On February 12, Holy Trinity Seminary celebrated its annual patronal feast day of the Three Hierarchs, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom.

Our First Hierarch Metropolitan Hilarion was the main celebrant with his Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan co-celebrating. The seminarians added to the uniqueness of the event by honoring the patron saints of the seminary with Greek reading and chant, which they interspersed with the traditional Russian melodies. The seminarians had been practicing for this liturgical event throughout the year.

After the liturgy, hierarchs, monastics, faculty, staff, seminarians, and visitors reconvened in the Seminary Hall for a reception and to be edified by greetings from the Metropolitan, Bishop Nicholas, and a talk by Holy Trinity's newest faculty member, the Very Reverend Archpriest Peter Heers. Fr. Peter connected the work of the Three Hierarchs to the labors of our seminary, as we are not merely an academic university that reduces existence to rationalizations and facts but a mystagogical institution that uses truth to initiate students into the full mystery of Christ and the Church. Having actualized the fullness of their God-given personhoods, these students, then, have the experience necessary to initiate the world. Read the entire text here.

This celebration also marked the opening of our new study lounge in the library, giving students a convenient place to work, surrounded by the books they need to assist in their research.

We thank God for His grace as we continue to successfully train seminarians with traditional Orthodox pedagogy, and we pray to the Three Hierarchs for their intercessions! We would also like to thank our benefactors and friends, whose financial assistance and prayer contribute to the success of our institution.