Commencement Service

Thursday, May 7, 2026

10:00 a.m.  |  Immanuel Chapel

Location & Livestream

• Commencement will be held at Immanuel Chapel on the campus of Virginia Theological Seminary. The Commencement ceremony will be live-streamed.

Tickets & Seating

• Graduating students are given several tickets for their guests at Commencement. Children require their own ticket if they are taking up a seat but not if they are sitting on someone’s lap.
• Doors to the chapel open at 9:00 a.m. for guests with tickets. All guests with tickets should enter Immanuel Chapel by 9:50 a.m., to ensure they have a seat.
• After 9:50 a.m., the chapel will be opened to guests without tickets until all seats are filled.

Rehearsal

• Master’s-level graduating students are required to attend the Commencement rehearsal on Monday, May 4, at 4:00 p.m. at Immanuel Chapel. Doctoral graduating students are welcome to attend as well.

Parking & Accessibility

• Parking for guests is available at:
  • Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill
    3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304
  • Beth El Hebrew Congregation
    3830 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304
• Golf carts will circulate from the parking lots to Immanuel Chapel.
• All entrances to the Seminary campus will be closed off on the morning of Commencement, and only those with a valid parking permit will be able to enter.
• If you need on-campus accessible parking, please contact Quinn Harkless at [email protected].

Photography

• Commencement occurs in the context of Morning Prayer. Accordingly, taking photographs or videos is not permitted during the Commencement Service.
• The only exception is for family members and friend who wish to take photographs of graduates when the degrees are being awarded. All guests are requested to remain in their seats.
• The Seminary’s official photographers will be taking photographs of each degree conferred, and these pictures will be available on the Commencement page of the VTS website around two weeks after the ceremony.

Overflow Viewing

• There will be overflow space in the Addison Academic Center displaying the livestream for additional guests to watch the ceremony on campus.