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FR. SERGEI SVESHNIKOV Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
Education M.Div., Marylhurst University, 2009 M.A. Applied Theology, Marylhurst University, 2008 B.A., Portland State University, 2004, High Honors
Certificates Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice, American Military University, 2017 Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies, Marylhurst University, 2009 Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Care, Marylhurst University, 2008
Other Education Doctoral-level courses from Danilchick School of Pastoral Theology, SVOTS, 2014-2015 o Youth Ministry o Bioethics for Ministry o Liturgical Life and Pastoral Ministry o Counseling in the Parish
Pastoral Appointments and Ministries Staff Chaplain, U.S. Department of Justice: 2016-present Assistant Rector, Saint John the Wonderworker Mission, Portage, WI: 2018-present Assistant Rector, Kursk Root Icon Mission, Edgar, WI: 2018-present Assigned to St. Alexander Nevsky cathedral, Howell, NJ: 2018-present Assistant Priest, St. John of the Ladder Orthodox Mission, San German, PR: 2016-2018 Assistant Priest, Sts. Joachim and Anna Church, San Antonio, TX: 2015-2016 “Батюшка Онлайн” An online ministry of the Simbirsk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church: 2013-2016 Rector, Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia Parish, Mulino, Oregon: 2001-2015
Books
“What is Marriage? Addressing Contemporary Misunderstandings” in Glory and Honor Orthodox Christian Resources on Marriage, ed. by David C. Ford, Mary S. Ford and Alfred K. Siewers, SVS Press, 2017.
Life as Liturgy: Making Life Whole. Amazon Kindle, 2015.
Fasting for Non-Monastics. Amazon Kindle, 2014.
Morning and Evening Prayer Riles in the Russian Orthodox Tradition. Amazon Kindle, 2014. 2
Prayer: A Personal Conversation with God?: What is prayer and why we pray. Amazon Kindle, 2014.
There Is No Sex in the Church!: On the Problematics of Sexuality and Gender In Orthodoxy. Booksurge 2013; Amazon Kindle, 2014.
Break the Holy Bread, Master: A Theology of Communion Bread. Booksurge, 2009. Named a Finalist in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Religion/Religious Non-Fiction Category; Amazon Kindle, 2011.
Imagine That...: Mental Imagery in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Private Devotion. Booksurge, 2009; Amazon Kindle, 2015.
The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom: Parallel Church Slavonic-English Text. Edited and published by Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov, 2009.
Research Projects
New Directions in the Study of Prayer: Social Sciences Research Council/John Templeton Foundation Religion in the Public Sphere finalist, 2012
Invited Paper Presentations
“A Sacred Union: The Purpose and Nature of Marriage.” A presentation at DCMA St. Herman Conference, 28 December 2015, Dallas, TX.
“The Purpose of Christian Fasting” A presentation at Sts. Joachim and Anna Russian Orthodox Mission in San Antonio, TX, on 13 December 2015.
“The Practical Aspects of Fasting.” A presentation at the Lenten Pastoral Retreat, Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, 18 March 2014, San Francisco, CA.
“Fasting for Non-Monastics” A presentation at St. Herman West Youth Conference, 23 December 2013, Mulino, Oregon.
“Prayer: A Personal Conversation with God?” A presentation at Sts. Cyril & Athanasius of Alexandria Institute for Orthodox Studies Symposium “Prayer in the Church Fathers.” 17 February 2013, San Francisco, California
“Life as a Sacrament” A presentation at St. Herman Youth Conference, 24 December 2011, Ottawa, Ontario.
“O roli zhenshchiny v Tserkvi” (“On the Role of Women in the Church”). A presentation at St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Orthodox Retreat, 7 September 2009, Guerneville, CA. 3
“Mental Imagery in Eastern Orthodox Private Devotion.” A presentation at the Lenten Pastoral Retreat, Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, 17 March 2009, San Francisco, CA.
“On the significance of the ritual of the Russian Orthodox Church surrounding death and dying for the grieving process of the bereaved.” A presentation at the Lenten Pastoral Retreat, Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, 18 March 2008, San Francisco, CA.
The 100th Anniversary of the Glorification of St. Seraphim. A lecture given at the Celebration in the Western American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, 2 August 2003, Monterey, CA.
