ST. NERSESS ARMENIAN SEMINARY
Ս. ՆԵՐՍԷՍ ԸՆԾԱՅԱՐԱՆ
Preparing Leaders for Service in the Armenian Church since 1961
Another Successful High School Summer Conference!
The highly anticipated and popular High School Summer Conference took place July 11 – 17, with teenagers representing nine parishes across the Eastern and Western Dioceses in attendance. They arrived on campus ready to embrace their faith and discuss important topics affecting them and the world. This summer, the conference was co-directed by Dn. Armen and Emily Terjimanian. Shant Danadian and Samantha Gostanian served as counselors.
 
Throughout the week, the participants took classes in Armenian language, enjoyed Sharagan lessons, and attended Bible Study sessions with video introductions from Diocesan leaders including, Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, Fr. Hovnan Demerjian of St. Hagop Church in Pinellas Park, FL, Dn. Alex Calikyan, and Dn. Eric Vozzy. 
Each day, the participants enjoyed a different speaker on important faith topics, including: a Zoom panel discussion with St. Nersess graduates and former ACYOA Central Council members Dn. Daron Bolat, Maria Derderian, and Mallory Maslar; a presentation on the hymn Kohanamk by Rhonda Boyajian from St. Peter Armenian Church in Watervliet, NY; an interactive lecture on Sts. Thaddeus and Bartholomew by Dn. Adam Bullock, a 2022 seminary graduate, and his wife Jenna; and the Bible basics by Dn. Armen.
On Friday afternoon, Bishop Daniel Findikyan, former primate of the Eastern Diocese, visited with the participants and discussed the Building up the Body of Christ and gifted everyone a copy of his new book on this topic. He also dined with the participants and enjoyed interacting with them. That evening, the group had a movie night, watching the film "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe," with an introduction by St. Nersess graduate, Andrew Kayaian.
During the afternoons, the students enjoyed free time in the Grace Jelalian and Paul Shahinian Recreation Complex playing ping-pong and pool or outside playing soccer, volleyball, and basketball. On Thursday, July 14, the participants traveled to the Jersey Shore for an afternoon beach day at Point Pleasant. Dn. Armen and Emily also led important discussions on the challenges that the participants are facing today, including current events.
 
The program concluded on Sunday with a Jashoo service led by Fr. Karekin Kasparian and assisted by Dn. Armen Terjimanian. Dn. Armen delivered the morning sermon on the day's Gospel reading from the Book of Matthew about Jesus showing compassion to the multitudes and feeding the 5,000 that had followed him. Der Karekin interacted with the students following the service, before the participants filled the dining hall for brunch prepared by Wilma Petrossian, Manager of Food Services, who prepared the meals throughout the week.
"This year's High School conference was a great success and the participants showed wonderful camaraderie with each other. I'm especially happy we could restart the tradition of going to the beach after a few years' pause to give this generation of participants that experience," shared Dn. Armen Terjimanian, a 2020 seminary graduate. "I could tell that our students really had a desire to deepen their faith and grow closer to God, and this made us very happy to help facilitate."

There were tears when the high school students departed and promises that they would return next summer. We hope they return to their home parishes spiritually refreshed and inspired to serve! Click here for more photos.

This short video clip, taken by Jenna Bullock, wife of Dn. Adam Bullock, captures all the beautiful paintings and icons in the chapel at St. Nersess. The newly installed icons of the great female saints of the Armenian Church - Sts. Hripsime, Gayane, Khosrovitukht and Ashkhen - anonymously donated in memory of Yn. Diane Chevian and Yn. Zabelle Gdanian, welcome you as you enter the chapel.

The painter, Vardan Gasparyan, seen in the photo to the left, was commissioned to paint these icons as well as the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ which is found above the baptismal font and the painting of St. James of Nisibis with Marookeh the Hermit, which is on the opposite wall, both donated by an anonymous donor. He also painted the new icons of St. Nersess the Graceful and St. Nersess the Great, likewise a gift of the same anonymous donor.

The painting gracing the altar, by Tigran Barkhanajyan in Armenia, was graciously donated to the seminary by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, when he anointed and consecrated the altar in November 2016.

The beautiful chandelier, a one-of-a-kind piece designed and manufactured by well-known designer Michael Aram specifically for St. Nersess Seminary, was donated by Fr. Krikor and Yn. LuAnn Sabounjian and Vahe and Nora Dayian in honor of their son, Dn. Michael Sabounjian now Fr. Haroutiun, on the occasion of his graduation from St. Nersess in May 2018.
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. 

OUR NEW WEBSITE!
Our website provides access to new information, archived videos, and more.
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Website enhancements were made possible through the generous support of Dr. Myrna & David Onanian – Texas.
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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.
 
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