2025 Diaconal Liturgical Practicum

The 18th Annual Diaconal Liturgical Practicum: July 28-August 1, 2025

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Held this year in Santa Rosa, California

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The 2025 Diaconal Liturgical Practicum of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) will be held July 28-August 1, 2025, on the campus of St. Seraphim of Sarov Cathedral, Santa Rosa, California.

 

The five-day program (three full days and two half days) will offer intense practical liturgical training for deacons and lay diaconal candidates. In addition to liturgical practice, sessions will also cover chanting and vocal technique and address teaching about the Orthodox faith.

 

This 18th annual Practicum is put on by the Orthodox Church in America’s Diaconal Vocations Program (DVP) and is highly recommended by the Holy Synod for participants in the Church’s program and other diaconal formation programs.

 

Supper, prayer, and an opening session will launch the Practicum at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 28. The Practicum will conclude on Friday, August 1, with hierarchical Divine Liturgy and a festive lunch. Participants can plan on leaving Santa Rosa around 1 p.m. to take early evening flights from local airports, including Santa Rosa (STS), Oakland, or San Francisco.

 

The Practicum is highly recommended for participants in the Church’s diaconal formation programs by the Holy Synod and is offered with the blessing of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, with oversight by the Board of Theological Education of the Orthodox Church in America. This year’s session is taking place in Santa Rosa, California.  Liturgical workshops are delivered by an experienced faculty, including Archpriest Kirill Sokolov, director of the Diaconal and Late Vocations of the Orthodox Church in America, Hieromonk Vitaly Permiakov, Ph.D. (St. Vladimir’s Seminary), Archpriest Lawrence Margitich, Hieromonk Peter Karakozoff, and Nicolas Custer.

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Course Description

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Practical liturgical training for deacons and lay diaconal candidates will be centered on serving 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 will be given to the liturgical patterns of movement that inform the entire rite of the Church. Participants will also receive guidance on concelebrations and hierarchical celebrations so that they can effectively prepare for such occasions. In addition to practicums, focused presentations by faculty will 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 speaking about the faith and vocal technique when chanting will also be offered.

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Schedule

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Coming Soon.

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Registration and Fee

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Because the Practicum would incur expenses based on the number of attendees, you may cancel your registration and receive a refund by notifying dvp@oca.org by June 1. Cancellations received after the stated deadline will not be guaranteed a refund but may be considered in the event of a waitlist.

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Setting

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Santa Rosa: Just 55 miles north of San Francisco, in the urban heart of wine country, you’ll find Santa Rosa: a city with a cool vibe and vibrant culture ready and waiting to be explored. Santa Rosa is the happening hub for all there is to see, do, eat, drink, hike, bike and explore in Sonoma County. Visitors will find it’s easy and convenient to arrive or depart from Santa Rosa with airline service provided by major carriers including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and seasonal provider Sun Country Airlines. Major carriers offer daily non-stop flights to and from the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS). Additionally, Santa Rosa is also just 68 miles north of two major Bay Area airports, San Francisco International (SFO) and Oakland International (OAK). More information: https://www.visitsantarosa.com/getting-here-and-trip-ideas

*Portions of this section have been reproduced from the Visit Santa Rosa website.

 

St. Seraphim Cathedral: The site of St. Seraphim Cathedral / Protection of the Holy Virgin Mary Parish is ideal for rigorous liturgical training and prayerful contemplation. The parish has a rich history with a growing membership including members from many ethnic backgrounds. The parish grounds have two church buildings: The Protection of the Holy Virgin Church, the original chapel hand-built by the parish founders in 1936; and St. Seraphim of Sarov Cathedral, built in 1996. The inside is exquisitely adorned with true frescos and traditional Orthodox iconography. The parish has a small vineyard of Syrah grapes which yield several cases of wine each harvest season. Archpriest Lawrence Margitich, parish rector, and Reader Nicolas Craig Custer, Choir Master, will also serve on our faculty.

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Accommodations and Meals:

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Room blocks have been secured at Oxford Suites at the rate of $139/night. Participants are welcome to stay elsewhere as preferred.

 

Hotel Information:
Oxford Suites Sonoma County
67 Golf Course Drive West
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Local hotel number: 707-584-0333

 

Most meals are included in the registration rate and are provided on-site at St. Seraphim Cathedral or nearby.

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FAQs

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We often receive questions from potential participants regarding ways to prepare for our Diaconal Liturgical Practicum. This section seeks to answer some of these “Frequently Asked Questions.”

 

I’m just entering the Diaconal Vocations Program. Should I attend?

The Holy Synod believes that everyone studying for the Diaconate should study and practice liturgics in a regular, organic fashion. Attending an annual summer program with experienced faculty and other DVP participants is a very effective aid in preparation for the Diaconate. You will “get something” from the program every year you attend, whether you are new, returning, or already ordained. Participants in the Diaconal Vocations Program are required to attend two Practicums.

 

I’ve been a deacon for some time. Is this for me?

Every deacon can benefit from participating in the fellowship, conciliar service, and indeed, a refresher course in liturgical practice. Experienced participants can be a great encouragement to those just beginning their journey to the diaconate. Past participants have described their diaconate as being refreshed after attending. If you are not sure whether you ought to register for the program, please e-mail Archpriest Kirill to discuss at dvp@oca.org.

 

How can I make myself ready for this Practicum?

Everyone comes to our program from different parishes and with different experiences. With that in mind, our practical training seeks to start at a level where everyone can participate and grow. Already-ordained deacons and future candidates are trained in ways appropriate to their experience. Participants can have the best experience by preparing in the following ways:

 

• Seek the guidance of your parish priest and the director of your vocations program.
• Experience worship actively.
• Pay attention to the Divine Liturgy and other services of the Church in your parish.
• Without getting “bogged down” in a book, follow the outline of the services in service books.
• Try to anticipate the liturgical actions of the priest, deacon, and servers before they occur. Are there discernible patterns?
• If you are not already a deacon, your priest may invite you to participate in the services as an altar server, reader, or choir member. Be obedient in these matters to your parish priest and try to grow in your abilities under his direction.
• You may wish to seek the guidance of a skilled musician, such as your parish’s choir director, if you are inexperienced in church reading.
• Above all, prayerful preparation by faithful participation in the divine services is key.
• Come to the Practicum physically rested and mentally alert for a program that will be challenging but, we pray, rewarding.

 

Should I bring my own vestments?

We ask that deacons bring a complete set of green (preferable) or gold vestments (stikharion, orarion, and cuffs) to ensure a good fit for serving. It is our practice that deacons vest fully for the reception of Holy Communion in the altar. We will provide vestments for those participants serving as subdeacons and servers but you may bring gold vestments if you prefer.