Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary

06/02/2026

His Grace, Bishop LUKE of Syracuse led the Divine services for the Great Feast of Pentecost, the Decent of the Holy Spirit.

During the 6th hour, prior to the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, Reader Thomas Lyall (3rd year B.Th. student) was set aside as a Subdeacon.

During the Small Entrance, Archpriest Serge Kotar (HTOS B.Th. class of ’72) was awarded the dignity of the right to wear the Mitre.

After the Cherubic Hymn, Deacon Ivan Golovin (HTOS dual alumnus – B.Th. class of ’23 and M.Div. class of ’25) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.

Fr Serge is attached to the monastery, and will continue to serve the monastery, seminary, and extended parish community. Fr. Ivan and Subdeacon Thomas will serve at the monastery throughout the duration of their training and schooling respectively.

AXIOS and congratulations to Fr. Serge and Matushka Maria, Fr. Ivan and Matushka Thekla, and Subdeacon Thomas and his wife Stephanie and their families!

🕊️The following day, for Holy Spirit Day (the monastery’s altar feast) His Grace, Bishop LUKE was co-served by His Grace, Bishop MICHAEL of Boston, monastery clergy and clergy from throughout the northeast.

Following the Cherubic Hymn, Deacon Timothy Zelinski (HTOS M.Div. class of ’24) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood. Fr Timothy will serve as the assistant priest under Fr Alexis Duncan at the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Albany, NY. Fr Timothy will continue in his current capacity as Sales and Marketing Executive for the monastery’s Holy Trinity Publications.

AXIOS and congratulations to Fr. Timothy and Matushka Margaret!

05/28/2026

Professor Scott Kenworthy Speaks on Saint Patriarch Tikhon at ROCOR Conference in Munich

Dr. Scott Kenworthy, Professor of Comparative Religion at Miami University of Ohio, is a recognized authority on St. Patriarch Tikhon. Back in 2015, when Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary organized a conference marking the 150th anniversary of the saint’s birth and the 90th anniversary of his blessed repose, Dr. Kenworthy served as a keynote speaker. We are now delighted to make his lecture available to a wider audience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQiYBkO45bQ

This year, in January, 2026, Oxford University Press published his monograph entitled:

The People’s Patriarch: Tikhon Bellavin and the Orthodox Church in North America and Revolutionary Russia

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-peoples-patriarch-9780197644751?cc=us&lang=en&

This book has already become a major milerstrone in the field of Russian Church history, not only in the English-speaking world but internationally, and is now essential reading for anyone studying this pivotal period.

Earlier this month, Professor Kenworthy participated in the conference marking the centennial of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Germany, where Protodeacon Andrei Psarev, Director of Undergraduate Studies and Professor of Russian Church History and Canon Law at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, served as an academic consultant and organizer. The title of his talk was: "The Relationship between Patriarch Tikhon and the Church Abroad, 1920-1925."

In January 2021, Professor Kenworthy also authored:

Russia: Understanding World Christianity

https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781451472509/Understanding-World-Christianity

The photo is from Professor Kenworthy’s talk in Munich Germany (courtesy of Mikolaj Dadela)

05/13/2026

Seminary Alumnus Ordained to the Holy Diaconate
On May 10, the 5th Sunday of Pascha - Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, Subdeacon Timothy Zelinski (M.Div. HTOS class of ’24) was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Luke of Syracuse at Holy Trinity Monastery Cathedral in Jordanville. Deacon Timothy, who came to seminary from St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Parish in Rocky Hill, NJ, has remained in Jordanville after graduation to work for the monastery as a Sales and Marketing Executive for Holy Trinity Publications. Axios and congratulations to Fr. Deacon Timothy and to his wife, Matushka Margaret!

05/12/2026

Bishop's Council in Germany Concludes and Centennial Conference Commences in Munich

From April 29 to May 5, 2026 the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia met in Munich as part of the celebrations marking the centennial of the German Diocese. The Council of Bishops is the highest ecclesiastical authority of the Russian Church Abroad.

His Grace, Bishop Luke of Syracuse, rector of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, participated in the council. The final day of the meetings took place at Seyfriedsberg Castle, which is expected to become the new home of the St. Job of Pochaev Monastery in Munich. The estate located in the Bavarian countryside and thus seems to a be a Jordanville counterpart in the German Diocese.

The following day, May 6, a conference dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the German Diocese opened at Blutenburg Castle, located just across the road from the St. Job of Pochaev Monastery. At the end of 2024 the organizers invited Protodeacon Andrei Psarev, Professor of Russian Church History and Canon Law and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, to serve as an academic advisor for the conference.

Bishop Luke participated in the first day of the conference before returning to Jordanville the following day.

