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His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon presided over the 2022 Commencement Exercises at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary on Saturday, May 14, 2022 and Friday-Saturday, May 27-28, 2022.
His Beatitude celebrated the Primatial Divine Liturgy at Three Hierarchs Chapel the morning of May 14th before the commencement exercises at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. With His Beatitude were Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti and Khobi, Archbishop Nathaniel, Archbishop Michael, Bishop Saba, and Bishop Andrei. Two honorary doctorates were awarded, Doctor of Divinity Honoris Causa, to Metropolitan Grigoli of Poti and Khobi of the Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church and Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp), OCA Archbishop of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate. There were ten Master of Divinity, four Master of Arts, and one Master of Theology degrees conferred. His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon gave the concluding address.
On May 27-28, 2022, Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary held its eightieth annual commencement exercises. During the exercises the seminary graduated nine students from its Master of Divinity Program, and awarded one student a Certificate in Pastoral Studies.
On Friday evening, May 27, the Seminary community gathered for a program that included: remarks by the Dean of the Seminary, Archpriest John Parker III; the charge of the Rector, His Eminence Archbishop Michael; the commencement address delivered by His Grace, Bishop Thomas of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese; and a concluding address by the Seminary’s President, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon.
Saturday, May 28, began with the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, at which a graduating third-year senior, Deacon Thanasis Kombos was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence Archbishop Michael, Seminary Rector. Following the Liturgy, the afternoon’s Commencement Ceremony was opened by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon amidst a gathering of family and friends in the Seminary’s Convocation Center with standing room only.
In addition to the awarding of degrees and academic honors, the Saint Tikhon’s Seminary Alumni Association presented its Alumnus of the Year award to two recipients. The award was first given to the Archpriest Nicholas Molodyko-Harris, and was presented posthumously to the Archpriest John Nehrebecki. The students of the Class of 2022 presented the Alexander Atty Institutional Service Award to the Seminary’s Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Marina Hitchcock. Following the commencement exercises all those gathered enjoyed a wine and cheese reception hosted by the Seminary.
Full accounts and photos of each graduation can be found on the seminaries’ websites: Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. Please consider prayerfully supporting our seminaries with your generous gifts as they form our future clergy, church leaders, theologians, musicians, educators, and artists.
