St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
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Dn. Jason Demerjian Ordained at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral

2/13/2007

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February 13, 2007

St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral was the location for a joyous celebration on Sunday, February 11, 2007. Dn. Jason Demerjian, a recent graduate of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, was ordained into the Dioconate by the hand of Abp. Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern).


Ordination into the Diaconate
Numerous family members and friends of Deacon Jason and his wife Anna, were present for the ordination, as were Abp. Yeghishe Gizirian and Fr. Arnak Kasparian, who watched from the chancel. Many of Deacon Jason's classmates at St. Nersess were honored to be able to serve with him. Shortly after the singing of Soorp Asdvadz, the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Rev. Fr. Bedros Kadehjian, was paused so that the Ordination Service could begin. 


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Numerous family members and friends of Deacon Jason and his wife Anna, were present for the ordination, as were Abp. Yeghishe Gizirian and Fr. Arnak Kasparian, who watched from the chancel. Many of Deacon Jason's classmates at St. Nersess were honored to be able to serve with him. Shortly after the singing of Soorp Asdvadz, the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Rev. Fr. Bedros Kadehjian, was paused so that the Ordination Service could begin. 


Abp. Khajag Barsamian was vested in his Episcopal garments and proceeded to ascend the cathedral altar to begin the ordination of this newest candidate.

Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and sponsoring priest for Dn. Jason, led him up the same altar stairs that he was led up for his priestly ordination exactly 10 years before. During the service, as Dn. Jason faced the faithful with raised hands, the choir sang he is worthy.


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He is Worthy
During his message to the faithful, Khajag Srpazan spoke of the major steps that Jason took throughout his life that brought him to his day of ordination. He noted that Deacon Jason grew up in the St. James parish of Watertown, MA, and later related how he was led to Armenia, where he became immersed in the culture and life of the country. He served for two years in the U.S. Peace Corps, and later founded the Armenian Volunteer Corps, which continues to bring volunteers from the Diaspora to serve in Armenia. Jason eventually met his wife Anna there, and was married at the monastery church of Lake Sevan. He returned to the United States and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard University, before helping to establish, and serving as the Coordinator for, the Dept. of College Ministry at the Diocesan Headquarters in New York.

Abp. Khajag was happy that Deacon Jason decided to complete his Armenian studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and looked forward to the day when he would have the opportunity to ordain Jason as a priest of the Armenian Apostolic Church.


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Future Priest of the Armenian Church
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Prospective Deacons Come to St. Nersess from 14 States

2/12/2007

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July 12, 2007

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary's majestic 80-year old Tudor main building was filled beyond capacity as more than 40 participants and staff members gathered for this year's Deacons' Training Program. 32 young men and nine staff participated in the nine-day institute from June 25-July 3.

"This year was a record," said V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Dean of the Seminary and Director of the Deacons' Training Program. Not since the 1970's has the Deacons' Program attracted so many participants. The participants came from 14 states in the Eastern and Western Dioceses. Most of the participants were teenagers who serve at the altar in their church parishes. 

Skills to be Mastered
The intensive schedule of workshops and tutorials was designed to improve the students' knowledge of the music, rituals and practical skills that a deacon needs to master to assist in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and other services of the Armenian Church. Classes were tailored to the students. Those with little or no previous experience serving at the altar devoted their time to the chants and rituals of the Divine Liturgy (Badarak). Advanced students worked on the deacons' part in the sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony.


Dedicated Staff
Serving as instructors and counselors for the week, in addition to Fr. Findikyan, were Fr. Daniel Karadjian, Pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Church (Charlotte, NC); Fr. Sahak Kaishian, Visiting Priest in the Eastern Diocese; Deacon Sarkis Altunian (St. Sarkis, Dallas, TX); Deacon Haik Diloyan (St. James, Watertown, MA); Deacon Mkrtich Ksachikyan (St. Peter, Van Nuys, CA); Peter Hanoian (Sts. Sahag and Mesrob, Providence, RI); and Emil Davitian (Armenian Church of Columbus, OH).

Most of the mornings were dedicated to learning musical chants and polishing practical skills such as vesting the celebrant priest of the Badarak and censing with the poorvar. Evening discussions led by guest instructors provided the opportunity to look deeper into the deacon's ministry and the traditions of the Armenian Church.

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Deacon Haik Diloyan (left) works with participant
Harry Lang on chanting the Gospel

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Fr. Daniel Karadjian, Pastor of St. Sarkis
Armenian Church, Charlotte, NC

Khrimian Hayrig
Fr. Karekin Kasparian, Pastor of St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church in nearby White Plains, NY, presented an informative and engaging survey of the life and heroic ministry of Catholicos Mgrtich, more popularly known as "Khrimian Hayrig." This year marks the hundredth anniversary of the death of this saintly leader, a true "good shepherd" of the Armenian people during a vulnerable period of our history. The young deacons were surprised to learn that this valiant Catholicos began his Christian vocation as a husband and father. Destined to suffer the death of both his wife and child, Khrimian turned to monastic life as a "shooshdag" vartabed (a widower who takes monastic orders). 

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Full of Faith and of the Holy Spirit
In another evening discussion, Elise Antreassian-Bayizian, Coordinator of Christian Education at the Eastern Diocese in New York and a St. Nersess alumna, walked the young men through a chain of Bible passages that describe the origin and necessary qualifications of one who would serve the church as a deacon. Among others, the deacons looked to the example of St. Stephen, who was a deacon and the first martyr in Christendom.

