Mar Nicholovos Celebrates Feast of Ascension at St. Tikhon's Seminary Chapel

On Thursday, May 13^th, His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Auxiliary Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese, celebrated the Feast of Ascension at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary Chapel in South Canaan, Pennsylvania.

Consecration of Bishop MICHAEL

On Saturday, May 8, 2010, the Dean of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Archimandrite Michael [Dahulich] was consecrated as Bishop of New York and New Jersey at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. Presiding at the consecration Divine Liturgy was His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, and other members of the Holy Synod of Bishops.

It is bittersweet for us as we are joyous knowing that Bishop Michael has been called to the ministry of the Episcopacy, but saddened that he is leaving St. Tikhon’s. We cannot begin to express our gratitude for all the love and care he has shown our church and our students. He has led many of our retreats and conferences in America, and even travelled to India as a chief guest for the centennial celebrations of the MGOCSM last year. He is the reason many of us have chosen to come here to be formed as pastors for the Holy Church. We are truly thankful to Bishop Michael for his role in our lives as a spiritual father, role model, mentor, friend and teacher.

May God grant the newly consecrated, Bishop Michael, many years!

Ordination of Dn. Jacob Kurian & Dn. Zachariah Skariah

We were blessed to witness the ordinations of two of our brothers who will be graduating this year. His Grace Alexios Mar Eusebius, Metropolitan of the Diocese of South-West America, ordained Zachariah (Diju) Skariah to the Sub-diaconate on Saturday, March 27^th, 2010 at St. Gregorios Orthodox Cathedral, Bellwood, Illinois and Jacob (Jake) Kurian to the Diaconate on Saturday, April 10^th, 2010 at St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Houston, Texas. May God grant them many years!

Ordination of Dn. George to the Priesthood

Rev. Dn. George Mathew, Jr. lovingly known as ‘Benny Semmasen’, was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at St. Mary’s Bethlehem Orthodox Church, Thottakadu.

Father George, member of St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church of Greater Washington D. C., graduated from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, South Canaan, Pennsylvania in May 2009 and has tirelessly served as the OVBS Director for the American Diocese, and has been instrumental in the various ministries of the Baltimore/Washington D. C./Virginia Area.

His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Assistant Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese led the Holy Ordination Service in the presence of His Grace, Metropolitan Thomas Mar Athanasius (Chengannur Diocese).

May God grant all of His choicest blessings upon the newly ordained Achen and his family, and may the Holy Spirit lead him in the ministry God has entrusted him.

A Teacher and Mentor

This year, with the approval of the Diocesan Metropolitans, it has been a great blessing to have Rev. Fr. Philip C. Abraham as our Liturgics Professor. Achen was the pupil of the great Rubrics Malpan H.G. Yuhanon Mar Severios. He is also a disciple of H.G. Geevarghese Mar Ivanios. While serving in the Kottayam Diocese, he was asked by Ivanios Thirumeni to train priest candidates. By the request of H.G. Mathews Mar Barnabas, Achen came to the then American Diocese in August of 1997. He was appointed as Vicar of St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Sayville,NY from 1997-2004. He was then transferred to St. George Orthodox Church, Staten Island, NYwhere he served as Vicar from 2004-2008.

Philip C Achen has a deep love and passion for our liturgical prayers and services which is evident in his life. His life revolves around the prayers and services of the Holy Church. His love for the liturgical services emanates in his teaching style as he is very thorough, patient, and prayerful. He has a special gift in teaching and it brings him joy to see people learning and participating in the liturgical life of the Church. Special thanks goes to Kochamma, and the children Philemon and Priya as they have been very kind and hospitable to all the students who attend the classes. We have had the chance to study the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, Unction, and we are currently learning about the Funeral Services. In addition to the Seminary students, some of the Deacons from the Diocese of North East America have joined for the classes as well. Achen is a great example and inspiration for all aspiring priests, and we pray that God continues to use him to train the future ministers of the Church.

On Sunday, October 18, 2009, Achen celebrated the Holy Qurbana at the St. Tikhon’s Seminary Chapel. We are thankful for his willingness to come and spend a weekend with us in fellowship to teach and lead us in prayers and to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. Several Seminary students from other Orthodox jurisdictions attended the Qurbana and expressed their deep appreciation for our Liturgy and the beauty of it.

Minus Three, Plus Two!

Although three of our brothers graduated last year, two more have joined the brotherhood, bringing our current total to six.

Teji Abraham, a member of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church of India (Dallas, TX) joined us after completing his undergraduate studies in Mathematics. After receiving his certification to teach high school math, Teji taught 9^th grade Algebra at the Plano Independent School District. He had been contemplating Seminary all throughout college, and finally decided this past summer to resign from his position as teacher and come to Seminary. He is entirely motivated to learning the faith and educating our people about the Holy Church. He served as both headmaster and teacher of the Sunday School in his home parish. Teji also loves sports and is huge fan of UT-Austin and the Dallas Cowboys. You will often see at least one piece of attire on him that reflects his love for these teams!

Abraham Philip, known to many as Philemon, is from New York and completed his undergraduate studies this past spring in Counseling and Sociology from Queens College. He is a member of St. James Orthodox Church in Kerala and immigrated to the States with his family in 1997. He is the son of Rev. Fr. Philip C. Abraham, who currently serves as our teacher for Liturgics. Philemon has a deep passion for the Liturgical Music of our Church. He often will be heard singing and chanting, whether it is in the car, on a walk, or even in the shower. Being the youngest of all the seminarians in America, it is great to see that he has accepted the call to the ministry at an early age.

We welcome our brothers to the Seminary community, and pray that God may mold and shape them to be the servant leaders He desires for them to be.

The Newly Ordained!

This month, three of our brothers will be completing the Masters of Divinity program here at St. Tikhon’s Seminary. It has been a blessing for us to witness them grow and be formed here at the Seminary over the past couple of years. By the grace of God and with the consent of His Grace Mathew Mar Barnabas (Metropolitan, Diocese of Northeast America) and His Grace Alexios Mar Eusebius (Metropolitan, Diocese of Southwest America), the three of them were either ordained or elevated this past Lenten season.

Dn. George Mathew was elevated from the rank of Reader to M'shamshono (Full-Deacon) on Saturday, March 28th at St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Washington, D.C.

Dn. Christopher Mathew was ordained as Haupodiakono (Sub-Deacon) on Saturday, April 4th at St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Houston, TX.


Dn. Abraham (Abey) George was ordained as Haupodiakono (Sub-Deacon) on Saturday, April 18th at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, West Sayville.

Congratulations and best wishes to the newly ordained! We hope and pray God will continue to bless and guide them in the ministry He has entrusted to them.