Articles in English
“More Thoughts on Abortion.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 29 May 2019
“Great Lent: An Instruction Manual.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 13 March 2019
“Abortion: Truth in Advertising.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 29 January 2019
“Frustration: Why Are Men so Preoccupied with Heaven and Hell?” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 23 November 2018
“On Morality of Entities.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 07 May 2018
“A Friend Is Revealed In Times of Trouble.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 03 July 2017
“On Why We Write.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 17 January 2017
“Have You Fed the Hungry Lately?” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 09 January 2016
“The Joy of a Life in Christ.” Sretensky Monastery. www.pravoslavie.ru, 18 October 2015 Orthodox Christian Network. myocn.net, 04 November 2015 Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 21 October 2019
“Models and Images of Spiritual Life.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 05 September 2015 4
“The Authority of Priests.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 24 August 2015
“What Is Prayer?.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 10 August 2015
“Death by Baptism.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 23 July 2015 Preachers’ Institute. preachersinstitute.com, 30 September 2015
“On the Sacramental Nature of Marriage.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 16 July 2015 Pravoslavie.ru, 19 July 2015 Printed in Swedish as “Studieanteckningar om äktenskapets sakramentala natur” in Svensk pastoraltidskrift, Nr 19, 11/9/2015, Årgång 57, pp. 557-559
“How Does the Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage Affect the Church?” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 30 June 2015
“On Preparation for Holy Communion.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 23 June 2015
“Royal Inadequacies of the Royal Priesthood.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 17 June 2015
“Position on Pornography.” Orthodox Christian Network. myocn.net, 14 January 2015
“Is It Good to Watch TV?” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 26 December 2014
“Fasting for Non-Monastics.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 7 March 2014 Pravoslavie.ru, 10 April 2014
“Thinking Out Loud About Gay Marriage.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 11 April 2013
“Life as a Sacrament.” Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 31 December 2011
“On the Blessing of Homes on Theophany.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 19 January 2011 Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 21 January 2011
“There Is No Sex in the Church.” American Theological Inquiry. Vol. 4, No. 1, January 15, 2011, pp. 61-84 5
“Blessed Augustine’s View of Self.” Orthodox Life no. 3, 2010, pp. 39-48 Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 23 July 2010
“The Spiritual Significance of Fort Ross.” The Official Website of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws, 25 February 2010 Orthodox Life no. 3, 2010, pp. 35-38
“Repentance and Confession.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 24 February 2010
“On Church Etiquette.” Orthodox Life no. 1, 2010, pp. 20-26
“Reflections on Female Spirituality.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 29 December 2009
“More to the Point: Should Nuns Light Their Icon Lamps?” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 10 July 2009
“On ‘Ritual Impurity’: In Response to Sister Vassa (Larin).” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 06 July 2009
“‘The Social Principles of Jesus’ and the Identity of Western Christianity.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 01 July 2009
“Break the Holy Bread, Master: A Theology of Communion Bread.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 16 April 2009
“Mental Imagery in Eastern Orthodox Private Devotion.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 13 March 2009
“Do Unborn Humans Have Human Rights?” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 24 February 2009
“Opinion on Same-Sex Marriage.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 17 October 2008
“On the significance of the ritual of the Russian Orthodox Church surrounding death and dying for the grieving process of the bereaved.” Healing Ministry vol. 15 no. 4, Fall 2008
“The Art and Craft of Theological Reflection.” 6
Living Orthodoxy #166-Vol. XXVIII #4, July-August 2008
Media Interviews in English
“Fasting Fundamentals.” An interview with Fr. Chris Metropulos for the Orthodox Christian Network, 26 February 2014
“Sexual Identity.” An interview with Fr. Chris Metropulos for the Orthodox Christian Network, 14 July 2013
“Gay Marriage.” An interview with Fr. Chris Metropulos for the Orthodox Christian Network, 13 June 2013
