
Dr. Roberta Ervine, Professor of Armenian Studies at St. Nersess, will offer a weekly course this Fall entitled, The Life and Strenuous Times of St. Nerses Shnorhali. The course will be held at the Seminary and Professor Ervine's lectures will be streamed live via the St. Nersess website. The first lecture will take place on Wednesday, September 8 at 7:30PM E.S.T.
CENTURIES BEFORE HIS TIME
St. Nerses Shnorhali is one of the most revered figures in the Armenian Church and the patron saint of the Seminary. The Armenian word Shnorhalimeans "filled with grace." As Catholicos in the mid-twelfth century, he was one of the greatest theologians in the history of the church. Ardently working for unity among the churches, he argued for the concept of fundamental ecclesial unity in essentials and diversity in matters of faith expression more than 700 years before the modern ecumenical movement would develop that notion in the twentieth century. St. Nerses was also a compassionate pastor, reformer of the liturgy and composer of a vast repertoire of sacred hymns that are loved and sung in the church services until today.
YOU ARE THERE…
Professor Ervine is known for her riveting teaching style, and especially for her uncanny ability to draw her students into the reality of the historical events she is speaking about. She will survey the life, precarious historical circumstances and manifold contributions St. Nersess through lectures, art, music and especially by reading a large selection the Saint's writings. Most of these writings will be available to registered students for the first time in English translation. The result will be a truly new appraisal of Shnorhali's role and relevance for the Armenian Church today.
VIEW LECTURES LIVE ONLINE Anyone wishing to follow the weekly lectures live need only log onto the St. Nersess Seminary channel on ustream.com on Wednesday evenings at 7:30PM Eastern Standard Time. A link will also be posted on the home page of the St. Nersess website. Past lectures will be archived on the same site and available for viewing at one's convenience. | Professor Roberta Ervine |
Those who would like access to Professor Ervine's weekly lecture notes and materials, including her original translations of St. Nerses Shnorhali's texts may register online for access to the online course. A donation of $75 is requested to support the Seminary's developing Global Classroom. The tax-deductible donation may be made securely online or paid by check to St. Nersess Armenian Seminary. Upon receipt of payment an access code will be sent to those who have registered for the course.
For further information contact the Seminary at info@stnersess.edu or (914) 636-2003.
Roberta Ervine has been on the faculty of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary for nine years. Before coming to St. Nersess she was a resident of the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem for more than 20 years, where she was a student of, and research assistant to Abp. Norayr Bogharian, one of the most erudite and prolific Armenologists of the twientieth century. While in Jerusalem Dr. Ervine also taught in the Tarkmanchats School and lectured in Armenian Studies at Hebrew University. Professor Ervine's primary area of expertise is in medieval Armenian theological writings and Church history. Her recent book, The Blessing of Blessings: Gregory of Narek's Commentary on the Song of Songs, with complete English translation and commentary, was published by Cistercian Publications. She is currently overseeing an ongoing project by the St. Nersess faculty to translate into English the complete works of St. Nerses Shnorhali.