St. Nersess Armenian Seminary will celebrate its 60th anniversary this fall with a special banquet honoring the vocations of the first 12 students who graduated from St. Nersess and St. Vladimir’s seminaries and were ordained into the priesthood.
The celebratory dinner will take place on November 13 at Old Tappan Manor (137 Orangeburgh Rd., Old Tappan, NJ), planned as the first in a series to recognize the alumni of St. Nersess—both ordained and lay—who are in service to the Armenian Church in any capacity.
This year’s honorees, listed by ordination dates, are Fr. Kevork Arakelian (1973); Fr. Garabed Kochakian (1976); Fr. Yeprem Kelegian (1977); Fr. Mardiros Chevian (1985); Fr. Shnork Demirjian (1991); Fr. Diran Bohajian (1993); Fr. Sahak Kaishian (1993); Fr. Tavit Boyajian (1993); Fr. Arakel Aljalian (1993); Fr. Vasken Kouzouian (1994); Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian (1996); Fr. Simeon Odabashian (1996). Two honorees are from the Western Diocese.
The tribute has ignited numerous memories amongst the honorees. “When reflecting upon the first time I knew I wanted to become a priest, I recall how impactful the first St. Nersess Summer Conference was in 1963,” reveals Fr. Kevork Arakelian, the first American-born St. Nersess graduate to be ordained a priest.
Another recollection, by Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, includes the greatest influences on his path to the seminary. “I remember the ‘luminaries’ of my youth: Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, Der Arsen Barsamian, Der Dajad Davidian, and Der Karekin Kasparian.”
The evening will be filled with more nostalgic and celebratory reflections, as well as a special award. Invitations will be mailed in August, as well as commemorative keepsake booklet information to include your best wishes to the honorees. All donations will benefit the seminary and its ongoing mission.
For more information, contact event co-chair Lynn Beylerian at lynnbeylerian@gmail.com, or go to www.stnersess.edu.
Click here to view a flyer.
