They came.
They decorated.
They sang.
They left.
Or better: They came.
With every string of lights hung, every strand of garland unfurled and every ribbon tied, they showered their boundless love on St. Nersess Seminary and the Armenian Church.
They filled the seminary with the spirit of Christmas.
And they left, promising to come back again, maybe even before next Christmas.
They decorated.
They sang.
They left.
Or better: They came.
With every string of lights hung, every strand of garland unfurled and every ribbon tied, they showered their boundless love on St. Nersess Seminary and the Armenian Church.
They filled the seminary with the spirit of Christmas.
And they left, promising to come back again, maybe even before next Christmas.
In what has become an annual tradition, the ladies of St. Leon Armenian Church (Fair Lawn, NJ) descended upon the seminary last Thursday evening, December 2 for two hours of Christmas cheer. The ladies have taken it upon themselves every year to put up the St. Nersess Christmas tree and to decorate the seminary for the Christmas holidays. They came this year with their devoted and energetic pastor, St. Nersess alumnus Fr. Diran Bohajian.
In a whirlwind of activity, the ladies went right to work hanging strands of lights on the tree and stretches of green garland on the imposing wooden pillars that frame the entryways into the living and dining rooms.
Another delegation headed for the kitchen to start the coffee and heat the sugar syrup for the freshly-baked khadayif pastry they brought along.
It was perhaps that unique fragrance that attracted the seminarians. For weeks they were looking forward this special event. Falling as it does at the end of the semester, it provides a welcome relief from the pressures of term papers and final exams.
Another delegation headed for the kitchen to start the coffee and heat the sugar syrup for the freshly-baked khadayif pastry they brought along.
It was perhaps that unique fragrance that attracted the seminarians. For weeks they were looking forward this special event. Falling as it does at the end of the semester, it provides a welcome relief from the pressures of term papers and final exams.
Sure enough, the seminarians began to emerge from their rooms on the second floor of the seminary building. "It is so nice of the St. Leon ladies to come and brighten our seminary at Christmastime," said one student, as he stepped out of the way of two ladies unfurling a jumble of electric lights.
"They transformed our house!", said Dr. Abraham Terian, mingling with the guests.
"They transformed our house!", said Dr. Abraham Terian, mingling with the guests.
Seminarian Deacon Nishan Baljian could barely sit down at the piano before the ladies started singing "O Come All Ye Faithful," and an entire medley of traditional Christmas carols.
"We love you very much," said Mrs. Dovie Tilbian, one of the organizers of the evening, "And we are so happy to spend this time with you each Christmas. It's our way of saying thank you for all you do for our church."
And as abruptly as they appeared, they were off again for the ride back to New Jersey. In their wake, a trail of love and motherly affection for a community of young people working diligently, in that same spirit, for God and his holy church.
"We love you very much," said Mrs. Dovie Tilbian, one of the organizers of the evening, "And we are so happy to spend this time with you each Christmas. It's our way of saying thank you for all you do for our church."
And as abruptly as they appeared, they were off again for the ride back to New Jersey. In their wake, a trail of love and motherly affection for a community of young people working diligently, in that same spirit, for God and his holy church.
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