Upcoming Graduation Ceremony

On Friday, May 15, the seminary will hold its annual graduation ceremony for its 2026 graduate, Dn. Arin Parsanian, who will be earning his Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree from St. Nersess Seminary and St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and the President of the St. Nersess Board of Directors, will officiate. Representing the Western Diocese will be Fr. Sarkis Petoyan, a seminary board member and alumnus. St. Vladimir’s will be holding its commencement exercises the following day on May 16.

Dn. Arin Parsanian, who was born and grew up in Isfahan, Iran, attended the Holy Apostles Armenian Apostolic Church in Tujunga, CA. He studied mathematics and statistics at California State University in Northridge and served four years in the US Navy.

“These past four years have taught me how to better manage the academic demands of my time at St. Nersess, while also growing in pastoral care through frequent travel across the Eastern Diocese, often nearly every weekend,” shares Dn. Arin. “I am grateful to God for granting me the strength for this journey and for placing a shepherd like Fr. Mardiros in my path to guide me.”

In the afternoon prior to the graduation, members of the St. Nersess Board of Directors will gather in the library for the end of the fiscal and academic year meeting.

Donations to honor our graduate and to support the work of the seminary can be made online.