Priesthood / Languages (Teachings of the Orthodox Church) Christianity. Orthodoxy. Catholicism. Sense of life. Articles for Christians.
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.                If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing.                If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.                Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with.               
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Priesthood / Languages (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)
   

QUESTION:

I hope you will be able to answer my question, Father.

We are Greek Orthodox. My son has recently shown interest in the priesthood. When I mentioned that he would first have to learn the Greek language, he became frustrated and said that his interest was not in "the language" but in our "faith."

He is a college graduate, speaks English, and does not want to learn another language. Can he become a priest in the OCA? I would appreciate an answer. I have printed out pages from St Tikhon's Seminary Web page. But the question remains ... language?

ANSWER:

Thank you for your enquiry.

In the Orthodox Church in America there is no language requirement, as the vast majority of parishes use the English language exclusively. Our seminarians do study New Testament Greek (which, of course, is not the same as Modern Greek) for the purpose of studying Scripture in its original tongue.

In addition to St Tikhon's Seminary in South Canaan, PA, the Orthodox Church in America has St Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, NY, some 20 miles north of New York City. You may wish to visit the web site of St Vladimir's at www.svots.edu. St Vladimir's not only accepts students from the OCA, but from any and every jurisdiction, including the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. St Vladimir's requires that a student already have a bachelor's degree since study is at the post-graduate level.






Published in January 2011.









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