St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
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Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian On Board as Full-Time Director of Youth and Vocations

7/18/2007

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July 18, 2007

Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, newly-appointed Director of Youth and VocationsSt. Nersess Seminary's efforts to cultivate greater numbers of seminarians and prospective priests expands greatly with the appointment of Rev. Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian as the Seminary's full-time Director of Youth and Vocations. For ten years Fr. Stepanos, a St. Nersess graduate himself, has been directing the Seminary's youth conferences and the past two assisting with recruitment efforts on a part-time basis. In his new position, which officially began on July 1, he will be fully devoted to youth and recruitment work for St. Nersess.

"In recent years, I have had to balance recruitment work with my many other responsibilities," said Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Seminary dean. "To be effective, we need someone out there full-time to work with our youth and support those who are considering coming to Seminary. Fr. Stepanos is the right person for this job." 


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Building Relationships With Future Seminarians
In his new position Fr. Stepanos will work primarily to build relationships between St. Nersess and young men who are considering the priesthood as a vocation. "The young men we seek to be our future seminarians and clergy are bright, dedicated, and talented, and they have a range of career options open to them," said Fr. Doudoukjian. "The Seminary needs to reach out to them and support them in the difficult process of deciding to come to Seminary, and that is what I will spend a good deal of my time doing," he said.

There Are Many More
Fr. Doudoukjian will also spend a good deal of time on the road, visiting church parishes, ACYOA groups, summer camps, universities and virtually any other venue where Armenian-American youth are gathered. When asked recently if there are Armenian-American youth that would be willing to become clergy he answered, "I know for a fact that there are many young men who are thinking about the priesthood because I am in contact with a good number of them. I strongly believe that there are many more that we don't know about."

Among other goals for the short term Fr. Stepanos emphasized eliciting the collaboration of clergy and lay leaders at the parish level. "Our clergy are the real seminary recruiters," he said. "It is their example of dedication, leadership and love that will be far more successful at attracting future seminarians than any speech or brochure I might make."

On the Front Lines
He added, "Priests, deacons, choir members, Sunday School and Armenian School teachers, parish council members and all Armenians of good conscience--they are the ones on the front lines. I look forward to building relationships with them, empowering them to cooperate in securing the next generation of church leaders."


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Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian has an undergraduate degree in Education from Dominican College in New York. He earned the Master of Divinity degree from St. Nersess Seminary in conjunction with St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary in 1993.

Experienced Pastor and Youth Minister
From 1994-1995 he served as Youth Director at the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs (Bayside, NY) and in the Department of Youth Ministry of the Eastern Diocese, where his focus was college ministry. Ordained a priest in 1995, he served as Pastor of St. Peter Armenian Church (Watervliet, NY) for over eleven years.

Fr. Stepanos is in every way a product of St. Nersess Seminary. His history with the Seminary goes back to 1981 when he first participated in a High School Conference as a somewhat rebellious teen. "I was a thug in those days," he recalls, smiling. "Since that time I have missed only four years as either a participant or a counselor. He eventually served as an instructor, Assistant Director and finally, for the past ten years as Director.

A Taste of What It's Like to Serve the Church
The St. Nersess youth conferences are an integral piece of the recruiting puzzle for the Seminary. "At St. Nersess we try to expose our youth to the very best of the Armenian Church," Fr. Stepanos said. "Through the conferences young people meet clergy and theologically-trained lay leaders in an informal and loving atmosphere. They get a taste of what it's like to serve the church. God's Spirit is truly at work on the 9 acres of property at 150 Stratton Road in New Rochelle."

Most of the 32 clergy alumni of St. Nersess are products of the St. Nersess youth conferences.


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The Magic of St. Nersess
Fr. Stepanos is married to Yeretzgin Paulette, originally from Selma, California. "I remember I was 21 and attending a St. Nersess Winter Conference when I met my wife Paulette," he said. "We have been married since 1994. Every summer we come back to St. Nersess, and it is a joy coming back home. Even our two children Jonah and Gloria feel the magic of St. Nersess. All year long they talk about their experiences and the friendships they have created here at the Seminary."

Fulfilling, Adventurous, Meaningful, Exciting
"Being a priest of the Armenian Church for the past eleven years, my pastorate has been fulfilling, adventurous, meaningful and exciting," says Fr. Stepanos. "It is these sentiments and attitudes that I would like to pass along to those prospective seminarians who are thinking of the priesthood or other ministries in the Armenian Church."


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Director of Youth and Vocations Visits Camp Nubar

7/17/2007

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Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian surrounded by campers.
Liturgy at Camp Nubar
Holy Communion at the St. Nersess Shnorhali ChapelThe next morning, a crisp Camp Nubar Sunday, Fr. Stepanos led the camp to the beautiful outdoor "St. Nersess Shnorhali" chapel, one of the highest points of the Camp Nubar property, for the Badarak. Fr. Stepanos celebrated the Divine Liturgy with the assistance a few young altar servers. His sermon was based on the final hymn of the Divine Liturgy, which is taken from Psalm 34: Orhnetseets uzDer haymenayn jham ("I will bless the Lord at all times").

"How can you bless the Lord at all times during your Camp Nubar days?," Fr. Stepanos asked. By respecting each other, helping other campers, respecting your bodies, praying, respecting nature and creation and respecting the animals, they concluded.

