At its Fall meeting of 2016, the Board of Trustees of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary has resolved to open the search for the vacant position of the Dean of the Seminary, and formed a Search Committee for this purpose, under the chairmanship of the Very Rev. Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), Rector of the Seminary.  Please read the announcement below.

On Thursday, October 27th, 2016, Dr Alexis Klimoff, Emeritus Professor of Russian Studies, Vassar College, and one of the foremost experts on Alexander Solzhenitsyn, delivered an illustrated lecture titled "Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: Overview of Life, Works and Influence." in the seminary hall.
Dr. Klimoff portrayed the life of Solzhenitsyn and his works in that context.  Of particular mention was how his work "A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich," which gave a vivid illustration of life in Stalinist prison labor camps, was actually published in the Soviet Union with the express approval of Communist Party Secretary Nikita Krushchev.  The lecture was recorded and is now available for viewing. 

Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary welcomes the V. Rev. Protopresbyter Peter Alban Heers as the Assistant Professor of Old and New Testament for the Bachelor of Theology and Certificate in Pastoral Studies programs. 

A native of Texas, Fr. Peter studied theology in Greece, receiving his Doctor of Theology degree from Aristotle University in Thessalonica in 2013.  Fr. Peter has contributed to Orthodox theological and spiritual works through his translations of the writings of Elder (St.) Paisios the Athonite and a monograph, "The Ecclesiological Renovation of Vatican II: An Orthodox Examination of Romes Ecumenical Theology Regarding Baptism and the Church." 

Fr. Peter will begin with the spring 2017 semester at HTOS. 

A message from our Alumni President: Mitered Archpriest Stefan Pavlenko:

Dear HTS Alumni and Friends,

The call for donations was very successful!  It is with great joy and gratitude that I greet all who responded to the call to support our beloved Holy Trinity Seminary.  I also humbly remind everyone to make support for your Alma Mater a part of your regular donation budget as often as you can.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Stefan

From our Alumni President, Mitered Archpriest Stefan Pavlenko:

It is not too late for all Alumni and those who realize the importance of Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville, for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia and for Orthodox everywhere, to make a fair share donation on this Giving Tuesday, to ensure that the ideals and traditional manner treasured by our Church is preserved for generations to come! We the Graduates should feel that it is our show of gratitude to this hallowed institution that has given us the Rock of Faith and guides us and our spiritual family to Salvation.

Update: we made it! Thank you all for your incredible generosity!

This year marked the 25^th Anniversary of our Summer School of Liturgical Music, Holy Trinity Seminary's fully-accredited certificate program in liturgical music. Interested participants came from throughout the country to strengthen their musical skills and scholarship in pursuit of the art of directing choirs in the Russian Orthodox Church. They took courses in musicianship, singing, liturgics and Russian music history, learning such chants as Znamenniy and contemporary polyphony. This year's 25^th Anniversary was celebrated with a marvelous gala in Chicago's Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, where the director of the music program, Archpriest Andre Papkov, serves and functions as dean of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska...

It was so successful that we filled our dormitory with 17 open-minded young men who made a commitment to learn the truths of God and to explore the life of the Church in the setting of Holy Trinity Monastery! There was so much interest that some applicants, unfortunately, had to be turned away. We are hopeful to be able to expand this unique program that incorporates liturgical life, religious education, service to the monastery, and fellowship. We are very excited about this development!...

           Edmund Louis Underwood                                               

                       James Racz

                       Michael Bell

Adding to the musicality of this past summer, Holy Trinity Monastery hosted the First Annual Patriarch Tikhon Russian American Music Institute (PaTRAM) Young Singers' Conference to coincide with its Labor Day Pilgrimage of St. Job of Pochaev. This three-day conference focused on two Hierarchical Divine Liturgies under the capable direction of Dr. Peter Jermikov and in conjunction with the combined Holy Trinity Monastery/Seminary choir. For the first time in many years, the antiphons of the Divine Liturgy were sung with two choirs with the mixed youth choir on the left and the Monastery male choir on the right. Participants also had time to enjoy a barbeque and late summer afternoon at the scenic Glimmerglass State Park on Lake Otsego.

From September 21 to 25, 2016 the solemn celebrations took place in Moscow, dedicated to the 1000-year anniversary of Russian monastic presence on Mount Athos. Our Rector and Associate Professor of Patrology, the Very Rev. Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), was invited to take part in the celebrations, which included an academic conference, as well as a meeting of all abbots and abbesses of the Russian Church. On September 29, Deacon Andrei Psarev, a member of our faculty, interviewed Fr. Luke in the abbot’s office in Jordanville, asking him to share with our readers his impressions from this solemn event...

On Friday, October 7, Deacon Andrei Psarev, Assistant Professor of Russian Church History and Canon Law at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, presented the results of his doctoral research at the 42nd Annual Byzantine Studies Conference, which took place this year at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY...

On June 30- July 1, 2016 the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) has gathered for its regular meeting in San Francisco, CA under the presidency of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. The hierarchs were assembled in San Francisco on the occasion of the celebrations marking the 50^th anniversary since the repose of Holy Hierarch John (Maximovich) of Shanghai and San Francisco. During the meeting, Archbishop Gabriel was added to the Holy Trinity Seminary Board of Trustees. The Synod also approved new seminary statutes.

The 2016 session of the Summer School of Liturgical Music (SSLM) at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary will take place from July 10-23.  Sign up now at sslm.hts.edu!

On Sunday, May 29, 2016 Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary concluded the 2015-2016 academic year with the Commencement Ceremonies celebrating the achievements of the Class of 2016. His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, presided at the Hierarchal Vigil Saturday evening and at the Divine Liturgy on the Sunday of Samaritan Woman in concelebration with the clergy of Holy Trinity Monastery. ...

