St. Vladimir's Seminary to Dedicate New Library

One of the foremost Orthodox Christian graduate theological schools in the world dedicates new library, called by Dr. James Billington, the Libarian of Congress, the "richest library of Eastern Christian holdings in the Western Hemisphere."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 10, 2002
Contact Person:
Fr Steven Belonick
914-961-8313, ext. 328
belonick@svots.edu

St Vladimir's Seminary to Dedicate New Library

CRESTWOOD, NY -- One of the foremost Orthodox Christian graduate theological schools in the world on May 10-11, 2002 will celebrate the dedication of a new 28,000 square foot library, which will house what Librarian of Congress Dr James Billington has called, the richest library of Eastern Christian holdings in the Western Hemisphere," second only to the Library of Congress itself. Founded in 1938, St Vladimirs Orthodox Theological Seminary was chartered and approved by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York in 1953 as a graduate school of theology and accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada in 1973. The seminarys mission, as envisioned by its founders, has been to create a school that reflects an ancient and apostolic tradition within a modern society and is built on both liturgical and academic foundations. It boasts among its founding members and deans, Fr Georges V. Florovsky, eminent patristic scholar and ecumenist who was a professor both at Harvard Divinity School and Princeton University; Fr John Meyendorff, a famed historian and patristics scholar; and Fr Alexander Schmemann, who did much to define the theological character of liturgical renewal and who this year was selected by SkyLight Paths Publishing as one of the Spiritual Innovators: Seventy-Five Extraordinary People Who Changed the World in the Past Century. " The new John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building, housing the seminarys library and administrative offices, is the fruit of the Capital Campaign inaugurated in 1991, under the deanship of Fr Meyendorff.

The present dean, the Very Reverend Dr Father Thomas Hopko, and present and former faculty have translated, edited, or written more than 40 books and are leading contributors to scholarly journals, encyclopedias, and dictionaries regarding Orthodox theology and history. The St Vladimirs Seminary Press is the largest publisher of books in English on Orthodoxy in the world. More than 250 titles have been published, and the list increases yearly. The press boasts among its authors Bishop Kallistos Ware, retired Spaulding Lecturer in Eastern Christian Studies at Oxford University, and Dr Jaroslav Pelikan, Sterling Professor of History Emeritus at Yale University. Dr Pelikan, who is also the John W. Kluge Scholar at the Library of Congress, will deliver the dedication address, The Book as Icon."

In the six decades of its history, the seminary counts among its alumni 30 bishops, more than 700 priests, and more than 500 laity who have earned distinction as pastors, teachers, and lay ministers in the United States and abroad. It offers the degrees of Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology, and Doctor of Ministry in Orthodox Theology, and has long served as a forum for inter-Orthodox cooperation and unity. The new library facility will allow the seminary to continue its legacy of outstanding theological education, research, and publications.

Dedication ceremonies will begin with a banquet on Friday evening, May 10, at the Greentree Country Club in New Rochelle. Seminary president, Metropolitan Theodosius, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, along with Mr. John G. Rangos, seminary benefactor and philanthropist, for whom the building is named, will share the rostrum with other dignitaries. Metropolitan Theodosius will also preside at the Divine Liturgy in the Three Hierarchs Seminary Chapel beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11. Dedication ceremonies on Saturday will begin at 1:00 p.m. with a prayer service and the blessing of the building by Metropolitan Theodosius and concelebrating hierarchs, and the dedication address by Dr Pelikan. Other dignitaries will include Metropolitan Philip, Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America and vice-president of St Vladimirs Seminary, and Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, representing Archbishop Demetrios, Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America.

The public is welcome. Tours of the new building will be conducted throughout the afternoon. Further information about the dedication ceremonies is available on the seminary website www.svots.edu or by calling the seminary at 914-961-8313.    

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