Grace Bishop Vahan Hovhannisyan, primate of the Diocese of France of the Armenian Church.

    His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II was one of this year’s honorary degree recipients, along with longtime Trustee Alex Machaskee. The Seminary bestowed the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon Mor Ignatius and the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters upon Mr. Machaskee.

    “We have warm memories of the time His Holiness spent as an archbishop of the eastern United States, where he was known for his work with the youth and overseeing the growth and expansion of his parishes,” said Metropolitan Tikhon. “Now as the 123rdpatriarch of Antioch and All the East, he serves not only as an archpastor to his flock, but as an ardent advocate for the protection of Christians in Syria and the Middle East and throughout the world.”

    • Read more about Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II

    “Publisher, philanthropist, patron of the arts, humanitarian—Alex Machaskee, you are an accomplished leader who has worked tirelessly and have served in numerous capacities of leadership,” said Archpriest Dr. Sergius Halvorsen, the faculty secretary, as he announced Machaskee’s honorary doctorate. “You exemplify the virtues of dedication, clear vision, and sacrificial charity in the care of the neighbor.”

    • Read more about Trustee Alex Machaskee

    The Commencement Exercises continued with the Salutatory Address given by Laura Zane Wachsmuth, this year’s class salutatorian

    “In all of these opportunities, through all of the blessings we have been given at St. Vladimir’s, it is clear to me that Christ is at work here in a powerful way,” Laura said in her address.

    Laura graduated cum laude with a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree, with a commendation for service to the community.

    The Commencement Address was delivered by Archpriest Dr. Alexander Rentel, who is transitioning from full-time professor at the Seminary to adjunct faculty in order to fulfill his recent appointment as chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America.

    Father Alexander, a popular professor at St. Vladimir’s, received a standing ovation as he approached the podium to speak.

    “The knowledge that comes from theological education should not satisfy us with the satisfaction of simple vocational outcomes based on clearly stated goals or even broadly based education… but a knowledge of Him who was not found in the tomb; a knowledge of Him who Mary Magdalene thought to be the gardener,” said Fr. Alexander, who also reminisced about the events that led him to pursue studies in the Church and celebrated the discipline of theology.

    “I’m not asserting that you need to be an academic to be saved—God alone saves,” he said. “I am, however, arguing that we all must come to a knowledge of God in order to be saved.”

    “The glory of seminary education is to fulfill the canonical mandate of teaching on one hand and acquiring knowledge on the other…so that this knowledge can be taught and acquired anew.”

    Listen to Archpriest Alexander Rentel’s 2019 Commencement Address

    Following the Commencement Address, Academic Dean Dr. Ionut Alexandru Tudorie led the conferral of degrees on the Class of 2019. Two of the twenty-two graduates received their degrees in December from the Seminary but were formally honored and participated in Saturday’s ceremony.

    President of the Student Council Daniel Bein then announced the winner of this year’s St. Macrina Award for Excellence in Teaching, selected each year by student vote, to Priest Dr. Varghese M. Daniel, assistant professor of Malankara Studies.

    Bein read from Seminarians who had written about Fr. Varghese’s excellent teaching and guidance.

    “Father is able to take a complicated subject and makes it very simple,” wrote one seminarian. “He is able to break it down into its various parts, and this is because for him this is not a game—the spiritual life is not just something he speaks about, the spiritual life is a life that he prays, a life that he lives.”

    Following the award, graduate Priest Herman Fields delivered a moving and heartfelt Valedictory Address, at times fighting back tears as he addressed his colleagues.

    “I wish, in one sense, [the Seminary]would almost have given me a crown as the valedictorian, so that I could break it into little pieces and give a little piece to all of my fellow students,” he said. “You are the ones who taught me what liturgy is—liturgy is to give our lives to Christ.”

    “You have sacrificed so much to be here,” he continued. “You have given up jobs and homes and financial security and knowing what’s going to happen tomorrow—you have given it up to serve God.”

    “You are all my concelebrants in the liturgy.”

    Father Herman graduated the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program magna cum laude and will move with his family this summer to serve a parish in Saskatchewan, Canada.

    At the conclusion of the Commencement Exercises, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon offered closing remarks for the Class of 2019, recalling the message of Fr. Alexander’s commencement address.

    “I encourage all of you, both the graduates and those who are continuing to search for that knowledge of God, that you will remember the strength and the beauty of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is ‘the Way, the Truth, and the Life,’ and that your own relationship with Him will build that foundation of humility and love to care for your fellows…and that you will share that with all those you are in contact with throughout your life.”

    Listen to the 2019 Commencement in its entirety

    • View the 2019 Commencement program
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email WhatsApp Copy Link
    Previous ArticleArrival and Enthronement of Archbishop Elpidophoros
    Next Article The Impossible Future of Christians in the Middle East

    Related Posts

    June 17, 20251 Min Read

    Livestream Services for the Glorification of the Righteous Olga of Kwethluk

    June 12, 20255 Mins Read

    ‘The heart of Orthodox monasticism’: Historic monasteries on Mount Athos damaged by earthquakes

    June 10, 20254 Mins Read

    Ecumenical Patriarchate Issues Statement on Status of Saint Catherine Monastery of Sinai

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Sign the Declaration for Orthodox Christian Unity

    Enter the Slogan Contest

    Share this page
    DISCLAIMER

    All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    Stay Informed!

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT AND SUPPORT!

    Your donation impacts and helps advance the unity of the Orthodox Church of America.

    DONATE NOW

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

    Upcoming Events
    There are no upcoming events.
    Recent Comments
    • Procopius on Leading Liturgists Reaffirm the Ordination of Women to the Diaconate
    • Procopius on How will the Female Diaconate Help Prevent Abuse?
    • John Fronime on Archbishop Elpidophoros Proposes Separation of Church and State in Greece
    • Nn on HAVE WE HIT ROCK BOTTOM? REFLECTIONS OF A NOT-SO-INNOCENT BYSTANDER [witnessing the present decline of the Orthodox Church as an institution]
    • Member on Ex-Clergyman, Sexually Abused at 17 by His Priest, Attempted Suicide
    • Bonnie Belknap on Archbishop Elpidophoros Proposes Separation of Church and State in Greece
    • Bonnie Belknap on Archbishop Elpidophoros Proposes Separation of Church and State in Greece
    • Bonnie Belknap on Archbishop Elpidophoros Proposes Separation of Church and State in Greece
    • Luke on Egypt nationalizes ancient monastery’s grounds, fraying ties between Athens and Cairo
    • Webmaster on Egypt nationalizes ancient monastery’s grounds, fraying ties between Athens and Cairo
    OCL Archives Online
    Project for Orthodox Renewal
    renewal-resize
    OCL Digital Newsletter

    Subscribe to our Newsletter

    MAKE A DONATION

    St. Symeon the New Theologian and St. Photini are the Patron Saints of OCL

    footer-fnl

    Orthodox Christian Laity
    PO Box 6954

    West Palm Beach, FL · 33405
    561-585-0245

    Sponsored by Ann Souvall in memory of husband George

    DISCLAIMER: All articles represent the views of the authors and  not necessarily the official views of Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL). They are posted to encourage thoughtful discussion on topics and concerns relevant to Orthodox Christians living in a pluralistic society. OCL encourages your comments.

    ©2025 Orthodox Christian Laity (OCL) ·  Login

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.