Latest News

St. Nersess Remembers Seminary Benefactor Haig Didizian with Requiem Service

On Friday, March 10, clergy, board members, faculty and staff, and seminarians remembered Haig Hagop Didizian with a Requiem Service in the St. Hagop Chapel. Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean, opened with Mr. Didizian’s impressive biography of philanthropic accomplishments throughout…

Primate Visits the Seminary

On Wednesday, the Very Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese, made an overnight visit to St. Nersess Seminary. While there, he officiated at the Peace, Rest and Sunrise Services and shared meals with the community. Later in…

Armenian Martyrdoms, 2023 St. Nersess Spring Semester Zoom Public Lecture Series

St. Nersess Seminary invites you to join the second half of our Spring Semester Public Lecture Series with a new six lecture series on Armenian Martyrdoms.  Presenter Dr. Ani Shahinian will examine the historical, social, and theological contexts of Armenian…

Clergy Invited to Join Seminarians During Intensive Week

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary invites clergy to join our seminarians during the upcoming St. Nersess Intensive Week, from March 20-24. Intensive Week has been held each semester for the past five years to give our students an opportunity to dive…

Seminary Graduate Continues Studies in Jerusalem

Dn. Adam Bullock, a 2022 seminary graduate, and his wife Jenna have been living in Jerusalem since late October. Their journey is part of a planned six-month immersion in the rich liturgical, cultural, and linguistic life of the Armenian Patriarchate…

Seminarians Attend Annual Winter Retreat

The seminarians gathered on Enders Island in Mystic, CT, for their annual retreat on February 9-11, led by Dn. Yervant Kutchukian, Spiritual Director, and Professor Roberta Ervine. The theme was “Being Grounded in the face of Chaos: How do we…

Registration is OPEN for Summer Conferences

Participants can now register for the Deacons’ Training Program, High School Summer Conference, and Yn. Diane Chevian Youth Choir Workshop. Please click here to find out more information and for the registration link.

Training for the Soul and Body

The St. Nersess Seminarians are getting stronger not only spiritually, but now also physically. Thanks to seminary benefactor Dean Shahinian, Esq., a new initiative is in place to fund a personal trainer to come to the seminary every other Saturday….

Dean Travels to Charlotte, NC

On January 22, Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean, was the guest celebrant and homilist at the St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Charlotte, NC. In his message, he reflected on the importance of sharing God’s love with others. Joining him on the…

In Memoriam: Haig Didizian

With profound sadness, St. Nersess Seminary mourns the loss of Haig Didizian, of London, England, who passed away earlier this week. It was Haig and his wife Elza’s magnanimous gift that enabled St. Nersess to purchase the land that is…

A Reflection by V. Rev. Fr. Harutyun Damadyan

Hayr Harutyun is from the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and has been residing and studying at St. Nersess since September. CELEBRATION AT ST. NERSESS SEMINARY St. Nersess Seminary is a wonderful complex, in which St. Hagop Chapel has an important…

St. Nersess Spring Semester Zoom Public Lecture Series Starts February 2!

“An Introduction to Medieval Armenian Poetry, Part 2″, with Dr. Jesse Arlen This two-semester public lecture series introduces the public to the medieval Armenian poetic tradition. In the Fall 2022, Part 1 was offered. It consisted of six lectures and…

Fall Semester Concludes

On Saturday, December 17, the seminary concluded its Fall semester with a celebration of the Holy Badarak in the St. Hagop Chapel. The Very Rev. Fr. Harutyun Damadyan, who is from the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople and has been residing…

Armenian Bishop from Romania Visits the Seminary

On December 2, His Grace Bishop Datev Hagopian, Primate of the Armenian Church Diocese of Romania, traveled to St. Nersess Armenian Seminary for the first time. While there, he toured the campus and met with the Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian,…

Please Give to Your Seminary This Christmas

Every day, with prayer and renewed commitment, we carry out our mission of preparing the next generation of priests and lay ministers through classroom instruction, spiritual direction, worship services, and hands-on training. The education our students receive at St. Nersess…

Meaningful Clergy Workshop Concludes

On December 2-3, St. Nersess Seminary hosted a clergy continuing education workshop, “Walking Together Through Challenging Places: The Companionship Model for Providing Care,” which was also open to parish lay leaders. The two-day workshop focused on pastoral care for people…

