Christ is Risen!

As the first buds of spring emerge and we prepare our hearts for the Paschal celebration, we are reminded of renewal and the promise of new life. In this season of spiritual re-awakening, I am reaching out with profound gratitude for your faithful partnership with Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary.

Your generous support is truly making a lasting impact on our sacred mission. Whenever we think of you and our community of seminary supporters, our hearts overflow with thanksgiving. Each gift you have provided has directly contributed to the spiritual and academic formation of those whom the Lord has called to serve His Holy Church.

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

 - Proverbs 22:6

A Growing Need in Our Church

As we witness the challenges facing our modern world, the need for well-trained, spiritually grounded clergy has never been more important. The number of catechumens in many Orthodox parishes is growing rapidly, which is very encouraging. Many of our parishes across America and beyond are seeking dedicated priests, deacons, choir directors, scholars, and church leaders who can guide their communities with wisdom, compassion, and unwavering faith. The future of our Orthodox Church depends significantly on our ability to provide a rigorous and spiritually enriching education for those who come to study here and are answering God's call.

During my visits to parishes throughout all three of our dioceses in the continental US in 2024, I have heard a heartfelt plea from many of the faithful: "We need young priests who can serve our parishes and can speak to our young people clearly regarding today's challenges." Your support helps answer this plea by ensuring that Holy Trinity Seminary remains a beacon of Orthodox theological education and spiritual formation.

An Invitation to a Deeper Partnership

This spring, if you have not already done so, I am prayerfully inviting you to take the next step in your support of our seminary by joining Holy Trinity Seminary Patrons, our monthly giving program.

By becoming a Patron, you provide consistent, reliable support that directly benefits our seminarians, faculty, and educational programs throughout the year. Your monthly gift—whether $10, $25, $100, or more—ensures that Holy Trinity Seminary remains a place of deep theological learning, monastic prayer, and pastoral formation in the tradition of our Holy Fathers. No gift is too small to be a member of our Patrons. Of course, if you prefer to make an individual gift, we remain ever grateful as well!

Over the course of the last several years, and with the support of donors, we have been able to renovate our classrooms and seminar room, provide new furniture and technology upgrades, and update study areas and the faculty lounge.

Join Our Growing Community of Patrons

This past year, with God's help, we launched the Holy Trinity Seminary Patrons program, and we were blessed to now have well over 100 faithful individuals providing monthly support. These dedicated Patrons are enabling us to strengthen our faculty, enhance our facilities, and provide additional financial support to our students. . For those of you who are already patrons, we extend to you our heartfelt gratitude for your dedicated backing, it means the world to us.

Our prayerful goal is to reach 200 Patrons by December 31, 2025, and I sincerely hope you will join us in achieving this important milestone. Every Patron, regardless of giving level, becomes part of this crucial ministry of supporting those called to serve.

Your Impact as a Monthly Patron

With your steadfast monthly support, we can:

• Prepare future clergy with the theological depth, liturgical precision, and pastoral sensitivity needed to lead our parishes through challenging times
• Maintain our rigorous academic program grounded in the rich traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church, including Old and New Testament, Church History, Foundations of Theology, Canon Law, Homiletics, Patrology, Comparative Theology, Moral Theology, Liturgical Theology, Principles of Liturgy, Dogmatic Theology, History of Philosophy, Music, English Literature Composition, Church Slavonic, Biblical Greek, and Russian.
• Keep our tuition affordable and offer financial aid to meet that cost if need be, so that anyone called to serve can attend, regardless of financial circumstances
• Maintain our level of spiritual formation with regular participation in the monastic cycle
  of services.
• Provide comprehensive resources through our excellent library, our publications, and
  theological archives
• Offer practical pastoral experience through parish visits and community outreach

Each seminarian who passes through our doors represents countless future parishioners who will be guided, taught, and shepherded. Your monthly gift directly influences these future spiritual leaders during these crucial formative years.

Exclusive Spiritual Resources for Our Patrons

As a special expression of our gratitude, Holy Trinity Seminary Patrons receive exclusive access to special content via our email newsletter on a monthly basis. This spiritual treasury, delivered directly to your inbox, will include:

• Conversations with the Seminary Community - Interviews with alumni, faculty, visiting hierarchs, and current students sharing their experiences and insights about Orthodox life and ministry
• Theological Reflections - Seasonal meditations from our faculty on the feasts, fasts, and liturgical cycles of the Church
• Historical Treasures - Explorations of rare manuscripts and historical documents from our seminary archives, with commentary from our scholars
• Behind-the-Scenes Seminary Life - Glimpses into the daily rhythm of prayer, study, and community that forms our future clergy
• First Access to recordings of special lectures, symposia, and academic presentations

These exclusive resources—available only to our monthly Patrons—provide a window into the rich spiritual and intellectual life of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary while helping to deepen, God willing, your own Faith.

The Spiritual Dimension of Your Support

Your generosity ensures that our seminarians have everything they need to grow into the faithful shepherds our Church so desperately requires. But your contribution goes beyond material support—you are participating in a spiritual endeavor with eternal significance. As our Lord taught us, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few" (Matthew 9:37). You are helping to prepare these laborers for the Lord's Vineyard.

You are not just a donor—you are a co-laborer in Christ's vineyard, a spiritual benefactor whose prayers and support sustain this vital work. Each seminarian carries with them the imprint of your generosity as they go forth to serve.

Becoming a Patron is Simple

Becoming a Seminary Patron is a straightforward process that creates remarkable impact:

1. Choose your monthly gift amount that fits your circumstances (many Patrons give between $10-$100 monthly)
2. Select your preferred payment method (credit card, bank transfer, or electronic check)
3. Provide your email address to receive your exclusive Patron content
4. Rest assured knowing your support is making a difference every month

Your commitment, of any amount, makes a tangible difference in the lives of our seminarians and the future parishes they will serve. By pledging ongoing support, you are ensuring the future of Orthodox education and leadership for generations to come.

Please visit www.hts.edu/support or return the enclosed form to become a Patron today. If you prefer, we will of course gladly accept your individual gift. Either way, you may call our development office at 315-858-8028 and we would be honored to assist you personally.

A Personal Note of Gratitude from Protodeacon Michael

In my 7+ years serving in this capacity at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, I have witnessed countless moments of transformation as young men grow into servants of Christ's Church. Behind each of these moments stands a community of supporters like you, whose prayers and generosity make this sacred
work possible.

As we approach the Feast of Pascha, please know that you and your loved ones will be remembered in the prayers of our seminary and monastery community. May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly for your generosity, and may your household be filled with the joy of His Resurrection.

Thank you for standing with Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary and for being an essential part of this divinely appointed mission.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16