“Think Out Loud. A Conversation with Bishop Gene Robinson about Gay Marriage.” With host Dave Miller. Oregon Public Broadcasting Radio, 31 October 2012
“The New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia: Their Significance for People in the West.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 24 February 2012
“What’s the End?” On the meaning of dietary restrictions during Great Lent. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 4 March 2010
“On Church Etiquette.” An interview with Emmy Louvaris for the Orthodox Christian Network, 08 January 2010
“Questions and Answers about the Nativity Fast.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 09 December 2009
“Break the Holy Bread, Master.” An interview with Fr. Chris Metropulos for the Orthodox Christian Network, 21 April 2009; also published as “About Communion” in Orthodoxy and the World, www.pravmir.com, 01 May 2009
“Dispelling Confusion About Fasting During Thanksgiving.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 23 November 2010
Translations
Archimandrite Irenei (Steenberg). “The Poverty of Christ, which Makes Men Rich.” Spiritual Spring. Vol. 2 (No. 1) 2014, pp. 7-9
Zubov, Andrei. “A Russian ‘Hamlet’ On the Imperial Throne: Emperor Paul I: Unloved son of an unloved mother.” 7
Spiritual Spring. Vol. 1 (No. 2) 2013, pp. 13-21
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Rus’ “If a Man is not Growing Spiritually, He is Degrading.” A homily on October 8, 2012. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com
Reutskii, Aleksei. “Interview with Bishop Panteleimon of Smolensk and Vyazma: People Remember about God, but They Forget about Christ.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com
Kuraev, Deacon Andrei. “Golgotha. What in the Purpose of Christ’s Death on the Cross?” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 22 April 2011
Articles in Russian
“Dolzhny li monakhini vozzhigat’ svetil’niki, ili snova o ritual’noi nechistote.” (“More to the Point: Should Nuns Light Their Icon Lamps?”) Pravoslavie i mir. www.pravmir.ru, 27 May 2011
“Ob osvyaschenii domov kreschenskoi vodoi.” (“On the blessing of homes on Theophany.”) Pravoslavie i mir. www.pravmir.ru, 17 January 2011
“O postakh, molitvennykh pravilakh I chastom prichaschenii.” (“On Fasts, Prayer Rules, and Frequent Communion.”) Pravoslavie v Ukraini. orthodoxy.org.ua, 10 January 2011
“K voprosu o ‘ritualnoi nechistote’: otvet sestre Vasse (Larinoi).” (“On ‘Ritual Impurity’: In Response to SisterVassa (Larin).”) Pravoslavie i mir. www.pravmir.ru, 16 September 2010
“V Tserkvi vse blagoobrazno i po chinu da byvaet...” (“Let all things be done decently and in order...”) Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 18, 2009
“O dukhovnom znachenii poseleniya Ross” (“On the spiritual significance of the settlement of Ross”). The Official Website of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws, 25 February 2010
“O potrebitel’stve v Tserkvi” (“On Consumerism in Church”). Pravoslavie i mir. www.pravmir.ru, 3 January 2010
“Kak zhit v obschestve odnopolykh brakov?” (“How to Live in the Society of Gay Marriages?”) Pravoslavie i mir. www.pravmir.ru, 27 October 2009 Obschestvenno-nauchnyi portal “Socialnoe bogoslovie.” www.soctheol.ru, 28 October 2009
“O roli zhenschiny v Tserkvi” (“On the Role of Women I the Church”). Pravoslavnaya zhizn’ no. 6 (686) June 2009, pp. 1-12 8
Obschestvenno-nauchnyi portal “Socialnoe bogoslovie.” www.soctheol.ru, 19 October 2009 Pravoslavie i mir. www.pravmir.ru, 13 December 2009 Pravoslavnyi obrazovatelnyi portal “Slovo.” www.portal-slovo.ru, 29 November 2010 Rebro Adama. Zhenschiny v Tserkvi. Danilovskii blagovestnik, 2012
“Maslenitsa—yazycheskii prazdnik?” (“Maslenitsa—A Pagan Holiday?”) Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 2, 2009 Teleportal Khistianskikh novostei. www.protestant.ru, 10 February 2010
“Ob osvyaschenii domov Kreschenskoi vodoi” (“On the Blessing of Homes with Theophany Water”). Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 24, 2008 Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 19, 2009, p. 11
“Pokayanie i ispoved” (“Repentance and Confession”). Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 22, 2008 Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 20, 2009, p. 15
“O tserkovnoi desyatine” (“On the Church Tithe”). Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 16, 2008
Media Interviews in Russian
An interview with Vyacheslav Kioroglo about the Holy Land of Israel. KPSU, 30 May 2010
A guest appearance on “Tochka zreniya” (“Point of View”) radio program, KPSU. 02 May 2010 21 March 2010 07 March 2010 17 January 2010 03 January 2010 06 December 2009
“Odigitriya russkogo zarubezhya v Rossii” (“The Hodigitria of the Russian Diaspora visits Russia”). An interview with Andrei Zabegalin for Russkaya Zhizn, 17 October 2009, pp. 3, 4; also on the internet: Rossiya v kraskakh, http://ricolor.org, 20 October 2009.
