Clergy respond to Dr. Markarian's presentation on fundamentals of public speaking at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary. | Preaching is both art and craft. Great sermons are unforgettable. Thirteen young clergy from throughout the Eastern Diocese spent two days at St. Nersess Seminary for a continuing education program on preaching. The workshop consisted of collegial sessions combining presentations on the essential elements and strategies of effective preaching with collegial practice sessions where the clergy preached and critiqued each other. |
Rev. Fr. Nicholas Porter is an ordained priest of the Episcopal Church and currently rector of Trinity Church in Southport, Connecticut. A nationally-renowed preacher, he is also acclaimed for his teaching and revitalization of church life and ministry. His ministerial posts throughout the world took him also to Jerusalem, where for several years he taught at the seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate. Since 2008 he has been Adjunct Instructor in Homiletics at St. Nersess.
This is the third such continuing education program for clergy held at the Seminary in the past year. At the request of the Primate, His Eminence Abp. Khajag Barsamian, St. Nersess will be assuming a greater role in providing quality educational opportunities for ordained clergy of the Eastern Diocese.
Also present for the workshop was V. Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Diocesan Vicar and V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Seminary Dean, who assisted in the organization of the program. Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean of St. Vartan Cathedral also participated.
Participants included: Rev. Frs. Tadeos Barseghyan (St. Gregory, Chicago, IL), Paren Galstyan (St. George, Waukegan IL), Hakob Gevorgyan (Holy Trinity, Cheltenham, PA), Vart Gyozalyan (Armenian Church of Hye Point), Martiros Hakobyan (St. Kevork, Houston, TX), Mesrob Hovsepyan (St. James, Richmond, VA), Khachatur Kesablyan, Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan (St. James, Evanston, IL), Abraham Malkhasyan (Holy Martyrs, Bayside, NY) Hrach Sargsyan (St. Gregory of Narek, Richmond Heights, OH), Arakel Vardazaryan (St. Mary, Livingston, NJ) and Deacons Justin Ajamian (St. Sarkis, Dallas, TX) and Benjamin Rith-Najarian (St. Leon, Fair Lawn NJ).
