Meeting the Need: ROCOR’s Pastoral School Expands Global Reach with Multilingual Programs

Graduates with the Ever-Memorable Vladyka Peter of Chicago, and Fr. Gregory Joyce, Dean of the Orthodox Pastoral School

CHICAGO — It’s no secret that the Orthodox Church has been experiencing rapid growth, especially in North America, since 2020. But with that growth comes a serious challenge: there simply aren’t enough priests to go around.

And when I say challenge, read crisis. St. Tikhon’s Seminary recently released a sobering report estimating that, if trends hold steady, one in four parishes will be without a priest by 2030. 

For ROCOR’s Orthodox Pastoral School, the solution is both practical and deeply rooted in its missionary ethos: make Orthodox theological education as accessible and flexible as possible.

“Based on that commitment,” explains Fr. Gregory Joyce, Dean of the Pastoral School, “we made it possible for students to study either full-time or part-time. We’ve instituted summer courses, we accept applications in both the fall and spring semesters, and we offer instruction in three languages: English, Spanish, and—starting Fall 2025—Russian.”

That last point caught me off guard. Russian? Really? At a time when even Jordanville has transitioned to primarily English instruction?

Naturally, I asked Fr. Gregory if there was still interest in Russian-language theological education. “It isn’t a roaring crowd or anything,” he said candidly, “but we should have five to ten students in our first year. That’s five to ten deacons or priests who wouldn’t otherwise be ordained.”

He added that many recent immigrants come to the West with strong academic backgrounds in Russian. "When you’ve spent your life learning in Russian, to then flip to English for theological studies is really tough.”

Touché.

But what impressed me even more than the reintroduction of Russian-language instruction was the Spanish program. ROCOR’s Orthodox Pastoral School is currently the only fully Spanish-language Orthodox seminary program in the world—a remarkable and, frankly, long overdue development. The Russian Church has always had a universal and missionary character. For this reason, the Spanish program makes sense and is seemingly a natural continuation of that tradition.

According to Fr. Gregory, the Spanish program has consistently attracted around a dozen or so students per semester, with enrollments expected to grow. In a Church increasingly defined by its diversity, offering theological education in Spanish is more than a novelty—it’s a necessity.

The Pastoral School's model is intentionally flexible. Courses are held online to accommodate students working full-time or living abroad. Students can pursue the Diploma in Pastoral Theology (PTh.D), in Orthodox Studies (OS.D), and a one-year eighteen (18) credit Catechist Certificate. Many go on to ordination in ROCOR or other jurisdictions. 

It’s easy to forget that behind the statistics, the trends, and the institutional forecasts, there are real people answering real callings. I’ve spoken with alumni of the Pastoral School—priests and deacons—who said they simply could not have followed their vocations were it not for the School’s affordability, accessibility, and support.

In a time of great need, ROCOR’s Orthodox Pastoral School isn’t panicking—it’s building. Patiently. Intentionally. And globally.

Interested in the Pastoral School? You can learn more and apply by visiting their English, Russian, or Spanish language websites.

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