JORDANVILLE, NY: June 11, 2021
73rd commencement ceremony at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY

When Pascha comes at a later date, the graduation celebrations at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY, are made all the more festive with the singing of "Christ is Risen." So it was this year; the 73rd commencement on Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6, 2021, was solemnly celebrated together with Paschal hymns of joy.

His Eminence Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal and Canada gladly accepted an invitation to participate in the event at his alma mater’s celebration. He officiated the all-night vigil in Holy Trinity Cathedral on Saturday evening, joined by monastery and local clergy. The service was sung by the joint seminary-monastery choir under the direction of conductor Deacon Nicholas Kotar.

On Sunday morning, Archbishop Gabriel celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by monastery abbot and rector of Holy Trinity Seminary, His Grace Luke, Bishop of Syracuse. Prior to the start of the service, during the reading of the Sixth Hour, seminarian Peter James was tonsured a reader.

After the Eucharistic Canon, Bishop Luke ordained Monk-Subdeacon Theodore (Stanway) to the diaconate. The newly ordained Hierodeacon Theodore will continue to fulfill his obedience at Holy Trinity Monastery. The same day, he graduated seminary summa cum laude with a Master of Divinity.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, Archbishop Gabriel bestowed a Patriarchal award on longtime monastery cleric Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow. With the blessing of His Holiness, Patriarch Kyrill, Fr Victor received the Order of St Seraphim of Sarov, 2nd Class, in recognition of his 45 years of tireless service in the diaconal order.

After a luncheon in the monastery refectory, a procession of seminary administrators, faculty, and students went to the cathedral for a thanksgiving moleben for the end of the school year.

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