On Thursday July 9, 2009, St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary hosted a meeting of Seminary leaders in the United States and Canada at the diocesan center of His Grace, Bishop Tikhon.

Prior to the meeting, Protodeacon Vladimir Tsurikov met with the abbot of St. Tikhon’s monastery, Fr. Sergius, and presented him with the reproduction of an icon of the Holy Theotokos “It is truly meet” on behalf of Archimandrite Luke, abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery. The original of the icon is located at the Holy Trinity Monastery’s cathedral in Jordanville, N.Y.

Present at the meeting were His Grace Bishop Tikhon, rector of St. Tikhon’s Seminary (STOTS), Archpriest Alexander Golubov, Academic Dean of STOTS, Archpriest Michael Dahulich, Dean and Director of Admissions of STOTS, Archpriest Nicholas Triantafilou, President of Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (HCHC), Deacon Nicholas Belcher, Dean of Students at HCHC, Archpriest John Behr, Dean of St. Vladimir’s Seminary (SVOTS), Archpriest Chad Hatfield, Chancellor of SVOTS, and Mrs. Anne Glynn Mackoul, Executive Chair, Board of Trustees of SVOTS. Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary was represented by its Dean, Protodeacon Vladimir Tsurikov, and Sergei Jakubov, recent HTS graduate and faculty appointee for the Fall semester of 2009.

The meeting’s agenda included a review of last year’s meeting, held at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA, on October 18, 2008, discussions of an inter-seminary retreat, updates on St. Herman’s Seminary in Kodiak, AK, proposals for the creation of an undergraduate program for Orthodox Christians with components in theology and history, inter-seminary communications, the creation of a library consortium, as well as goals for future meetings and events.

Following the meeting, participants visited the monastery’s bookstore, and had an opportunity to venerate the relics of St. Alexis Toth.

An informal meeting and discussion of items of mutual interest to both HTS and STOTS took place between Fr. Alexander Golubov and Fr. Vladimir after the conclusion of the scheduled events. Both deans touched upon the challenges relating to distance education, and efforts in providing bi-lingual instruction.

Before returning to Holy Trinity Seminary, Fr. Vladimir and S. Jakubov had the opportunity to meet and speak with His Eminence, Metropolitan Jonah, who had just arrived at the monastery.

The next meeting of Seminary leaders has been scheduled for October 22, 2009, and will be hosted by Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, N.Y.