St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Mission
    • History of the Seminary
    • Prayer for the Seminary
    • Board of Directors
    • Fast Facts
    • Alumni/Recent Ordinations
    • Water Quality Report
  • Academics/Admissions
    • Global Classroom >
      • Seminary Lectures (audio)
      • Seminary Lectures (video)
      • St. Nersess Theological Review >
        • SNTR Volume 1-1
        • SNTR Volume 1-2
        • SNTR Volume 2
        • SNTR Volume 3
        • SNTR Volume 4
        • SNTR Volume 5 & 6
        • SNTR Volume 7
        • SNTR Volume 8
        • SNTR Volume 9
        • SNTR Volume 10
        • SNTR Volume 11
        • SNTR Volume 12
        • SNTR Volume 13
      • St. Nersess Armenian Spirituality Series
      • AVANT
    • Programs of Study
    • Is God Calling You?
    • Faculty & Staff >
      • Dr. Roberta Ervine
      • Bishop Daniel Findikyan
    • Course Offerings >
      • Classical Armenian
      • Church History
      • Armenian Patristics
      • Liturgy
      • Liturgical Music
      • Practicum
      • Biblical Studies
      • Church & Society
      • General Studies
    • Admissions & Application
    • St. Nersess Library
  • Liturgical
    • Sacred Music Lab >
      • Daily Services >
        • Night Hour >
          • Hymns of the Night Hour
          • Deacon's Chants of the Night Hour
          • Ganonaklookh/Head of the Canon
          • Requiem Hymn (Hangstyan Sharagan)
          • Avak Orhnutyun
          • Orhnootyoon Sharagan (Penitential)
          • Orhnootyoon Hymns (Martyrs)
          • Takavor Haveedyan (Penitential)
          • Takavor Haveedyan (Martyrs)
          • Alleluia (Resurrection)
          • Alleluia (Nativity)
          • Alleluia (Cross)
        • Morning Hour >
          • Hymns of the Morning Hour
          • Deacon's Chants of the Morning Hour
          • Service of the Oil-Bearing Women
        • Sunrise Hour
        • Evening Hour >
          • Hymns of the Evening Service
          • Deacons' Chants
          • Martyrs Hymns of Psalm 120
          • Penitential Hymns of Psalm 120 (Tones 1-8)
          • Resurrection Hymns of Psalm 120
        • Peace Hour
      • Divine Liturgy >
        • Midday Hymns (Jashoo Sharagans)
        • Gospel Alleluia
        • Processional Hymns
        • Introit (Zhamamood)
        • Deacon's Chants
      • Sacraments >
        • Baptism
        • Marriage
        • Ordinations
        • Funeral
      • Holy Week >
        • Lazarus Saturday
        • Palm Sunday >
          • Palm Sunday - Night/Morning Services
          • Palm Sunday - Ceremony of Opening the Doors
        • Holy Monday
        • Holy Tuesday
        • Holy Wednesday
        • Holy Thursday >
          • Holy Thursday: Night Service
          • Holy Thursday: Morning Service
          • Holy Thursday: Absolution of the Penitents
          • Holy Thursday: Washing of the Feet
          • Holy Thursday: Divine Liturgy
          • Holy Thursday: Great Vigil (Khavaroom)
        • Holy Friday >
          • Holy Friday: Morning Service
          • Holy Friday: Service of the Crucifixion
          • Holy Friday: Service of Burial
        • Holy Saturday >
          • Holy Saturday: Night/Morning Services
          • Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil (Jrakalooyts) & Divine Liturgy
        • Easter Sunday
      • Festal Hymns >
        • Saints' Hymns (Սրբոց Շարականնե)
        • Theophany (Ծնունդ)
        • Mother of God (Ս. Աստուածածին)
        • Presentation of the Lord to the Temple (Տեառնդառաջ)
        • Great Carnival (Բուն Բարեկենդան)
        • New Sunday (Նոր Կիրակի)
        • Ascension (Համբարձում)
        • Holy Cross (Խաչի)
        • Holy Church (Եկեղեցւոյ)
      • Other Services >
        • Blessing of Water
    • Armenian Hymnal
    • Liturgical Services >
      • Services of Blessing
      • Special Services
      • Holy Week
      • Divine Liturgy
  • Conferences/Lectures
    • Deacons' Training Program
    • High School Summer Conference
    • Young Adult Winter Conference
    • Adult Conferences & Retreats
    • Online Lectures
  • News
    • Churches of Artsakh
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Consecration Photos
    • Construction Photos, Armonk, NY
  • SUPPORT
    • Donate Now
    • Leadership Giving Circle
    • The Path Forward
    • Planned Giving Society
    • Legacy Donors, New Campus
    • Parish Patrons
  • St. Nersess Theological Review
  • SNTR Volume 7

