On Sunday, June 13th, the feast of All Saints who shone forth in Russia, the seminary held its graduation. There were both graduates of the Bachelor of Theology Program and the Master of Divinity Program, as well as a recipient of the Certificate of Theology Program. For more information on this, please refer to the seminary’s website.
Many people came to the monastery to celebrate this event. Friends and relatives of the graduates as well as the families of the other seminarians, who came to take their sons home for the summer, came for the weekend services.
His Grace Bishop Luke, abbot of the monastery and rector of the seminary, officiated at the services. Concelebrating with him were the monastery and seminary clergy and several other priests and deacons, many of whom were previous graduates of the seminary. During the Hours, Vladyka tonsured David Rhodes, a First-Year Master of Divinity student, to be a reader.
After the Thanksgiving Moleben in the monastery cathedral, there took place the graduation ceremony with speeches by Vladyka, the dean, and especially Archpriest Gregory Joyce, director of the Chicago Diocese Pastoral School, now merging with the seminary. Fr. Gregory himself is a graduate of Holy Trinity Seminary.
Two of the graduates gave addresses to the assembly, reminiscing about their experiences in the seminary and monastery and thanking those of the community who guided them along in their educative experience.
Later, a Lenten reception was held under tents in the square between the cathedral and the monastery building. This was an excellent opportunity for all to congratulate the new graduates and to greet old friends. We thank God for another successful school year and the ability to provide more clergy for the Church and the faithful.
