Fall Semester Begins at the Seminary

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary began its fall semester on September 3. “We are happy to welcome back all our seminarians and two new students who will study for service in the Armenian Church,” remarked the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Dean.

New student Andrew Kayaian grew up in Scarsdale, NY, and attends St. Gregory the Enlightener Armenian Church in White Plains, NY. He holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in history from Fordham University, New York City. Previously, he worked at the Zohrab Information Center of the Eastern Diocese. Andrew is pursuing a master’s degree in theology at St. Vladimir’s Seminary with coursework at St. Nersess Seminary.

New student Adam Bullock is from Worcester, MA, where he attends the Armenian Church of Our Savior. He received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and will be studying Armenian liturgical music, modern and classical Armenian, Armenian church history and canon law as a special student until a path is chosen for his ministry.

Seven seminarians are studying at St. Nersess and at the Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin. While all the students are engaged in coursework during the academic year, seminarians are also required to spend their summers in educational programs, including: participating in a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program, working at a Diocesan or AGBU summer camp, and studying at Holy Etchmiadzin or the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Following their graduation, they spend a full year at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin to complete their studies.