January 13, 2005
Twenty college students from New England, Virginia, the Midwest and the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area spent four days at St. Nersess Seminary as participants of the 2005 Christmas Conference from January 5-8, 2005.
Co-sponsored by the ACYOA, the St. Nersess Christmas Conference offers college students an opportunity to relax and refresh from the stresses of college life in the Seminary's unique Armenian Christian atmosphere.
This year the conference actually began on Armenian Christmas Eve, January 5. Hardly had the participants arrived, when they set out again en masse for St. Gregory the Englightener Armenian Church in nearby White Plains, New York, for the traditional Jrakalooyts Christmas readings and Divine Liturgy. At the urging of the parish priest, Fr. Karekin Kasparian, Haik Diloyan, Peter Hanoian, Justin Ajamian and Greg Guroian, ordained sub-deacons who had come as participants of the conference, served at the holy altar with Fr. Daniel Findikyan, who celebrated the Badarak. Another participant, Karinne Hovnanian, added her beautiful voice to the choir.
Besides Fr. Findikyan, the Christmas Conference was co-directed by Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, the Seminary's Director of Youth Programs and Pastor of St. Peter Armenian Church, Watervliet, NY; and Ms. Nancy Basmajian, Executive Secretary for the ACYOA.
Twenty college students from New England, Virginia, the Midwest and the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area spent four days at St. Nersess Seminary as participants of the 2005 Christmas Conference from January 5-8, 2005.
Co-sponsored by the ACYOA, the St. Nersess Christmas Conference offers college students an opportunity to relax and refresh from the stresses of college life in the Seminary's unique Armenian Christian atmosphere.
This year the conference actually began on Armenian Christmas Eve, January 5. Hardly had the participants arrived, when they set out again en masse for St. Gregory the Englightener Armenian Church in nearby White Plains, New York, for the traditional Jrakalooyts Christmas readings and Divine Liturgy. At the urging of the parish priest, Fr. Karekin Kasparian, Haik Diloyan, Peter Hanoian, Justin Ajamian and Greg Guroian, ordained sub-deacons who had come as participants of the conference, served at the holy altar with Fr. Daniel Findikyan, who celebrated the Badarak. Another participant, Karinne Hovnanian, added her beautiful voice to the choir.
Besides Fr. Findikyan, the Christmas Conference was co-directed by Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, the Seminary's Director of Youth Programs and Pastor of St. Peter Armenian Church, Watervliet, NY; and Ms. Nancy Basmajian, Executive Secretary for the ACYOA.
Later that evening, after returning to the Seminary, Dr. Thomas Samuelian spoke to the group about the condition of Armenia in general, and the Armenian Church in particular. Dr. Samuelian is Emeritus professor of Armenian language at St. Nersess. He has a law practice in Yerevan and is engaged in a number of creative and successful development projects and ministries. During the discussion which followed, Tom spoke of the myriad ways in which diasporan Armenians can support the development of the country and the Church.
Thursday morning, Armenian Christmas day greeted the participants with sleet, freezing rain and ice, prompting them to return to St. Gregory's for Christmas Badarak rather than going to St. Vartan Cathedral in New York, which was the original plan.
"I've spent five of the last 24 hours in church!," said one participant at the end of the Liturgy. "I didn't know I was that religious!"
Thursday morning, Armenian Christmas day greeted the participants with sleet, freezing rain and ice, prompting them to return to St. Gregory's for Christmas Badarak rather than going to St. Vartan Cathedral in New York, which was the original plan.
"I've spent five of the last 24 hours in church!," said one participant at the end of the Liturgy. "I didn't know I was that religious!"
"Christmas, the Tsunami, and the New Year" was the provocative title of a discussion led by Frs. Daniel Findikyan and Stepanos Doudoukjian on Friday. "As Armenians we of all people must pause to reflect on the deeper significance of the tragedy in southern Asia," said Fr. Daniel, referring to the disastrous earthquake and tsunami which, as of that date, had claimed over 150,000 lives. "Is this all there is to life?," he asked.
Later in the day a presentation was made by Jason Demerjian, who is Director of College Ministry for the Eastern Diocese and is currently studying at St. Nersess to be ordained a priest. Entitled, "The Four Loves," his talk was based on the famous book by the Christian writer C.S. Lewis, which distinguishes four ways that humans express their love for one another and for God: storge (affection); filia (friendship); eros (personal intimacy); agape (Godly love).
Later in the day a presentation was made by Jason Demerjian, who is Director of College Ministry for the Eastern Diocese and is currently studying at St. Nersess to be ordained a priest. Entitled, "The Four Loves," his talk was based on the famous book by the Christian writer C.S. Lewis, which distinguishes four ways that humans express their love for one another and for God: storge (affection); filia (friendship); eros (personal intimacy); agape (Godly love).
"You can spend your lifetime looking for that one in six-billion people who is meant for you," Jason said, "Or you can choose for yourself a good, decent and suitable partner and devote your life to the holy work of building your love for that person in marriage."
"Love is a topic that everyone thinks he knows about," said one young man. "But it is not as simple as we think, and definitely not as romantic as society wants us to believe."
Between probing discussion such as these, there was plenty of time for relaxation, good food, Christmas carols, and spending time with old and new friends in front of the fireplace or the Christmas tree.
When asked to summarize the Christmas Conference, one veteran participant said, "St. Nersess is home. That's all there is to it."
"Love is a topic that everyone thinks he knows about," said one young man. "But it is not as simple as we think, and definitely not as romantic as society wants us to believe."
Between probing discussion such as these, there was plenty of time for relaxation, good food, Christmas carols, and spending time with old and new friends in front of the fireplace or the Christmas tree.
When asked to summarize the Christmas Conference, one veteran participant said, "St. Nersess is home. That's all there is to it."
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