In Memoriam

The St. Nersess Alumni Association is mourning the death of Dn. Bedros Hovsep Sarkissian, who was a 1978 alumnus of St. Nersess Seminary. In 1974, Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, of blessed memory, then Primate of the Eastern Diocese in New York,…

Seminarian to Undertake Mission of Love to Armenia

Moved by an encounter of two struggling Armenian children last summer in Armenia, seminarian Arin Parsanian felt it is his duty to take action and help more children in need there. Over the seminary’s upcoming winter break, Arin will travel…

St. Nersess Theological Review Resumes Publication

In mid-November, the Catholic University of America Press highlighted three new academic journals that will debut in 2023. One of the journals, the St. Nersess Theological Review (SNTR), was promoted on their website. As the scholarly publication of St. Nersess…

Board of Directors Meet

Members of the St. Nersess Board of Directors met the morning of November 13 in the St. Nersess Library for their semi-annual board meeting. The meeting was presided over by the V. Rev. Fr. Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern…

St. Vladimir’s Professor and Students Visit Seminary

On November 9, Dr. Peter Bouteneff, professor of Systematic Theology at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, and students from his class, visited St. Nersess Seminary for their annual gathering. The professor’s course explores the relationship between the Eastern and Oriental…

Students Attend ACYOA Senior Fall Retreat

Over the November 11-13 weekend, three seminary students – Dn. Garen Hamamjian, Zareh Mirzayan, and Vardan Sargsyan – attended the Eastern Diocese ACYOA Seniors Fall Retreat at Camp Washington in Lakeside, CT. The Retreat’s theme, “Seeking Purpose,” resonated with all…

Walking Together Through Challenging Places: the Companionship Model for Providing Supportive Care

A two-day workshop for priests, deacons, seminarians, and lay people in ministry. December 2: 9:30am – 12:30pm and 1:30pm – 4:30pm December 3: 9:00am – 11:00am and 11:30am – 12:30pm St. Nersess Seminary is pleased to offer a two-day workshop…

Vocal Training at the Seminary

This semester, the seminary is offering weekly voice training classes, thanks to the generosity of seminary benefactor Dean Shahinian, Esq.  Private voice lessons are offered to any student or member of the faculty or staff who would like to improve…

PhD Candidate Returns to the Seminary

During the Fall of 2019, St. Nersess Seminary opened its doors to PhD students who were seeking to take classes at the seminary to support their research and advanced degrees at other institutions. One of these students is Ani Shahinian,…

Pop-Up Lecture Monday, October 24 at 7pm

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary invites you to a pop-up lecture on Monday, October 24 at 7pm with Ani Shahinian, an Oxford PhD candidate and frequent visitor of the seminary where she receives guidance in completing her research. Ani is one…

Western Diocese Hosts Deacons’ Workshop

On Saturday, October 8, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese and Vice President of the St. Nersess Board of Directors, and the Deacons Council of the Western Diocese hosted a day long Deacons’ Workshop at its…

Support Our Seminary This Fall!

Dear St. Nersess Supporter, As we progress through the Fall Semester, I would like to share how your support continues to benefit our seminarians in their education and how our programs reach many beyond our campus. We have seven full-time…

Strolling with the Dean – An Ancient Custom Introduced at Our Seminary

It is customary in some of our monasteries for clergy to “jemel” or to stroll in discussion. This often takes place after evening services. It is from that verb that we get the word “jemaran”, a word for seminary.  This…

Orientation Retreat Held at the Ararat Center

The seminary held its annual orientation retreat on September 16-18, continuing the tradition of spending it at the Ararat Center, in Greenville, NY. A sense of spiritual and brotherly/sisterly closeness permeated throughout the weekend, with the key theme, “Where does…

Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople Shares with St. Nersess

Fr. Mardiros Chevian and Hayr Harutyun Damadian The Very Rev. Fr. Harutyun Damadıan, a vartabed from the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, arrived at St. Nersess on September 22. During his extended stay at the seminary until the end of April,…

Fall Semester Welcomes Four New Students

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary began its Fall semester on August 25 with orientation and classes at the seminary and at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. “We are happy to welcome our seven full-time students who are studying for service in…

2022 Fall Zoom Public Lecture Series

Join our 2022 Fall Public Lecture Series on Zoom on Thursday evenings. All classes are open to the public. To view archived lectures, click here. ZOOM REGISTRATION October 13 – December 1, 2022 at 7pm An Introduction to Medieval Armenian Poetry,…

St. Nersess Deacons’ Training Program in Jerusalem

The long-awaited pilgrimage to Jerusalem, postponed from 2020, took place August 1-15, 2022. With the blessing of His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, ten altar servers from both the Eastern and Western Dioceses gathered at St….

