St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
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  • St. Nersess Theological Review
  • SNTR Volume 7

Points of Light - Prayerful Care of Souls

Rev. Fr. Karekin Kasparian
Former Dean
St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
Pastor
St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church
White Plains, New York

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In my 18 years of pastoral ministry I have been privileged to have established such pastoral relationships with parishioners that their appreciative expressions have truly humbled me.

One of my parishioners was experiencing deep depression as a result of some family conflicts and business failure. He would be reluctant to get up in the mornings. Even shaving became a big chore for him. Reluctantly he was seeing a psychiatrist, but with very slow progress. One day his wife asked me to speak with him. We instituted a system whereby on alternate days we would drive to each other’s house, park the car and talk while walking on the quiet street of our neighborhood. This "walk and talk" practice lasted for over two years. My friend slowly came out of his depression, much due to the psychiatrist. I developed a habit of walking (almost daily), which contributes to my staying healthy.

Another time, I administered Holy Communion to an elderly mother who enjoyed attending services at our church in Westchester, New York. However, we were not in church, but in her hospital room. In a tearful and prayerful session, she received communion and felt comforted. A few months later, in a West Coast hospital, she was visited by another Armenian priest who offered to give her Holy Communion. She reluctantly said, "But my Der Hayr has already given me Holy communion. That's enough far me." Our pastor-parishioner relationship was so strong that in her painful moments, she used to call me from 1500 miles away to talk to me and ask for prayers over the phone.




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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Contact Us

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

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


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