The spring 2016 HTOS exam sessions have begun.  Students are released from most obligations in order to study exclusively for exams.  In most cases, one exam per day is assigned.  Students in their final year will take comprehensive exams in the last week before graduation.

On May 10, 2016, Metropolitan Hilaron made his Paschal Visit to Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary. During the Hierarchical Liturgy, Metropolitan Hilarion tonsored first-year seminarian Michael Storozhev a reader, ordained him to the Sub-Diaconate, and then ordained him to the Diaconate after the Anaphora. We wish Fr. Michael and his wife many years!

Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary invites applications for the position of an Assistant Professor/Instructor in Holy Scripture for a one-year appointment, beginning September 1, 2016, with a possibility of renewal, depending on the results of annual review.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach introductory courses to Old and New Testament in the undergraduate program, with the teaching load of four (4) courses a year.  Successful candidates should be able to teach Holy Scriptures from the perspective of the tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church and therefore, are expected to have a strong background in Biblical and patristic studies. A completed Ph.D. or ABD in the field of his or her teaching is a preferred qualification.  If the candidate has not yet completed his or her doctorate, he or she will be appointed as Instructor and promoted to the Assistant Professorship upon completion of the terminal degree.   The unique character of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary as a pastoral academic institution requires deep familiarity with the Orthodox Christian tradition, and for this reason the candidates with the background in the Orthodox tradition will be given preference...

On April 9-10, 2016, on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, a group of the second year seminarians attended the divine services at the Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church of Nativity in Erie, Pennsylvania and enjoyed the hospitality of this unique community of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, led by the Very Rev. Archpriest Pimen Simon.

In the Orthodox Church bishops are not only required to defend canons, but they are the ones who decide how and when to apply them.  Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for Canon Law students to have an opportunity to meet with a proper canon law practitioner - a bishop.

During the two hour-Skype seminar on April 13 with His Eminence Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) students were able to learn about variety of pastoral questions related to canons, and not the least among them, "why do we need to study canons if at the end of the day a bishop will decide how to implement them?"

The Seminary administration, course instructor Deacon Andrei Psarev, and the students of Canon Law thank His Eminence for making himself available to share his expertise with the future priests and lay leaders of the Russian Church Abroad.

On Thursday, March 31 and Friday, April 1 a group of HTOS students travelled to New York City in order to view the Byzantine art collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The group included the seminarians enrolled in the courses of Byzantine History (B.Th. 2^nd year) and Liturgical Theology (C.P.S. 2^nd year), and was accompanied by Dr Vitaly Permiakov who teaches liturgical theology at the Seminary.

On Thursday, March 24, Dr Dimitri Korobeinikov, Assistant Professor at the Department of History at the University at Albany, SUNY, presented a lecture in the Seminary Hall entitled “The First Crusade (1096–1099) as observed through Byzantine and Muslim sources: Anna Comnena, Matthew of Edessa, Bar Hebraeus, Ibn al-Athir.” Dr Korobeinikov is a renowned specialist in the history of the Byzantine Empire, who recently published a monograph “Byzantium and the Turks in the Thirteenth Century” (Oxford UP, 2014) and more than thirty articles in books and scholarly journals. The lecture attracted seminarians, faculty, and the members of the community, interested in Byzantine history. The 45-minute presentation was followed by a lively Q & A session.

On Saturday, March 26, 2016, Dr Alexander Pavuk delivered a lecture on scientism and mythologies of progress in modern 'science-religion' debates...

On the weekend of February 26-28, 2016, six seminarians from Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary attended and participated in the Spring OISM (Orthodox Inter-Seminary Movement) gathering hosted by St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY.

On Monday, March 7 at 5:00pm Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary will present a lecture by the Very Reverend Protopresbyter George Dragas on the upcoming Great and Holy Council of representatives from the Orthodox Christian Autocephalos churches.  The purpose of this lecture is to explore the history of how this council was planned, what issues are being considered for a decision, and much more.

From February 10 -  12, Holy Trinity Seminary celebrated the Feast of the Three Hierarchs, the seminary's patronal feast day. On Wednesday evening, the celebrations began with a festive meal in the summer kitchen with visiting alumni. The meal was full of fond recollections about each alumni's time as a seminarian. On Thursday morning, alumni gathered in the seminary hall to hear about current programs at the seminary and meet with faculty. Rector Archimandrite Luke discussed the announcement of the now 4-year Bachelor of Theology program, the creation of an Alumni Association, and plans to implement an Masters program. On Wednesday night, all gathered in Holy Trinity Cathedral for a Hierarchical Vigil served by Archbishop Gabriel, Bishop George, and Bishop Nicholas.

In the morning, a hierarchical liturgy was served followed by a festive reception in the seminary hall with alumni, students, faculty, and brothers of Holy Trinity Monastery. During the reception, Assistant Dean Fr Ephraim Wilmarth handed out scholarships to students.

HTOS has received approval from New York State Department of Education to change our Bachelor of Theology from a 5-year bachelor program to a 4-year bachelor program.  The revised program is scheduled to begin with the Fall 2016 semester.  For a full description, see our Bachelor of Theology page.

The four-year Bachelor of Theology features all of the same subjects as the five-year program.  Some courses have been condensed from four semesters to two semesters.  HTOS plans to offer advanced courses in those subjects in the near future, thereby distinguishing between a basic survey or overview of a subject, and deeper studies of key aspects or periods of a subject that especially pertain to pastoral preparation and theological education in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

After Christmas Liturgy on January 7, 2016, winter break will begin at Holy Trinity Seminary

On January 25, the spring semester of Holy Trinity Seminary will begin.