It is the 105th anniversary of the birth of Fr. Alexander Schmemann, one of the great Orthodox theologians of the 20th centurytranslated

Sunday marks the 105th anniversary of the birth of Fr. Alexander Schmemann, one of the great Orthodox theologians of the 20th century.

Rev. Alexander Schmemann was born on September 13, 1921, in Estonia, into a family of Russian emigrants. At the age of seven, his family settled in France, where he attended first the Russian cadet school, then the Lycée Carnot.

He studied at the Orthodox Theological Institute "Saint Sergius" in Paris. While still a student, he married Juliana Osorguine, and in 1946 he was ordained a priest.

Professor in France and USA Between 1946 and 1951, he taught Church History at the "Saint Sergius" Institute, after which he continued his teaching activity at the "Saint Vladimir" Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York. In 1962, with the seminary's move to Crestwood, he became dean of the institution, a position he held until his passing to the Lord.

Father Professor also taught at Columbia University, New York University, Union Theological Seminary and General Theological Seminary in New York.

Between 1962 and 1965, he participated as an Orthodox observer at the Second Vatican Council. In 1970, he was actively involved in the process…