ST. NERSESS ARMENIAN SEMINARY
Ս. ՆԵՐՍԷՍ ԸՆԾԱՅԱՐԱՆ
Preparing Leaders for Service in the Armenian Church since 1961
Board of Directors Meet

Members of the St. Nersess Board of Directors met the morning of November 13 in the St. Nersess Library for their semi-annual board meeting. The meeting was presided over by the V. Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and President of the Board of Directors, who attended by Zoom.

New board members elected in the Spring include Maria Stepanian, who will serve as assistant secretary, Dn. Diran Jebejian, Dr. Andre Markarian, Doug Tashjian, and Michael Zeytoonian. An Emeritus Committee has also been formed, including the Rev. Fr. Karekin Kasparian, Michael Haratunian, Shahe Jebejian, Hagop Kouyoumdjian, and Kevork Toroyan.

In his report, the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean, announced there are five full-time students studying for the priesthood, two full-time students preparing for other ministries, and three part-time students. He shared that Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian has returned to the seminary as a member of the faculty and is teaching Biblical Studies. He also discussed the Vocal Training (funded by Dean Shahinian, Esq) now offered to the students on a weekly basis by a professional voice instructor.

Fr. Mardiros mentioned the successful summer conferences, including the Deacons’ Training in Jerusalem; the Fall lecture series offered to the public on Zoom; and the upcoming December clergy continuing education workshop on “Companionship Model of Caregiving” with presenters Dn. Yervant Kutchukian and Rami Shami.

Karnig Durgarian, board chairperson, introduced the topic of creating committees to actively support the work of the seminary, including development and promotion, facilities and capital improvements, and laws and governance committees.

In addition, Karen Dilimetin, assistant treasurer, presented the seminary’s financial report. Donna Sirounian, fundraising & marketing director, presented a comprehensive development report which included all seminary fundraisers and marketing strategies. Moving forward, the board voted to convene three times a year, instead of two, with the next meeting scheduled for late winter and then again during graduation weekend in May.
St. Vladimir's Professor and Students Visit Seminary

On November 9, Dr. Peter Bouteneff, professor of Systematic Theology at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, and students from his class, visited St. Nersess Seminary for their annual gathering. The professor's course explores the relationship between the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Prof. Bouteneff and the students participated in evening service, joined our students and faculty for dinner, and engaged in an informal discussion. This year, the discussion was led by St. Nersess faculty member Bishop Daniel Findikyan.
Seminary Students Attend ACYOA Senior Fall Retreat

Over the November 11-13 weekend, three seminary students – Dn. Garen Hamamjian, Zareh Mirzayan, and Vardan Sargsyan – attended the Eastern Diocese ACYOA Seniors Fall Retreat at Camp Washington in Lakeside, CT. The Retreat’s theme, “Seeking Purpose,” resonated with all the participants. Throughout the weekend, they interacted with area clergy in discussion sessions, prayer services, and meaningful personal conversations.
 
“The ACYOA young adult retreats are some of the most effective faith-building events that the Eastern Diocese hosts, and this year's Fall 2022 retreat was no exception,” shared Vardan Sargsyan. “We attended the weekend retreat and left feeling refreshed and motivated by the faith of the young adults we met. Weaved in throughout each day was a common thread of discovering our purpose within the Church as young adults who have varied spiritual gifts. Dn. Yervant Kutchukian, during his session, helped us all to identify some of those gifts, whether they were gifts of encouragement, teaching, prophesy, service, or other. As Christians, we are all called to be ministers of the Church, and I believe that this weekend helped a lot of people to discover their own ministry opportunities,” Vardan continued.
Seminarian Zareh Mirzayan shared, "We all had an impactful time in the beautiful woods of Connecticut. We met other young adults who have a great passion for and dedication to the Armenian Church, from organ players and Sunday school teachers to young professionals working in various industries. What we all had in common was our desire to learn and grow in faith."

The weekend culminated with Badarak with guest celebrant Fr. Nigoghos Aznavourian, a 2020 seminary graduate. Other seminary graduates in attendance throughout the weekend were Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, Fr. Voski Galstyan, Fr. Haroutiun Sabounjian, and Dn. Yervant Kutchukian.
Students Travel to Trumbull, CT

On Sunday, November 6, three St. Nersess students traveled to the Armenian Church of the Holy Ascension in Trumbull, CT. Dn. Garen Hamamjian, Zareh Mirzayan and Vardan Sargsyan participated in the Divine Liturgy and the Special Prayer Service for the Catholicos. The Rev. Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, pastor, was the celebrant.

Prior to the Divine Liturgy, Dn. Garen met with the Sunday School students in the church hall. He spoke about his own experience in the Armenian Church, from his childhood to the present, his childhood passions, and what brought him to the Armenian Church. The seminarians were warmly greeted by parishioners at the fellowship hour.

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary  
Clergy Continuing Education Workshop

Walking Together Through Challenging Places:
The Companionship Model for Providing Supportive Care


St. Nersess Seminary is pleased to offer a two-day workshop on pastoral care for people experiencing chronic illness and their caregivers. This workshop will offer clergy, lay ministers, and seminarians thoughtful and thought-provoking insights into the challenges and demands of life-limiting illness, under the guidance of presenters Dn. Yervant Kutchukian and Rami Shami. 
 
The Companionship Model of Caregiving serves to safeguard the well-being of all those within the circle for care: the pastor or lay minister, the caregiver(s), and the person living with illness. By applying this model of care through a spiritual/pastoral lens, attendees can garner specific skills and techniques to provide a truly person-centered quality of pastoral care to community members from diverse cultural backgrounds and walks of life.
 
