By: Grace Petoyan,  daughter of Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, St. Gregory Armenian Church, Pasadena, CA
The Nobel Peace Prize is an award for people who have done or are doing an act to improve the world. There are many people who deserve it, yet in my opinion, I believe that the late Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan (1904-1989) is worthy to be the next nominee. He made a great impact on the Armenian community all over the world.  

Born in 1904, in Aintab, Turkey, he was fortunate to be a survivor of the Armenian Genocide. Many people in the Kharpet Genocide and the Armenian Genocide were killed by the Ottoman Turks. He escaped to Syria to continue his life. He attended the Armenian seminary of Jerusalem and ordained a priest in 1928. Then, he moved to London and served there during World War II. In 1957, he was nominated as the Patriarch of Jerusalem but did not receive the position.  

After the war, he was elected to be the Archbishop Primate of the Eastern Diocese of North America. Upon his arrival, he had the vision to purchase an entire city block in midtown Manhattan as the future site of the very first Armenian Cathedral in North America. There, he established eleven churches and ordained twenty-one members of the clergy. 
He also founded the ACYOA which is the acronym for the Armenian Church Youth Organization of America. The four pillars that makeup ACYOA, are worship, education, service, and fellowship. ACYOA is now an active organization, (despite the global pandemic) throughout Europe, North America, and as of recent, Armenia. Currently, I am an active second-generation ACYOA member. 

Nersoyan also developed a program to train youth to become church choir members. This bridges the gap between our ancient hymns and the next generation. Not only did he merge the youth into one nation-wide organization, but he also started an Armenian seminary called St. Nersess Armenian Theological Seminary, located in Armonk, New York. Men and women can both attend where they earn their M.A. in theology. They also train men for the priesthood in the Armenian Church specializing in service in the United States. In order to attend St. Nersess, you must have a Bachelor Degree. As of today, St. Nersess has prepared thirty-seven priests and four bishops. 

St. Nersess is one of my father’s (Archpriest Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, serving at St. Gregory Pasadena) alma maters. Another great outcome of St. Nersess is the current Primate of the Eastern Diocese, Bishop Daniel Findikyan, who is the first American Armenian born bishop to serve in North America. He was also a dean of St. Nersess Seminary. Another great outcome of St. Nersess, is the Very Reverend, Fr. Aren Jebejian, serving in Detroit, Michigan. He also happens to be Nersoyan’s great-nephew, my father’s classmate, and a good friend.  
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Although Nersoyan is not with us today, he deserves so much credit for how the Armenian diaspora has become a family. As he did witness the Armenian Genocide and the outcomes of it, he implemented so many ways for the diaspora to connect. Armenia and Artsakh are in challenging times, and we have done so many charitable acts through these organizations to help our brothers and sisters. The worldwide community he started is why we are here today, attending an Armenian church, school, and helping our fellow Armenians, post the first genocide of the 20th century. Therefore. I believe Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan deserves the Nobel Peace Prize.  ​

Last evening, Tuesday, June 30, St. Nersess Seminary held its final worship service for the academic year. Clergy from the Eastern and Western Dioceses  and Armenia joined students and members of the faculty to participate in the Evening Service Երեկոյեան Ժամերգութիւն via Zoom. This was the first time such a gathering has taken place. 
 
Presiding at the service was Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and graduate of St. Nersess. Also participating in the service were three guest clergy from Holy Etchmiadzin who joined in the early morning hours in Armenia: the V. Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Dean of the Gevorgian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, who served as ժամարար; the V. Rev. Fr. Anania Tsaturyan, Staffbearer for His Holiness Karekin II, who served as աղօթասաց; and the V. Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, Director of the Department of Mission at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, who offered the message. Fr. Garegin spoke about "listening for God during the Coronavirus Pandemic."
 
"It was truly inspiring for me to be joined in the seminary chapel by so many of my brother clergy from the Eastern and Western Dioceses and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. It was a wonderful way to conclude the academic year, together in prayer, worship and fellowship," reflected the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean.
 
The Evening Service completed the 2019-20 academic year which was extended due to the pandemic. Thanks to online platforms, the St. Nersess faculty and students were able to continue their classes remotely starting in March when the seminary moved from in-person to virtual teaching. During June, the students continued classes, and the seminary presented a mini-semester with continuing education courses for clergy and lectures for the general public. These courses were well received and attended by nearly 200 people throughout the month. 
 
This week, the popular Deacons' Training Program began with a virtual program for 33 altar servers and deacons.