For more information on the Council, visit the ROCOR website:

April 29 - Council Commences:
https://www.synod.com/synod/eng2026/20260429_ensoor.html

May 2 - 100th Anniversary of the German Diocese:
https://www.synod.com/synod/eng2026/20260502_enmunchen.html

May 5 - Report on the Council:
https://www.synod.com/synod/eng2026/20260505_encommunique.html

May 5 - Epistle of the Council
https://www.synod.com/synod/pdf/5epistleofthecouncilofbishops2026.pdf

May 11 - Commission to Study the Life, Legacy, and Veneration of Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) Continues
https://www.synod.com/synod/eng2026/20260511_ensynodalcommission.html

May 11 - Services and Meetings of Metropolitan Nicholas in Germany:
https://www.synod.com/synod/eng2026/20260511_enmngermany.html

For more information on the Munich Conference, visit the ROCOR Studies Website:

May 6 - Munich Conference Day 1
https://www.rocorstudies.org/2026/05/07/munich-conference-day-0-and-day-1/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_source_platform=mailpoet&utm_campaign=demo-newsletter_1

May 7-8 Munich Conference Days 2-3 and Conclusion
https://www.rocorstudies.org/2026/05/11/the-munich-conference-on-the-history-of-the-russian-church-abroad-days-2-3-the-conclusion/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_source_platform=mailpoet&utm_campaign=demo-newsletter_1

05/04/2026

Germany: Bishop Luke, seminary rector, serves at St. Nicholas Church in Ingolstadt

During the first Sunday of the council, following established practice, the bishops in attendance served in local parishes. At St. Nicholas Church in Ingolstadt, the services on May 2–3 were led by His Grace Bishop Luke of Syracuse and His Grace Bishop Michael of Boston, concelebrating with the rector, Priest Ilya Deev, and Deacon Andrey Boschman (Stuttgart).

On the evening of the same day, Bishop Luke, together with Protodeacon Andrei Psarev and other hierarchs and guests, visited the traveling exhibition “White Rose,” dedicated to St. Alexander of Munich, at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, where the saint had studied. The group was welcomed by Prof. Carola Metzner-Nebelsick, Vice President for the Humanities, and received a personal tour of the exhibition from Dr. Hildegard Kronawitter. A nephew of St. Alexander Schmorell was also present.

The delegation then met with representatives of the local theological department, which appears to be the only Orthodox theological faculty in Western Europe operating within a state university and formally preparing candidates for the priesthood. The guests were received by Prof. Dr. Konstantin Nikolakopoulos, Chair of the Doctoral Committee for Orthodox Theology. Metropolitan Mark thanked the department for its work, noting that a number of members of the German Diocese, including Bishop Job of Stuttgart, received their theological education there. The visit included a substantive discussion, during which Bishop Luke asked detailed questions about the structure and approach of the program.

05/01/2026

Centennial of the German Diocese of the Russian Church Abroad

His Grace Bishop Luke and Protodeacon Andrei Psarev participated in the celebration of the centennial of the German Diocese of the Russian Church Abroad.

On May 1, the entire Council of Bishops of ROCOR, together with dozens of diocesan clergy, assembled for the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the New Martyrs in Munich.

Bishop Luke, Rector of the seminary, took part in the Bishops’ Council. Protodeacon Andrei Psarev, Professor of Russian Church History and Canon Law, has been actively involved in organizing the academic conference on the history of the Russian Church Abroad in Germany, which will begin on May 6.

For additional information, visit the Synodal website:
https://www.synod.com/synod/eng2026/20260429_ensoor.html

04/30/2026

Christ is Risen!
His Grace, Bishop LUKE of Syracuse offers this introduction to an essay entitled:
"Monophysite Heresies and Contemporary Apologetics"

"The Pillar That Will Not Be Shaken"
(initially posted on the monastery's website on Bright Wednesday, April 15, 2026)

Ecumenists propose that heretics and schismatics who have separated themselves from the Church have somehow remained her members and that the Body has not been divided. However, it is forbidden according to the Holy Fathers to allow those outside the Church to receive the Mysteries. Any decision contrary to this is arbitrary and violates the vow made by clergy to preserve the Mysteries from profanation. Nonetheless Orthodox clergy are communing Monophysites (Coptic Orthodox and others) without previously separating them from their heresy and uniting them to the Church.
Actions and statements throughout the world continue which contradict the decisions of the Holy Fathers defining the true unity of the Church. The ecumenical prayer performed in Iznik, Turkey on November 28th, 2025 by Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Monophysite and Protestant participants is confusing for the faithful and mocks the boundaries of the Church set by the Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils. Recently in India, a greeting was sent to Monophysites by an Orthodox Patriarch supporting them by claiming that their heretical church is the same Church our Saviour spoke of when He said the gates of hell would not prevail against it. These and similar gatherings and statements only add to the confusion and scandal of the Faithful. Any attempt to clarify and defend the dogma of the Church is dismissed as “Romantic theology”.

We offer below a thoughtful essay in defense of the Orthodox position as encouragement for those who love the Truth and hunger and thirst for righteousness sake.

+ Bishop Luke

To read the entire essay entitled "Monophysite Heresies and Contemporary Apologetics", visit the monastery website at:

https://www.jordanville.org/news/1355/the-pillar-that-will-not-be-shaken/

04/29/2026

There will be a second showing of the film "Where Are You, Adam?" this evening, Wednesday, April 29 at 5:00pm in the PVL (Main) Seminary Hall, particularly for those who were unable to attend the initial screening last evening.

04/28/2026

Windmill/Solar Project Protest
A peaceful demonstration is scheduled for today April 28 from 4:45pm to 8:00pm on public land adjacent to Knotting Hill Farm, 259 Main Street, Jordanville, which will serve as the venue this evening for a 'Landowner Dinner' being hosted by Terra Gen Rolling Hills. The proposed windmill/solar project is set to encircle the campus of Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary. For those attending this peaceful protest, the film 'Where are you, Adam?' will be shown again tomorrow, April 29 at 5pm.
There will also be a moleben to St. Michael the Archangel served today immediately after lunch requesting Archangel Michael's help in thwarting these threats to the monastic community and its peaceful existence.

For more information, visit the monastery website at:

Bishop Luke has blessed this urgent call-to-action email.