Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary

Not to be confused with Saint Vladimir's College.

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS) is an Eastern Orthodox seminary in Yonkers, New York. It is chartered under the State University of New York and accredited by the Association of Theological Schools.^[1] It is a pan-Eastern Orthodox institution associated with the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).

It is named after St. Vladimir, Grand Prince of Kiev and Prince of Novgorod, who "introduced Orthodox Christianity to the Kievan Rus'".^[2]

History

The seminary was founded in 1938^[3] and its first classes were held in the parish house of the Church of Christ the Savior in Harlem.^[4][2] In 1939, it found a home on the campus of General Theological Seminary in Chelsea and by the 1940s in apartments on 121st Street rented from Union Theological Seminary.^[2]

It moved to its current location in 1962. Four years later, it was accepted as an associate member of the American Association of Theological Schools, with accreditation following in 1973.^[2]

In November 2021, the Board of Trustees of the seminary voted to relocate the campus citing the high cost of living in the New York metropolitan area, but by 2024 decided to pause further discussion of a move.^[5][6]

President/Chancellor

1. Chad Hatfield (2007–2024)^[7][8]
2. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie (2024–present; interim)^[8]

Deans

1. Macarius (Ilyinsky) [ru] (1938–1944)
2. Dionysius (Diachenko) [ru] (1944–1947)
3. John (Shahovskoy) [ru] (1947–1950)
4. Georges Florovsky (1950–1955)
5. Leontius (Turkevich) (1955–1962)
6. Alexander Schmemann (1962–1983)
7. John Meyendorff (1984–1992)
8. Thomas Hopko (1992–2002)
9. John H. Erickson (2002–2007)
10. John Behr (2007–2017)
11. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie (2018–present)^[9]

Academics

St. Vladimir's Seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and approved by ATS to grant the following degrees: Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Theology (Th.M.), and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min).

St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press (SVS Press)

St. Vladimir's Seminary Press was founded in 1962 and is the largest publisher of Orthodox Christian books in the English language.^[10]

Among their titles is the Popular Patristics Series.

References

1. "Member Schools".
2. "Our History | St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary". www.svots.edu. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
3. Ohles, John F.; Ohles, Shirley M. (1982). Private Colleges and Universities. ISBN 9780313233241.
4. "Parishes - Christ the Savior Church". www.oca.org. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
5. "Board votes to relocate St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary; Location to be determined | St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary". www.svots.edu. 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
6. "SVOTS Board of Trustees Clarifies the Seminary's Direction | St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary". www.svots.edu. 2024-08-20. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
7. "Board Confirms Fr. Chad Hatfield as President | St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary". www.svots.edu. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
8. "St. Vladimir's Seminary Announces the Retirement of Archpriest Chad Hatfield | St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary". www.svots.edu. 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
9. Orthodox Church in America. "New Academic Dean assumes duties at St. Vladimir's Seminary". www.oca.org. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
10. Kurian, George Thomas; Lamport, Mark A. (10 November 2016). Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States. ISBN 9781442244320.

External links

• Official website

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