A Prayerful Start to the New Seminary Year

St. Nersess Seminarians, wives and faculty pose at the Ararat Center in Upstate New York during their recent  Orientation Retreat

The retreat was led by Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, Pastor of St. Mesrob Armenian Church (Racine, WI) and the Seminary's Spiritual Director.

Badarak at St. Peter Armenian Church
The retreat concluded with the celebration of the Holy Badarak at St. Peter Armenian Church in Watervliet, NY. Fr. Daniel Findikyan was the celebrant and preacher. He was flanked by seven seminarians serving at the Holy Altar.

Rounding off the beautiful weekend was a casual kebab cookout at the home of Charles and Carol Tutunjian, parishioners of St. Peter Armenian Church. Both Charles and his brother, the honorable Mayor Harry Tutunjian of Troy, NY are both alumni of the St. Nersess summer conferences. The afternoon was filled with smiles and stories as both brothers reminisced about their St. Nersess experiences.

St. Nersess anticipates four graduates this year, who are preparing for ordination as priests to serve the Eastern Diocese.

September 7, 2009

Once again, the Ararat Center in Greenville, New York provided the perfect environment for the annual orientation retreat to begin the new school year at St. Nersess Seminary. The seminarians enjoyed the outdoors and perfect weather as they explored their own personal spiritual journeys and calling to the priesthood throughout the weekend. The seminarians were accompanied by the dean, Fr. Daniel Findikyan, the Director of Youth and Vocations, Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, and Professor Roberta Ervine. As the year 2009 has been declared the Year of Vocations: A Call to Serve, the seminarians reflected on their callings and how God is using their gifts and personalities for ministry in the Armenian Church.

Seminarian Levon Asdourian