Excited, confused, joyful, overwhelmed, lonely, challenged, hopeful… just a few of the many feelings experienced by the wives of seminarians before, during, and after their seminary experience. How does one understand and unpack these emotions and move through them toward Christ? Many responses to this question present themselves, but one important answer is the ministry of “one-anothering.” In the context of St. Tikhon’s Seminary, student wives and more experienced clergy wives intentionally gather together to talk about important issues facing couples and families in ministry within the Orthodox Church and to simply be together.

Our women’s group takes inspiration from the remarkable St. Nonna of Nazianzus. A strong Christian with an amazing ministry in her own right, she brought her husband (St. Gregory the Elder) to the Faith through her gentle love and prayers and raised her three children to be saints recognized by the Church as well (St. Gregory the Theologian, St. Caesarius, and St. Gorgonia). The St. Nonna Sisterhood seeks to provide an opportunity for seminarian wives in the St. Tikhon’s Seminary community to explore and develop the call that the Lord has placed on their own lives. We offer a place for women to learn about and grow into their new roles as clergy wives while supporting each other in the process. We meet as a group several times per month for both casual and more formal gatherings. From informative to fun, the sisterhood meetings help foster relationships among the ladies, laying a foundation of support upon which they can grow as friends and as future clergy wives, regardless of jurisdiction.

Please consider supporting this ministry so that we can expand our reach and provide more programs and speakers, especially in person. To discuss how you might help, please email dean@stots.edu.

But most importantly, when you pray for St. Tikhon’s seminarians, please also remember their wives and families, for they too will offer vital ministry to a hurting world. Blessed St. Nonna, pray to God for us!