Sermons in English
On the Feast of the All-Merciful Saviour. Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 08 August 2010
On Tithing. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 5 July 2010
The Third Sunday After Pentecost: Seek First His Kingdom and His Righteousness. 9
Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 29 June 2014 Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 12 June 2010
“The Healing of the Man Born Blind.” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 9 May 2010
“Do you want to be made well?” Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 25 April 2010 Official ROCOR site. www.synod.com, 07 May 2017
Palm Sunday: Entrance of Our Lord into Jerusalem. Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 27 March 2010 Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 28 March 2010
The Third Sunday of Great Lent: The Veneration of the Cross of Christ. Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 13 March 2010
On the First Sunday of Great Lent: The Triumph of Orthodoxy. www.pravoslavie.ru, 8 March 2014 Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 24 February 2010
On the Forgiveness Sunday. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 14 February 2010 Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 16 February 2010
The Holy New Russian Martyrs. www.pravoslavie.ru, 8 February 2015 Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 7 February 2010 Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 16 February 2010
On the Beginning of the Nativity Fast. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 30 November 2009
On the Murder of Father Daniil Sysoev. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 23 November 2009
“Sanctify Life.” Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 30 June 2009
On the Feast of All Saints of Russia. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 20 June 2009
On Sanctity. Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 16 June 2009
“Give me this water!” On the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 17 May 2009
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On the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearers. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 3 May 2009
On the Sunday of Apostle Thomas. www.pravoslavie.ru, 30 April 2011 Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 26 April 2009
“What is Orthodoxy?” On the First Sunday of Great Lent. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 8 March 2009 Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 24 February 2010 www.pravoslavie.ru, 8 March 2014
“On the Importance of Prayer.” On the Second Sunday of Great Lent. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 15 March 2009 Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 5 July 2009
On the Forgiveness Sunday. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 28 February 2009
On the Sunday of the Dread Judgment. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 22 February 2009
“Choosing Life with God.” Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 23 June 2009
“Choosing Life with God.” Orthodox Life no. 1, 2010, pp. 18-19 Awakening. www.radio-awakening.com, 10 February 2012
On the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord and Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 16 February 2009 Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 20 June 2009
On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 14 February 2009
On the Feast of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 8 February 2009
On the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 7 February 2009 Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 17 June 2009
On Consumerism in Church. Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 26 January 2009 Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 17 June 2009
On the Feast of Ascension. 11
Lectionary Homiletics. www.goodpreacher.com, 17 May 2007 Orthodoxy and the World. www.pravmir.com, 28 May 2009
Sermons in Russian
“Khochesh li byt’ zdorov?” (“Do you want to be made well?) Official ROCOR site. www.synod.com, 07 May 2017
O poste, chast’ 1: o telesnom poste (On fasting, part 1: on the fast of the body) Probuzhdenie. www.radio-awakening.com, 2 December 2012
Nedelya myasopustnaya (Meat-fare Sunday) Probuzhdenie. www.radio-awakening.com, 10 February 2012
Nedelya mytarya I fariseya (The Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee). Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 20, 2009, p. 1
Na nachalo Rozhdestvenskogo posta (On the Beginning of the Nativity Fast). Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 17, 2009, pp. 6-7 Obschestvenno-nauchnyi portal “Socialnoe bogoslovie.” www.soctheol.ru, 30 November 2009 Pravoslavnyi obrazovatelnyi portal “Slovo.” www.portal-slovo.ru, 27 November 2010
Pokhvalnoe slovo Svyatitelyu Tikhonu Zadonskomu (A Word of Praise for Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk). Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 14, 2009
“Dai mne etoi vody!” (“Give Me This Water!”) Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 9, 2009
“Zheny-mironositsy” (“Myrrh-Bearing Women”). Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 8, 2009
Propoved v Nedelyu fominu (A Sermon on the Sunday of Apostle Thomas). Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 7, 2009
Propoved na Sretenie Gospodne i Nedelyu o bludnom syne (A Sermon on the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord and the Sunday of the Prodigal Son). Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 2, 2009
“Pritcha o seyatele” (“The Parable of the Sower”). Pravoslavnaya Rus no. 20, 2008
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Conferences and Symposia Attended
Martyrdom in the Christian Life: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow. Sts. Cyril & Athanasius of Alexandria Institute for Orthodox Studies February 15-16, 2014, San Francisco, California
Prayer in the Church Fathers: The Living Legacy of Prayer in Orthodox Christianity Including Prayer in the Early Church, the Jesus Prayer, Prayer in Creation, and More. With Featured Speaker, Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia. Sts. Cyril & Athanasius of Alexandria Institute for Orthodox Studies February 16-17, 2013, San Francisco, California
Living Symbol: Exploring the Inner Meaning of the Divine Liturgy Sts. Cyril & Athanasius of Alexandria Institute for Orthodox Studies February 17-18, 2012, San Francisco, California
St. John Chrysostom 1600 Anniversary: A Patristic Symposium Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia September 28-30, 2007, St. Louis, Missouri