St. Vladimir's Seminarian Seeks Support

Andrew Collard – a seminarian entering his second year at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary – spoke with UOJ-America News Editor Aaron Hickman about his situation and how people can help. The conversation is published below.

Greetings from a fellow Andrew! Out of curiosity, which St. Andrew is your patron? Mine is St. Andrew the First-Called Apostle.

I, too, am named after the First-Called.

Please, give some background on yourself.

My wife and I are converts. We had four children at the time of our reception into the Orthodox Church approximately four years ago. Our home parish is Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, an OCA parish in New Britain, Connecticut. Technically speaking, our fifth child is the only cradle Orthodox member of our family. 

Why did you convert?

The reason for my conversion was quite literally the generosity of God and not anything I did. My spiritual history is rather tumultuous, and I was actually going in a very different direction when it happened.

I was raised Lutheran and my wife was raised Roman Catholic, and when we met, we were both Evangelical Christians. But, for a variety of reasons, I ended up losing my faith and sort of dragged my wife along with me. She didn't lose it to the degree I had, so she still insisted on us celebrating Christmas and Easter, but suffice it to say, we were essentially living secularly.

I had been interested in chaplaincy as an evangelical, and some experiences at work got me interested in it again, but the lack of formal religion in our lives at the time inspired me to pursue Zen chaplaincy. I was a formal Zen student and my wife treated it as my thing and not anything for her and the kids. Anyway, I was in this process and working on koan study. Koans are essentially illogical riddles meant to prompt realization. I was working on a koan known as "the man who has attained the way" (if memory serves, its case 36 of the collection known as "the gateless gate").

Before this, I had never set foot or seen the inside of an Orthodox church, knew nothing about the faith, and was well removed from Christianity. Suddenly, though, I found myself inside a church in front of an iconostasis. The holy doors opened and I could see inside the altar. Christ spoke to me and told me that this was His Church, this is what He had established, and that this was where the answers to my questions are. Then, I was back on my cushion in my basement. 

My wife was also unfamiliar with Orthodoxy but was happy that I was suggesting returning to Christianity. By the grace of God, though, most of my children remember their baptism. They have known no other form of Christianity. 

What was your first year of seminary like, and how were you impacted by not having your wife and children with you?

My first year at seminary was bittersweet.

The overall experience has been very spiritually and intellectually enriching. In that regard, during my last meeting with my bishop, I said that even if I am not ordained, seminary is helping form me for the better. On the other hand, not having my family with me was a real challenge, more so for my wife. She supported me in going, but trying to figure out the logistics was a challenge that we were not able to tackle when I initially got accepted. I was able to go home periodically, but having to manage the household by herself with five children was a hardship I'd rather not she have to do again.

I will say, though, that she is a strong and capable woman. I know of no one else who would have been able to do what she has done this past year while I was away at my studies. 

Tell me more about your family. 

My wife and I have been married for 15 years (our anniversary was in May). We have five children, two of which have autism and ADHD (aka AuDHD) and one with just ADHD. Our oldest is 13, and our youngest just turned 1. 

Between doctor's appointments and other therapies and programs, my wife has always been committed to being a full-time mom. I was in EMS (emergency medical services) for my entire adult life, 20 years specifically as a paramedic and the sole breadwinner of our family. Me quitting my job and venturing out to full-time school has been deemed irresponsible by some and a challenge regardless, but we are convinced that this is what I am supposed to do.

Why do you feel called to the priesthood, and how did you discern that calling?

I have been interested in ministry for years, but discerning a calling to the priesthood came from conversations with my spiritual father.

They started innocently enough without me saying that I was interested in chaplaincy but involved exploring that idea. My priest is a Navy veteran, and I had mentioned how I was interested in military chaplaincy when I was an evangelical and that got the ball rolling.

I was encouraged to speak with our bishop, who, after meeting with me several times and getting to know me, gave me his blessing to apply to both the seminary and the Navy for the chaplain's candidate program. I didn't get into the Navy, but my bishop did not withdraw his blessing to go to seminary. Now, my hope is to be a priest within the Diocese of New England. 

How can people help you and your situation?

Our biggest challenge is financial. Our current housing agreement and the many programs my children are able to participate in are all essentially free.

Our landlord allows us to live where we do while I am in school with the responsibility of maintaining the property and paying the utilities, but married housing at the seminary will require monthly rent. I would also like to begin homeschooling our children and curricula/programs plus much of the support systems they currently get through the school system would require us to pay.

I will continue on with the seminary regardless, but with financial support, there is a chance we can all be together for the remaining two years. In any case, even if someone can't contribute financially, prayers are greatly appreciated. 

I have a freefunder link here: https://www.freefunder.com/campaign/support-a-seminarian. Donations will go to things like my kids' education and whatnot (a breakdown is in the description of the fundraiser). Otherwise, if people are more comfortable, they can send a tax-deductible donation by contacting the Student Billing and Financial Aid Office at studentbilling@svots.edu, or by mail:

St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
c/o Student Billing
575 Scarsdale Rd.
Yonkers, NY 10707

They can make checks payable to “St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary” and include “Andrew Collard Seminary Expenses” in the memo line so that the gift may be applied to my student account, particularly toward housing.

For more information on how to give to seminarians at St. Vladimir's more broadly, visit here.