St Vladimir’s Seminary, in conjunction with the Orthodox Church in America’s Diaconal Vocations Program, will once again offer a 4-day retreat of practical liturgical training for deacons and lay diaconal candidates at their New York campus. The heart of the retreat will be practicums on the deacon’s role in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and other divine services. The seminary faculty will also conduct focused presentations to 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. Instruction in public speaking and vocal technique will also be offered.

Sessions are led by Archdeacon Kirill Sokolov, a “native son” of the Diocese of the West who serves as Archdeacon to the Metropolitan and Lecturer in Liturgics at the Seminary, along with Father Alexander Rentel and Father Sergius Halvorsen.

His Grace, Bishop Benjamin encourages deacons and those laymen studying for diaconal ministry to attend the practicum. Registration closes May 15. See their website at http://www.svots.edu/2009diaconal for additional information and online registration.