Clergy From Around the Country and Armenia Attend Worship Service

Last evening, Tuesday, June 30, St. Nersess Seminary held its final worship service for the academic year. Clergy from the Eastern and Western Dioceses and Armenia joined students and members of the faculty to participate in the Evening Service Երեկոյեան Ժամերգութիւն via Zoom. This was the first time such a gathering has taken place.

Presiding at the service was Bishop Daniel Findikyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and graduate of St. Nersess. Also participating in the service were three guest clergy from Holy Etchmiadzin who joined in the early morning hours in Armenia: the V. Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Dean of the Gevorgian Theological Seminary of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, who served as ժամարար; the V. Rev. Fr. Anania Tsaturyan, Staffbearer for His Holiness Karekin II, who served as աղօթասաց; and the V. Rev. Fr. Garegin Hambardzumyan, Director of the Department of Mission at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, who offered the message. Fr. Garegin spoke about “listening for God during the Coronavirus Pandemic.”

“It was truly inspiring for me to be joined in the seminary chapel by so many of my brother clergy from the Eastern and Western Dioceses and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. It was a wonderful way to conclude the academic year, together in prayer, worship and fellowship,” reflected the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean.

The Evening Service completed the 2019-20 academic year which was extended due to the pandemic. Thanks to online platforms, the St. Nersess faculty and students were able to continue their classes remotely starting in March when the seminary moved from in-person to virtual teaching. During June, the students continued classes, and the seminary presented a mini-semester with continuing education courses for clergy and lectures for the general public. These courses were well received and attended by nearly 200 people throughout the month.

This week, the popular Deacons’ Training Program began with a virtual program for 33 altar servers and deacons.