St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary - Events - Installation of Dean John H. Erickson Installation of Dean John H. Erickson Press Release

CRESTWOOD, NY - Professor John H. Erickson was installed as dean of St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary on Saturday, September 14, 2002. Dean Erickson is the eighth dean since the establishment of the seminary in 1938. His installation inaugurates a number of "firsts" in the history of the seminary: he is not only the first convert to Orthodoxy to hold the position, but also the first person of non-Russian background, and the first layperson.

Dean Erickson received a B.A. from Harvard College in 1966, a Master of Philosophy from Yale in 1970, and a Master of Theology from St Vladimir's Seminary in 1984. He joined the seminary faculty in 1973 and has taught courses in church history and canon law. He is a well-known author and canonist, and he currently serves as the Peter N. Gramowich Professor of Church History at the seminary.

The installation took place on the Feast of the Elevation of Holy Cross. Metropolitan Herman, the primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and the president of the school, was present at the vigil service the night before, and presided at the Liturgy on the feast. Two other Orthodox hierarchs, Archbishop Peter (OCA), a faculty member of the seminary, and Bishop Dimitrios, representing Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in North America, also attended the installation.
Numerous other dignitaries and scholars attended. They included OCA Chancellor Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick; former OCA Chancellor Protopresbyter Daniel Hubiak; Very Rev. Michael Evans, representing the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America; Very Rev. Michael Dahulich, Administrative Dean of St Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary in South Canaan, PA; Professor Abraham Terian, Dean of Academic Affairs at St Nersess Armenian Seminary; Fr John Long, SJ, former Rector of the Russicum, Rome; Thomas Bird, Professor of European Languages at Queens College; Avery Cardinal Dulles, Professor of Religion and Society at Fordham University; Professor Constantine Kallaur, Professor of Foreign Languages, State University of New York (SUNY) at Nassau; Very Rev. Jaroslav Sudick, representing the Board of Regents (SUNY) and Rector of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Yonkers, NY; and Mr Bishoy Mikhail, representing the Coptic Orthodox Church. 

Metropolitan Herman installed Dean Erickson by bestowing on him the seminary medallion and presented him with the Fr Georges Florovsky Cross, which is traditionally passed from dean to dean. He spoke of Dean Erickson's tireless work for Christ and the Church and also of his worldwide notoriety as a scholar. 

In his acceptance speech, Dean Erickson gave a forward-looking address, which urged Orthodox Christian to consider precisely how to be faithful to the Tradition, to ìthe faith once delivered to the saints,î in a modern context. Pointing to the ways in which every day life is changing rapidly, he noted that Orthodox theologians must strive to speak to technological, biomedical, and cultural developments.

To read the complete text of Dean Erickson's remarks, please visit the seminary website at www.svots.edu.