Deacons’ Training Program in Jerusalem

The long-awaited pilgrimage to Jerusalem, postponed from 2020, took place August 1-15, 2022. With the blessing of His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, ten altar servers from both the Eastern and Western Dioceses gathered at St….

Zhamakirk Available

Published in Jerusalem, this new book is a convenient size (4″ x 6″) with clear print and is nicely bound. Great ordination or holiday gift for altar servers!   Cost: $23 (includes shipping). Slightly higher fees apply if ordered online….

New Altar Servers Attend Deacons’ Training Program

From July 24 to July 31, the Deacons’ Training Program in Armonk, NY, welcomed 19 young men from the Eastern and Western Dioceses, including two young men, Arin Parsanian and Zareh Mirzayan. They are both returning to St. Nersess in…

2nd Annual Deacons’ Training Program Held in Western Diocese

For the second summer, the Western Diocese offered a St. Nersess Deacons’ Training Program at Hye Camp in Dunlap, CA, from August 7-13. It was organized and directed by Fr. Gomidas Zohrabian, pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church…

New St. Nersess Icons Consecrated

Last month, during the Deacons’ Training Program, a special service was held to consecrate two new icons in the St. Hagop Chapel: St. Nersess the Graceful and St. Nersess the Great. Officiating at the ceremony was Bishop Daniel Findikyan, who…

Another Successful High School Summer Conference!

The highly anticipated and popular High School Summer Conference took place July 11 – 17, with teenagers representing nine parishes across the Eastern and Western Dioceses in attendance. They arrived on campus ready to embrace their faith and discuss important…

Successful Inaugural Youth Choir Workshop!

The inaugural Yn. Diane Chevian Memorial Youth Choir Workshop took place July 7-10 at the seminary and was a great success thanks to the capable staff who led the program and the 18 eager teenagers, ages 13-17, who attended from…

Faith Building Women, A Daylong Conference Created for Women, by Women

Support the Seminary Today!

Spring 2022 Dear Friend,Strength can be felt in many ways. We have seen strength in our students, strength in our faculty, and strength in supporters like you. Your heartfelt and generous support has strengthened our mission in another year like…

Another Beautiful Graduation Day

The 2022 St. Nersess Graduation served as a beautiful reminder of the seminary’s everyday mission – to educate future clergy and lay leaders of the Armenian Church. On Saturday, May 21, over 60 guests representing clergy, board of directors, faculty,…

Board of Directors Hold Semi-Annual Meeting

On May 21, prior to the graduation ceremony, the Board of Directors met in the St. Nersess Library for their semi-annual meeting. The meeting was presided over by the new primate of the Eastern Diocese, the Very Rev. Fr. Mesrop…

Dean Attends Memorial Requiem for Canon Robert Wright

On May 19, a Memorial Eucharist in Memory of the Rev. Canon Dr. J. Robert Wright, a longtime friend and supporter of the Armenian Church, was held at the General Theological Seminary in New York City. Representing St. Nersess Armenian…

Two St. Nersess Graduates’ Parishes Consecrate Churches

It doesn’t happen very often, but in the course of one week, two graduates of the seminary, who were also classmates, each celebrated the consecration of a new church. “To witness the consecration of two churches one week apart, one…

Upcoming Graduation

On Saturday, May 21, St. Nersess Seminary will hold its annual graduation ceremony for its 2022 graduate, Dn. Adam Bullock, who will be earning his Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree from St. Nersess Seminary and St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary….

Dean and Seminarians Visit St. James Armenian Church

Over the Palm Sunday weekend, Fr. Mardiros Chevian and the seminarians traveled to St. James Armenian Church in Watertown, MA. During their stay, on April 9, they had the opportunity to tour the Armenian Library & Museum of America (ALMA)…

Seminarians Attend Annual Lenten Retreat

The seminarians gathered on Enders Island in Mystic, CT, for their annual Lenten Retreat on March 18-20, led by Dn. Yervant Kutchukian, Spiritual Director, and Professor Roberta Ervine. The theme was “Shifting Perspectives: Seeing what is there and what is not there and acting…