St. Finnian’s is an Orthodox Seminary that seeks to provide quality theological instruction to the next generation of Priests in the Orthodox Church. Our format is a hybrid program of Online learning and hands on practicums at your local parish.
Those who are interested in attending St. Finnian’s Orthodox Seminary are required to have a letter of acceptance into a Priestly, or Diaconate, program from the Letter as a part of their application process. Those who do not have said letter will not be considered for acceptance to St. Finnian’s. Also, all registered seminarians are to have a letter from their Pastor, or qualified mentor, who will oversee their sacramental preparation in the form of liturgical practicums.
Requirements and Expectations of Clergy
To be a Priest, Deacon or Minor Clergy, is no small task. It requires dedication to the Orthodox way and living the Orthodox faith. The Holy Canons of the Orthodox Church, either through the Apostolic Constitutions, or those from the other Ecumenical Councils, are binding to all clergy members. There are expectations for clergy in their way of life. While many are allowed to persist in secular employment for the sake of the missions, those that do not due to the burden of pastoral duty have a special duty to devote themselves to the fullness of the Christian life and expression in the Orthodox way. As such the following are only a few of the requirements of the clergy in this Deanery.
Clergy in major orders are expected to pray the Office according to the Catechism of Nicholas Bulgaris. Those that are of the Western rite are not exempt but are to pray the western hours that are available according to the tradition of the Western Orthodox Church.
Readers are required to read the daily readings of the Orthodox Church every day. For those in the Eastern rite, this will be the readings as they are found in the Lectionary at the back of the Orthodox Study Bible. For those in the Western rite, this will be those readings as they are found in the Orthodox Book of Common Prayer (OBCP) by Lancelot Andrews Press. On those days that there are no readings in the OBCP, then readers will read according to the lectionary in the Orthodox Study Bible.
Clergy are also expected to pray the Divine Liturgy every Sunday and to provide Evening Prayers, Vespers or Evensong, on Saturday Evening. All clergy, east or west, will lead the people in the preparation prayers for reception of the Eucharist on Sunday morning. If those in Major Orders are available throughout the day, they should offer Matins and Vespers daily for the people to participate. Especially on Wednesdays and Fridays. All clergy, regardless of past education will attend St. Finnian’s Orthodox Seminary for formation and education.
Formation
Those persons that are in the boundaries of the Deanery who desire to become members of the clergy are required to go through theological formation and training. From the rank of Sub-deacon to Priest, these men are required to receive the appropriate training. Please note that according to the Canons of the Apostles, men ordained after Cantor will not be allowed to marry. The standard formation model for this process is below:
Step 1: Receive the Application
Step 2: Application review by the Dean
Step 3: Interview with the Dean
Step 4: Classes begin in September/January of the year
Step 5: After completion of the first year of training, a man will be ordained to the Sub-diaconate (They will be ordained to the minor orders during the summer retreat).
Step 6: After completion of three years of formation, a man will be ordained to the Diaconate
Step 7: After completion of all formation and training, a man will be ordained to the Priesthood.
All ordinations are done in retreat, family and friends are more than welcome to join. The priestly ordination will be done in one’s home parish where they will be assigned.
St. Finnian Orthodox Seminary 