Although the primary goal of St. Sophia Seminary is to provide the professional, educational and spiritual formation of seminarians preparing for parish priesthood in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., candidates for priestly ordination in other Orthodox jurisdictions who wish to study in our seminary are encouraged to apply for admission. Admission to study may also be granted to those applicants who intend to prepare for ordination to the diaconate, as well as to lay students, male or female, who wish to study theology in a seminary environment. Also applicants from abroad will be accepted who meet all the necessary requirements of the state and federal authorities of the United States Government as specified in the Immigration and Naturalization Service's guidelines. In all cases, a letter of recommendation from the relevant Church authorities must accompany the application. [Please see "Admission and Requirements" for more details.]