Memory Eternal!
December 10th, 2017

Born in 1929 in Hilar (Manchuria), Archpriest Alvian Smirensky reposed in the Lord last Sunday, December 10, 2017. Amazingly, Fr. Alvian was joined in his departure by his Matushka Helen.

Taking inspiration from his grandfather who was a priest in Siberia, Fr. Alvian became an acolyte in Archbishop Nestor's House of Mercy in Kharbin at a very young age. He studied at a lycée in Kharbin and arrived in San Francisco in 1940. After serving in the US Navy during the Korean War, he continued his studies at St. Vladimir's Seminary, where he was a personal assistant to Fr. Georges Florovsky.

Fr. Alvian, then, became a priest in the Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral on 2nd St. in NYC and served Orthodox parishes in NY and NJ. In addition to his pastoral commitments, he continued his intellectual interests in marital ecclesiastical law, authoring a seminal article in that field, and presenting a series of lectures on the topic at Holy Trinity Seminary. We also owe him a great debt of gratitude for his work translating Russian texts into English.

Having developed great love for Holy Trinity Seminary while lecturing here, he donated many of his books to our library.

Please pray for the repose of the souls of the newly departed Archpriest Alvian and Matushka Helen! A memorial service was performed on Monday, December 11 at 12:30 at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Jordanville.

Their funeral will take place on Wednesday, December 13, in New Skete.

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Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary
PO Box 36; Jordanville, NY 13361
1407 Robinson Road, Jordanville, NY 13361

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