The Board of Trustees of St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary held their summer meeting August 18-19 at the Seminary in South Canaan, PA.  

In the absence of the Dean and Chief Operating Officer, Very Rev. Alexander Atty, recovering at home from recent surgery, His Grace, Bishop Tikhon, Rector of the Seminary chaired the two day meeting.  

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, President of the Seminary was also in attendance.  With God’s blessing, the Board looks forward to Fr. Alexander’s complete recovery and return to full activity within a few weeks.

Board members were able to view in person many changes, complete and ongoing, to the physical plant.  Changes to the entranceways and the installation of a new roof were being done while the Board was in attendance.

Among the business presented at the meeting was a presentation about the John & Lucille Guzey Icon Repository Collection by Very Rev. John Perich, curator of the collection.  The Board now has a complete understanding of the history of this bequest to the Seminary and the importance of the collection as an outreach for Orthodox Christianity and the Seminary.  Moving forward, it is expected that parts of the collection will travel to interested institutions and help to spread the message of Orthodoxy as well as information about St. Tikhon’s Seminary. 

Other business included an updated presentation of fund raising for the Married Student Housing project.  The Board voted to obtain a mortgage to purchase the former Western Wayne School Administration Building which will be renovated into 7 apartments available for rent by married students and their families. 

Discussions also centered on the activities and progress underway to address the recommendations of the Association of Theological Schools accrediting board.  Based upon the work of the Dean, Fr. Atty and changes instituted by the Board over the past few years, the Seminary looks forward to a 10 year accreditation after the ATS visit next spring.  Dr. Paul Witek has been hired as an Assistant to the Dean for Academic affairs and will serve as a liaison between Bishop Tikhon, Fr. Alexander and the ATS.  

Other changes made by the Board to facilitate Board responsibility to the ATS were the creation of a Human Resources Committee and the institution of an Executive Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.  Michael Herzak was elected Executive Chair and Eli Stavisky, DMD was elected Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.  

The next meeting of the Board will be October 20-21, 2011.

Photos