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Recent Graduates Participate in Mini-Internships

6/26/2020

On May 15, Dn. Timothy Aznavourian and Dn. Armen Terjimanian received their MDiv degrees from St. Nersess Seminary and St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary without any fan-fare due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Shortly after, the two graduates began mini-internships for the month of June which will end next week on June 30. In addition to the remote courses offered to lay people and clergy this month, the mini-internships were created to replace programs that were cancelled this summer and would have required the graduates' participation. In the near future, with the blessing of His Grace Bp. Daniel Findikyan, Dn. Timothy and Dn. Armen will each begin a year long internship within the Eastern Diocese.

We conducted a short Q&A with each graduate regarding their experience these past few weeks.

Dn. Timothy Aznavourian

Q: Where did you grow up and what is your home parish?
A: I was born in Boston, MA spending my childhood years in Malden, MA. I moved to Pawtucket, RI when I was 10, which is where I have spent the majority of my adult life. My home parish is Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Armenian Church in Providence, RI.

Q: What is your undergraduate degree?
A: I hold a B.A. in Philosophy from Rhode Island College in RI.

Q: Where are you interning and what are you doing?
A: I am interning at my wife Julianne Aznavourian's (née Tavitian) parish, Hye Pointe Armenian Church in Haverhill, MA with the Rev. Fr. Vart Gyozalyan as my mentor.

I have learned much during my mini-internship post-graduation, particularly in the age of COVID-19 and civil unrest. I have learned that the need for the Church to be there for its faithful remains the same, regardless of the circumstances. I have learned that it is important to really listen to the struggles and trials of the flock which is entrusted to our care. I have also learned that it is essential to be able to take direction from experienced and tested leaders of our Church, of which Fr. Vart is a prime example. I sincerely thank Fr. Vart and the Hye Pointe Armenian Church for welcoming me -- albeit for a short time -- into their fold once more!

Dn. Armen Terjimanian

Q: Where did you grow up and what is your home parish?
A: I'm originally from Troy, Michigan. My home parish is St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, MI. I also spent 9 years attending St. Mary Armenian Church in Washington, DC, when I lived and worked in the DC region.

Q: What is your undergraduate degree?
A: I have a Bachelor of Arts in Film & Video Studies and Political Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, and a Master of Science in Journalism from Columbia University in New York City.

Q: Where are you interning and what are you doing?
A: Currently, I am doing a mini-internship with the Very Rev. Fr. Aren Jebejian (pastor) and the Rev. Fr. Armash Bagdasarian (assistant pastor) at St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, MI.

I have hit the ground sprinting in this month-long internship. I've been working with the parish's Armenian Medical Advisory Team (AMAT) on how to re-open the parish to the faithful in a phased manner and also participated in auxiliary zoom meetings. Two weeks ago, I facilitated a virtual Bible Study and delivered the Sunday sermon and will deliver another sermon soon. I've asked Hayr Aren and Der Armash to give me as diverse a parish experience as possible in these tumultuous times. It's been a great experience so far!

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St. Nersess Serves as a Model for Future Programs in Europe

6/18/2020

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Fr. Mardiros Chevian, as dean of the seminary, visits Armenia and Holy Etchmiadzin at least once annually. During his most recent visit in mid-February, he attended a meeting of a consultative committee of clergy and lay people commissioned by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, to address questions related to seminary curriculum, admission policies, qualifications for graduation, inter-seminary cooperation and collaboration.

The committee has met over the past two years and at this latest meeting was asked to consider the following topics:
1)      current status of seminary education worldwide
2)      the recruitment process for new candidates
3)      continuing education for clergy
4)      the establishment of small satellite seminaries in various parts of the world, for example Europe and Russia

St. Nersess Seminary was used as an example of what these seminaries could look like. The mission would be to recruit, train and educate local young men for their local parishes and dioceses. The program of study would be offered both by the new local seminary and the Gevorgian Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin.

After discussing these matters for two days, the committee presented its report and proposals to the Catholicos. Vehapar Der was pleased with the suggestions and informed the committee that the next step would be to present the report to the Supreme Spiritual Council at its next meeting.

Recently, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, former primate of the Eastern Diocese and now the Pontifical Legate of Western Europe and Representative of the Armenian Church to the Holy See, asked Fr. Mardiros to assist the European dioceses to implement some of the ideas proposed during the committee meetings in Armenia. Khajag Srpazan is at the forefront of the implementation, while St. Nersess has a decades-long experience with some of these programs.

The first area in which St. Nersess is offering its help is in the planning of a remote Deacons' Training Program for the European dioceses to be held this August. A program was created with the assistance of Dn. Michael Sabounjian and Dn. Alexander Calikyan, both St. Nersess graduates with experience in these types of programs. The plan is that this remote program will evolve into a full onsite Deacons' Training Program next summer.

Additionally, the seminary was asked to provide its Acculturation Program model for new priests. In response to their request, we have shared our 3-6 month program which was established five years ago for new priests in the Eastern Diocese.

In the near future, we will also provide assistance in helping their dioceses to establish a small local seminary on their continent.

We are honored and pleased to be able to share our experience with our fellow clergy and faithful abroad. We join our prayers with theirs as they work to expand and improve the mission of the Armenian Church in Europe.

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The Need for Vocations

6/4/2020

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For the past number of years, VOCATION DAY had been designated on our Diocesan calendar to coincide with the Feast of Pentecost. Vocation Day was to awaken the individual conscious mind, especially young men, to consider the vocation of priesthood in the Armenian Church. This year, there was no such remembrance.

