As has become the custom in recent years, with the blessing of Metropolitan Nicholas, the Eastern American Diocese held the Lenten clergy retreat for the northern portion of the diocese at Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary in Jordanville from Monday to Wednesday of the week following the 3rd Sunday of the Great Fast - the Sunday of the Cross. This year, the retreat took place between March 16-18.
As clergy were arriving on Monday, a memorial Panakhida was served after then noon meal for +Metropolitan Laurus by Bishop Luke and participating clergy to mark the 18th anniversary of His Eminence’s blessed repose.
Seminarians actively participated in this retreat by assisting in the preparation of the hall for the presentations and discussions, as well as with the preparation of the meals, by singing/serving at the monastery’s full cycle of Lenten services on Wednesday, and during the conference itself.
The main address was presented by Archimandrite Peter (Karakozoff – Bishop-elect of Seattle) and was entitled: “On the Mystical Prayers and the Prayer of the Third Hour. A ROCOR perspective". Following lunch on Tuesday, March 17, several speakers were able to address the clergy in attendance on behalf of the seminary. Dean Nicolas Schidlovsky gave an update on the seminary’s accreditation process with MSCHE (Middle States Commission on Higher Education) and then read his opening statement from the recent 2025 Annual Report (view the entire report “here”).
Fr Ephraim Willmarth, Asst. Dean, Director of Admissions, and Registrar of the Seminary then spoke briefly about the current status of the seminary’s Independent Study (C.T.S. - Certificate in Theological Studies) program, and explained that Holy Trinity Seminary’s CTS program and the excellent program of the Pastoral School of the Chicago And Mid-America Diocese are in the process of most likely being combined, and if this effort is successful, it will operate going forward under Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary.
Next, four current seminarians, all of whom are tentative members of the upcoming graduating class of 2026, stood up and spoke to the clergy in attendance about what brought them to seminary, why they chose to study in Jordanville, and what their experience has been like here. These included two graduate/M.Div. students: Hieromonk Ignatius (Matzschke-Brull) and Subdeacon Marko Pavlovich, and two undergraduate/B.Th. students: Priest Noah Reeves and John Kurr.
The retreat concluded on Wednesday with the clergy, monastics, and seminarians beginning the daily cycle of Lenten services with the Midnight Office, Matins, Hours, and Typica. Upon their conclusion, attendees greeted Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York. Concelebrating with His Eminence were monastery abbot Bishop Luke of Syracuse, Bishop Michael of Boston, Bishop Jerome (Shaw), and over 90 diocesan and monastery clergy.
For more information visit the EAD website:
EAD Northern Lenten Clergy Retreat Opens in Jordanville
EAD Northern Lenten Clergy Retreat Concludes with Presanctified Liturgy
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