Fr. Chad spoke to the Serbian Clergy Brotherhood last month on the challenges facing our priests in today's culture. We have broken it up into three parts and bring you part 1 today.

Professor David Drillock delivers the 2011 commencement address. Professor Drillock was the first to receive an honorary Doctor of Music degree from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary.

Touching upon all the gifts that the season of Great Lent offers for spiritual growth, Fr. John Behr, Dean of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, delivers four reflections on the emergence of life through suffering, brokenness, and death. With astute attention to the teachings of Scripture and the Fathers, Fr. John centers on the necessity of dying for true life in Christ—life eternal—to emerge.

The Rev. Dr. Sarah Fogg, Director of Pastoral Care at St. John's Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, New York, delivers the commencement address to the SVOTS Class of 2013.

On November 7, 2014, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary celebrated its 75th Anniversary with a banquet at the Glen Island Harbor Club in New Rochelle, NY. Guest speakers included Fr. John McGuckin and Bishop Basil. Several surprise announcements were made and can be read about HERE. We've broken the evening into 3 segments. This is part 1.

Here is the first of Archpriest John Behr's four meditative talks to St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary's community during the first two days of Great Lent on the topics "Our Response to the Call of God," "Holding Our Tongue," and "Holding Our Mind." Father John, the Dean of St. Vladimir's, was this year's leader of the rigorous annual retreat that marks the beginning of the Great Fast for seminarians, faculty, and staff at St. Vladimir's.

At its commencement exercises on Saturday, May 31, 2014, St. Vladimir's Seminary awarded diplomas in three programs to 21 graduates: four Master of Theology, eight Master of Divinity, and nine Master of Arts degrees. Among the graduates were five priests and one deacon, who will join the ranks of alumni clergy serving the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches in the U.S. and around the world. Archbishop Job (Getcha) gave the commencement address.

On October 27, 2014, Fr. Nicholas Andruchow from Project Mexico was the Missions Night speaker at St. Vladimir's Seminary.

Well-known theologian, composer, and author Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev, Chairman of the Department of External Relations for the Moscow Patriarchate, delivered an academic address at St. Vlad's on November 8, 2014, on the topic of primacy in preparation for the 2016 Great and Holy Council. He was also given an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree.

This year's commencement address was delivered by The Most Reverend Elia, Metropolitan of Oulu, Orthodox Church of Finland, the first St. Vladimir's Seminary graduate to be consecrated a bishop in Western Europe.

Bishop Anba Suriel of the Coptic Diocese of Melbourne, Australia, speaks at the annual Lenten retreat at St. Vladimir's Seminary.

Dr. Paul Meyendorff delivers the commencement address at the 2016 graduation at St. Vladimir's Seminary on May 21. Dr. Meyendorff is retiring after 29 years of teaching Liturgical Theology at the seminary.

This is two of three lectures that Fr. Chad Hatfield delivered at the Parish Life Conference of the Antiochian Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, held in Phoenix, Arizona, June 28-July 3, 2016.

This is the final of three lectures that Fr. Chad Hatfield delivered at the Parish Life Conference of the Antiochian Diocese of Los Angeles and the West, held in Phoenix, Arizona, June 28-July 3, 2016.

On February 27–28, 2017, Priest David Mezynski, associate dean for Student Affairs at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four lenten reflections during the two days of intensive liturgical services that annually mark the beginning of Great Lent for the seminary community. Using a story-telling format and employing a variety of sayings from the desert monastics, Father David focused on the theme of gratitude as the fruit of repentance, and especially pinpointed two main obstacles to true repentance: 1) feeling no awareness of sin, with a consequent refusal to change; and 2) possessing a despairing attitude, with a consequent inability to receive forgiveness.

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary held its annual open house, Orthodox Education Day, Saturday, October 7, 2017. This year’s timely theme was “Modern Martyrs: Christians of the Middle East and North Africa.” In his keynote address titled, “Dying, and Behold, We Live: Martyrdom in the New Testament,” biblical scholar the Reverend Dr. George Parsenios, Associate Professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Sessional Professor of New Testament at St. Vladimir’s, focused on the writings of St. Paul and the Gospel of Saint John, texts that indicate how suffering is connected to assimilation to Christ and being “in Christ.” Father George emphasized how the actions of both ancient and modern martyrs continue to teach us that “the meaning of life is death,” and “that if you want to live the Resurrection, the only path is to carry the Cross.”

