Fast Facts

Establishment & Location

St. Nersess was established in 1961 through the vision of Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan
The original location of St. Nersess was in Evanston, IL, and then New Rochelle, NY, and now Armonk, NY
St. Nersess is the only Armenian seminary in the western hemisphere
St. Nersess falls under the auspices of two Dioceses in North America (Eastern and Western)
St. Nersess is in partnership with the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, from where it draws its inspiration

All St. Nersess seminarians must have a minimum of a four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
In total, 60+ clergy, including four primates, and many lay ministers are serving the Armenian Church full-time today as graduates of St. Nersess. There are additional graduates serving their parishes in other capacities
Rev. Fr. Kevork Arakelian was the first graduate of St. Nersess to be ordained a priest
St. Nersess graduates serve on the Eastern and Western Diocesan Councils, the St. Nersess Board of Directors, and as Directors of the summer programs

Youth from the Eastern & Western Dioceses participate yearly in the St. Nersess Summer Conferences, with St. Nersess graduates serving as the conference directors
St. Nersess offers three youth conferences held at the seminary each year, including a Deacons’ Training Program, High School Summer Conference and Young Adult Winter Conference. A Youth Choir Workshop was added in 2022.
It is estimated that more than 6,000 young people have benefited spiritually and culturally from the summer conferences since its inception in 1963

Deans of the seminary have included Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, Rev. Fr. Karekin Kasparian, V. Rev. Fr. Arshen Aivazian, Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dn. Hratch Tchilingirian, Rev. Fr. Arakel Aljalian, V. Rev. Fr. Vahan Hovhanessian, V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, and Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian (current dean)
St. Nersess works in conjunction with St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, located nearby
Courses taught at the seminary are at the graduate level and are accredited by the American Theological Society through the seminary’s affiliation with St. Vladimir’s
Our highly-qualified faculty makes St. Nersess an unparalleled center of Armenian Church education and research
Master of Divinity degrees are granted through St. Vladimir’s Seminary and a diploma in Armenian Church Studies from St. Nersess
Before ordination, all graduates of St. Nersess Seminary spend at least one year in Holy Etchmiadzin or Jerusalem to further their studies, to experience the Armenian Church in its birthplace, and to partner with colleagues in the ministry

St. Nersess is incorporated and registered as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit religious organization. As such, donations are fully tax deductible
There is a Leadership Giving Circle, an annual giving program for those who can support the mission of the seminary each year: Guardian Angel – $10,000/year; Guardian – $5,000/year; Protector – $2,500; Shepherd – $1,000/year; Harvester – $500/year, and Caretaker – $250/year
A Planned Giving Society has been established for those who would like to bequeath wills, stocks, mutual funds, retirement savings, etc. to St. Nersess
Did you know that St. Nersess relies fully on the donations and support from individuals, organizations, and parishes to fund its initiatives? Your donation helps St. Nersess provide quality education and training to our growing group of seminarians, current clergy, the youth, and community