www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Me and St. Vladimir's

Dear Anastasius the Academician,

Having two patrons is great!

The East Slavic tradition is to have just one name-saint, the second name is the patronym or father's name with "ovych" at the end ("son of ovych" in effect ).

However, since my parents were Latinized . . .

I was born on March 29 and my father named me Alexander or Alex after St Alexios the Man of God who is commemorated in the Julian Calendar the next day. My father was a beekeeper and St Alex marks the beginning of the beekeeper's year in the "Old Country."

On March 30, molebens are served near apiaries and little metal icons of Sts. Savvaty and Zosimas of Solovetsky and of St John the Baptist are placed in little shrines near the bees.

A stinging indictment all around . . .

May St Photios the Great bless you in your studies!

(p.s. if you want to get around that Orthodox seminary thing to get ordained in the Ruthenian Church, just present yourself to the bishop dressed as a Franciscan . . . ).

God bless,

Alex

Dear Lance,

No problem! I know you didn't suggest it was "bad" for me to study with the Orthodox!

I have been told, however, that by studying at St. Vladimir's I am "casting a shadow of doubt" on my record should I ever in fact present myself as a candidate for holy orders. But then again, getting married in June is casting a shadow of doubt for any pro-celibacy Byzantine bishops!

As far as studying at Mt. St. Mary's--you missed the point: you asked why it would be ok if a Byzantine Catholic studied with them but not the Orthodox: and the point is that some of our bishops still think that "Catholic is Catholic" and that one must do all in his power to not appear to be moving towards dissedency!

In Christ,

anastasios

PS I guess I will be studying with one ex-Cyril and Methodius alumnus at St. Vladimir's, I hear. Interesting how these things happen.

Anastasios,

This is a curious statement as there have been a few priests from the Eparchy of Passaic that I know of who have gotten their MDiv at St. Vladimir's. The ones I am aware of all studied after ordination while they were serving in parishes in the greater NY/NJ/CT area.

Administrator

I should add that my pastor earned a Doctorate degree last year from the Antiochian Orthodox program. One illustrious Byzantine Catholic priest served as 'reader' of his dissertation.

Joe

[ 04-05-2002: Message edited by: J Thur ]

Dear Axios,

Thank you for the kind words!

Dear Administrator and Joe,

I am only relaying what I have been told by two individuals, and I certainly hope they are wrong! :-)

In Christ,

anastasios

Greetings All,

Up here in Boston we have a unique situation. I will be attending Holy Cross Greek Seminary in the Fall, but living and taking some classes, at St. John's Seminary, the RC Seminary. This is the program at St. Gregory's Seminary of the Melkite diocese, although I will be studying for the Romanian Eparchy of St. Geroge in Canton.

Pace,

Peter

Dear Brother Peter,

Christ is Risen!

What a wonderful arrangement. I am delighted to hear that you will be able to study at the Holy Cross Greek Seminary. I hope you will also have ample opportunity to worship in the Byzantine Church. Is there a parish nearby in which you can regularly worship in the Romanian Church?

Elias

Congratulations!

Their choir was (is?) really good. I have some recordings from the 70s when they were still under the direction of the great Boris Ledkovsky. They certainly set the standard for Orthodox Chant in English. Hope you join the choir. I think they do a good job of singing not only Kievan and Slavic Chants, but also Greek and Arabic Chants aranged for choirs in English.

Daniil

Elais,

There is a mission church of the Romanian Eparchy here in Boston, as well as the Cathedral Parish of the Melkites.

At the Melkite Cahnclery office, they offer liturgy everyday, I try to attend most days that I do not have any classes, but it is not always possible.

Pace,

Peter

Peter,

First congratulations! What an interesting situation though!?! The rumor going around in Pittsburgh was the Bishop John Michael Botean was going to send his seminarians to the Ruthenian Seminary in Pittsburgh. In any event, I wish you well in your studies.

Bob

Greetings Bob,

Bishop Botean and I did speak of my going to PIttsburgh, but, with a mission parish of the diocese in Boston, and the fact that Bishop Botean is a graduate of the Melkite seminary, and that I am from Boston, he though this was a better fit.

Peter