Message from the Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian

10/24/2013

0 Comments

 
October 24, 2013

I have not been a student of St. Nersess, nor have I been involved in the administration of it. But, I consider myself a direct beneficiary of this venerable institution, which was established by a few blessed souls, together with Abp. Tiran Nersoyan, patriarch elect of Jerusalem, to fulfill his longtime dream of a seminary in early 1960's in Evanston, IL.

I was assigned to Waukegan, IL, and St Nersess was only an hour drive south. I made frequent visits to the school and found the environment intellectually invigorating mostly because of Tiran Srpazan's presence. He became a mentor to me, a teacher, as if we picked it up from where we had left off in Jerusalem where he had been teaching the deacons' class.

Through him, and generally speaking, through St. Nersess, I kept up with my continuing education. I was exposed to current theological thoughts and controversies. The Armenian Church then, as it is now, was facing seemingly insurmountable challenges both internally and one coming from the outside (God is dead, controversial theology, and the civil rights movements had engulfed the country). Earlier on, he had taken the challenge of communism by writing a book trying to make sense of the confrontation putting forward a daring "Christian Approach to Communism". I felt honored when he allowed me to borrow the book, his only copy, to read and return immediately. Other occasions availed themselves to learning about other theological issues and challenges, and I feel grateful that he took me along to these lectures to expand my intellectual curiosity and be sensitive to all these challenges. Who was to provide the needed direction for the Armenian Church to navigate through these troubled waters? There was no designated institution, nor a charismatic person, to take up these challenges. St. Nersess and Abp. Tiran, the founder, attempted to fill the void, meet the challenges. Did they succeed? Did they do the job? I say yes, emphatically yes, at least with me, I suspect there are many more who would chime in and say yes and yes.
 
I am no longer a parish priest and Abp. Tiran Nersoyan is now of blessed memory. But I do continue learning from St. Nersess. My three sons went through the summer programs offered at St. Nersess. One of them is preparing to be an ordained priest. One out of three, not bad at all!
 
The question is when are you going to send your children to these programs? Are you concerned that we might claim one of them for the Armenian Church? Is there anyone out there who would respond to the challenge?
 
Der Vertanes Avak Kahana Kalayjian, Pastor Emeritus
St. Mary Armenian Church
Washington, D.C.
 
 
Ս. ՆԵՐՍԷՍ ԸՆԾԱՅԱՐԱՆ ՇԱՐՈՒՆԱԿԱԿԱՆ ՈՒՍՈՒՑՄԱՆ ՕՋԱԽ

 
Ս. Ներսէս Ընծայարանի ուսանող եղած չեմ, ոչ ալ անոր վարչական
մատակարարման մասնակից։ Բայց ինքզինքս կը նկատեմ յաւէտ յարգելի
հաստատութենէն մեծապէս երախտընկալ։
 
Ժամանակը հասուն էր, եւ մի քանի օրհնեալ հոգիներ, Երուսաղէմի ընտրեալ
Պատրիարք Ամենապատիւ Տէր Տիրան Արք. Ներսոյեանի ղեկավարութեամբ,
կեանքի կոչեցին իր երազը 1960-ականի սկիզբը, Իլլինոյ նահանգի Էվընսթըն
քաղաքի մէջ։ Ես հովիւ նշանակուած էի նոյն նահանգի Ոգիկընի ծուխին, որ
միայն մէկ ժամ հեռու էր ընծայարանէն։
 
