First Master’s Degrees and New Faculty Appointments at Seminary

The Most Reverend Bishop Dr. Auxentios of Etna and Portland, Rector of the Saint Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary, at the request and with the approval of the Seminary’s Standing Faculty Committee, has announced that the Very Reverend Archimandrite Father Gregory, Schemamonk Father Chrysostomos, and Schemanun Mother Seraphima will officially receive the degree of Master of Theological Studies in January 2019, at the commencement of the school’s Pascha Term. Father Gregory is a graduate (with highest honors) of Long Beach City College and received his Diploma and Licentiate in Orthodox Theological Studies from the Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies. Father Chrysostomos likewise received both the Diploma and Licentiate in Orthodox Theological Studies from the Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies. Brothers of the Saint Gregory Palamas Monastery in Etna, California, both Fathers were recently accepted for doctoral studies at the San Francisco Theological Seminary, a member school of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Mother Seraphima is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University, and is a nun at the Convent of Saint Elizabeth the Grand Duchess of Russia, in Etna.

His Eminence also confirmed the advancement of the Reverend Presbyter Father Dr. Jiří Ján from the rank of Lecturer to that of Professor at the Seminary. Father Jiří is a married clergyman living in Greece, where he serves the Metropolis of Oropos and Phyle. He received his Doctorate in Theology from the renowned Charles University in Prague. He teaches at the Saint Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary each Nativity Term. Advanced from the rank of Teaching Assistants to that of Lecturers were Archimandrite Gregory, who also serves as the Seminary Registrar, and Schemamonk Chrysostomos. Father Gregory teaches Biblical studies, apologetics, and subjects related to ministry, while Father Chrysostomos teaches New Testament Greek, as well as Byzantine chant. Likewise advanced from the rank of Teaching Assistant to Instructor was Schemamonk Father Vlasie, who completed his Diploma in Orthodox Theological Studies at the Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies and will graduate with a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Saint Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary. He teaches elective courses at the Seminary in computer usage and is the Seminary’s Information Technology Director.