Since the inception of St. Nersess Seminary in 1961, the discussion and need for young men to respond to the call of priesthood and for our young adults - male and female – to prepare for leadership positions in the Armenian Church has been a topic of concern by the Diocesan leadership. However, it seems that we have been woefully casual in addressing these major concerns and the urgency they demand.

Those who were familiar with the clerical leadership that once shepherded the flock of the Armenian Church during the latter part of twentieth century frequently have espoused a yearning for a reemerging of such leaders for today. I speak of inspirational churchmen such as: Catholocos Khrimyan Hairig; Catholicos Vazgen I; Catholicos Karekin I; Catholicos Karekin Hovsepyantz of the Great House of Cilicia; Archbishop Torkom Koushagian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem; Archbishop Shnork Kaloustian, Armenian Patriarch of Turkey; Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, Armenian Patriarch elect of Jerusalem, Primate of our Diocese and founder of St. Nersess Seminary; Gomidas Vartabed; as well as a multitude of other Bishops, Vartabeds, and Kahanas who served God, their Armenian Church and flock with dedication, courage, and dignity.

The same can be concluded with many of the laity of the period. These were men and women of vision and courage who laid the foundation and set the course of our Diocese and many of our parishes. Standing beside the worldly successful industrialists who became the major benefactors of our communities are those survivors of the Genocide who established our parishes and schools of the Armenian Church in America. They dedicated their lives to the proliferation of our faith, culture and nationhood.

Those who had the privilege of knowing and interacting with these great church leaders saw within each the radiant glory of God's presence.   Thank God for their leadership, devotion, and love. In many cases, their lives become an inspiration to other men and women to take upon their shoulders the mantle of Godly leadership.

Remember that Church leadership does not call everyone, but it is for everyone who is called. To discern who is called – well, there's the rub.

My long-time friend and Rabbi Elliot Hollin and I were discussing the lack of individuals in both our communities responding to the call of God to serve Him. He reminded me - as a good Rabbi should - of the story of Moses. Here is the passage to which he referred:

But Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." Then the LORD said to him, "Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak." But he said, "O my Lord, please send someone else." (Exodus 4: 10-13.)

Rebbi reiterated that it is the archetypal story of a reluctant leader. Moses' protests to the unyielding call of God resound every time God's voice summons an unprepared person to a seemingly impossible task. Though leaders of all personality types have balked at God's calling, Moses' personality and life exhibit the telltale signs of introversion. He said, in the Hebrew, the passage literally reads, "I am not a man of words … but I am heavy-tongued and heavy-mouthed."

Even when the Lord appeared to him in a blaze of fire with a voice declaring the transcendent Name of “I AM”, Moses hid behind his fears and then behind the elocution and charisma of his brother Aaron. Moses went before the Hebrew people and into Pharaoh's throne room clutching his brother's coattails.

While conjuring up the image of leadership, eloquence of speech, or at least a comfort in speaking with and/or before others, usually is an assumed standard qualification. But there must be those who perhaps have been called – like Moses – and yet as well, chosen to hide from God because of their falsely assumed inability to speak eloquently. But the ability to express one's mind through the spoken word only is incomplete in scope.

A musician generates animated emotions without uttering a word, but through the sounds of his instrument. The painter creates beauty and thought through the brush and canvas, chisel and stone. The author uses the written word to convey the expressiveness of the mind. The athlete excels by his physical abilities and determination to overcome barrier limitations of time, distance, or accuracy. None require the spoken word to supplant their inner thoughts.

I am convinced that a calling from God is the determinative factor in the formation and longevity of a leader, not a personality type. God's call sheds light on our darkest hiding places. He may call some into work for which they may not be perfectly suited, but does so for his greater glory, not theirs.

Any priest worthy of his calling will attest to his limitations. The lesson of not having or observing to the fullest a VOCATION DAY is a missed opportunity to teach that the power of the Holy Spirit, bestowed upon the Apostles the day of Pentecost, is the same granted to us at our baptism and confirmation and the ability to do those things that perceivably couldn't be done otherwise.

Myself, during various grave and solemn situations with parishioners, I found that the words of comfort I would utter were not those I was capable of speaking on my own, but truly words placed in my mouth by God for the needed comfort of the hearer.

When Moses objected at the burning bush saying that he was a clumsy speaker, God did not disagree with him. He said, "I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak." (Ex 4.12).

I will be with you. I will give you the words. These are the bedrock reassurances that God offers to those he calls to lead. Leadership credentials are the wisdom and the Spirit of the Lord. God doesn't promise that leadership will be easy or always natural but promises that his presence will go with those he calls, and in his presence is a power that transcends all human abilities.

More than a millennium after Moses, God put it to the apostle Paul this way: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness" (II Cor. 12.9).

Paul would then be able to say, "It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me" (Gal 2.20).

Fr Tateos R Abdalian
June 2020

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Recent Graduates Participate in Mini-Internships

St. Nersess Serves as a Model for Future Programs in Europe

The Need for Vocations

Archives

Categories

Directions to the Seminary

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
486 Bedford Road
Armonk, NY 10504

(PLEASE input "St. Nersess Armenian Seminary" into Google Maps for correct location!)

Contact Us

​Recent Graduates Participate in Mini-Internships

​St. Nersess Serves as a Model for Future Programs in Europe

The Need for Vocations

Archives

Categories

Directions to the Seminary

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary​486 Bedford RoadArmonk, NY 10504​(**PLEASE** input "St. Nersess Armenian Seminary" into Google Maps for correct location!)

Contact Us

Recent Graduates Participate in Mini-Internships

St. Nersess Serves as a Model for Future Programs in Europe

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
486 Bedford Road
Armonk, NY 10504

(PLEASE input "St. Nersess Armenian Seminary" into Google Maps for correct location!)