A Desire to Know the Truth, and a Willingness to Suffer to Get There

My name is Marcus Pacenza, I am in the undergraduate class of 2027. St. John's provides lots of opportunities for Orthodox students. Academically, we get the chance to read early Greek philosophy and poetry, which played a crucial role in the formation of Orthodoxy, as well as sections of the Bible itself, and a few early Christian writers. The school also equips students with some knowledge of the language of the Bible and the early church Fathers, Koine Greek. Later in the program, the reading list diverges from our Orthodox tradition, focusing more on the scholastic and later secular strains of thought. Knowing these authors is helpful, because it has helped me better understand why people have rejected the Christian faith, and how they have done so.

From a social perspective, the school offers a lot as well. There are plenty of reasons why people come to St. John's, but one thing that unites many of us is a desire to know the truth, and a willingness to suffer to get there. I have met plenty of intelligent and passionate people, whose presence have shaped my time at St. John's and for my life to come, not least of whom is my lovely wife. There are a decent number of christians on campus, and most of them are pretty interested in Orthodoxy, and curious about it. However, the campus culture is not always positive. Many of our students, as is the case with many colleges in this country, are dedicated partisans of a highly progressive worldview. As such, they tend to view christians, especially if they perceive them as "conservative," with skepticism or even contempt. I have found that these prejudices are not insurmountable, but they do require patience and a willingness to be misunderstood.

Having Holy Trinity in our community is such a blessing! Santa Fe is not a super walkable town, and St. John's is in a pretty spare residential neighborhood, but HT is one of a handful of places you can easily walk to, and there are always students who could give you a ride. The college has had a relationship with the church as long as it has been around, as far as I can tell, and going to Holy Trinity will allow you to meet St. John's alumni and community members, as well as fellow students, people who understand the unique challenges of being here. The church is used to its' Johnnies, and treats them well. And, I think the church benefits from the campus. St. John's has produced converts to Orthodoxy nearly every year, including three of us in my grade, out of eighty or so students. Having young people who are excited about the faith is great.