Dr. Christine Chaillot speaks about the relations between the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches. She gave her talk on Orthodox Education Day, held at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Saturday, October 7, 2017. Referring to her latest work, The Dialogue between Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches, Dr. Chaillot explains the initial dispute that split the two church bodies in the 5th century following the Council of Chalcedon, and she also informs us about contemporary ongoing official dialogue and current increased rapprochement between the two faith communities.

During Missions Weekend 2017, held at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary October 20–21, Metropolitan Ambrosios (Zographos) of the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea, laid a patristic foundation for missionary work by Orthodox Christians, using 16 principles from the writings of St. John Chrysostom. His fascinating and uplifting talk was titled, “St. John Chrysostom’s Constitution for Christian Witness: Universal Principles and Their Relevance for Korean Orthodox Identity.”

Priest Anthony Roeber, Ph.D., professor of Church History at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, presented four Lenten talks to the entire seminary community on February 19–20, 2018, as they gathered in Three Hierarchs Chapel for worship and reflection to mark the beginning of the season of Great Lent. Father Anthony based his talks on the “Great Farewell Discourse” of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of St. John (John 14–17). Focusing on the words, “That they may be one, as we are one” (John 17.21), he challenged Orthodox Christians to love, trust, and seek unity with others—whether they are inside or outside the borders of the faith.

The 2018 Commencement at St. Vladimir's Seminary, held May 19, was truly a blessed occasion. In addition to graduating 20 students from the Class of 2018, the seminary also awarded honorary doctorates to three distinguished figures for their contributions to the Orthodox Church: composer Mitered Archpriest Sergei Glagolev, Dr. David Bradshaw, chair of the Department of Philosophy at the University of Kentucky, and Protodeacon Peter Danilchick, seminary trustee emeritus and former ExxonMobile executive. Hear the Commencement Exercises in their entirety, which included remarks from His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and the Commencement Address from Dr. Bradshaw.

At its Commencement Ceremonies Saturday, May 18, 2019 St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) conferred degrees upon twenty-two graduates, including fourteen Master of Divinity, three Master of Arts, and five Master of Theology students. The Seminary also awarded two honorary doctorates, one to His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East (Syriac Orthodox Church) and longtime Seminary Trustee Alex Machaskee. Hear the Commencement Exercises in their entirety, which included remarks from His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and the Commencement Address from Orthodox Church in America Chancellor Archpriest Alexander Rentel.

Saint Vladimir's Seminary entered into its annual, two-day Lenten Retreat on Clean Monday and Tuesday, March 15 and 16, 2021. Four talks delivered over the two days followed the theme of "Ora et Labora: The Foundations of Spirituality According to the Rule of St Benedict of Nursia." Seminary President Fr Chad Hatfield, in this first reflection, offers thoughts on "Praying Alone."

In his first podcast, Dn. Michael tackles the question of Sola Scriptura and the Tradition of the Church.

It can seem sometimes that if we are not fasting, we are preparing to fast in the Orthodox Church. In part 1, Dn. Michael helps understand why we fast.

In the first of a series, Dn. Michael introduces us to the Ecumenical Councils and their importance in Christian history and theology.

Dn. Michael begins his three-part lesson on the Council of Nicaea and talks about the challenge of Arianism.

What is the final criterion of Truth? Our experience or that which we have received and has been tested by time? Dn. Michael begins his look at the Second Ecumenical Council.

In a recent catechism class, Dn. Michael reflected on ten things he wishes he had known before his first visit to an Orthodox Church.

Dn. Michael begins a new series discussing the book Beginning to Pray by Anthony Bloom.

Dn. Michael begins a new series on living "in, but not of" the world. He is using four texts from the St. Vladimir's Popular Patristics series. This week he covers C.S. Lewis's introduction to the St. Athanasius work On the Incarnation.

Dn. Michael discusses chapter eight in St. Athanasius's book On the Incarnation. This is lesson ten in his series "In But Not Of."

Dn. Michael concludes his discussion of St. Athanasius's book On the Incarnation. This is lesson eleven in his series "In But Not Of."

