
Professor Abraham Terian will be honored at a reception in New York on the occasion of his retirement from St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and in recognition of his manifold contributions to the Armenian Church. The reception is being hosted by Abp. Khajag Barsamian in his dual roles as Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and President of the Board of Directors of St. Nersess Seminary. It will take place on Friday, October 10, 2008 at 7PM in the Haig and Alice Kavookjian Hall of the Armenian Diocese at 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY.
From Jerusalem to New York
Dr. Terian has served as Academic Dean and Professor of Armenian Patristics at the Seminary for 11 years. He grew up in the Armenian compound of St. James in Jerusalem, where he received his early education. For six years he was a professional tour-guide throughout the Holy Land. In addition to a Bachelor's degree in history and ancient languages and a Master's degree in archaeology and history of antiquity, he holds a Doctorate in Theology from the University of Basel, Switzerland, specializing in Early Christianity and its Jewish and Hellenistic backgrounds.
Before coming to St. Nersess in 1997, he was Professor of Intertestamental and Early Christian Literatures for twenty years at various universities in the US and abroad, and for four years a recurring Visiting Professor for both Classical Armenian and Hellenistic Judaism at the University of Chicago. Dr. Terian is an internationally recognized scholar in these fields.
Prolific Scholar and Author
Terian has published 6 books and more than fifty articles in historical, philological, and literary periodicals and monographs.
At the evening in his honor, his two most recent books will officially be released. Just published by the prestigious Oxford University Press is The Armenian Gospel of the Infancy: With Three Early Versions of the Protoevangelion of James. This book contains the first English translation of a famous, ancient collection of legends and traditions concerning Jesus' childhood as preserved and transmitted by the Armenians. The work is the oldest source of information regarding Saints Joachim and Anna, the parents of Mary.

The second of Terian's books to be released will be Macarius of Jerusalem: Letter to the Armenians. In this book, which already attracted international attention a year before its publication, Terian identifies the author of the brief letter as the early fourth-century Bishop Macarius of Jerusalem, making this the oldest surviving writing pertaining to the Armenian Church.
"There is no doubt in my mind that this work will be Terian's most important contribution to Christian scholarship to date," said V. Rev. Dr. Daniel Findikyan, Dean and Professor of Liturgical Studies at St. Nersess Seminary, and a friend and colleague of Terian. "The importance of this work not only for Armenian Studies, but for the early history of the Eucharist and other sacraments of the church can hardly be overestimated," Findikyan added.
Treasures of Armenian Christianity
This volume is the fourth number in St. Nersess Armenian Seminary's series known as AVANT: Treasures of the Armenian Christian Tradition. The series is a joint venture of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. Terian is also the author of the second book in the series, Patriotism and Piety in Armenian Christianity: The Early Panegyrics on Saint Gregory. All of the books in the AVANT series are available for purchase from St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.
Professor Emeritus
On the occasion of his retirement from full-time teaching, Terian will be granted the title, "Emeritus Professor of Armenian Theology and Patristics" by the St. Nersess Board of Directors. Colleagues from prestigious universities, clergy, and students will be present to celebrate this milestone. Also present will be Dr. Terian's wife, Dr. Sara Karkkainen Terian, a retired Professor of Sociology, who recently completed a comprehensive qualitative sociological study commissioned by the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, entitled, "Hidden Treasure: The Armenian Apostolic Church in America (Eastern Diocese) as seen by a Sample of Its Constituents."
The reception is free and open to the public. Those wishing to attend are asked to R.S.V.P. by contact St. Nersess Seminary at: info@stnersess.edu or 914-636-2003.