Clergy Profile

Rev. Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian

St. Peter Armenian Church

Fr. Steapnos Doudoukjian

100 Troy Schenectady Rd, Watervliet, NY 12189

(518) 274-3673

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Born and raised in New Jersey, Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, born and baptized Gregory, is the son of Sona and the late Charles Doudoukjian of Teaneck, NJ, and the youngest of four children.

Throughout his high school years, Fr. Stepanos attended religious conferences and retreats at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, NY.

Fr. Stepanos, who comes from a family of bankers, originally went to Bergen Community College in New Jersey, where he majored in banking and finance for one semester, after graduating from high school. He changed his major to early childhood education and earned his associate degree. He then transferred to Dominican College in Orangeburg, NJ, where he earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education. In 1993, he graduated from St. Nersess and St. Vladimir's Seminaries, receiving a Master of Divinity degree.

Following his graduation, Fr. Stepanos traveled twice to Armenia, where he brought the gospel to faithful in the homeland, which was just emerging from 70 years of communist control. He also spent six months in Jerusalem, living in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. While there, he spent the greater part of each day in prayer and study of the liturgy of the Armenian Church.

In 1994 and 1995, Fr. Stepanos worked as a pastoral assistant and youth director for the Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside, NY, and at the Diocesan headquarters in the youth ministry department, where he focused on college ministry.

He first came to St. Peter Church in Watervliet, NY, in November 1995 as deacon-in-charge of the parish. In February 1996, Fr. Stepanos was ordained as a priest by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

In January 1998, in addition to his parish ministry, Archbishop Barsamian assigned Fr. Stepanos to the position of director of the St. Nersess Summer and Winter Conferences for Armenian youth, organizing 10-day seminars for junior high, high school, and college-age Armenian students.

In 2005, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian also appointed Fr. Stepanos as the Director for Youth and Vocations for St. Nersess Armenian Seminary. For two years he shared his time between St. Peter Armenian Church and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.

In 2006, the Primate presented Fr. Stepanos with the pectoral cross in honor of the 10th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

In July 2007, Fr. Stepanos was assigned as the full-time Director of Youth and Vocations for St. Nersess Armenian Seminary with an emphasis on the recruitment of seminarians. He also continued to direct the summer programs as well as organize other youth programs for the seminary.

In September 2010, Fr. Stepanos returned to St. Peter Armenian Church to serve as the parish priest once again. He continues to serve the parish today.

He is married to Yn. Paulette and has two children: Jonah and Gloria.

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