St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)

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St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York) is one of three institutions of professional theological education in the Orthodox Church in America. The other two schools are St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania) and St. Herman's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Kodiak, Alaska).

Degree programs

Along with priestly vocation, St. Vladimir's also provides education for other church leaders, such as choir directors and religious educators. Along with the Master of Divinity program (M.Div.), the seminary also offers the Master of Arts in Theology (M.A.), the Master of Theology (M.Th.), and the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.).

History and influence

Protopresbyter Georges Florovsky was instrumental in its founding after his departure from St. Sergius Institute (Paris, France). I t has counted among its deans Protopresbyters Alexander Schmemann, John Meyendorff, and Thomas Hopko—nearly a who's who list of twentieth century theology. St. Vladimir's counts as alumni bishops and priests of many jurisdictions, professors of numerous colleges, universities and seminaries, and noteworthy lay leaders in worldwide Orthodoxy. It would be difficult to overestimate the impact of the seminary on Orthodox theology in the last fifty years.

Library and publishing

St. Vladimir's library is one of the largest Eastern Christian resources in North America. The seminary also houses a large publishing house, SVS Press. It publishes a quarterly theological journal, St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly.

Criticism

Especially in recent years, St. Vladimir's has been the subject of criticism regarding its approach to teaching Orthodox theology and praxis. Critics usually cite adherence by faculty to modern Protestant historical-critical methods of Biblical exegesis and study of history rather than traditional patristic interpretive methods. Reports also exist of female students being taught such skills as how to make liturgical use of a censer, an activity normally associated in the Orthodox Church solely with the clergy, which is traditionally all-male.


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