A Pilgrimage to the Seminary

On Sunday morning, April 30, thirty members of the Armenian Church of the Holy Resurrection (ACHR), New Britain, CT, traveled to St. Nersess Seminary. They were led by their pastor, the Rev. Fr. Haroutiun Sabounjian, a 2018 seminary graduate, who stressed that the trip was designated a pilgrimage and not simply a visit, as a pilgrimage is made to a holy or sacred place, which St Nersess is for all Armenians.

Upon their arrival, they were greeted by the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean. Then, Badarak was celebrated by Fr. Haroutiun, who was assisted by his altar servers from the parish, while Adrienne Damian, longtime choir director at ACHR, led their own choir members as well as the St. Nersess seminarians. Seminarian Dn. Garen Hamamjian offered the homily, and Yeretsgin Lucine served as organist.

Following the Divine Liturgy, all enjoyed lunch prepared by Wilma Petrossian, St. Nersess Manager of Food Services. Fr. Mardiros spoke about the history and purpose of the seminary, and participants were able to interact with the seminarians and later tour the campus, where Fr. Mardiros explained the sacred paintings in the Hagop Chapel.

“It was truly a blessing to extend the worship experience of our parish beyond the confines of our sanctuary walls, and in joining in prayer at St. Nersess Seminary with the seminary community, to be inspired by the palpable holiness of this precious institution of our diocese; being reinvigorated in the Lord’s sacred mission for us as children of the Armenian Church to serve the community of New Britain, Connecticut in his love,” exclaimed. Fr. Haroutiun.