Later in the day, Fr. Stepanos wore his blue St. Nersess tee-shirt and blue shorts to fit into the dress code for the "Battle of the Genders," an annual Camp Nubar tradition.

July 17, 2007

Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, Director of Youth and Vocations for St. Nersess Armenian Seminary traveled to to the heart of the Catskills Mountains in upstate New York for a three-day visit with the staff and campers of the A.G.B.U. Camp Nubar in Andes, New York last weekend.

Bread for the Badarak
On Saturday evening two dozen campers and counselors surrounded Fr. Stepanos in the kitchen as he demonstrated how to makenushkhark (bread for the Divine Liturgy). The group discussed the meaning of receiving Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, during the Badarak each Sunday.

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Holy Communion at the St. Nersess Shnorhali Chapel
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Rise and Shine!
Early Monday morning around the flagpole, Fr. Doudoukjian offered this thought of the day. Jesus said, "Love one another as I have loved you." Accept the challenge to love one another today based on Jesus' love for us.

Throughout the summer months, St. Nersess alumni Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Fr, Tavit Boyajian and Fr, Sahak Kaishian, as well as other clergy will be visiting Camp Nubar as well. Several of our priests are Camp Nubar alumni. "It is a wonderful way to build relationships between clergy and our young people in the Armenian community and church," Fr. Stepanos said. To see more photos from the current Camp Nubar season CLICK HERE.


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Newly-Ordained Alumnus Fr. Hovnan Demerjian Prepares to Celebrate First Divine Liturgy

7/14/2007

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July 14, 2007

Newly-ordained Fr. Hovnan Demerjian stands before the holy altar of St. James Armenian Church, Watertown, MAThe holy myron (chrism) is still fresh on the forehead and hands of Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian, the 32nd alumnus of St. Nersess Seminary to be ordained a priest. The former Deacon Jason was ordained on June 17 at St. James Armenian Church (Watertown, MA) by His Eminence Abp. Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

Serving as Fr. Hovnan's khardavilag (sponsoring priest) was the Seminary dean, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan. Dr. Thomas Samuelian, a longtime friend and confidant of the new priest, served as his godfather. Dr. Samuelian is Emeritus Professor of Armenian Language at St. Nersess. He currently resides in Armenia.

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Newly-ordained Fr. Hovnan Demerjian stands before the holy altar of St. James Armenian Church, Watertown, MA
40 Days of Preparation
Fr. Hovnan is currently completing a forty-day retreat at a Catholic retreat center near St. Nersess. There, following the custom of the Armenian Church, Fr. Hovnan is spending a time of prayer and preparation for his ministry. Armenian clergy from the area meet regularly with Fr. Hovnan to pray with him and to assist him in his final preparations for parish ministry.


Antranig Badarak

The new priest will celebrate his first Badarak on Sunday, July 22, 2007 at St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church (White Plains, NY). Fr. Hovnan will also preach the sermon on that day. Fr. Daniel Findikyan leads Deacon Jason to the bishop during the Calling Service. Dr. Tom Samuelian, godfather of the ordination, is at right.Crowds of family, friends and clergy were present at Fr. Hovnan's ordination beginning with his wife, Yeretzgin Anna.

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Fr. Daniel Findikyan leads Deacon Jason to the bishop during the Calling Service. Dr. Tom Samuelian, godfather of the ordination, is at right.
Brother Clergy at His Side
Among the clergy — many of them products of St. Nersess — presiding at the ordination and the service of calling on the previous evening were: V. Rev. Fr. Ghevont Samoorian, Fr. Arakel Aljalian (Pastor of St. James), Fr. Tateos Abdalian, Fr. Krikor Sabounjian, Fr. Arnak Kasparian, Fr. Vasken Kouzouian, Fr. Mampre Kouzouian, Fr. Arsen Barsamian (Pastor Emeritus of St. James), Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, and Fr. Simeon Odabashian. 

Also present for the celebration were several St. Nersess seminarians: Deacon Vahe Hovsepyan, Deacon Ryan Tellalian, Megan Jendian, and Benjamin Rith-Najarian. The occasion also attracted numerous St. Nersess alumni and youth.

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Fr. Hovnan Demerjian grew up in St. James Armenian Church in Watertown, MA. He is the son of Kenneth and Karen Demerjian. He earned a B.A. dgree from Boston College and the Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School.

Founder of Armenian Volunteer Corps

From 1996 to 1998 he lived and worked in Armenia, teaching in public schools as a member of the U.S. Peace Corps. This experience motivated him to establish the Armenian Volunteer Corps in 2000, an organization which he directed for three years, and which continues to bring scores of Diasporan Armenians to live and work in Armenia each year.

Returning to the U.S. in 2003 with his new wife Anna, Fr. Hovnan began taking courses at St. Nersess Seminary in preparation for ordained ministry.

At the same time he joined the Diocesan Staff as the new College Ministry Coordinator. There he pioneered a program to track Armenian college students and promote their spiritual growth by connecting them to their church.


Yeretzgin Anna Sargsyan-Demerjian graduated from the State University of New York at Purchase. She is deeply involved in benevolent work in Armenia, most recently as Project Manager of the Children of Armenia Fund in New York City.

Fr. Hovnan is a member of the 2007 graduating class at St. Nersess Seminary. He has been assigned as Pastor of St. Hagop Armenian Church, St. Petersburg, FL. He begins his ministry at St. Hagop this summer.

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Abp. Khajag Barsamian anoints the hands of Fr. Hovnan
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