St. Vladimir Relics Gifted to St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary

Chapel clergy with Metropolitan Philip

On the eve of the Seminary's 75th Anniversary Gala Banquet, a delegation from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate, led by His Eminence, The Most Rev. Metropolitan Philip, archbishop of Poltava and Myrhorod, presented the community with the relics of St. Vladimir and a rare Book of Gospels. Instead of Daily Vespers, all of the Seminary's clergy gathered to serve an Akathistos Hymn to St. Vladimir, following the reception of the relics and a procession around the Chapel.

Gathering at dusk to welcome the relics

Metropolitan Philip presented the relics on behalf of His Beatitude Vladimir, metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).

Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield acknowledged the extraordinary gifts, saying, "Three years ago on November 13, 2010, when the Episcopal Secretary of the Archdiocese of Canada of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko facilitated the visit of the holy relics of our patron and protector, St. Vladimir, to our campus, we all thought that it was a once in a lifetime experience. Now we have this treasure in our chapel, through a permanent and most gracious gift from Metropolitan Philip and the Ukrainian Church.

Processing around Three Hierarchs Chapel

Presentation of the Gospel Book

He added, "The rare Gospel Book, given to us at the same time, is a reminder that 75 years ago the decision was made to give our seminary a missionary saint as its patron. This book, commemorating the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of the Rus', will inspire us to remember our first charge to be a missionary school."

The SVOTS Chancellor travelled to Ukraine last June, where he and the Rector of the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary, Metropolitan Antony (Borispolsky), reached a cooperative agreement between their respective theological schools. The agreement will offer opportunities for student and teacher exchanges; the sharing of educational models; the development and execution of joint research projects; the co-sponsoring of symposia, conferences, and seminars; and co-publication of scholarly materials.

Praying the Akathistos Hymn

St. Vladimir Relics Gifted to Seminary

The original article is at http://www.svots.edu/headlines/st-vladimir-relics-gifted-seminary