Over fifty participants, from parishes as far away as Oregon and as close as Olyphant, PA arrived on the evening of Tuesday, June 18, 2013 to participate in the St. Tikhon’s Continuing Education Symposium.

 

The Symposium ran  from Tuesday June, 18 through Thursday June 20, and featured speakers from both the Seminary and the Monastery Communities.

 

Leading off the event on Tuesday evening was the Seminary’s Director of Field Education and Senior Lecturer in Pastoral Arts and  Practice, Archpriest John Kowalczyk, who spoke on “The Exploration and Development of the Ministry of Presence."

 

The following day began with the lecture "Sanctify those who love the beauty of Thy house..." by Igumen Sergius (Bowyer), Abbot of Saint Tikhon's Monastery and Interim Dean of St. Tikhon's Seminary.

 

After the participants broke for lunch the program continued with a presentation and discussion on the topic "Exorcism: A Current Perspective" by Lecturer in Spirituality and Liturgics and a monk at St. Tikhon’s Monastery, Archimandrite Athanasy (Mastalsky).

 

The second day of the symposium was brought to a close by Dr. Christopher Veniamin, Professor of Patristics, who delivered a thought provoking lecture entitled "Transforming Psychological States into Spiritual Ones: Some Practical Advice from the Fathers."

 

On the third and final day, the participants were presented a lecture by Dr. David C. Ford, Professor of Church History, entitled "The Glory of Christ-Centered Marriage."

 

The St. Tikhon’s Community was pleased to provide this Symposium in cooperation with the Department of Continuing Education for the Orthodox Church in America.

 

His Grace Bishop Michael, Rector of St. Tikhon’s Seminary, thanked Igumen Sergius for both his contribution to the  offering of lecturers as well as the hospitality of the monastery brotherhood in providing the monastery trapeza for the event and for assisting in the preparation of the seminary grounds for the arrival of the symposium participants.

 

Plans are currently underway to make each of the lectures available online so that those unable to attend this year’s Clergy Continuing Education Symposium will able to participate in an online version of the conference to fulfill their yearly Continuing Education Credits required by the national church.

 

The materials for the online offering are expected to be completed by the beginning of the 2013-14 Academic Year.

 

Advanced reservations for these lectures can be made at info@stots.edu.