Master Bless!  These are the words that most liturgical services in the Holy Orthodox church begin with.  And of course this opening proclamation is said by the deacon in those churches that are lucky enough to have one!  Both the Holy Scriptures and Tradition of the Church gives us an understanding of the ministry of the deacon.  This ministry has many different aspects.  Deacons are often called to take on the role of teacher, social worker, administrator and missionary worker, but certainly the most important and most recognizable calling of diaconal service is that of assistant in the Eucharistic services and other liturgical services that are at the very center of our lives in the Church of Christ.  Those of us who have been to many services and have participated in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy where deacons have been both present and absent know very well that having a deacon makes the service more beautiful and solemn.  Does this mean that the deacon is only there for external beauty?  Let us recall the words of the envoys of St. Volodymyr, the Baptizer of Rus.  “We did not know whether we were in heaven or on earth!  We only know that God dwells there among men.”  This report from his men was in part what led Prince Volodymyr to embrace and endorse Orthodox Christianity for his people, in the year 988.  In other words the beauty witnessed in the divine services of the Holy Orthodox Church influenced the life of several nations bringing all Eastern Slavs, Ukrainians, Russians and Byelorussians to Christ and His Holy Church.  In his epistles, the Holy Apostle Paul wrote about the importance of beautiful and orderly liturgical services.  Clearly tradition and scripture emphasize the importance of the diaconal ministry in this regard. 

Fast-forwarding to our own present times we must regretfully acknowledge that at times deacons are unable to add beauty to the liturgical services.  While there are certainly many factors which lead to this unfortunate circumstance, the biggest of them is the lack of liturgical training.  This is exactly where St. Vladimir’s Seminary (OCA) comes in.  By the grace of God, the pious clergy, faculty and staff of the seminary have developed a diaconal liturgical program which meets once a year in Yonkers NY, at St. Vlad’s.  Candidates to the deaconate and ordained deacons in the program are supported by daily celebration of the Divine Liturgy and other services. Intensive workshops aim to provide participants with the skills needed to serve effectively in the Orthodox Church as an attentive server, deacon, or priest.  Attention is given to the liturgical patterns of movement that inform the entire rite of the Church. Participants also receive guidance on con-celebrations and hierarchical celebrations so that they can effectively prepare for such occasions. In addition to the practicum, focused presentations by faculty augment the deacon's understanding of his place in the liturgical life of the Church and the deacon's broader vocation as a symbol to the faithful of the diakonia of Christ our Lord. Finally, instruction in public speaking and vocal technique are also given by the faculty of the seminary.

In 2010 St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Boston gave a scholarship to Fr. Deacon Borislav which enabled him to participate and complete the St. Vladimir’s Seminary Program.  For him, it was a joy to be at St Vlad’s and to benefit from the hospitality of the faculty, staff and students and a special honor to serve and spend time with His Grace Nikon, Bishop of Boston, New England and the Albanian Archdiocese of the OCA.  Fr. Deacon Borislav completed all aspects of the practicum satisfactorily, displaying an eagerness to learn and work through the material presented by Archdeacon Kiril Sokolov, Fr. Sergius Halvorsen and Fr. Alexander Rentel.  He was commended for all of his efforts at the seminary and received a recommendation letter congratulating him on how well he put all that he learned in class into practice in daily liturgical services at St Vlad’s Seminary chapel.  Below are some photographs of the liturgical services that took place.