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.

​St. Nersess has given four Primates, 37 priests, and many lay ministers who are serving the Armenian Church today including Archbishop Avak Assadourian, Primate of the Diocese of Iraq; Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate of the Diocese of France; Bishop Nareg Berberian, Primate of the Diocese of Brazil; and Bishop-elect the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, the new Primate of the Eastern Diocese of Armenian Church of America.

With the recent election of Fr. Daniel, he is the latest alumnus of the seminary to be serving as a Primate of a Diocese. An American born priest, Fr. Daniel graduated from St. Nersess in 1989 and was ordained a celibate priest in 1997. He earned his doctorate in Liturgical Studies from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, and previously earned a Master of Arts degree in Musicology from the City University of New York, and a Master of Divinity from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. He has been teaching at St. Nersess for over 20 years, served as its dean from 2000-2012, and most recently served as the Director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in New York City.
 
Archbishop Avak Asadourian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Iraq, received an M.A. in Philosophy from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, where he taught Philosophy prior to becoming a student at St. Nersess Seminary in 1973. In 1976, he received his Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary as a St. Nersess student. He was ordained a celibate priest in 1977 and was consecrated a bishop in 1982 by His Holiness Vasken I in Holy Etchmiadzin and elevated to the rank of archbishop in 1993. In 1998, he received a Ph.D. from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross affiliated with the Vatican with "Summa Cum Laude" qualification.  He has served as the Primate of the Diocese of Iraq for nearly 40 years. During his time as Primate, he has led his flock through the Iraq-Iran War, the Gulf War and more recently the conflicts in Iraq since 2003. In 1988 and then in 2015, he published the Service Book for Holy Week (complete and then abridged copies), a useful tool for altar servers as well as the faithful, which can be purchased through the seminary.
 
Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate of the Diocese of France, graduated from St. Nersess and St. Vladimir's Seminaries in 1989 and received a PhD in Biblical Studies from Fordham University in 1998. He was ordained a celibate priest by Archbishop Avak Assadourian and then began his service in the Eastern Diocese, first at the Holy Cross of Armenia in Washington Heights, NY, then at St. Leon Armenian Church, in Fair Lawn, NJ. Bishop Vahan served as the dean of St. Nersess for a year in 1999 before returning to parish life at Holy Martyrs Armenian Church in Bayside, NY. He was consecrated a bishop in 2011 in Holy Etchmiadzin and served in the Diocese of the United Kingdom & Ireland before relocating to the Diocese of France in Paris.

Bishop Nareg Berberian, Primate of the Diocese of Brazil, graduated from St. Nersess and St.Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in 1991 with a Master of Divinity and received a Doctorate of Ministry in Theology and Pastoral Studies at Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA, in 1999. He was ordained a celibate priest by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian in 1992, his first ordination as the primate of the Eastern Diocese. Fr. Nareg served several parishes in the Eastern Diocese, including St. George Armenian Church in Hartford, CT, and St. David Armenian Church in Boca Raton, FL. In 2014, he was elected to lead the Diocese of Brazil and was consecrated a bishop.
 
Both Archbishop Avak Assadourian and Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian serve as members of the Supreme Spiritual Council of Holy Etchmiadzin.

On Saturday, May 19, over 100 guests including friends and family of the graduates, clergy, board of directors, alumni and supporters of the seminary celebrated the graduation of Dn. Arman Galstyan and Dn. Michael Sabounjian who received their diplomas from St. Nersess Seminary.

Among the dignitaries at the event were the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, new Primate of the Eastern Diocese and President of the St. Nersess Board of Directors, and His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, who for nearly three decades led the Diocese and the Seminary as its Primate and President.

The program began with a vespers service in the St. Hagop Chapel. The Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean, welcomed the guests and introduced each speaker who addressed the graduates during the graduation ceremony. Dn. Albert Hambardzumyan, representing the St. Nersess student body, spoke to the graduates saying, "Remember your roots at St. Nersess and always remain faithful servants."

Fr. Mardiros then introduced Garen Karamyan, Instructor of Classical & Modern Armenian, who proclaimed on the eve of Pentecost, he chose to speak in Armenian. "Let it be Pentecost in your lives every day so that you may be able to speak in all the unique and various languages of our people in order to bring unity in your parishes as future priests of the Armenian Church," said Garen.

Speaking to the graduates next was Dr. Roberta Ervine, Professor of Armenian Studies, who also referenced Pentecost, citing the uncertainty that the disciples felt on that day and asking the new graduates, "How will you encounter others and how will they respond?"

This was followed by the President of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, the Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield, who thanked St. Nersess for its long standing 50-year collaborative relationship. "We will celebrate our anniversary with a special symposium on October 5, 2019...save the date."

Next the graduates addressed the attendees, starting with Dn. Arman, who completed his studies in the St. Nersess the Great Program for Late Vocations and received a Diploma in Armenian Church Studies. "Sometimes when you look back at your choices in life, you are not always sure of your decision. But I am so happy to have attended St. Nersess and am at peace with my choice. It was not always easy," he explained, as he detailed how his wife and children in Canada supported his busy travel schedule to the seminary to complete his degree.

Both Dn. Arman and Dn. Michael expressed their gratitude to their instructors, and Khajag Srpazan and Der Mardiros for their unconditional support and love. "As I reflect on the last three years, I am able to say I am a better Christian and servant of the Armenian Church," exclaimed Dn. Michael, who received a diploma in Armenian Church Studies. "St. Nersess filled my head with knowledge as I explored the heart of our church traditions," said Dn. Michael.

Before Fr. Daniel presented the graduates with their diplomas, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian addressed the room with a heartfelt message. "Today is a celebration of progress for both St. Nersess and our graduates. I have worked hard to make the vision of Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan a reality. The mission of the Armenian Church now continues through our graduates, whom I have watched grow through the years. With Fr. Daniel as the new Primate - this is also progress - I am confident for the future of the seminary and the diocese," declared Khajag Srpazan. He also thanked Fr. Mardiros and the faculty for their dedication, as well as the board of directors and benefactors of the seminary.

Fr. Daniel concluded the ceremony, referencing Pentecost and the disciples who were able to speak eloquently and inspire others and fill them with hope. "The Holy Spirit takes the divine energy of God and makes things possible. The Holy Spirit took Dn. Michael and Dn. Arman and made them graduates of the seminary. What will the Holy Spirit do next with St. Nersess? We must set our eyes and vision beyond where it has been."

The joyful guests moved from the chapel into the lobby of the Theological Center where they enjoyed a bountiful reception prepared by Wilma Petrossian, Manager of Food Services, and had an opportunity to personally congratulate the graduates on their accomplishments. The lavish dessert table was lovingly prepared and donated by Mary Stevoff of Chicago, the aunt of Yn. Diane Chevian.

Earlier in the afternoon, Dn. Michael Sabounjian was among the 20 graduates at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity degree. Seminarian Timothy Aznavourian gave the salutatorian address, a first for a St. Nersess student.

​This summer, Dn. Arman will continue his parish internship at St. Leon Armenian Church in Fair Lawn, NJ. Dn. Michael will be teaching at the Deacons' Training Program in June and in the fall, he will continue his studies at the Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin for an academic year.

photos by Dn. Ryan Tellalian and Donna Sirounian