Basic competencies in the area of church and in the role of priestly ministry are incumbent upon third-year
seminarians, who are accordingly required to take the following four courses (PR 401, 402, 405 and 410) during
their senior year. Other competencies having to do with attitudes, such as deep love for people and a desire to
see them grow in the love of the Lord, realization that God is vitally concerned with people, ability to relate
across social and cultural lines, etc., need to be developed earlier-as through the summer requirements of PR
450 and 451 (no credit is given so as to help develop a willingness to spend and be spent in the Lord's work).
Field education is an important part of the curriculum; its purpose is to contribute to the seminarian's personal
development and professional competence.
PR 401 Liturgical Practicum I
The order and celebration of services in the Armenian Euchology (Mashtots'): Baptism, Matrimony, Funeral, Blessing
of Graves, Rite of the Sick, Matagh, and other occasional services and prayers.
PR 402 Liturgical Practicum II
The order and celebration of special services of the liturgical year: Blessing of Water; Feast of the Presentation
of Our Lord to the Temple; Boon Barekendan and Lent; Holy Week: Opening of the Doors, Absolution of the Penitents,
Washing of the Feet, Passion Service, Service of the Crucifixion and Burial; Pentecost; Feast of Transfiguration;
Blessing of Grapes; Great Andastan of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross; Andastans during the Liturgical
Year; Pre-Feast celebrations.
PR 408 Canonical Issues in the Armenian Church
Introduction to canon law and the canonical tradition of the Armenian Church; overview of civil law and legal
theories; the hierarchical structure of the Armenian Church; and current canonical issues, as in sacramental
canon law, etc.
PR 410 Parish Administration
This course examines the administrative responsibilities of a parish priest, including the pastor's role in parish
organizations, committee meetings, and preparation of budgets, reports and publications, and fund-raising modes.
Added emphasis is placed on successful leadership of the local church, its common problems and their resolution
(case studies, principles and strategies of selection and retention of officers, delegation of responsibilities,
motivational skills, team building, etc.), and co-ordination between parish and diocesan departmental activities. Area
parish-council members, especially those newly elected, are encouraged to audit certain classes.
PR 450 Pastoral Formation
A non-credit requirement for M.Div. students, to be fulfilled in a church setting and under the guidance of a parish
priest, for a month each summer while the student is officially enrolled as a seminarian. Students are encouraged
to participate in all pastoral functions and in as many priestly duties as possible, including youth ministry, home
and hospital visitations, parish-council meetings, reflection sessions, etc. The required Clinical Pastoral Education
(CPE) program may be substituted for one of the summer-months' involvements.
PR 451 Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
A supervised learning experience, totaling 240 hours, that gives the student a participatory role in pastoral care-a
role that requires a style of life characterized by both involvement and reflection. The student will have a first-hand
learning experience in a hospital/congregational setting, develop an individual contract of learning, engage in a
small group learning experience with peers, receive certified pastoral supervision, and do detailed reporting of
ministry. After pre-registration, the student must complete an application and go for a screening interview before the
course begins.
TAKE A MOMENT TO PRAY for the faculty, students and alumni of St.Nersess Armenian Seminary, that they may remain firm in their calling, preaching the gospel and doing the will of God.
