On the feast of Apostle John the Theologian, the 9th of October (Sept. 26 o.s.), Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary received a guest from Moscow, Priest Michael Asmus. Father Michael came to HTS along with Archpriest Andrei Papkov, of Holy Protection Cathedral in Chicago, both of whom had come from the Church Music Conference in Toronto, Canada.

Father Michael Asmus is a priest of the Moscow diocese. He is a classical philologist and instructor at Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox University of the Humanities. He gave a lecture in which he shared some thoughts on the possibility of a poetic and creative interpretation and exegesis of Holy Scripture in the light of Orthodox teaching and Holy Tradition of the Church. Father Michael read a few of his literary works to the audience: a poetic rendering of the Paschal Gospel reading and also a poetic rendition of the Lord’s Prayer.

It was of special interest to the students that this kind of creative work contributes to a deeper perception and understanding of the Scriptures.