St. Nersess Armenian Seminary inaugurated the 2003-2004 academic year with an all-day orientation retreat featuring Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, former Pontifical Legate and Primate of the Armenian Church of Great Britain. At the invitation of V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Dean of the Seminary, Archbishop Gizirian led this year's new and returning seminarians in a day of prayer and reflection on the role of the priest in the Armenian community. Sharing precious insights and experiences from his decades of service as a priest and bishop of the Armenian Church, the Archbishop challenged the students to work hard to develop fully the talents God has given them for the spiritual growth of our people.
"Your task is to bring the joy and hope of the Gospel to our people," Archbishop Gizirian declared. "In everything you say and do, wherever you are, you must communicate God's love." Archbishop Gizirian served for decades as a priest in the Armenian dioceses of the United States and earned a reputation as an engaging preacher and a trusted and beloved pastor. In recognition of this, he was recently appointed Spiritual Advisor to the clergy of the Eastern Diocese by the Primate, His Eminence Abp. Khajag Barsamian,
"I fervently believe in the mission and role of St. Nersess Seminary. Today the graduates of this institution are engaged in wonderful spiritual ministry in the Eastern and Western Dioceses of America," the Archbishop remarked at the end of the day. "Through the efforts of your dedicated faculty and co-workers, our diocese will benefit from new clergy."
St. Nersess has four full-time and four part-time seminarians this year with a number of new students preparing for admission in the coming year.