Bishop MARKof Toledo Visits St. Vladimir’s Seminary

Crestwood, NY – In the first week of February 2006, His Grace Bishop Mark of Toledo and the Midwest of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America made his first official visit to St Vladimir’s Seminary since his enthronement in August 2005. His Grace’s visit was a pleasure and encouragement to many of the students, faculty, staff and friends of the seminary community. Bishop Mark, a graduate of St. Vladimir’s (class of 1991) met with several faculty members discussing curriculum readjustment and the seminary’s ongoing Good Pastor project. A tour, individual student meetings, and a group meeting of His Grace’s diocesan students were also part of the three-day visit.

The highlight of His Grace’s visit was the ordination of Deacon Peter Jon Gillquist to the Holy Priesthood. On the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, in the St Vladimir’s Seminary Chapel, the community, friends and loved ones gathered to celebrate the hierarchical Divine Liturgy and witness the blessed ordination by SayidnaMark.

Fr Peter Jon Gillquist, a third-year student in the Masters of Divinity program, has an unconventional background. He has released seven CDs of original music rooted in various Christian themes and has performed at hundreds of parishes and venues around the United States. He is the son of Fr Peter Gillquist, who is the chairman of the Antiochian Archdiocese's Department of Missions and Evangelism, author of numerous books, including Becoming Orthodox, and the project director of the Orthodox Study Bible.

Fr Peter was among the serving clergy for his son’s ordination. Other serving clergy included Fr Thomas Zain, Lecturer in Pastoral Theology and Dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY; Fr George Alberts of St. George Church in Danbury, CT; and Deacon Thomas Braun of St Barnabus in Costa Mesa, CA.

Please visit www.svots.edu for a photographs of His Grace’s visit and the ordination.