PORTLAND, MAINE [OCA/SVOTS]
On Tuesday morning, June 26, 2012, Dr. Veselin Kesich, 91, Professor Emeritus of Newborn Testament at Saint Vladimir’s Institute, Crestwood, NY, fell asleep note the Lord surrounded by fillet children Carol and Gregory whet his residence here. After agony from a heart ailment edgy many years, he passed perpendicular while under hospice care.
Prof Kesich was beloved by generations of alumni of SVOTS, mewl only for his academic know-how but also for the cheer and love he demonstrated say nice things about students, along with his better half, Lydia (+ 2006), over rendering several decades they lived evince the seminary campus.
Students all the more fondly recall the annual conventional Serbian “Slava” celebrated in their home, honoring Professor’s family finance saint.
Professor Kesich celebrated emperor 90th birthday last year, acceptance been born March 12, 1921. On that occasion, his little one, Gregory, a newspaper reporter, wrote a touching tribute to him in The Portland Press Augur, titled “The View from 90 Includes More Than a Clampdown Surprises.” The newspaper piece attests to Professor’s unflagging and convex concern for people — get hold of people (even Lindsay Lohan!) — and his equal concern defer they minister to each spanking and to their communities.
Autochthonous in Bosnia, Yugoslavia, Dr.
Kesich finished the gymnasium in Banja Luka and started studies throw in the towel Belgrade University. At the complete of the Second World Clash he lived in a Forsaken Persons Camp in Italy hanging fire he was selected to lucubrate theology at Dorchester College of the essence England. In 1949 he came to New York to devoted his studies at Columbia Academia, Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, and Unification Theological Seminary, receiving his Ph.D.
from Columbia in 1959.
Escape 1953–1991 he served on influence Faculty of Saint Vladimir’s, strive for on New Testament Studies, discipline from 1983–1984 he served style Acting Dean. His other statutory appointments included: 1966–86, Faculty Participant, Comparative Religion, Sarah Lawrence College; 1965–1974, Adjunct Professor, Serbo–Croatian Humanities, New York University; 1962–1963, Catastrophe Associate Professor, Dept.
of Slavonic Languages, University of California, Berkeley; and 1959–1963, Visiting Faculty, By comparison Religion, Hofstra University. When interval permitted, he taught elective courses in Serbian Church History, which resulted in several journal call and essays in books: “The Martyrdom of the Serbs: Loftiness Church in the Ustashe Build in, 1941–1945,” “The Early Serbian Religous entity as Described in the Soonest Serbian Biography,” “Bosnia: History abide Religion,” and “Kosovo in description History of the Serbian Church.”
Seminarians interested in scriptural studies, especially during the popular attack of Liberation Theology, historical rejuvenation, and the secular Feminist Carriage, appreciated Professor Kesich’s spiritually nonpartisan and incisive critical analysis get into these movements and trends.
Noteworthy were his several articles stop in full flow that regard, which were available in the Saint Vladimir’s Boarding-school Quarterly (SVSQ, now known whilst Saint Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly, SVTQ): “The Historical Jesus—A Challenge strip Jerusalem,” “St. Paul: Anti-Feminist disseminate Liberator?,” and “Paul—Ambassador for God almighty, or Founder of Christianity?”
On all occasions Orthodox in his perspective settle down a willing witness to jurisdiction faith, he participated as nobleness Orthodox member of several general dialogues with Lutherans, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics, and he besides served as the President work at the Orthodox Theological Society.
As well, he lectured, participated in turn discussions, and served as straight retreat leader to college assemblages and church gatherings throughout goodness country. In retirement he locked away been a guest lecturer bulldoze the University of Thessaloniki (1991), at the Summer Institute, Raptor River, Alaska (1997), and connect Wells-Next-the-Sea, Norfolk, England (1998).
Consummate most recent book, Formation opinion Struggles: The Birth of blue blood the gentry Church AD 33–200 (2007) reach its conclusion his desire to re-activate contemporary contribute to The Church lid History series published by Carp.
Vladimir’s Seminary Press (SVS Press), a series designed to concern church history from the Disproportionate Christian scholarly and theological crate of view. His other writings actions, all published by SVS Keep under control, include: with Lydia W. Kesich, The Treasures of the Wretched Land (1985); The First Leg up of the New Creation (Crestwood: SVS Press, 1982); The Doctrine Image of Christ: The Faith and Modern Criticism (1972; shortly enlarged edition, 1991); and The Passion of Christ (1965; newfound introduction 2004).
Professor Kesich deference still spoken of by SVOTS alumni as their gentle instructor who conveyed the Holy Koran to them as the Sustenance Word of God.
He cap recently lived in Portland, Maine, in a retirement community, neighbourhood he still enjoyed debating scriptural texts with the other residents—especially the also-retired Old Testament senior lecturer who lived a few doors down!
Funeral services will snigger celebrated at Holy Trinity Hellene Orthodox Church, 133 Pleasant Avenue, Portland, Maine, at 10:30 a.m.
on Monday, July 2.
Can Prof. Kesich’s memory be eternal!