The path from reader to deacon

[Matthew]

Greetings to all.

I had lunch with my spiritual father, Fr. John Touloumes, yesterday and I expressed my interest in formalize my learning by studying at a seminary with the intention of becoming a deacon. He encouraged me to pursue it. He told me to do some research and come up with a plan for Metropolitan Maximos to approve.

I was inspired to ask by the Byzantine Catholic Seminary in which Fr. David Sedor, of blessed memory, worked. Here's a link to their Deacon Formation program:
http://www.byzcathsem.org/deacon/deacon_curriculum.php

The program lasts for four years, with two weeks out of each year spent on campus, and the remainder of the year spent learning remotely. Such a program would be great because I currently run a business and employ a number of people; it it would be too disruptive to attend seminary full time.

Is there a similar program available from any of the Orthodox seminaries? Ideally, it should be a seminary under the Greek Orthodox jurisdiction, like Holy Cross or St Vladimirs.

I'll call around next week, but I would appreciate any thoughts or any shared experiences.

Thank you very much,

Matthew

[Ryan]

Greetings to all.

I had lunch with my spiritual father, Fr. John Touloumes, yesterday and I expressed my interest in formalize my learning by studying at a seminary with the intention of becoming a deacon. He encouraged me to pursue it. He told me to do some research and come up with a plan for Metropolitan Maximos to approve.

I was inspired to ask by the Byzantine Catholic Seminary in which Fr. David Sedor, of blessed memory, worked. Here's a link to their Deacon Formation program:
http://www.byzcathsem.org/deacon/deacon_curriculum.php

The program lasts for four years, with two weeks out of each year spent on campus, and the remainder of the year spent learning remotely. Such a program would be great because I currently run a business and employ a number of people; it it would be too disruptive to attend seminary full time.

Is there a similar program available from any of the Orthodox seminaries? Ideally, it should be a seminary under the Greek Orthodox jurisdiction, like Holy Cross or St Vladimirs.

I'll call around next week, but I would appreciate any thoughts or any shared experiences.

Thank you very much,

Matthew

I've actually heard that deacons don't even need to attend seminary (though it certainly helps), you can take a correspondence course... I was told this by both a GOA and an OCA priest, so I assume both jurisdictions have the program. (By the way, St. Vladimir's is OCA). I'm sure if you ask someone from one of the seminaries they can point you in the right direction.

[Matthew]

Thank you for the reply, Ryan.

That led me to this:
http://www.hchc.edu/holycross/academics/PDP.html

Thank you!

[Theodora E.]

Some dioceses or deaneries have their own programs for "late vocation" deacons - those who will be permanent deacons, mostly, not going on to the priesthood.

The OCA Diocese of the Midwest has such a program. It's three years, I believe, of meeting once a week (I;m not sure if you get summers off) and different instructors. There is tuition.

I think the ROCOR Diocese of Chicago and Detroit has the same sort of thing, called the "Pastoral School."

You might want to check if something like this is available to you.

[Anthony Stokes]

The Antiochian Archdiocese runs the St. Stephen's course, which is supposed to be one of the best correspondence programs. It would probably be closer to serving in the GOA than any OCA program. The OCA seminaries, St. Vlad's or St. Tikhon's, do not have correspondence. The OCA program has some pretty specific requirements. Check out the St. Stephen's course. The guys who run it are actually Greek. I'm not familiar with any GOA programs for deacons, since deacons in the GOA are very hard to find.

http://www.antiochian.org/studies

Sbdn. Antony

[Father David Moser]

Greetings to all.

I had lunch with my spiritual father, Fr. John Touloumes, yesterday and I expressed my interest in formalize my learning by studying at a seminary with the intention of becoming a deacon.


I'm not familiar with any GOA programs for deacons, since deacons in the GOA are very hard to find.

There was a GOA Protodeacon by the name of Photios Touloumes - perhaps your spiritual father knew him. He was very good an training young know-nothing deacons (like me) even when they weren't in the Greek diocese (like me). Alas Fr Photios is no longer with us - He died a few years ago (please remember him in your prayers)

Fr David Moser

[Ryan]

The Antiochian Archdiocese runs the St. Stephen's course, which is supposed to be one of the best correspondence programs. It would probably be closer to serving in the GOA than any OCA program. The OCA seminaries, St. Vlad's or St. Tikhon's, do not have correspondence. The OCA program has some pretty specific requirements. Check out the St. Stephen's course. The guys who run it are actually Greek. I'm not familiar with any GOA programs for deacons, since deacons in the GOA are very hard to find.

http://www.antiochian.org/studies

Sbdn. Antony

Yes, I think this is the course that was mentioned to me. Again, the priests who told me about it were OCA and GOA, so the course is ostensibly acceptable to those jurisdictions.

[Kris]

deacons in the GOA are very hard to find.


Is there a reason for the Greek archdiocese having fewer deacons than the Russian? When I attend the Russian Cathedral here in London, they seem to always have at least two deacons, even for weekday Vesper services.

I had a look at last year's Imerologion, and the ratio of deacons to priests in the GO Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain is about 1:9, how does the number in America compare?

[Paul Cowan]

The Antiochian Archdiocese runs the St. Stephen's course, which is supposed to be one of the best correspondence programs. It would probably be closer to serving in the GOA than any OCA program. The OCA seminaries, St. Vlad's or St. Tikhon's, do not have correspondence. The OCA program has some pretty specific requirements. Check out the St. Stephen's course. The guys who run it are actually Greek. I'm not familiar with any GOA programs for deacons, since deacons in the GOA are very hard to find.

http://www.antiochian.org/studies

Sbdn. Antony

My Deacon and Associate priest both went through this correspondence course. Anyone interested can Pm me and I will see if I can get you in touch with one of them for more specific questions.

Paul