On Thursday, November 7, 2013 the St. Tikhon’s Community welcomed the clergy of the Three Hierarchs Clergy Association of Hudson Valley, NY. They came to tour the seminary and monastery, and to have lunch with members of the seminary administration, faculty, and students.  

 

In the morning they were offered a tour by the new Dean of the Seminary, Fr. Steven Voytovich, who was pleased to introduce them to members of seminary administration, tour office and classroom areas, and share a vision for the future of St. Tikhon’s Seminary. The group was also treated to a very informative tour of the library facilities by Librarian Sergei Arhipov.

 

In the afternoon they visited the monastery, with a tour of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Church by Fr. Nicodemus, and visited other areas including the St. Tikhon’s Monastery Bookstore and the Metropolitan Museum. They were also offered an opportunity to pray before the Miracle-Working Icon of St. Anna within the private monastery chapel.

 

The Three Hierarchs Clergy Association and the Connecticut Clergy Association are a pan-jurisdictional group of clergy consisting of representatives from the Antiochian, Greek, OCA, Jordanian, and Romanian Churches. It was a good opportunity for seminarians to witness and take part in the open and honest cross-jurisdictional dialog between association members who encouraged them to seek up the support and friendship of their fellow clergy wherever God sends them to continue their public ministry once they graduate from seminary.

 

Father Christos Talleos is the president of the Three Hierarchs Clergy Association and Father Peter Karloutsos is the president of the Connecticut Clergy Association.  Fr. Peter Karloutsos and Fr. Steven Voytovich reflected on their common history of service with the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians of Connecticut (FORCC) in the early 1990's.  “Many of the clergy who visited with us today are visiting Saint Tikhon's Monastery and Seminary for the first time.” said Fr. Steven, “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to be able to share a little about our community and its rich history, and to welcome new friends who hopefully will visit us again and often.”