Category: Seminarians

Fall Semester Concludes

12/14/2020

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On Saturday, December 12, the seminary concluded its Fall semester with a celebration of Badarak on the Feast of St. James of Nisibis (St. Hagop). Fr. Hakob Gevorgyan, pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cheltenham, PA, was the guest celebrant and preacher. The seminarians and the dean, as well as Fr. Karekin Kasparian, participated in the service. During the service, everyone present lit candles in front of the icon of St. James which hangs in the chapel.

At the conclusion of the Badarak, Fr. Hakob blessed recent seminary graduate Dn. Armen Terjimanian and his wife Emily, who the previous weekend were married in their home parish of St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, MI. Dn. Armen is currently spending his year-long pastoral internship with Fr. Hakob at Holy Trinity.

Following the services, a festive luncheon was enjoyed by all in attendance. During the lunch, the newly married couple were honored by Fr. Mardiros Chevian who presented them with gifts from the seminary. The group also sang happy birthday to Professor Roberta Ervine!

The chapel, which was given in memory of Hagop & Khengaper Didizian, was consecrated and named St. James of Nisibis (Ս. Յակոբ Մծբնայ Հայրապետ) by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, on November 12, 2016. Each year, on the saint's feast day, Badarak is celebrated in the chapel.

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Snapshot of Three Recent Graduates

10/23/2020

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Dear St. Nersess Supporter,

In normal times, we would have mailed our annual Fall Appeal asking you to help fund the education of our students - future priests and non-ordained leaders - and support our educational goals for the 2020-21 academic year at St. Nersess Seminary. However, during these difficult days of uncertainty in our own country and especially in Artsakh and Armenia, we wish to instead just share information. We stand united in our collective support and prayers for Artsakh.

Below is an update on three recent St. Nersess graduates, one who is now deacon-in-charge of a parish and two who have begun their year-long pastoral internships. Below are snapshots on these individuals and how our seminary has greatly influenced each of their lives.

Dn. Albert Hambardzumyan: "After spending more than a year with my family at St. Hagop Armenian Church in Pinellas Park, FL, as a pastoral intern with Der Hovnan Demirjian, I have now embarked on a new journey as the Deacon-in-Charge of St. John the Baptist Armenian Church in Greenfield, WI. The three years I spent at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary as well as the eight years I spent at the Seminary of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem had a positive impact on me and prepared me well for my first pastoral assignment. St. Nersess equipped me with knowledge and experience to serve our Lord, while simultaneously serving our people."

Dn. Timothy Aznavourian: "St. Nersess has prepared me for my pastoral internship at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cambridge, MA, in a number of ways. Classes led by Bp. Daniel Findikyan, Dr. Roberta Ervine and others have given me an authentic look at what is the theological tradition of the Armenian Church. Dr. Ervine's classes on Church History and Patristics, in particular, have given me the ability to read ancient Armenian Church texts, while at the same time present these ancient and sacred ideas in an understandable way in the 21st century. Furthermore, the interactions I have had with professors, clergy and church leaders have helped me handle the challenges of parish life."

Dn. Armen Terjimanian: "Thanks to the training I received from our priests and professors at St. Nersess, I am well prepared for my pastoral internship at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cheltenham, PA. When preaching, visiting parishioners, or participating in Badarak, I am also thankful for the experience of my mini-internship at St. John Armenian Church in Southfield, MI, and mentorship of Hayr Aren Jebejian and Der Armash Bagdasarian as it gave a great foundation for the tasks at hand. I'm certain that my time at Holy Trinity will be a fruitful one thanks to the guidance and fatherly help of Der Hakob Gevorgyan."

These snapshots demonstrate how your continued dedication and support strengthen the leadership and community of our Church. We are proud of what we offer at St. Nersess and will continue our work.

Our homeland remains foremost in our thoughts and prayers, and we pray for our faculty, graduates, clergy and their family members who are directly affected by the crisis in Artsakh. Most importantly, we pray for peace.

With prayers,

Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean

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Fall Semester Begins with a Student from the Western Diocese

9/22/2020

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St. Nersess Armenian Seminary began its fall semester on August 24. "We are happy to welcome back our seminarians and two new students who will study for service in the Armenian Church," remarked the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean.

This year, we welcome a new student from the Western Diocese. Dn. Garen Hamamjian grew up in Los Angeles, CA, and attended St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank. He graduated from UCLA with an undergraduate degree in Middle Eastern Studies, focusing the Abrahamic Religions and Armenian Studies.

"Even though I had visited St. Nersess in the summer of 2015 and 2016, I did not know what to expect of the academic and spiritual life. This past month I already feel that St. Nersess has transformed me as I have become inspired by the students and faculty every day. They know exactly what I need both mentally and spiritually and make sure that I am given the right tools to continue my journey to the priesthood," commented Dn. Garen. "Though I am far away from home, they have made me a part of their family, and now St. Nersess feels very much like home. I have been challenged in ways that I did not expect. I know that St. Nersess will be guiding me to become a humble and devoted servant of God, his people, and the Armenian Apostolic Church," he continued.

His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese, had this to say about Dn. Garen: "Garen is a fine young deacon of the Western Diocese, whose dedication has been exceptional. He has responded to God's call to enter the journey to priesthood with compassionate love, and I trust that he will be an outstanding American-born Armenian priest in the life of our Church. Surely, St. Nersess is the sacred ground to train young students to become devout servants of Christ our Lord."

The seminary also welcomes Arman Shirikyan who will be following the St. Nersess the Great for Late Vocations program. This program prepares men who seek ordination to the holy priesthood of the Armenian Church as a second or late vocation. Arman resides with his family in Massachusetts and is under the guidance of Fr. Khachatur Kesablyan at the Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Chelmsford. He will take his classes remotely and travel to the seminary monthly.

There are five students who are studying at St. Nersess, including Julia Hintlian, a doctoral student at Harvard University who has returned to St. Nersess for a full academic year of study and research. In addition, there are four part-time students studying both remotely and on campus.

While all the students are engaged in coursework during the academic year, seminarians are also required to spend their summers in educational programs, including: participating in a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program, working at a Diocesan or AGBU summer camp, and studying at Holy Etchmiadzin or the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Following their graduation, they spend a full year at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to complete their studies.

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Fall Semester Concludes

Snapshot of Three Recent Graduates

Fall Semester Begins with a Student from the Western Diocese

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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!)

Contact Us

Fall Semester Concludes

Snapshot of Three Recent Graduates

​Fall Semester Begins with a Student from the Western Diocese

Archives

Categories

Directions to the Seminary

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary​486 Bedford RoadArmonk, NY 10504​(**PLEASE** input "St. Nersess Armenian Seminary" into Google Maps for correct location!)

Contact Us

Fall Semester Begins with a Student from the Western Diocese

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
486 Bedford Road
Armonk, NY 10504

(PLEASE input "St. Nersess Armenian Seminary" into Google Maps for correct location!)