St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary - News Releases Bishop Tikhon presides at Feast of Annunciation Ordination of Fr David Arnold and Dn Basil Biberdorf

Crestwood, NY—The Feast of the Annunciation on Thursday, March 25, was a joyful foretaste of Pascha for the seminary community, which received a hierarchical visit, witnessed the ordination of two seminarians, and saw honors given to three priests—two of whom are members of faculty, and one who is an administrator at SVS.

His Grace, Bishop TIKHON of South Canaan (OCA) presided at the the festal services of Ninth Hour, Typika, and the Vesperal Liturgy. Bishop Tikhon, who serves as auxiliary to His Beatitude, Metropolitan HERMAN and as Administrator of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, was recently consecrated to the episcopacy at St Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania on February 14, 2004. Having lived as a monastic for many years before his consecration, he commented on the extensive travel required by his new role as auxiliary bishop and how it contrasts with his former, more stationary existence at the monastery. In greeting the community following the divine liturgy, His Grace noted that he finds the liturgical unity of Orthodoxy very comforting, as it allows him to enter a new setting and, rather than find it disorienting, experience the oneness of the Church in Christ. This was his first visit as a hierarch to SVS, and Dean John Erickson, along with the entire seminary community, welcomed him warmly.

Bishop Tikhon ordained David Arnold and Basil (Daryl) Biberdorf to the holy priesthood and diaconate respectively. Fr Arnold is in his final year of the Master of Divinity program and lives on campus with his wife Catherine and four daughters, Rachel, Sarah, Emily, and Anna. Dn Biberdorf is enrolled in the Master of Theology program and also lives on campus with his wife Dea and two daughters, Julia and Sophia.

During the liturgy, His Grace presented clergy awards to Fathers Steven Belonick, Alexander Rentel, and John Behr on behalf of His Beatitude and the Holy Synod of Bishops. Archpriest Steven Belonick, who will have been a priest for twenty-five years this May, was awarded a jeweled pectoral cross. He is director of recruitment, alumni relations, and outreach at SVS. Priests Alexander Rentel and John Behr, both faculty members, were granted the right to wear the nabedrinik, the first in a series of clerical vestments bestowed upon priests to honor faithful service.