His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon Presides Over 2025 Commencement Exercises of St. Vladimir’s, St. Tikhon’s Seminaries
Archbishop Alexei presided over commencement exercises at St. Herman’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Alaska.
SPRINGFIELD, VA — His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) recently presided over the 2025 commencement exercises of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) and St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (STOTS), “offering words of encouragement and his archpastoral blessings to the graduating students, their families, and the seminary communities,” according to a release from the OCA.
St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
St. Vladimir’s Seminary held its 85th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 17, with Metropolitan Tikhon presiding over the Divine Liturgy in the Three Hierarchs Chapel to begin the festivities. During the service, seminarian Deacon Daniel York was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.
His Beatitude opened the commencement exercises, held in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium. According to the OCA release, welcoming remarks were offered by Interim President and Academic Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, the commencement address was delivered by the Archpriest Dr. Paul Nadim Tarazi, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament (a scholar and prolific author who taught at the seminary for nearly four decades), Ms. Jaime Rall delivered the salutatory address, and the valedictory address was given by Deacon Matthew Wiley.
A number of guests in attendance, and among them were: His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey, His Grace Bishop Nikodhim of Boston and the Albanian Archdiocese, His Grace Bishop Benedict of Hartford and New England, His Grace Metropolitan Thomas Mar Ivanios of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Diocese of South-West America, His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan of the Armenian Church’s Eastern Diocese of America, St. Vladimir’s Seminary Alumnus and Board of Trustees Executive Chair the Archimandrite Jeremy Davis, Archiepiscopal Vicar for the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest, representing His Eminence Metropolitan Saba of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, Dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary the Rev. Mardiros Chevian, and four guests in honor of graduating seminarian from Uganda, Deacon Richard Okello: former trustee John Milosevic and his wife, Janet; Founder of Lift Up Uganda Sue Nelson, and Susan Harbiger.
The St. Macrina Award for Excellence in Teaching was also presented to Dr. Michael Legaspi by Student Council President Ms. Laura Ionescu, and a citation was read in honor of Protodeacon Peter Danilchick.
“The Class of 2025, comprising 26 graduates across the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, and Master of Theology programs, also presented a specially commissioned icon of Christ the Sower as their class gift. The St. Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale, under the direction of Zachariah Mandell, sang an original setting of ‘Gladsome Light’ composed by salutatorian Jaime Rall, and the’“Koinonikon of Pascha’ by Tikey Zes,” the release also states.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, in his closing remarks, told graduates, “You have been given the tools, the wisdom, the knowledge, and the formation to plunge into this labyrinth of the absurd – not to be swallowed up, but to emerge as guides for the lost and the despairing.”
The commencement ceremony concluded with the singing of “Shine, Shine, O New Jerusalem” and the troparion of Pascha. A reception was held after the commencement.
St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary began its 83rd commencement exercises on Friday, May 23, with a procession and ceremonial groundbreaking for future married student housing.
“His Beatitude, His Eminence Archbishop Michael, and Board Chairman David Jarrett blessed the site and broke ground together, marking the start of this long-anticipated project,” the OCA release states.
Archpriest Constantine Nasr delivered the commencement address in the Archangel Michael Convocation Hall that evening, gifting each graduate a copy of his book, “The Resource Book for Orthodox Evangelism,” and a reception followed.
On Saturday, May 24, the seminary gathered for its commencement exercises.
“Valedictorian Priest Paisios Hamann offered the address where he called his classmates to live lives marked by holiness, even in the face of worldly ridicule, and gave heartfelt thanks to his wife, Matushka Anna,” the OCA release states.
Archpriest Nikolai Breckenridge, President of the Alumni Association, presented the Alumnus of the Year Award to Archpriest Patrick Burns in recognition of his decade of leadership and service to the seminary.
The Father Alexander Atty Service Award was presented to Ginger Smith (Dining Services) and Timothy Scheitlin (Housekeeping) for their exemplary contributions to the life of the seminary. His Beatitude and His Eminence then conferred ten Master of Divinity degrees, with four graduates – Priest Davede Thompson, Thomas Coon, Mathew Varughese, and Ashich Mohan – recognized with honors for their senior projects.
St. Herman’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
Earlier in the month, on Sunday, May 11, His Eminence Archbishop Alexei presided over commencement exercises at St. Herman’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.
While celebrating the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at All Saints of Alaska Chapel in Kodiak, AK, His Eminence elevated Priest Michael Nicolai to the dignity of Archpriest and awarded Priest George Nicholai the Nabedrennik. A seminarian, Matfei Peterson, was also tonsured as a reader.
“Following the service, graduation and commencement exercises were held at the KANA Marketplace, where His Eminence addressed the graduates to continue with lifelong service rooted in learning, humility, courage, and missionary zeal,” the OCA release states.
Each graduate received a copy of “The Law of God” by Serafim Slobodskoy.
The Spring Class of 2025 includes Deacon Feodor Timpko (Pastoral Studies Certificate), Deacon Innokenty Heckert (Diploma of Orthodox Theology), Mr. Andrew Mesack (Reader Certificate), Mr. Peter Sonday (Diploma of Orthodox Theology), Mr. John Amik (Reader Certificate), and Mr. Vasily Nicholai (Reader Certificate).
The Orthodox Church in America also extended its congratulations to the Classes of 2025. “May God grant the graduates, faculty, and staff of our seminaries many years!” the release concludes.
Additional photos and information may be found at svots.edu, stots.edu, and sthermanseminary.org.
