An Evening of Remembrance for Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan
On April 6, 2002, the Saturday following Easter, the Seminary will pay tribute to Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, who established St. Nersess Seminary in 1962. The "Evening of Remembrance" will take place in Kavookjian Hall of the (Eastern) Diocese of the Armenian Church, 630 Second Avenue, New York. Colleagues of Tiran Srpazan will be present to reflect on his life, achievements, and monumental place in the history of the Armenian Church of America. An exhibit of photographs, documents and memorabilia from Nersoyan's life and the early days of the Seminary will be featured.
On that day the Seminary will release a volume of Tiran Srpazan's previously unpublished correspondence, including letters he exchanged decades ago with scholars, and dignitaries in the Armenian Church and in the ecumenical world.
Dr. Dennis Papazian, Professor of History and Director of the Armenian Research Center of the University of Michigan-Dearborn will serve as the Chairman of the commemoration. Dr. Papazian worked closely with Abp. Nersoyan beginning in the 1950's and has been involved with St. Nersess in various capacities almost since its inception. He has served on the Board of Directors.
"St. Nersess Seminary's Fortieth Anniversary is a great milestone for the Armenian Church, particularly in America," Dr. Papazian said recently. "Throughout its history the Armenian Church has benefited greatly from the existence centers of theological learning in the major dioceses throughout the world. Here in North America we have carried on that ancient and revered tradition. There is no question in my mind that St. Nersess will continue to accomplish its God-pleasing work in the foreseeable future."
Assessing the contributions of the founder of St. Nersess, Papazian continued, "Archbishop Tiran was certainly one of our greatest and most visionary leaders. He understood that the success of the Armenian Church in America depended in great measure on indigenizing the training of clergymen for service here. Not only the founder of St. Nersess Seminary, but the founder of the ACYOA, the organizer of the Cathedral project, and strong supporter of church school education, he laid the groundwork for the current successes of our dioceses in North America."
The Evening of Remembrance of Archbishop Nersoyan is free of charge and open to the public. For further information please write to info@stnersess.edu; or call (914) 636-2003.
A Weekend at St. Nersess for Young Altar Servers
On President's Weekend, February 15-18, 2002 St. Nersess Armenian Seminary will conduct an Acolytes' Training Program for boys who are interested in serving at the altar during the Divine Liturgy. The program is open to boys aged 11-14 who would like to learn how to hold candles, use the poorvar, vest the priest and sing the basic deacons' parts of the Sunday Badarak. The weekend will be modeled after the Seminary's popular Deacons' Training Program held each summer. The Acolytes' Weekend will combine practical training sessions with Bible Study, daily worship, and social and recreational activities.
V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, Seminary dean, and Mr. Levon Altiparmakian, a deacon from St. Thomas Armenian Church, Tenafly, New Jersey, will direct the program. They will be assisted by the St. Nersess seminarians, as well as alumni of the Deacons' Training Program. The program will begin with supper on Friday, February 15 and conclude with lunch on Monday, February 18, a national holiday.
The cost for the weekend is $150, which includes tuition, materials, home-cooked meals and accommodations at the Seminary in New Rochelle, New York.
For further information and registration and application please contact St. Nersess Seminary at (914) 636-2003 or by email at info@stnersess.edu