Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS)

St Vladimir's seeks to serve the Orthodox Church through theological education and scholarship. It educates future priests and church leaders and contributes directly to Orthodox theology through the scholarly activities of its faculty.

Already at its establishment in 1938, the seminary was given a two-fold mandate by the leaders of the Orthodox Church: (1) to prepare well educated clergy and other leaders to serve the Orthodox faithful in this country; and (2) to promote study and research in Orthodox theology, history and culture. Now in its second half-century, the seminary is able to explore this mandate as never before.

The seminary has been guided by the teachings of the Orthodox Church, according to which theology is not a field reserved for the clerical few but is rather the living foundation of the life and activity of the entire community of believers. Theological education means not just the training of clergy but also the preparation of men and women for lay vocations in such areas as music, education, administration and mission. In practical terms, this has meant the establishment of diverse programs of study at the seminary, each having its own objectives, methods and techniques but united with the others in a common theological perspective.

The seminary is a center for theological education, but it is also a center for theological research and reflection. Through the effective use of its various resources - library, faculty, publications, auditoriums, and the internet - the seminary has been able to broaden its outreach, bringing the message of Orthodox theology to thousands who otherwise might be untouched by formal theological education.

The seminary has long served as a forum for inter-Orthodox cooperation and unity and also for ecumenical dialogue. This is reflected not only in its student body but also in its faculty and board of trustees. The seminary is convinced that maintenance of this rich diversity is vital for the fulfillment of its mission.

The seminary is also convinced of the importance of strengthening and deepening the spiritual life of all the members of its community - faculty and staff as well as students. "The theologian is one who prays, and one who prays is truly theologian," said one of the Desert Fathers. As vital to the seminary as its classrooms and library is its chapel, the focus of its life of prayer, for a true center for theological education and reflection must be grounded in prayer. Without this spiritual depth, the seminary's programs and resources would surely fail to achieve the purpose intended for

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