The St. Nersess seminarians have been busy during the summer months with their studies or activities.
 
Recent graduate Dn. Michael Sabounjian served on the faculty of the Deacons' Training Program while student Dn. Timothy Aznavourian served as the Assistant Director. Dn. Timothy was ordained a deacon during the conference by Archbishop Vicken Aykazian. Both Dn. Michael and Dn. Timothy are now preparing for their travel to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, where they will continue their studies for the upcoming academic year.
 
Armen Terjimanian is residing at the monastery of the Armenian Patriarchate for the summer, attending daily services and receiving private instruction in Armenian language, literature, and culture. "My experience in Jerusalem has been an unforgettable one. This is my third time here but my first time living in the vank. In addition to taking classes and attending and serving during church services, I've been able to interact with the local community and meet people who know or knew of my father's family from Jerusalem. It's pretty special to serve at the various altars in the Armenian churches and chapels in the Holy Land, especially with my family's connection to the area," explained Armen.

Dn. Albert Hambardzumyan and Dn. Alex Calikyan are completing their Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Norwalk Hospital in CT and North Shore University Hospital on Long Island, respectively. The program provides an opportunity to minister to patients and their family members and gain skills in pastoral practice. Seminarian Johnny Chadoyan is serving at St. Vartan Camp in upstate New York during the entire six week program.

From June 28 - July 7, the Deacons' Training Program welcomed a group of 32 young men who gathered together to learn the music and rituals of the Badarak and other services of the Armenian Church as well as their meaning and importance.  
 
This year the program was under the direction of the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean, and led by Dn. Ari Terjanian of St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Church (Richmond Heights, OH) who served as the Program Director. Previously, Dn. Ari served as the Assistant Director under the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, the new Primate of the Eastern Diocese. 
 
The participants came from 12 states and the Republic Armenia. With great enthusiasm, the altar servers and prospective deacons participated in daily practical workshops, classes, discussions, Bible Study and worship.
 
For the second year, the program welcomed two participants from Armenia. Gevorg Abrahamyan, 16, and Hambardzum Tsaturyan, 15, are from the village of Ashtarak and serve at the altar at St. Marianeh Armenian Church in their village. They were recommended by the Very Rev. Fr. Anania Tsaturyan, who resided at St. Nersess for a year and a half and recently returned to Etchmiadzin in May.
 
The students' travel expenses were covered by generous donors, similarly to the program in place for students from the Sts. Tarkmanchatz School in Jerusalem who attend the High School Summer Conference. "We are happy to offer our American students the opportunity to learn from their peers from Armenia and Jerusalem," remarked Fr. Mardiros Chevian.
 
The teaching staff included the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, the Very Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, the Rev. Fr. Daniel Karadjian, the Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian, the Rev. Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian, Dn. Eric Vozzy, and Dr. Roberta Ervine, as well as seminary graduate Dn. Michael Sabounjian. Seminarian Dn. Timothy Aznavourian served as Assistant Director.
 
New this year, was an opportunity for participants over the age of 16 to serve at nearby Mt. Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry to distribute donated food. Because the theme of the 2018 Deacon's Training Program was "servant-leadership", the participants were presented with a great opportunity to live out the fullness of the diaconate by serving those marginalized by society. Director Dn. Ari Terjanian and Dn. Michael Sabounjian suggested the idea and Vice President of Mt. Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry, Kelley Housman, helped to organize the event. The Deacons' Training Program hopes to make service to the local community an integral part of the St. Nersess summer conference experience in the future.
 
The participants also traveled to the diocesan complex in New York City, where they spent the day with Fr. Daniel and had a tour of St. Vartan Cathedral.
 
On the Fourth of July, the group was warmly welcomed at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice and Azat Lahham in Jackson, NJ, to spend the holiday swimming and enjoying a festive barbecue.  
 
Click here for more photos.

On Sunday, July 1, Seminarian Timothy Aznavourian was ordained to the holy order of the diaconate by His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate of the Eastern Diocese. Vicken Srpazan was invited to officiate at the ordination by the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and President of the St. Nersess Board of Directors, who was also in attendance.

Family, friends, and the participants of the Deacons' Training Program, which was in session, witnessed the beautiful ordination service during the Divine Liturgy in the St. Hagop Chapel. The Rev. Fr. Shnork Souin, Pastor of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church of Providence, RI, served as Dn. Timothy's sponsoring priest. Also present was the Rev. Fr. Karekin Kasparian, the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean, and the Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian. Several of the Deacons' Training Program students and staff actively participated in the service as acolytes and deacons and in the choir.

"I was so filled with joy and gratitude about having Vicken Srpazan as my ordaining bishop and also because my former pastor, Fr. Shnork, was my khardavilag (sponsor). Fr. Shnork has been a closefriend and mentor to me for the past five years and without his encouragement I would not be serving the Armenian Church to the extent that I am now. He and Yn. Julie have been through so much in the past year, and are both examples of Christian love and service which I hope to emulate in my capacity as a deacon of the Armenian Church." proclaimed Dn. Timothy.

Following the Badarak, a group photo was taken outside the theological center before everyone enjoyed a celebratory lunch. Dn. Timothy has been teaching at the Deacons' Training Program this summer and in the fall, he will continue his studies at the Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for the upcoming academic year. He plans to graduate from St. Nersess in May 2020.