Seminary Visit to New York City
A group from Holy Trinity Seminary visited New York City on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25, 2003, to visit several institutions of particular interest to our seminarians.
On the morning of Friday, October 24, the Rev. Deacon Vladimir Tsurikov, Assistant Dean of Holy Trinity Seminary, drove a group of third and fourth year seminarians to New York City. Their first stop was the headquarters of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad on the corner of 93rd and Park, in the Upper East Side of Manhattan. After finding their rooms and taking a brief rest, the group proceeded to The New York Public Library, where they were met by Dr. Edward Kasinec, Director of the Slavic and Baltic Division, and likewise joined by Dr. Natalia Kazakova of Long Island University, who had recently given a talk on V.V. Rozanov and A. S. Khomiakov at the Second Annual Holy Trinity Seminary Colloquium. Mr. Kasinec gave the group a personal tour of The New York Public Library's exhibit, "Russia Engages the World: 1453-1825," which runs from October 3, 2003 to January 31, 2004.
This exhibit, which is drawn principally from The New York Public Library's collection of Russian and east European materials explores, as the exhibit catalog states, "Russia's exposure to and interaction with the larger world, as well as the significant role the new cosmopolitan capital (currently celebrating its tercentenary) played in this evolution." The exhibition spans two galleries, the Wachenheim Gallery, where the material on display evokes the inward-looking, pre-secular Russia, and the Gottesman Hall, where the display traces Russia's movement from relative isolation to a global empire through its contacts with Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Following their guided tour of this fascinating exhibit, Fr. Vladimir and Mr. Kasinec had a private dinner, while the seminarians were free to explore the sites of Manhattan.
On the following morning, Saturday, October 25, the group of seminarians assembled for the Divine Liturgy at the St. Sergius Chapel in the Synod headquarters, celebrated by the V. Rev. Archpriest George Kallaur. The seminarians formed an impromptu choir under the direction of fourth-year student Daniel Millwood, and Deacon Vladimir read the appointed Epistle readings. Following the completion of the Divine Liturgy, Fr. George offered warm words of welcome and gratitude to the seminarians for evoking the monastery atmosphere with their inspired singing and telling the assembled faithful of Fr Vladimir's efforts in renewing the work of the Seminary.
After a breakfast provided by the staff of the Synod building, Fr. Vladimir and the seminarians, joined by faculty member Fr. Serge (Nedelsky), drove to Crestwood, NY, to visit St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. Upon arriving at the Seminary, the group was immediately welcomed by the Dean of the Seminary, Professor John Erickson. The seminarians were first brought to visit the Seminary's bookstore, which was opened especially for them, while Professor Erickson and Fr Vladimir held a private meeting to discuss further cooperation between the two Seminaries. Professor Erickson then gave the group a tour first of the new Fr. Georges Florovsky Library, which holds an impressive collection of over 125,000 volumes, and then of the Three Hierarchs Chapel, where the Seminary's daily services take place. Before leaving, the group was welcomed into Professor Erickson's home for refreshments. The group arrived back in Jordanville just in time for the evening meal and the Vigil service.
The two-day trip to New York City served as a wonderful means to introduce our seminarians to the cultural and religious riches found there. Holy Trinity Seminary would like to express its profound gratitude to Dr. Edward Kasinec of The New York Public Library for taking the time to give our group a tour of the exhibit; to Professor John Erickson, Dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, for his warm welcome and tour of the Seminary facilities; and to Fr. George Kallaur and the staff of the Synod headquarters for their warm hospitality.