Midwest Program Aims to Expand Orthodox Clergy Formation

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Photo: oca.org

CHICAGO, IL — St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and the Orthodox Church in America's (OCA) Diocese of the Midwest have announced a new initiative to train a select group of men for the priesthood through a three-year Chicago-based program. Backed by a nearly $1 million Lilly Grant, the effort aims to expand clergy formation while maintaining academic and spiritual rigor.

The program will grant a Master of Divinity degree and combine online coursework, in-person intensives, and parish-based mentorship. Participants will also spend time in residence at St. Tikhon’s Seminary each year. The cohort consists of hand-selected married men with longstanding service in Orthodox communities.

In a release, the OCA's leadership clarified the basis of the program, saying:

“The concept meets a demographic need not previously possible: those long-established in the Orthodox Faith, who for reasons blessed by His Eminence, Archbishop Daniel himself, are not able to relocate to seminary for the customary three-year residential formation. Both the Seminary and the Diocese of the Midwest note the following with clarity: We remain absolutely committed to residential formation for ministry as the long-standing, gold standard of formation. This special cohort is not open for applications. It is an episcopally hand-selected group of married men, well-known to their communities, and long-serving in the Orthodox Tradition. The Chicago Program is an effort to add additional clergy to the roster through creative, formal spiritual, theological, liturgical, and pastoral formation, at a time when our churches are bursting at the seams and more clergy are urgently needed.”

The program, approved by the Holy Synod in 2025, is expected to begin in Fall 2026 pending accreditation approvals.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that St. Tikhon's Seminary announced a pilgrimage honoring St. Nikolai.

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