St. Nersess Armenian Seminary FAST FACTS

ESTABLISHMENT & LOCATION

  • St. Nersess was established in 1961 through the vision of Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan
  • The original location of St. Nersess was in Evanston, IL, and then New Rochelle, NY, and now Armonk, NY
  • St. Nersess is the only Armenian seminary in the western hemisphere
  • St. Nersess falls under the auspices of all three Dioceses in North America (Eastern, Western & Canadian)
  • St. Nersess is in partnership with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, from where it draws its inspiration

STUDENT BODY PAST & PRESENT

  • All St. Nersess seminarians must have a minimum of a four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
  • In total, three bishops, 37 priests, and six lay ministers are graduates of St. Nersess and are in full-time service to the Armenian Church today. There are additional graduates serving their parishes in other capacities
  • Rev. Fr. Kevork Arakelian was the first graduate of St. Nersess to be ordained a priest
  • St. Nersess graduates serve on the Eastern and Western Diocesan Councils and the St. Nersess Board of Directors

YOUTH OUTREACH 

  • Approximately 100 youth participate yearly in the St. Nersess Summer Conferences, with St. Nersess graduates serving as the conference directors
  • St. Nersess offers four summer youth conferences held at the seminary each year, including a Deacons' Training Program, two high school conferences, and one post-high conference
  • It is estimated that more than 6,000 young people have benefited spiritually and culturally from the summer conferences since its inception in 1963

ACADEMIC FACTS

  • Deans of the seminary have included Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, Rev. Fr. Karekin Kasparian, V. Rev. Fr. Arshen Aivazian, Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dn. Hratch Tchilingirian, Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, V. Rev. Fr. Vahan Hovhanessian, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, and Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian (current dean)
  • St. Nersess works in conjunction with St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, located nearby
  • Courses taught at the seminary are at the graduate level and are accredited by the American Theological Society through the seminary’s affiliation with St. Vladimir's
  • Master of Divinity degrees are granted through St. Vladimir’s Seminary and a diploma in Armenian Church Studies from St. Nersess
  • Before ordination, all graduates of St. Nersess Seminary spend at least one year in Holy Etchmiadzin or Jerusalem to further their studies, to experience the Armenian Church in its birthplace, and to partner with colleagues in the ministry

FINANCIAL FACTS

  • St. Nersess is incorporated and registered as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit religious organization.  As such, donations are fully tax deductible
  • There is a Leadership Giving Circle, an annual giving program for those who can support the mission of the seminary each year: Guardian Angel - $10,000/year; Guardian - $5,000/year; Shepherd - $1,000/year; Harvester - $500/year, and Caretaker - $250/year
  • A Planned Giving Society has been established for those who would like to bequeath wills, stocks, mutual funds, retirement savings, etc. to St. Nersess
  • Did you know that St. Nersess relies fully on the donations and support from individuals, organizations, and parishes to fund its initiatives? Your donation helps St. Nersess provide quality education and training to our growing group of seminarians, current clergy, the youth, and community