On February 10- 11, 2010 the faculty and students of Holy Trinity Seminary celebrated the Feast of their heavenly protectors, the Holy Three Hierarchs Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom. This year, the seminarians were honored by the presence of Archbishop Anthony of Borispol, Rector of the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary, and Bishop George of Mayfield, a graduate of Holy Trinity Seminary and a long-time member of the monastery brotherhood. According to the seminary’s longstanding tradition, the students read and sang portions of Vespers and Matins in Greek, with Byzantine chant, under the direction of Fr. Cyprian (Alexandrou), inspector of the Seminary and professor of Greek.

Thursday morning, the Greeting of His Eminience, Archbishop Anthony, took place at 8 am, followed by the Divine Liturgy. Serving with Vladyka were Bishop George; Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), Rector of the Seminary; the monastery clergy (including Fr. Alexei Pjawka, who celebrated the first anniversary of his ordination to the Priesthood); and guests Archpriest Andre Papkov, Archpriest Michael Taratuchin, and Protodeacon Joseph Yarostchuk. At the Small Entrance, Fr. Cyprian was awarded the nabedrennik by Bishop George for his service to Holy Trinity Monastery. Following the consecration of the gifts, Vladyka George ordained Fr. Gabriel (Astrakhankin), a monk at Holy Trinity Monastery, to the diaconate.

Following the Divine Liturgy and a light breakfast, the brotherhood and guests gathered in the Seminary hall for a ceremony to mark the feast. Archbishop Anthony congratulated Fr. Luke and the seminary on behalf of His Beatitude Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine, and the Kiev Theological Academy and Seminary. His Eminence also gifted to the monastery a portion of the relics of the Righteous Father Nestor the Chronicler, who was a monk of the Kiev Caves Lavra. Protodeacon Vladimir Tsurikov, the seminary’s Dean, presented Fr. Luke with a portion of the relics of St. Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, a gift from His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

The ceremony’s keynote address was given by Archpriest Andre Papkov, a graduate of Holy Trinity Seminary and senior cleric at the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Des Plaines, IL. He spoke on the pastoral and theological legacy of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, specifically that of Metropolitans Anthony (Khrapovitsky) and Anastasy (Gribanovsky), Archbishop Vitalii (Maximenko), and St. John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco. Following the ceremony, all the attendance shared a festal meal in the refectory.

Official greetings had been received from His Beatitude Vladimir, Metropolitan of Kiev and all Ukraine, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of Russian Church Abroad, Archbishop Evgeny of Vereia, Rector of the Moscow Theological Academy and Seminary; Archbishop Antonii of Borispol, Rector of Kiev Theological Academy and School, Bishop Ambrose of Gatchina, Rector of St. Petersburg Theological Academy and Seminary.

The Holy Trinity Seminary Scholarship was awarded to fifth year seminarians Alexander Ivanov, Vladimir Kulik, Vladislav Naumkin, Petr Petryshyn, Sergio Silva, Evgeniy Poznyak, and to fourth year seminarians Maksim Abroskin, Dmitrii Bolbot, Nikolai Lochmatow, Alexander Sandoval and Ephraim Willmarth. Scholarships from the Koulaeff Fund were awarded to third year seminarian Ivan Denisenko, and second year seminarians Anthony Williams, Peter Markevich, and Mathew Romanchak. The Metropolitan Philaret scholarship was awarded to second year seminarian Igor Grytsyna. The Scholarship in memory of Archimandrite Joasaph was awarded to Nikolosky Dionisii. The Helen Smerznak scholarship was awarded to second year seminarian Nikoloski Dionisii and third year seminarian Ivan Denisenko.

The faculty and students of Holy Trinity Seminary would like to thank Archbishop Anthony, Bishop George, and all our guests for sharing in this feast with us, and especially Father Andre for his words of guidance and encouragement. In addition, congratulations go to Fr. Cyprian, Fr. Alexei, and newly ordained Fr. Gabriel.