​On Saturday May 5, 2018 following the conclusion of the Diocesan Assembly hosted by the St. Gregory the Enlightener parish of White Plains, the St. Nersess Alumni Association (SNAA), joined by the present body of seminarians, met for the first time on the campus of our new Seminary in Armonk. Also, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, former Dean, alumnus, current professor, and newly elected Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, attended the meeting.
 
The alumni discussed the mission, work, and purpose of SNAA. All members by a vote of confidence affirmed the leadership of Arpi Nakashian as Chairlady, Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian as Treasurer, and Dn. Daron Bolat as Secretary.
 
Arpi welcomed everyone and in the name of our gathering congratulated our newly elected Primate. She shared with us a recap of the St. Nersess Alumni Great Lenten retreat that took place in March and was graciously hosted by Father Vasken Kouzouian in Cambridge Massachusetts.
 
A discussion took place regarding fundraising efforts by Alumni themselves to help the seminary directly with their own donations to the newly established Leadership Giving Circle' for St. Nersess, personal donations, seeking out people with a passion for the mission of the seminary, inviting them to consider donating, and directing honorary donations remembering or celebrating departed and living individuals to the seminary.
 
The alumni also took the initiative to re-establishing of the adopt a seminarian initiative; thus making a more personal contact with the present body of students and mentoring them to become good shepherds of the Armenian Church. 
 
Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean of the seminary, noted that this year is the 50th anniversary of the relationship established between St. Nersess and St. Vladimir Orthodox Seminary for the Master's of Divinity degree program for St. Nersess students.  He noted as well that it has been 52 years at St. Vladimir's that the joint education of our students has been in place. Since 1966  there have been some 39 graduates and/or students who have attended classes including our newly elected Primate of the Eastern Diocese, the Very Reverend Father Daniel Findikyan.
 
The luncheon meeting of ideas, good works, brotherly and sisterly fellowship concluded with a sweet surprise to our new Primate Fr. Daniel on the occasion of his election a with a cake as the alumni sang unanimously Ուրախ լեր Սուրբ Եկեղեցի (rejoice Holy Church). After words of joy and prayers, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan gave his first blessing to us as Primate.
 
Thank you to the staff of our beloved Alma Mater for opening the doors to us and always keeping them open to visit, refresh our spirits and renew our ties to a small school that has produced an abundant harvest of leadership.
 
Father Garabed Kochakian
Alumnus 1973

On the evening of March 26, the St. Nersess seminarians volunteered with the Emergency Shelter Partnership (ESP) in Northern Westchester County. Founded in 2004, the shelter can be described as a 'traveling shelter' which is run by ESP and is supported by different faith communities in the area. Each day, during the winter months of November through March, they provide the clients with a place to sleep, a hot dinner and dessert, as well as breakfast and a packed bag lunch for the next day.

This week, the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Armonk was hosting. The opportunity to serve at this location was presented by Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean, to seminarian Timothy Aznavourian, who led the effort on behalf of all the seminarians.

The seminarians and Fr. Mardiros arrived at St. Stephen's at 8:30pm to set up tables and the dinner. Two seminarians served the meal to the clients while the other seminarians and Julianne Aznavourian (wife of Timothy) prepared the bagged lunches for the next day.

The seminarians and Fr. Mardiros had an opportunity to interact with the 14 men and women who had gathered for the meal. Before serving, everyone gathered around the table for a prayer and blessing. Timothy stayed overnight to assist the ESP supervisor and the clients, while the others departed by 10:30pm.

St. Nersess Seminary cook, Wilma Petrossian, prepared the main meal for the clients as well as the food for the lunch bags, while DeCicco's & Sons grocery store of Armonk provided leftover prepared food and breakfast to the clients.
"I am grateful to Fr. Mardiros, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and all the Armonk faith communities for undertaking the task of providing emergency shelter to the northern Westchester community," commented Timothy Aznavourian. "Providing such emergency shelter is a small but necessary step in addressing wider issues of housing justice in Westchester County. By taking part in ESP, St. Nersess Seminary was given the opportunity to strive to live out Jesus Christ's command that, 'I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.' (Matthew 25:35) "
Since the founding of ESP, no homeless person has died sleeping outside during frigid temperatures. More information can be found at https://emergencyshelterpartnership.org.