(L-R) Aram Petrosyan, Narek Manukyan, Deacon Mkrtich Ksachikyan, Jano Minassian, Aaron DerderianAccording to the Bible, St. Stephen was chosen to be a deacon because he was "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:5). 

Razmig Dokmadjian from St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Dallas, TXAlso addressing the deacons was Dr. Albert Rossi, a clinical psychologist and Professor of Theology at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary. "All sin begins in the brain," he said, as he counseled the deacons in living a life worthy of the title "deacon" and pleasing to God. 


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The Divine Liturgy and MySpace
Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, Director of Youth and Vocations was also on hand. "How does your decision to serve God at the altar on Sundays affect other decisions you make in your daily lives?," he asked. 

He next had the young men sing the final song of the Badarak, "Orhnetseets uzDer hamenayn zham" orhnootyoon nora ee peran eem" (I will praise the Lord at all times"his blessing with always be on my lips). "Does the promise that you make in that hymn every Sunday contradict anything you do during the rest of the week?," he asked them. Holding no punches, he continued, "What about what you look at and post on the internet?" 

Discovering Armenian
Fr. Daniel with four dedicated altar serversFrom the first day it was quite clear. "By the end of this week, anyone who does not know how to read Armenian will learn," Fr. Findikyan said at the opening orientation. "And those of you who do know the letters, will improve your reading."  Using "Discover Armenian" software developed by Dr. Thomas Samuelian, Emeritus Professor of Armenian Language and Literature at St. Nersess, the goal was achieved, as more than a dozen young men learned the Armenian alphabet. The software and laptop computers were donated by long-time St. Nersess benefactor, Dr. Sarkis Kechejian of Dallas, Texas. 


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Traditional Worship: Prayer and Study
At St. Nersess the seminary chapel is a sanctuary for prayer but also a laboratory for learning. Each morning the deacons, clergy and staff gathered for the Sunrise Service (Arevakal), while late at night they prayed the Peace Service (Khaghaghagan Zham). In so doing they learned such stirring hymns as Hareveleets, Nayats Seerov and Ee Ken Haytsemk, all composed by the Seminary's patron saint, Nersess "the Gracious"  Shnorhali (d. 1173). 

Participants and Staff at St. Vartan Armenian CathedralThese beautiful services were not limited to chapel-time. During daily Bible Study, small groups looked more closely at the prayers and hymns of the Sunrise and Peace services using Bible Study guides prepared especially for this summer's St. Nersess youth conferences. 

Pilgrimage to St. Vartan Cathedral
An all-day "edifying and fun" excursion took the young men to St. Vartan Cathedral in New York to see and pray in the mother church of the Eastern Diocese, and to meet clergy, youth ministers, teachers and staff of the Department of Youth and Education. The deacons spent the afternoon and evening at New-Roc, an arcade and recreational center in New Rochelle. 

On Sunday, St. Gregory Armenian Church in nearby White Plains, New York was enriched by the presence and participation of the deacons, who served at the altar and sang in the choir. 


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Clergy from Western Diocese Visit St. Nersess

2/7/2007

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February 7, 2007

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary recently hosted guests from the Western Diocese. The guests left the comfortable temperatures of Los Angeles and arrived in New York to temperatures in the teens.

The group came to New York to visit the seminary and experience the atmosphere and class schedule together with the currents students at St. Nersess. It is under the leadership and blessings of Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, that they traveled to be with their brothers and sisters within the warm confines of St. Nersess.


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The guests were led by the Very Rev. Fr. Dajad Yardemian, Vicar General of the Western Diocese, based in Burbank, CA. Fr. Dajad had an opportunity to meet with his brothers in Christ from the Eastern Diocese in the Abp. Tiran Nersoyan Library. Attending the meeting were V. Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Dean of St. Nersess, Rev. Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, and Rev. Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, Director of Youth and Vocations at St. Nersess.

Dn. Kevork Hallajian, Dn. Matthew Ash and Dn. Mkrtich Ksachikyan participated in the matins and vespers services in the seminary chapel. They also attended several classes in Krapar, Armenian language, church history, and an all-day class with Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, Director of Music Ministry in the Eastern Diocese, and teacher of Armenian Sacred Music at St. Nersess Seminary. Additionally, they joined some seminarians and traveled to St. Vladimir's Seminary, the sister seminary of St. Nersess located nearby, and sat in on evening classes there.


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Dn. Kevork Hallajian, Dn. Matthew Ash and Dn. Mkrtich Ksachikyan participated in the matins and vespers services in the seminary chapel. They also attended several classes in Krapar, Armenian language, church history, and an all-day class with Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, Director of Music Ministry in the Eastern Diocese, and teacher of Armenian Sacred Music at St. Nersess Seminary. Additionally, they joined some seminarians and traveled to St. Vladimir's Seminary, the sister seminary of St. Nersess located nearby, and sat in on evening classes there.

On Tuesday, February 6, Hayr Dajad and the guest Deacons traveled to the Diocesan complex in New York and met with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, also attended the meeting.

St. Nersess was pleased to be host such distinguished guests and welocome them back in the future.


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Preparing leaders for service in the
Armenian Church since 1961
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