
This Fall St. Nersess Seminary will offer a public course entitled, Classics of Armenian Spirituality. The course will be taught by Dr. Edward G. Mathews, Jr., Visiting Professor of Biblical Languages.
Armenian Answers to Basic Christian Issues
The course will concentrate on how the Armenian Church understands the most basic issues of Christian life: How should we pray? What do we believe about prayer? How can I overcome obstacles to prayer? Why is there suffering? How should I deal with suffering in my life? How can I overcome doubt? How can I grow in faith?, hope, and communion with God?
These are among the questions that students will contemplate as they study a selection of Armenian spiritual texts, many of them translated into English for the first time.
The course will begin with the foundation of our faith, sacred Scripture. Students will learn how the Bible is understood and interpreted by the Armenian Church, and how this compares with Protestant, Catholic and other approaches to Scripture.

Among the church fathers whose writings will be studies are Sts. Ephrem the Syrian, Gregory of Narek and Nersess Shnorhali ("the Gracious").
Dr. Edward G. Mathews Jr., is currently Visiting Professor of Scripture and Biblical Languages at St. Nersess Seminary. A specialist in the languages, literature and theology of the Christian East, he is acknowledged as one of the world's authorities on St. Ephrem the Syrian (d. 373 AD), especially as they have been preserved in Armenian translations of the so-called "Golden Age" of Sts. Sahak and Mesrob.
Tuesdays at 7PM
Each semester the Seminary opens up one of its courses to the general public as part of its Extension Program. The Fall Spirituality Course will take place on Tuesday evenings from 7-9PM at the Seminary beginning on September 12.
Those wishing to audit the course may feel free to attend class sessions as their schedules permit, and as their interest inspires them. The fee for auditors is $100. For further information contact the Seminary at info@stnersess.edu or by telephone: (914) 636-2003.