At the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Guardians of the Metropolia (Guardians), a philanthropic organization of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, the members voted to fund tuition as well as room and board for one year for a seminarian attending the Saint Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Theological Seminary.

The GoM were issued a challenge by the hierarchs of the Church, His Eminence Metropolitan Antony and His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, in addition to supporting one seminarian, to sponsor a second seminarian.  They asked each member to return to their home parishes and hold fundraisers, educating the faithful on the ministry of the Guardians, and allow the public to join in fundraising and supporting the Church Ministries. 

Most of the newly appointed priests and deacons to the parishes of the UOC of USA, are graduates of the St. Sophia Seminary, in South Bound Brook, NJ.  They graduate with a master’s degree and robust experience provided to them via in-residence, as well as hybrid distance learning programs, in order to heed and fulfill their calling from the Lord.  In addition to clergy, the Seminary educates and prepares Church Administrators, Educators, and others, who have a calling to minister in the Church in various capacities, by providing a selection of programs and courses geared to their needs. 

On October 3, 2024, a Special Meeting of the Guardians was called where the disbursement of $30,000 was approved, allowing for the “adoption” of the two seminarians – covering their tuition, as well as room and board for the 2024-25 Academic Year.   On October 17^th, 2024, during the annual Clergy Conference, the Guardians officially presented a check for the $30,000 to Metropolitan Antony. 

As part of their mission, the Guardians will continue to raise funds through annual membership pledges/sponsorships and additional donations from individuals and/or organizations. These funds will be dedicated towards growing the core ministries of the UOC of USA and its future.

Providing funds to sponsor seminarians, future priests and leaders of the Church, is a keystone endeavor that fulfills the Guardian’s pledge to the Church and will continue to be a focus in future years.

When you next attend a church service, realize the importance of the priesthood.  The clergy produced and provided by the St. Sophia Seminary, whose graduates are trained in not only in theological wisdom, but in pastoral care, local traditions, right down to the customs and expectations of the communities in which they will minister.  There is no greater source for priests than our own Seminary, where the students are trained, educated, and grow in love for our own Church and her people, being able to meet our needs and continue to serve the Lord and us.

In 2025 the Guardians look forward to raising enough funds to sponsor two additional students of the St. Sophia Seminary. 

If you are interested in ensuring the future of the Church, and supporting our seminarians and other Church Ministries, please reach out to Very Rev. Andrii Pokotylo at frandrii@yahoo.com