Time to Apply for the Fall Semester

The deadline for application for the Fall 2019 Semester of the Pastoral School is September 1. The fist day of classes will September 9. We look forward to meeting our new students and seeing our returning students again!

PASTORAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

PASTORAL SCHOOL APPLICATION

VIDEO OF ARCHBISHOP PETER ENCOURAGING YOU TO APPLY

Pastoral School Graduation Spring 2019

On June 9/22, 2019 the Pastoral School of Chicago and Mid-America marked its thirteenth annual graduation. Before the Divine Liturgy second year student Micah Chisholm was tonsured a Reader and elevated to Subdeacon. Following the Divine Liturgy at the Diocesan Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God in Des Plaines, IL three students received their diplomas in Pastoral Studies (title of thesis in parentheses):

Priest Ioan Comenescu (“The Calendar – Strength in the Faith”)

Deacon Nicholas Esterhuizen (“The Martha-Maria Convent and its Synthesis of Western European Nursing and Orthodox Monasticism”)

Deacon Pavel Baksheev (“History of the Church of our Lady’s Dormition Parish Dandenong – the Formative Years”)

On the day previous the students had defended their theses and successfully passed oral exams before a board consisting of His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago & Mid-America (President of the School), Archpriest Andre Papkov (Vice President of the School), Archpriest Martin Swanson (Dean Emeritus of the School) and Archpriest Gregory Joyce (Dean of the School).

This year the Pastoral School had 104 students participating in its distance learning format courses.  The distance learning format allows students and instructors to participate in regular and lively classroom discussions on-line.  Many public and private universities use this format which engages the students in almost constant interaction and learning.  Distance learning provides the student with a full complement of resources which are available at any time and at any place. For more information on the Pastoral School please VISIT THE SCHOOL'S WEB SITE.

The application period for the fall semester is now open. Students must apply not later than September 1 to be considered for admission. Please note that Pastoral Theology majors’ wives may register at a discounted rate for the Orthodox Studies major. Students may wish to apply before the September 1 deadline so that they can take advantage of the need-based scholarships available to incoming students (applications for scholarship are due August 15).  MORE INFORMATION ON ADMISSIONS MAY BE FOUDN HERE.

MORE INFORMATION ON SCHOLARSHIPS MAY BE FOUND HERE.

Please note the Catechist Certificate program which is also accepting applications. The Catechist Program is modeled on the program outlined by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church held in 2013.

First Successful Defense of Theology Doctorate at St. Petersburg State University Since 1918

The successful defense of the first Doctoral Dissertation in Theology at St. Petersburg State University since the Theological Faculty was closed in 1918 (the university was previously called St. Petersburg Imperial University) took place on July 1, 2019. More information in Russian (an English translation will be provided here as soon as possible) can be found here:

http://www.uchkom.info/novosti/5840/

The successful candidate is Reader Alexandr Andreev, 2013 graduate of the Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America. “This is a very significant accomplishment for Alexandr and something that our Pastoral School can be thankful for – that one of our graduates was prepared adequately to go on to pursue higher theological education within the structure of the Russian Orthodox Church and to be so successful in that pursuit”, said Archpriest Gregory Joyce, Dean of the Pastoral School. “It is our hope that our students will continue to take what they have learned in the Pastoral School – that rigorous and solid foundation of theological education that we provide – and build on that as clergy, educators, and academics in service to the Holy Church.” It is hoped that Alexandr will eventually return to the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America to use the skills he has acquired in Russia for the good of our the faithful of the diocese.

Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America to Offer Summer Courses

With Archbishop Peter's blessing, this year summer courses will again be offered in the Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America.  Applications for admission for the summer semester are due June 15, 2019. The following courses will be offered this year – dates for the courses are June 17 – August 3, 2018 (Liturgics is slightly longer in duration):

Liturgics
Church Slavonic
Parish Management and Operations
Thesis Writing Workshop
Homiletics
New Testament Greek
New Testament Latin

All Pastoral School summer courses are available to the general public without the need for a formal application to our complete Diploma program.  To register please visit the following link:

REGISTER FOR SUMMER SCHOOL

To learn more about the summer courses and all the offerings of the Pastoral School please visit this link:

ALL PASTORAL SCHOOL COURSES

A flyer to share can be found here - please do share it:

2019 SUMMER SCHOOL FLYER

For more information or with questions please contact the Dean of the Pastoral School, Archpriest Gregory Joyce (fr.gregory.joyce@orthodoxtheologicalschool.org).

Partnership Agreement with the Russian Orthodox University of St. John the Theologian

The Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago & Mid-America feels strongly that active partnership with higher education theological institutions of the Russian Orthodox Church/Moscow Patriarchate is an important aspect of making the continuing reconciliation of the Russian Church a real, living effort that will bear spiritual fruit, and that this is fully within the spirit of the Act of Canonical Communion signed by the ever memorable Patriarch Aleksey II and Metropolitan Laurus on the day of the Ascension 2007.

In furtherance of this goal, The Pastoral School is happy to announce the signing of a Partnership Agreement with the Russian Orthodox University of St. John the Theologian in Moscow on January 22/February 4, 2019. Signing on behalf of the Pastoral School was the Rector, Archbishop Peter of Chicago & Mid-America. Signing on behalf of the Russian Orthodox University of St. John the Theologian was the Dean, Bishop Anthony of Morovich.

Read the rest of the article and see pictures of the signing at the link below. Information on opportunities for colaboration with St. John's University will be forthcoming.

Fr. Gregory

FULL ARTICLE WITH PICTURES

Summer Residence Program Announced

The Synodal School of Liturgical Music announces its 2019 Summer Session, July 14-27

The Synodal School of Liturgical Music is pleased to announce that registration for the 2019 Summer Session is now open for new students. For 27 years, the School has been raising the quality of church singing within ROCOR parishes across the Russian Diaspora. The session will run from July 14-27, 2019, offering programs in both conducting and singing. Please visit sslm.hts.edu for registration and further information. Any questions regarding the program can be directed to program officer Valentina Shatalova at vshatalova@earthlink.net.

Source: synod.com

More information for Pastoral School students can be found at this link:

PASTORAL SCHOOL PROGRAM - SSLM

Spring Semester Application Deadline Approaching!

The deadline for application for the Spring Semester is Friday, February 1, 2019. Take the time now - right now - to fill out the application. Or send the application to those who you know what to apply. Or who you think should apply! Priests are especially encouraged to send the application and recommendation to apply to their parishioners. Your influence here is great! And who doesn't need a more educated flock? Apply today!

PASTORAL SCHOOL APPLICATION