On Sunday, May 30th, Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary held a commencement ceremony for the graduating class of 2010. His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, presided over the ceremonies, serving the All-night Vigil on Saturday and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday. Also present were His Eminence, Archbishop Justinian of Naro-Fominsk, His Grace, Bishop Job of Kashir, His Grace, Bishop Gabriel of Montreal, and His Grace, Bishop George of Mayfield, Archpriest Alexander Golubov, Archpriest Vladimir Morin, Abbott Joseph (Kriukov), Archpriest Evgeny Goncharenko, Priest Victor Boldewskul, Hieromonk Theophylact, Hieromonk Cyprian, Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk, Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow, Protodeacon Vladimir Tsurikov, Deacon Andrei Rudenko, Deacon Andrei Psarev, Deacon Andrew Doubleday, Hierodeacon Gavriil, and Deacon Vladislav Naumkin.

During Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion ordained the Seminary’s Dean, Protodeacon Vladimir Tsurikov, to the priesthood. Fr. Vladimir is a graduate of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (B.Th. 1993), Middlebury College (M.A. 2000), and the Moscow Theological Academy (M.Th. 2009). In 1991, Vladimir Tsurikov was tonsured a reader and subdeacon by Archbishop Hilarion, in 1993 Archbishop Hilarion ordained Vladimir Tsurikov to the diaconate, and Fr. Vladimir has been serving at Jordanville’s Holy Trinity Cathedral ever since. Since 1997, Fr. Vladimir has also been assigned to Holy Trinity Seminary. During that time he has been acting as Instructor of Church Slavonic, Secretary, Assistant Dean, Director of Library and Archives, and Development officer. In 2008, Fr. Vladimir has been assigned as Dean of Holy Trinity Seminary, and he also continues his responsibilities in the area of fundraising and as Director of Archives.

At 12:00 o’clock, the visiting hierarchs, Seminary faculty and students, the brotherhood of the monastery, and guests gathered in the Holy Trinity cathedral for a thanksgiving moleben, served by Metropolitan Hilarion, who was joined by the visiting hierarchs and both local and visiting clergy

The moleben was followed by a procession from the cathedral to the seminary hall. Archimandrite Luke, Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary, opened the ceremony, greeting and thanking all present. Fr. Luke’s remarks were followed by Metropolitan Hilarion addressing the graduates and all present.  Professor Valery Nollan of Rhodes College presented this year’s commencement address dedicated to the heroic path of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

Following the speeches, Baccalaureates of Theology were awarded to Dmitry Dimov, Alexander Ivanov, Vladimir Kulik, Petr Petryshin and Sergio Silva. Another student, the recently ordained Fr. Deacon Vladislav Naumkin was recognized of completing the five year Seminary course of studies.

Awards for academic distinction were presented to the following seminarians – Anthony Williams, Nicholas Lochmatow, and Alexander Ivanov. Igor Grytsina and Maxim Abroskin received special awards for their dedication to their studies. Through the generosity of Michael Andreev of the Jordanville Monument company, two students received cash stipends for the sum of 700 and 300 dollars, marking their extraordinary efforts over the course of the past academic year. The recipients were both fourth year students, Nicholas Lochmatow and Ephraim Willmarth.

After the distribution of awards, an address on behalf of the graduating class was given by Vladimir Kulik and Sergio Silva, who originally came to Holy Trinity Seminary from Brazil.

The Holy Trinity Seminary would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have labored throughout the past academic year and helped us to reach this year's commencement ceremonies. May the Lord God bless you and reward you for your efforts!

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