Eighty Armenian youth from both the Eastern and Western Dioceses experienced the legendary St. Nersess Summer Conferences held for the first time on the new campus in Armonk, NY, during the summer months of June, July and August. This year, a new four-year curriculum was introduced that will better prepare young Armenian students to become leaders in their home parishes, including future Sunday School teachers.
     From June 25 - July 3, the Deacons' Training Program, led by the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, welcomed a group of young men who gathered together to learn the music and rituals of the Divine Liturgy and other services of the Armenian Church as well as their meaning and importance. The participants came from 12 states in the Eastern and Western Dioceses. With great enthusiasm the altar servers and prospective deacons participated in daily practical workshops, classes, discussions, Bible Study and worship.
     Then, from July 15 - 24, High School Summer Conference A welcomed participants from various parishes throughout the Eastern Diocese, which was led by the Rev. Fr. Ghevond Ajamian, pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Dallas, TX. During this session, four students from the Sts. Tarkmanchatz School of Jerusalem's Armenian Patriarchate attended. This is the 11th year that the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean, has welcomed students from Sts. Tarkmanchatz. With the help of sponsors who fully fund their travel and tuition, these students have an opportunity to enhance their spiritual life as well as meet their peers in America. These four students also benefited from a special opportunity to participate in a ten-day, interfaith service-learning program for 20 Israeli, Palestinian and American youth organized by Canon Nicholas Porter and Jerusalem Peacebuilders in New Haven, CT. All the participants witnessed the evening service of the ordination of two St. Nersess graduates into the priesthood at St. Leon Armenian Church in Fair Lawn, NJ and also attended their ordination service at St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City.
     Summer Conference B, directed by the Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, pastor of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church in Providence, RI, had a large group of participants. Some of the topics presented over the course of the 10-day conference were the old testament, early church fathers, early church councils, and the Sacrament of Baptism which were presented by respected speakers most of whom are themselves graduates of the seminary. Fr. Shnork, who has not directed a summer conference in seven years, commented, "I had the most wonderful time and formed the greatest memories at this year's summer conference. I am looking forward to bringing many more young people to St. Nersess and also introducing the new campus and this life changing program to a whole new generation of St. Nersess conference participants."
     The final session for the summer, the Post High School Summer Conference, was held August 9 - 13 and was directed by the Rev. Fr. Samuel Rith-Najarian, pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Church of Charlotte, NC, with the assistance of Yn. Danielle DerAsadourian. Participants gathered each day to share meals, worship in the chapel together, as well as attend Armenian language classes and bible studies. The conference participants also had the opportunity to learn about their culture and faith by engaging guest speakers, including seminary faculty, seminarians, and clergy. The topics included baptism, Church Fathers, Armenian Church art, spiritual development, and modern issues.
     The summer conferences are a unique religious, social, and educational experience that brings young Armenian Americans together from the North American dioceses and abroad for worship, study, fellowship and recreation.

An integral part of a St. Nersess education is engaging with the Church on the local, regional, diocesan, and global levels. The Master of Divinity degree offered through St. Nersess and St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary includes opportunities for students to travel to different parishes for local exposure, participate and lead discussions at retreats and conferences for regional exposure, attend annual assemblies and youth weekends for diocesan exposure, and study abroad at sister theological institutions for global exposure. This summer, with the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, two St. Nersess seminarians, Dn. Michael Sabounjian and Dn. Alex Calikyan, traveled to Armenia to participate in a two-month course of study at the Gevorgyan Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.
 
On June 14, the Very Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, dean of Gevorgyan Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, welcomed the St. Nersess students to a specially-tailored course of study at the seminary where they had Monday through Friday classes in Modern Armenian Language, Classical Armenian Language and Armenian Literature. “I was able to make considerable improvement in Classical and Modern Armenian language skills,” said Dn. Michael. “By living in the Mother See, I was able to compare and contrast the lifestyle, local customs, and pastoral approach in Etchmiadzin with my experience in the United States.” 
 
Dn. Alex had a similar positive experience. “The daily church services that we attended in Holy Etchmiadzin not only inspired us with its grand splendor and beauty, but also strengthened our practical experience in liturgics and singing,” he commented. “The classes we participated in were very instructive and improved our language skills exponentially.”  The two seminarians also traveled to important historical sites in Armenia, including Tatev Monastery in Goris. “One of the experiences that left the biggest mark on me was being able to integrate my faith and seminary education into its geographical context. To have learned about Gregory of Datev in a lecture by Dr. Roberta Ervine at St. Nersess and then to travel to Tatev to pray in the same monastery where he prayed leaves a big impact on the way I will approach his works going forward,” recalls Dn. Michael. Similarly, Dn. Alex exclaimed, “the summer experience in Armenia opened up my mind to how my faith, as well as daily life, is lived out in my homeland and taught me how appreciative I should be of the sacrifices of my forefathers.”
 
In addition to hands on learning, Dn. Michael gained “practical knowledge of understanding the similarities and differences between various communities of the global Armenian Church and having the proper sensitivity and collaboration to work with brother clergymen.” Dn. Alex was also reminded of their primary mission which is to “continue practicing the traditions of our faith and serving Jesus Christ and spreading His Gospel message of love and forgiveness to the Armenian people.” Both are thankful to Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan and Fr. Mardiros Chevian, St. Nersess Dean, for setting up a program of study in the Mother See that has allowed them to take the many important skills, lessons and experiences from the homeland back to St. Nersess Seminary in Armonk, NY.