October 7, 2001

JOHNSTOWN, PA - His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdioces of America and Exarch of the Ecumenical Throne, will head a list of church and civil dignitaries who will gather in Johnstown on Tuesday, October 23 for the gala celebration marking the 50th Anniversary of Christ the Saviour Seminary in its present location. Prior to findiing a permanent home in Johnstown in 1951, our Diocesan Seminary held classes in New York City, Nicholson, PA and Bridgeport, CT.

The Seminary Jubilee will commence with the celebration of a Vesperal Liturgy at Christ the Saviour Cathedral by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas. The following Orthodox hierarchs will join him at the Altar: His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios, His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill (OCA), His Beatitude, Metropolitan Constantine (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA), His Eminence, Archbishop Antony (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA), His Eminence, Archbishop Vsevolod (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA), His Eminence, Metropolitan Maximos, (Greek Orthodox DIocese of Pittsburgh) and His Grace, Bishop Mitrophan (Serbian Orthodox Eastern Diocese). Also assisting will be the clergy of the Diocesan Consistory and the members of the first Seminary Class in Johnstown. Some 100 graduates of our Diocesan Seminary - most of whom received their training in Johnstown - are expected to be present at the Liturgy. Non-Orthodox dignitaries in attendance will include: His Excellency, Bishop Joseph Adamec of the Altoona-Johnstown Catholic Diocese, Bishop Gregory Pile of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (Allegheny Synod) and Archpriest John Kudrick and John Petro, representing the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, PA. A Combined Choir, directed by Ms. Helen Spanovich, Cathedral Choir DIrector, will sing some of the liturgical responses, with other hymns sung in the traditional Carpatho-Rusyn Plain Chant, led by Diocesan Clergy.

A Jubilee Banquet will follow in the Cathedral Educational Center. His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios will give the Main Address during the Banquet Program. Another highlight of the program will be remarks by Protopresbyter John Yurcisin, Seminary Dean Emeritus, who oversaw the vast project of remodeling the Seminary in the mid 1950's.