St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary - News Releases News Release 2004 Liturgical Institute Looks at the Future of Christian Marriage

See photo gallery

Crestwood, NY—St Vladimir's Seminary concluded its 2004 Liturgical Institute of Music and Pastoral Practice. The theme "Does Christian Marriage Have a Future?" provided a multi-faceted topic for the six-day forum, from June 20-25, in which around seventy participants followed one of two tracks: pastoral practice or liturgical music.

Keynote guest speaker V Rev Dr John Breck, a pioneer in the field of Orthodox ethics, courageously engaged this complex theme in his address. He spoke of the tremendous secularizing pressures thrown up against the Orthodox belief that true marriage is by definition a "monogamous, heterosexual, blessed, conjugal union." While we do not budge from this belief, he said, we must not approach those who challenge it with either fiery polemics or quiet resignation. Instead we are called to listen, love, educate, and witness to the saving purpose of marriage and chastity in our own lives.

These secularizing pressures—including same-sex unions, divorce, cohabitation, and mixed and interfaith marriage—were taken up in greater specificity by seminary faculty leading the pastoral track. In particular, Dr Albert Rossi, Dr Peter Bouteneff, and Rev Dr Alexander Rentel gave presentations that placed these contemporary realities within the context of pastoral theology, dogmatic theology, psychology, and canon law. Their thoughtful, complimentary, presentations were fodder for interesting discussion when participants subsequently broke into small groups.

Throughout the week both priests and laypeople in the pastoral track were eager to speak of the many challenging scenarios they have met among their parish communities, friends, and family. While the institute faculty admitted that the Orthodox response to some of these contemporary issues is still being articulated, there is no doubt that everyone involved took away valuable insights.

Besides addressing cultural challenges to Christian marriage, the pastoral track also included sessions related to the personal vocation of being married. Rev Timothy Blumentritt and Dr Rossi each gave talks on living the married life, while Rev Dr John Behr spoke on marriage and asceticism. The theology contained within the Orthodox wedding service was also brought to bear at various points during the week, specifically in Dr John Barnet's talk on New Testament readings in the Orthodox wedding service.

The liturgical music track, coordinated by full-time institute faculty members Mr Mark Bailey, Ms Helen Erickson, and Dn Kevin Smith, offered practical training in many areas of liturgical music. Dr Jessica Suchy-Pilalis and Mr Walter Obleschuk joined as guest faculty who instructed participants in the singing of Byzantine chant, and Slavic podobny, or special melodies, respectively.

Participants—divided into beginning and advanced groups—studied conducting, the eight tones, composition, vocal techniques for church reading, and church rubrics. Given the theme for this year's institute, a special focus was given to the Orthodox wedding service. Dn Smith outlined the historical development of the Orthodox wedding service, and Mr Bailey's advanced composition class was given the task of composing music for components of the wedding service.

As in previous years, a day was devoted to Byzantine liturgical music. Dr Suchy-Palalis led the rehearsal and directed the choir for the Thursday evening vespers service, which was sung in Byzantine chant.

Participants in the liturgical music track were responsible for all the liturgical services during the institute, both reading and singing responses in two choirs. The climax of the week was the festal Vigil and Divine Liturgy celebrating the Nativity of St John the Baptist at which His Grace, Bishop Tikhon of South Canaan (OCA) presided. These services featured new music composed by institute faculty.

David Drillock, who helped organize the first summer institute in 1978, will retire from his position at the seminary in the coming month. As this was the last institute Mr Drillock will attend as full-time seminary faculty, he delivered a talk entitled "My Life in Church Music." In it he narrated the vast changes in Orthodox liturgical music in America over the last fifty years and how much progress has been made.

Held each year in June, the summer institute is a way for the seminary to serve the Orthodox Church across all jurisdictions. It allows many to take advantage of the seminary's resources and provides a forum for clergy and laypeople to learn more about their faith and church practice through a week of worship, lectures, discussions, and activities.