Յաճախ կ’այցելէի Էվընսթընի Ս. Ներսէս Ընծայարանը, որուն մթնոլորտը եւ
մտաւորական կլիման կազդուրիչ էին Տիրան Սրբազանի ներկայութեամբ։ Ան
ինծի համար եղաւ մենթոր եւ ուսուցիչ՝ կարծես շարունակելով Երուսաղէմի
սարկաւագաց դասարանի իր ուսուցումները։
 
Շարունակական ուսումս շարունակեցի Ս. Ներսէսի եւ Տիրան Սրբազանի
ազդեցութեան տակ եւ շունչով։ Այդ ուղիով իմ առջեւ բացուեցաւ
ժամանակակից աստուածաբանական ուսուցումներու եւ մարտահրաւէրներու
լայն դաշտ մը։
 
Նախկին ուսուցումները ժխտող եւ վիճելի դարձած հաւատքի եւ ընկերային
հարցերու շարժումները թաւալգլդոր յորձանուտի մէջ կը գտնուէին։ Եկեղեցին
պէտք է դիմագրաւէր այդ մարտահրաւէրները։ Տիրան Սրբազան, իրեն յատուկ
խիզախութեամբ, իր ատենին փորձած էր որոշ լուծումներ որոնել իր
հրատարակած «Քրիստոնէական մոտեցում մը Կոմունիզմին» գրքով։ Հպարտ
զգացի, որ այդ գիրքը վստահեցաւ ինծի՝ փոխ տալու որ կարդամ, բայց շուտով
վերադարձնեմ։
 
Առիթներ եղան, որ իր օգնութեամբ ծանօթանամ նաեւ ուրիշ
աստուածաբանական հարցերու եւ մարտահրաւէրներու եւ անոնց ետին կեցող
իրական դէմքերու։ Իրեն ընկերացայ յաճախ դասախօսութեանց շարքերու՝
ընդլայնելու համար մտաւորական հետաքրքրութիւններս։
 
Ո՞վ էր որ պիտի տար անհրաժեշտ ուղղութիւնը, որ Հայց. Եկեղեցին նաւարկէ
այդ փոթորկոտ ջուրերու մէջէն։ Որոշուած հաստատութիւն մը գոյութիւն
չունէր։ Եւ ոչ ալ խարիզմատիկ այն անձը, որ այդ դերը ստանձներ։
 
Ս. Ներսէս Ընծայարանը եւ Տիրան Սրբազան՝ անոր հիմնադիրը, փորձեցին այդ
բացը գոցել։ Յաջողեցա՞ն, կարող եղա՞ն իրագործել առաջադրուածը։ Ես կ’ըսեմ
շեշտակիօրէն՝ այո՛. շատեր կան, որ ինծի հետ պիտի կրկնեն նոյնը. այո եւ
կրկին այո։
 
Ծխական հովիւ չեմ այլեւս։ Հոգելոյս Տիրան Սրբազան ոչ եւս է։ Բայց ես կը
շարունակեմ սորվիլ Ս. Ներսէս Ընծայարանէն, որ կը շարունակէ պատնէշի
վրայ մնալ։
 
Իմ երեք որդիներս Ս. Ներսէս ամառնային ծրագիրներու մասնակցած են։
Անոնցմէ մէկը պատրաստ է քահանայ ձեռնադրուելու։ Երեքէն մէկը. բնաւ ալ
գէշ չէ։
 
Հարցը այն է որ դուն ե՞րբ պիտի ղրկես քու երեխաներդ Ս. Ներսէսի
ամառնային ծրագիրներուն մասնակցելու։ Արդէօք մտահո՞գ ես, որ անոնցմէ
որեւէ մէկը (առնուազն) որոշէ Հայ Եկեղեցւոյ միջոցաւ ծառայութեան նուիրուիլ։
 
Կա՞ մէկը այնտեղ, որեւէ մէկը, որ ընդառաջէ այդ մարտահրաւէրին։
 
Տէր Վրթանէս Աւագ Քահանայ Գալայճեան, Պատուակալ հովիւ
Սուրբ Աստուածածին Եկեղեցւոյ
Ուաշինկթըն, Տի Սի

0 Comments

Rev. Fr. Ghevond Ajamian, First Sermon

10/23/2013

0 Comments

 
St. Leon Armenian Church

October 6, 2013

There is a story about theologians, who are arguing about free will and pre-destination; the concepts that every man has the right to choose his future, versus God already having predestined everything for us. No matter what we do, it’s already decided.
 
