Yonkers, New York, September 26, 2025
Photo: svots.edu
St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary will host its annual Orthodox Education Day online on Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. The free virtual event is open to all Orthodox faithful, including church leaders, Sunday School teachers, catechumens, and laymen.
The day will feature six one-hour sessions led by St. Vladimir’s faculty and guest Orthodox scholars. Participants may attend individual sessions or the full program. Each session will include opportunities for live questions, and attendees may also submit questions in advance during registration.
Registration is required but free of charge. St. Vladimir’s Seminary describes itself as one of North America’s leading centers of Orthodox scholarship and home to SVS Press.
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The schedule includes “Servant, Sacrifice, Shepherd, Leader: The Theology of Leadership” at 10:05 a.m. EDT, presented by Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie and Rev. Pdn Dr. Peter Danilchick. This session will address spiritual transformation as the foundation of true leadership for pastors, workplace supervisors, and family heads.
At 11 a.m. EDT, Very Rev. Dr. Alexander Rentel and Very Rev. Grand Ecclesiarch Dr. Aetios (Nikiforos) will discuss “The Reception of Converts into The Orthodox Church,” examining liturgical and canonical traditions regarding the growing number of converts to Orthodox Churches.
“Orthodox Doctrine & Spirituality: Thinking with the Fathers” follows at 12 p.m. EDT, with Very Rev. Dr. Bogdan Bucur and Dr. Georgiana Huian from Universität Bern exploring the connection between doctrinal language and spiritual transformation through patristic thought.
Right Rev. Dr. John (Abdalah) and Rev. Dn Dr. Gregory Abdalah will present “Welcoming Catechumens: Where Do We Go from Here?” at 1 p.m. EDT, addressing the unprecedented number of inquirers and catechumens, particularly young men, entering Orthodox parishes.
The day includes two sessions on sacred arts. At 2 p.m. EDT, Dr. Peter Bouteneff and Dr. Christina Maranci from Harvard University will discuss fundamental questions about sacred versus secular arts and the nature of sacredness in objects and their use. This presentation relates to a new SVS Press volume they co-edited on the topic.
The final session at 3 p.m. EDT features Rev. Dn Dr. Harrison Basil Russin and Anastasia Kappanadze from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary discussing “Realities and Responses for Orthodox Church Music in North America Today.” They will examine the current state of Orthodox Church music, focusing on the Orthodox Church in America, and discuss recent interventions and future directions.
Dr. Peter Bouteneff will provide welcome and opening remarks at 10 a.m. EDT.
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