Dn. Michael begins a new series on the Conciliar Press book Spread the Word by Fr. Michael Keiser. Here he discusses the five critical components of Early Church evangelism.

Dn. Michael Hyatt begins his look at Chapter 7 of Time and Despondency written by Dr. Nicole Roccas. What are the steps available to us to combat despondency?

In a new series, Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt team teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. In this first episode we learn that the purpose in marriage is not happiness but holiness.

Before moving on to the remaining chapters, Dn. Michael and Gail address questions from AFR listeners by email as well as from the audience. They are teaching through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

What are we willing to sacrifice for our spouses. Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt share a personal story as they continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

In this class, Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt address sex in the marital relationship as a means to holiness as they continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt discuss the importance of Sacred Presence in the marriage as they continue to teach through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas.

Dn. Michael and Gail Hyatt wrap up the series teaching through the book Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. This final lesson is about Sacred Mission as a couple. Your marriage must be about more than itself if it's going to be healthy and flourishing.

Domingo 16 de Marzo Pd. Nicolás predicó sobre la grandeza del Señor y sobre la importancia de la teología apofático en la Iglesia Ortodoxo, que Dios no es. Marcos 2:1-12 Sunday 16 of March Fr. Nicholas preached about unknowingness of the Lord and about the importance of Apophatic Theology in the Orthodox Church, what God is not. Mark 2:1-12

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre el poder de la resurrección para guiarnos en una vida de rectitud. No debes robar. (Hechos 5:1-11) Fr. Nicholas preached about the power of the resurrection which guides in the life of rectitude. One should not steal. (Acts 5:1-11)

Padre Nicolás predico sobre la consolación que recibimos en el Espíritu de Dios. Evita los engaños que da el mundo. (Hechos 2:1-11) Fr. Nicholas preached about the consolation we receive in the Spirit of God. Avoid the deception of the world that gives only temporal rewards. (Acts 2:1-11)

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre la llamada de Dios y cada uno de nosotros tenemos que sobrevenir el mal para responder a la voz de amor del Señor. (Cor. 6:16-18; 7:1) Fr. Nicholas preached about the call of God and how every one of us need to overcome the evil in the world and respond to the loving voice of the Lord. (Cor. 6:16-18; 7:1)

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre la firmeza de la fe, y esta firmeza va a mantenerte cuando la gente trata a quitar tu creencia en Jesús Cristo. No vamos a dejarlos a engañarnos. (Lucas 8:5-15) Fr. Nicholas preached about the firmness of the faith and how this firmness will maintain you when people try to take away your belief in Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 9:6-11)

Padre Nicholas predico sobre la vida espiritual y el valor tan grande de la salud de tu alma. También cuidado por tanto reglas que crean que tu salvación viene de ellos. La salvación viene de Cristo. (Gálata 2:16-20) Fr. Nicholas preached about the spiritual life and the great value in having a healthy soul. Also be careful for all the rules, believing that salvation comes from them. Salvation comes from Christ. (Galatians 2:16-20)

Padre Nicolás predicó que nosotros tenemos que seguir los líderes que Dios nos da. Entonces pon atención para distinguir el pastor de Dios y los engañadores de Diablo. (Hebreos 13:17-21) Fr. Nicholas preached that we have to follow the leaders that God give us. Therefore pay attention in order to distinguish between pastors of God and deceivers of the Devil. (Hebrews 13:17-21)

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre debemos prepararnos para un cielo que va a estar más fantástico y grande que podemos imaginar. (1 Corintios 1:10-18) Fr. Nicholas preached about how we should prepare ourselves for a heaven that will be more fantastic and amazing than we can fathom. (1 Corinthians 1:10-18)

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre que Con amor podemos tener éxito sobre todo. Si la humanidad va a seguir, vamos a necesitar padres buenos. (1 Corintios 4:9-16) Fr. Nicholas preached about how that with love we can have success over everything. If humanity will continue surviving, we need good fathers. (1 Corinthians 4:9-16)

Padre Nicolás predicó sobre que nuestro motivación va a ser la cosa que nos lleva al cielo. (1 Corinthians 9:2-12) Fr. Nicholas preached about how our motivation will be the thing that will take us to heaven. (1 Corinthians 9:2-12)