So all of the theologians get together in a room, and they’re arguing, and eventually they separate. Those that believe in free will gather on one side, and those that believe in predestination gather on the other side. And there is one theologian left, and he doesn’t know which way to go so he says I’m going to go to the predestination side. And they say, “Oh great, we have an extra one. We have one more. We have won. We have more than them. Why did you come here?”
 
The lone theologian responds, “I came here on my own free will.” And they say “Oh no, free will! Get out of here! Go to the other side!” So they send him to the other side.
 
And those on the other side say to him, “We are so happy that you came here. Why did you come here?” And he says “I didn’t choose; they sent me here.” And they say “Uh oh! Predestination! Somebody else has decided for you? Get out of here!”
 
Very often we come across these types of people, who say that our faith is already determined. In Armenian, we have a word, jagadakeer, which means “written on the forehead.” That which is written on the forehead is fate; it’s already decided. You cant see it, but it’s there. 
 
Our orthodox theology teaches us that we don’t believe in predestination. We don’t believe in fate. We believe in something greater - nakhakhunamootyoon - which means “providence”. Nakhakhunamel in Armenian comes from two Armenian words - “nakh” which means first, and “khunamel” which means to take care of. So when we believe that God takes care of us, he takes care of us ahead of time. Just like a parent, a mother and father, start to save money when a baby is born for that child’s college fund. Now I know that we usually start this off in the first week or two, and then after the diapers pile up, we lose track of the money and we can’t do this anymore. But most of the time we do this - we save up money for our children, so that on their 18th birthday or when they graduate and go to college, they already have the money there.
 
That’s not a coincidence. That’s not fate. That’s nakhakhunamootyooon; that’s providence. That’s the parents taking care of the child ahead of time, just as God takes care of each and every one of us ahead of time.
 
God carefully prepares the things in our lives as foundations upon which we build and serve to achieve the good purpose of our lives, which is to serve God.
 
And these things can be as simple as our family, the country in which we are born, the mentors that we have, and the people with whom we come in contact every day.
 
In my life (because it’s my Antranig Badarak, I have a right to talk about myself today), God has prepared my foundations and led me to where I am today. And it’s mainly due to three groups of people who have helped me in my life.
 
The first is the clergy - from Armenia to Jerusalem to the United States, from the Kevorkyan Jemaran in Etchmiadzin to the Srpotz Hagopiantz Jemaran in Jerusalem to St. Nersess, I have come in contact with priests who have helped me, guided me, and have served as examples on how to be a good priest. Of them, one stands out in particular - Hayr Ghevond Dzayrakooyn Vartabed Samoorian - for whom I am named. He helped me, he guided me, and he gave me advice on how to serve God, and how to serve the people of God.
 
The second group is my family, and friends. They have guided me, they have advised me, they have even chastised me at times, preferring me to be a better person, a better priest. In particular, my grandparents, who have taught me to pray in English, and in Armenian. They taught me how to serve God, and serve my fellow man.
 
And my lone surviving grandparent, my grandfather, whose name is Herman.   My grandmother, for those who knew her, know that she didn’t like the name Herman, so she gave him the name Chuck instead. But his name, lo and behold, when he was growing up, was Ghevond as well. So after him, I am also named Ghevond.
 
But then there is also the group of the people; the laity; the faithful; you. You have planted the seeds in me, and watered those seeds, in this very church, SrpotzGhevondiantz, St. Leon, which in Armenian, is Ghevond. Again, you are the ones that prepared me for this journey I undertook, for the ordination I received, and the mission I have before me.
 
These three groups, you in particular, have helped me see God’s purpose in my life, and in this world. I have chosen this; no one forced it upon me. You did not force me to become a priest - I chose to become a priest.
 
Likewise, God asks each of you to choose which way you want to go. Do you want to go towards Him, or do you want to go away from Him? 
 
