St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
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  • SNTR Volume 7

Points of Light - Blessing of a Factory

Rev. Fr. Arten Ashjian
Retired Priest
Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church
Instructor at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary

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Mrs. Vartanesian, a survivor of the Genocide, was the chairperson of the Ladies Auxiliary at St. Leon’s Armenian Church in Paterson, New Jersey, where I served briefly as pastor in the early 1950’s. Mrs. Vartanesian, whose husband was also very active in the church, worked in a local textile factory as a supervisor. The Vartanesians did not have any children.

It was winter. One night after a meeting in the church hall, Mrs. Vartanesian approached me privately. "Der Hayr," she said, "Business is very slow where I work. The situation is getting worse, week after week. I suggested to the boss, who has confidence in me, that you as my priest pay a visit to the plant to perform an Armenian home blessing ritual far the benefit of the business. Would you come?"

I did not know her boss. All I knew about him was that he was a non-Armenian and a non-Christian. "What did your boss think of your suggestion?" I asked Mrs. Vartanesian.

"He will certainly welcome you in performing the blessing," was her answer. On the appointed day, I took my "ritual tools" and some salt with me as I went to climb to the second floor of the old factory where Mrs. Vartanesian met me in her work clothes. She was anxious to introduce me to her boss. The man was thin and pale, wearing an expression which betrayed worry. He welcomed me without enthusiasm, saying something like, "We tried everything to improve the state of this business. Now we are at the point where we are willing to try anything, particularly since Mrs. Vartanesian has such faith in God."

There was hardly any other witness to the Armenian "home blessing" ritual I was about to begin. The machines were already turned off. The boss kept himself out of my way while I, putting an a stole, began chanting. I remember sprinkling a little salt and water upon same workbenches nearby after touching the salt and water with my hand cross...

The following week Mrs. Vartanesian reported to me that the business at the factory had started to pick up.


CLICK HERE

CHRONICLES OF THE CALL
A Calling To The Truth

An Unexpected Call From God

Flip A Coin

From Sales To Souls

God's Constant Call 
To Become A Priest

Going With The Current
Of God's Call

Serve Your Church

The Inspiration Of My Teachers




RESOURCES FOR VOCATIONS
AND CHURCH MINISTRY
An Interview with the Director
of Youth & Vocations

Are You Listening?

His Invitation is Still: 'Follow Me'

The Armenian Sacrament of
Ordination to the Holy Priesthood

The Armenian Service of Calling
to the Holy Priesthood

The Call

To Choose or to be Chosen




POINTS OF LIGHT
All that the Father Gives Me
Will Come to Me (John 6:37)

Go In Peace, Darling

A Match to Light Our Worship

A Prayer in the Car

A True Christmas Story

An Open Door to the Kingdom

Baptism in a Shack

Blessing of a Factory

Confirmed in the Spirit

He Gave His Life for Us

It Is Worth All The Trouble

Prayerful Care of Souls

The Blind Man

Warming Up Without Heat




FAQs
Prerequisites for Seminary Study
Do I Have What It Takes?

Seminary Studies: Courses, Teachers, Grades, Requirements

Seminary Life

Marriage and Celibacy

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Preparing leaders for service in the
Armenian Church since 1961
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Directions to the Seminary

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
​486 Bedford Road
Armonk, NY 10504

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Phone: (914) 273-0200
Email: info@stnersess.edu

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday, 9:30am-5:30pm


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