Congratulations Saint Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary Class of 2023!
The Commencement Ceremony for the graduating Class of 2023 was hosted at Saint Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary
Glory to God! On Saturday, May 20, 2023, the Commencement Ceremony for the graduating Class of 2023 was hosted at Saint Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary.
Reader Vasilios Athanasiou and Mrs. Teodora Athanasiou, two students married to each other, were awarded their diplomas for completing the Bachelor of Theology Program. Additionally, Mrs. Athanasiou was awarded a Certificate of Iconology and a Certificate of Iconography for completing the Iconography Certificate Program.
Three Hierarchs were present at the ceremony: His Eminence, the Most Reverend Bishop Dr. Auxentios of Etna and Portland, the Rector of the Seminary and a Professor; His Grace, the Right Reverend Bishop Maximus of Pelagonia, a Visiting Instructor; and His Grace, the Right Reverend Bishop Serafim of Sozopol, a Visiting Lecturer and a Hierarch of the Old Calendar Orthodox Church of Bulgaria, a Sister Church of the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece.
After the Very Reverend Archimandrite Father Dr. Patapios Hagiogrēgoritēs, the Dean of the Seminary and a Professor, delivered the opening remarks, Bishop Serafim of Sozopol gave the commencement address, wherein he emphasized the importance of broadening our knowledge of the Faith.
His Grace was followed by Ms. Esther Schenone, the Librarian of the Seminary. Ms. Schenone, who just graduated from San José State University with the Master of Library and Information Science degree, gave a moving personal testimony describing how she came to be the Seminary Librarian and how she finds meaning in her life through serving the Church in that capacity.
After this, Schemanun Mother Justina Hagielisavetissa, an Instructor and the Director of the Iconography Certificate Program, and Archimandrite Patapios, respectively, introduced Mrs. and Mr. Athanasiou by highlighting the individual achievements of the graduating students.
We applaud our graduates on their achievement and pray that their next steps will be guided by God, Saint Photios the Great, and all the Saints as they venture forth to serve our Holy Church! Please remember them in your prayers.
After receiving their diplomas and certificates, each of the graduates delivered an acceptance speech filled with expressions of gratitude. The Very Reverend Archimandrite Father Dr. Akakios Hagiogrēgoritēs, a Professor and Abbot of the Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery in Etna, California, offered final words of congratulations.
Finally, Mr. Alexei Bushunow, Communications and Development Director of the Seminary, made some closing remarks and presented the graduates with gifts onn behalf of Seminary and the Orthodox Christian community of Etna, thus ending the ceremony.
After the official ceremony, the students of the Seminary and the Mothers of the Convent of Saint Elizabeth the Grand Duchess of Russia, also in Etna, California, hosted a banquet in the Dining Hall of the Seminary.
As more and more students come to the Seminary to earn degrees, the need for an enlarged facility and an expanded curriculum becomes ever more pressing.
I invite you to view the Seminary Expansion Campaign event which was live streamed on YouTube the day after the graduation. The exciting plans for the expansion of the current facility are presented in this video by His Eminence, Bishop Auxentios; His Grace, Bishop Maximus; His Grace, Bishop Serafim; and by Mr. Alexei Bushunow.