We don’t believe in jagadakeer, fate per se, but we sort of do. Because if we look at the word jagadakeer again, it means written on the forehead. And those who are baptized and chrismated in the Armenian Church, have holy muron on their forehead.
 
You already have jagadakeer; you already have fate. Your fate and my fate is God Jesus. He is sealed upon our forehead; that is our destiny. It is our destiny to go towards Him, to be with Him, and to serve Him. 
 
We can allow other things to come in between us and Him, but he is always there waiting for us; asking us to return to Him.
 
So as we leave the sanctuary today, I pray that we take note of what is our destiny. That our destiny is God, who is written upon our foreheads, and it’s up to us whether or not we want to follow Him. He is not forcing us, and He is not telling us we have to, but He is telling us as a parent does, come to me, I will help you. Amen.
0 Comments

Seminary to Sponsor Deacons' Training November 1-3

10/3/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
October 3, 2013

Deacons' Training "Double" Workshop
St. Nersess Seminary, with the blessing of His Eminence Abp. Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, will hold a Deacons' Training "Double Workshop" on the weekend of November 1-3, 2013 at St. Stepanos Armenian Church, Elberon, New Jersey. The workshop is intended for deacons and altar servers serving parishes in the greater New York/New Jersey region. 

The "double" workshop will feature two simultaneous programs, for beginner and advanced altar servers respectively. The first program will teach participants how to use the poorvar (censer) and the censing patterns for the Divine Liturgy. The second program will train participants in the rituals, music and deacons' role in the Armenian Church's Blessing of Water ceremony, which takes place on Christmas Day.
 
"By the end of the program, those in the poorvar class will be able to offer incense during theBadarak competently and confidently," said V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Professor of Liturgical Studies at St. Nersess and long-time Director of the Seminary's Deacons' Training Program. Rev. Fr. Daniel Karadjian, Pastor of St. Stepanos Armenian Church, will serve as co-director.
 
The program is open to young men age 14 or older. Students will be housed under adult supervision at the Ocean Court Motel by-the-Sea in Long Branch, New Jersey, near St. Stepanos Church. All meals, instruction and activities will take place at the church. The fee for the program, triple-occupancy room, home-cooked meals and materials in $100. Interested young men should inquire with their Pastors or Parish Councils for available scholarships.
  • Download the registration form
  • Download the flyer below as a PDF

Picture
Picture
0 Comments

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    July 2007
    May 2007
    March 2007
    February 2007
    January 2007
    December 2006
    November 2006
    October 2006
    September 2006
    August 2006
    July 2006
    June 2006
    May 2006
    April 2006
    March 2006
    February 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    November 2005
    October 2005
    September 2005
    August 2005
    July 2005
    June 2005
    May 2005
    April 2005
    March 2005
    February 2005
    January 2005
    December 2004
    November 2004
    October 2004
    September 2004
    August 2004
    July 2004
    June 2004
    May 2004
    April 2004
    March 2004
    February 2004
    December 2003
    November 2003
    October 2003
    September 2003
    March 2003
    November 2002
    March 2002
    February 2002
    January 2002
    December 1999
    November 1999
    October 1999
    September 1999
    January 1999
    July 1998
    June 1998

    Categories

    All
    Acculturation Program
    Adult Conference
    Alumni
    Annual Appeal
    Board Of Directors
    Christmas Conference
    Clergy
    Clergy Support
    Deacons' Training
    Distance Learning
    Divine Liturgy
    Donations
    Etchmiadzin
    Fundraising
    Graduation
    History
    Leadership
    Lectures
    Library
    Liturgical Music
    Music
    New Armonk Campus
    Ordination
    Pandemic
    PhD Students
    Picnic
    Prayers & Blessings
    Retreat
    Seminarians
    Seminary
    Seminary Events
    Seminary Faculty
    Sermons
    Studying In Armenia
    St. Vladimir's
    Summer Conferences
    Young Adult Winter Conference
    Youth Programs

    RSS Feed

Picture
Preparing leaders for service in the
Armenian Church since 1961
.

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!)

Subscribe to the eNewsletter
Instagram

Contact Us

Phone: (914) 273-0200
Email: info@stnersess.edu

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday, 9:30am-5:30pm


  • Website by Filament Designs