The workshop will be held via ZOOM. Register here to receive the link and any workshop materials. 
 
Workshop Schedule

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2
Session 1: 9:30am – 12:30pm (15 min break at 11am)
Introduction to the Companioning model — active listening, entering the bedside space. Mindfulness presence.
Session 2: 1:30pm – 4:30pm   (15 min break at 3:00pm)
Cultural humility. Mindfulness presence. Compassion, empathy, grief, and types of loss

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3
Session 1: 9:00am – 11:00am (30 min break at 11am )
Trauma Informed Approach. Personal reflection on specific cases
Session 2: 11:30am – 12:30pm
Kintsugi - The Art of Precious Scars
12:30 onward: optional time for questions, clarifications, and discussion

Meet the Presenters
Dn. Yervant Kutchukian graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service and obtained a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from St. Nersess and St. Vladimir’s Seminaries. He completed nine units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Albany Medical Center where he also worked for several years as an interfaith chaplain specializing in behavioral health and palliative care chaplaincy. He currently serves as spiritual director at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and as a per diem chaplain at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut.
Rami Shami has been serving within Hospice Palliative Care for over three decades. He feels privileged to practice as a consultant as well as a case manager for the Second Mile Club at Kensington Health, and as the Community Relations Advisor for Lighthouse for Grieving Children. While harvesting a conviction that everyone should have access to quality Hospice Palliative Care, Rami strongly advocates and supports the development and growth of programs and services for those travelling the journey of a life-limiting illness, their caregivers, and those who are bereaved. For additional information, please see www.ramishami.com.
Final Lectures of 2022 Fall Zoom Series

Join us for the final lectures of Part II of our St. Nersess Seminary 2022 Fall Zoom Public Lecture Series on Thursday evenings at 7pm. All lectures are open to the public. Please use the Zoom link to register.
 
October 20 - December 8, 2022 at 7pm **No lecture 10/27 or 11/24
with Dr. Jesse S. Arlen

Click here to watch the Part I Fall Lecture Series by Bishop Vahan Hovhanessian, PhD.
THE LIFE OF MASHTOTS‘ BY HIS DISCIPLE KORIWN

Translated from the Classical Armenian with Introduction and Commentary by Abraham Terian **book may be preordered from Oxford University Press or Amazon**

The Life of Mashtots' is mostly praise for the inventor of the Armenian alphabet--the only inventor of an ancient alphabet known by name--and progenitor of Armenian literacy that began with the translation of the Bible. Written three years after his death, by an early disciple named Koriwn, it narrates the master's endeavors in search for letters, the establishment of schools, and the ensuing literary activity that yielded countless translations of religious texts known in the Early Church of the East. As an encomium from Late Antiquity, The Life of Mashtots' exhibits all the literary features of the genre to which it belongs, delineated through rhetorical analysis by Abraham Terian, who comments on the entire document almost phrase by phrase.

Translated from the latest Armenian edition of the text (2003), this edition of The Life of Mashtots' includes a facing English translation and commentary. The extraordinary narrative parades historical characters including the Patriarch of the Armenian Church, Catholicos Sahak (d. 439), the Arsacid King of Armenia, Vramshapuh (r. 401-417), and the Roman Emperor of the East, Theodosius II (r. 408-450). Koriwn is an eminently inspiring rhetorical writer and one of the first four authors known to write in the newly invented script. The marked influence of The Life of Mashtots' is discernible in subsequent Armenian writings of the fifth century, dubbed 'The Golden Era'.
Zhamakirk Available

Published in Jerusalem, this book is a convenient size (4" x 6") with clear print and is nicely bound. Great ordination or holiday gift for altar servers!

Cost: $23 (includes shipping). Slightly higher fees apply if ordered online.

Click here to order online or mail a check made payable to St. Nersess Armenian Seminary to St. Nersess Seminary, 486 Bedford Road, Armonk, NY 10504.
Leave Your Legacy!
 

Recognize or Honor a family member or friend on our Founders Garden pathway, located on a pedestrian footpath in front of the Theological Center, or on our Prayer Garden Pathway, located in a secluded area adjacent to the Theological Center.

Your donation of a personalized engraved brick will support the education of priests and non-ordained leaders for ministry in the Armenian Church in North America and beyond. Click here to donate.
Join Our Leadership Circle!
 
Our Leadership Circle of donors want the best for St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and the future of the Armenian Church in America. Your moral and financial leadership empowers us to continue to strengthen our rich tradition of educating, engaging, and preparing leaders for service in the Armenian Church.
 
St. Nersess Seminary is important to the future of the Armenian Church in North America. The seminary provides a quality theological education that is firmly rooted in the faith and traditions of our Holy Armenian Church while fully utilizing the technological resources of the 21st century. Through graduate-level education and spiritual formation, St. Nersess prepares priests for today’s Church and, as a seminary that welcomes women and men, we prepare non-ordained ministers for service in youth ministry and education.
 
GUARDIAN ANGEL
$10,000/annually
 
GUARDIAN
$5,000/annually
 
PROTECTOR
$2,500/annually
 
SHEPHERD
$1,000/annually
 
HARVESTER
$500/annually
 
CARETAKER
$250/annually
 
Gifts can be made on a quarterly or monthly basis. Thank you and God bless you for your support and commitment to St. Nersess Armenian Seminary. All donors are recognized on our website.