St. Nersess Armenian Seminary welcomed faithful from across the Eastern Diocese to its Armonk, NY, campus, for this summer’s Deacons’ Training Program and High School Conference. The annual events went forward as in-person gatherings for the first time since the pandemic period, meeting respectively on August 1-7 and 8-14.
Directed by seminary dean Fr. Mardiros Chevian and recent graduate Dn. Armen Terjimanian, and assisted by Dn. Garen Megrdichian, the Deacons’ Training Program included 16 participants from six parishes in the Eastern Diocese and one from the Western Diocese. Although they arrived with varying levels of altar service experience, the program expanded each attendee’s knowledge and proficiency in altar service during the Divine Liturgy.
Younger altar servers learned how to chant the deacons’ parts and the accompanying movements, while the intermediate and advanced altar servers learned the special services of the Blessing of the Grapes for Assumption, Blessing of the Water for Christmas/Theophany, and Blessing of the Fields for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
During the month of July, prior to the program, the participants attended online video classes to learn the special liturgical hymns that were taught at the conference, namely the Blessing of Grapes Service and the Blessing of Water Service. The online teaching sessions were led by Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian and Fr. Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan.
Highlights of the conference included a nushkhark-making workshop with Fr. Daniel Karadjian; a detailed lecture on current Armenian affairs including the present-day Artsakh situation by Fr. Vart Gyozalyan; a presentation on the icon of the Assumption of Mary the Mother-of-God with Fr. Garabed Kochakian; a biblical history lesson on the roots of the diaconate by Dn. Alex Calikyan; and a talk on khatchkars, imagery, and the Assumption by Dr. Roberta Ervine.
Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and President of the St. Nersess Board of Directors, spent an afternoon with the participants and offered a lecture on St. James of Nisibis in the St. Hagop Chapel. Newly ordained priest Fr. Haroutiun Sabounjian visited for one day to surprise the young altar servers from his parish. Diocesan Vicar Fr. Simeon Odabashian also visited the conference.
The participants were able to spend a beautiful sunny afternoon at the Cranberry Lake Preserve, located about 15 minutes away from the seminary, and hike one of its trails. There also held daily bible studies related to the feast day services.
The Deacons’ Training conference concluded on Saturday, August 7, with a Blessing of the Grapes ceremony in St. Hagop Chapel officiated by Fr. Daniel Karadjian, who was assisted by several program participants.
High School Conference
After the seminary was cleaned and sanitized for the next group to arrive, the High School Summer Conference commenced the following the day. Ten High School students representing seven parishes across the Eastern Diocese arrived on August 8, ready to embrace their faith and discuss important topics affecting them and the world. The conference was co-directed by Dn. Armen and Emily Terjimanian. Dn. Garen Megrdichian remained on staff.
Each day, participants enjoyed a different speaker on important faith topics. Bishop Daniel led an informal discussion on the “Prayers for Healing” book, which he also presented to each student. Fr. Davit Karamyan spoke about the conflict on Armenia and Artsakh, and recently-ordained Fr. Nigoghos Aznavourian discussed how the Bible calls on believers to help the homeless and poor. Students lectures by Dr. Ervine on the meaning of the Armenian word parq, and by Dn. Yervant Kutchukian on anxiety.
Dn. Armen and Emily Terjimanian led discussions on challenges people are facing today, including the pandemic, current events, and the Christian call to be stewards of the natural environment.
Daily bible studies were prefaced with a short video by different Diocesan leaders to spark the discussion. Nancy Basmajian, Fr. Vasken Kouzouian, Fr. Haroutiun and Yn. Lucine Sabounjian, Linda Bullock, and Fr. Yeprem Kelegian recorded the videos.
Students also had daily Armenian classes and free time in the recreation room. The seminary is grateful to benefactor Dean Shahinian for his generous donation to the Recreation Complex.
The high school students took two excursions during the week. At St. Gregory the Enlightener Church in White Plains, NY, they heard Fr. Mesrob Hovsepyan speak about St. Mary in the church sanctuary. An afternoon outing to the Kensico Dam Plaza allowed participants to climb to the top of the dam to enjoy views of the Kensico Reservoir and Westchester County.