Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary held its 69th Commencement on May 28th, 2017. His Grace Bishop Irenei of Sacramento was invited to share his reflections on the martyric calling of the priesthood and the “dogmatic consciousness of the Church.”
Bishop Irenei said in part,
“What is needed more than anything else in those whom the seminary sends out into the world … is the development of a truly theological life, one in which wisdom and truth come about not chiefly through study or erudition, but through the active submission of the will, of the whole man — heart and mind together — to God in that divine obedience that conforms our likeness to His and allows His image to be shown in the world.”
Exhorting the graduating students, Vl. Irenei stressed that “spiritual wisdom comes to the priest who diligently loves and sacrifices and offers himself for his flock, serving them — especially the most fragile and despairing amongst them — as if he were serving Christ himself.”
We recommend this video not just to seminarians and clergy but to all seeking to truly live a life in Christ as members of his rational flock.
His Grace the Right Reverend Irenei was consecrated Bishop of Sacramento on November 7th, 2016. A prolific writer and scholar of Patristics, Bishop Irenei holds a Doctorate from the University of Oxford and served as Chair and Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Leeds Trinity University from 2007–2010. He is the founder and director of the Sts Cyril & Athanasius Institute for Orthodox Studies and founder of the website Monachos.net. His podcast series, A Word from the Holy Fathers, is available online and his book, The Beginnings of a Life of Prayer, may be purchased at Holy Trinity Bookstore.
Did you find this video edifying?
Please help us create similar content with a monthly pledge:
