The God protected Church of St. Basil the Great

The Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross

September 14, 2025

After taking a month to settle into our new home, getting acquainted with the area, and meeting some of the other students, the semester has officially begun. Classes are going well so far. Please pray they continue to go well for me!

Laura and I have both joined the mixed choir, which has been a wonderful thing for us to be able to do together. She is also participating in the women’s choir and auditing Fr. Sergius’s Spirituality class, which is one of my favorite classes this semester. We have loved getting to know all of my classmates and their families. My class is one of the largest the seminary has ever had, with 17 students total, 8 of whom are married.

Leading up to the start of the semester, during orientation week, the seminary hosted several welcome events like an ice cream social and a “traditional southern barbecue”, which we thought was ironic but a nice reminder of home. The Metropolitan joined us last night and today for the Exaltation. I had the honor of singing for both! This meant that Vigil was a special hierarchical service at which the Metropolitan blesses the four cardinal directions while the choir sings Lord Have Mercy 500 times. I was feeling tired after the 500ish Lord Have Mercies last night!

I hope to send these messages periodically to keep you all appraised of how we are doing here. We ask for your continual prayers!

Our Festal Greetings!

In Christ,

Al and Laura Gunn

Photo Legend: St. Tikhon's Bell Tower; Laura and her friend in matching dresses on Dormition; Deer eating apples in our yard; St. George's in Taylor, exterior and interior; Me receiving blessing to wear cassock, before and after; Me wearing said cassock.