Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
Encyclopedia
Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary is an Orthodox Christian seminary
in Crestwood, New York
, in the United States
. Although it is under the omophorion
of the Metropolitan
of the Orthodox Church in America
, it is a pan-Orthodox institution, providing theological education to students from different Orthodox jurisdictions worldwide.
The seminary is also the location of St. Vladimir's Seminary (SVS) Press (not to be confused with SVS Printing Company).
and named for Saint Vladimir, Grand Prince of Kiev
. The seminary was granted a provisional charter
by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York
in 1948 and an absolute charter in 1953. After several years in rented space the seminary moved to its current campus in 1961. The Board of Regents granted the seminary authority to award a Bachelor of Divinity
(later, Master of Divinity
) degree in 1967, Master of Theology
in 1970, Master of Arts
in 1985, and Doctor of Ministry
in 1988. St Vladimir's became an associate member of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
in 1966 and was fully accredited in 1973.
In 2006, the seminary's Board of Trustees decided to divide the then-current responsibilities of the dean equally between the dean, to have "responsibility for the ecclesial and academic leadership of the Seminary", and a new position of chancellor
(originally designated Provost
), with responsibility for "financial and operational leadership of the Seminary".
A fuller version of the seminary's history can be found at the Internet Archive.
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Crestwood, New York
Crestwood, Yonkers, New York
Crestwood is a neighborhood in Yonkers, New York. Located in northeastern Yonkers, Crestwood borders the Bronx River where it meets the Village of Tuckahoe...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Although it is under the omophorion
Omophorion
In the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgical tradition, the omophor is the distinguishing vestment of a bishop and the symbol of his spiritual and ecclesiastical authority...
of the Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of the Orthodox Church in America
Orthodox Church in America
The Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North America. Its primate is Metropolitan Jonah , who was elected on November 12, 2008, and was formally installed on December 28, 2008...
, it is a pan-Orthodox institution, providing theological education to students from different Orthodox jurisdictions worldwide.
The seminary is also the location of St. Vladimir's Seminary (SVS) Press (not to be confused with SVS Printing Company).
History
St Vladimir's Seminary was originally founded in 1938 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and named for Saint Vladimir, Grand Prince of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. The seminary was granted a provisional charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York
University of the State of New York
The University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
in 1948 and an absolute charter in 1953. After several years in rented space the seminary moved to its current campus in 1961. The Board of Regents granted the seminary authority to award a Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
(later, Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
) degree in 1967, Master of Theology
Master of Theology
A Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
in 1970, Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1985, and Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
in 1988. St Vladimir's became an associate member of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has more than 250 member institutions...
in 1966 and was fully accredited in 1973.
In 2006, the seminary's Board of Trustees decided to divide the then-current responsibilities of the dean equally between the dean, to have "responsibility for the ecclesial and academic leadership of the Seminary", and a new position of chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
(originally designated Provost
Provost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
), with responsibility for "financial and operational leadership of the Seminary".
A fuller version of the seminary's history can be found at the Internet Archive.
Deans
- Bishop Makary (Ilyinsky), 1938–1944
- Archimandrite Dionysius (Diachenko), 1944–1947
- Bishop John (Shahovskoy), 1947–1950
- Georges FlorovskyGeorges FlorovskyGeorges Vasilievich Florovsky was an Eastern Orthodox priest, theologian, historian and ecumenist. He was born in the Russian Empire, but spent his working life in Paris and New York...
, 1950–1955 - Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich)Leonty (Turkevich)Metropolitan Leontius was the Metropolitan of the North American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church from 1950 until his death in 1965. He was succeeded by Metropolitan Ireney...
, 1955–1962 - Alexander SchmemannAlexander SchmemannAlexander Schmemann was a prominent 20th century Orthodox Christian priest, teacher, and writer.-Early life:...
, 1962–1983 - John MeyendorffJohn MeyendorffJohn Meyendorff was a modern Orthodox scholar, writer and teacher. He was born into the Russian nobility as Ivan Feofilovich Baron von Meyendorff , but was known as Jean Meyendorff during his life in France.Fr John Meyendorff retired as Dean of St Vladimir's Seminary on June 30, 1992...
, 1984–1992 - Thomas HopkoThomas HopkoThomas Hopko is an Orthodox Christian priest and theologian. He was the Dean of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary from September 1992 until July 1, 2002 and taught dogmatic theology there from 1968 until 2002. Now retired, he carries the honorary title of Dean Emeritus.- Life and...
, 1992–2002 - John H. EricksonJohn H. EricksonReverend John H. Erickson is an Eastern Orthodox American scholar, with specialization in the areas of Orthodox canon law and church history. From 2002 until 2007 he served as the Dean of Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in the United States. His term as dean expired on June 30, 2007...
, 2002-June 2007 - John BehrJohn BehrJohn Behr is a contemporary Eastern Orthodox priest and theologian, and Dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, where he teaches Patristics . He was ordained to the diaconate on September 8, 2001 and the priesthood on September 14, 2001...
, July 2007–present