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 to Armenia to spend time at the FAR Children’s Center to work with the homeless children.

His trip will be fully funded by seminary benefactor Dean Shahinian, Esq. Because of Dean’s generosity, the trip will be entitled the St. Nersess Seminary’s Fr. Vahan Jelalian Mission to Armenia. Fr. Vahan was Dean’s maternal grandfather. “I am visiting the FAR Children Center in Armenia because the center serves children who are going through rough times in their life,” shared Arin. “Most children in this center are suffering from Trauma. When I served in the United States Navy, I was injured… I have seen and felt pain, suffering, and death. I, too, went through trauma and hard times. My goal is to connect with these children. I want to understand them and ease their pain. I want to bring smiles to their faces for a few days and give them joy. I realize this is a small step, but I see it as planting seeds of hope, which may sprout and flourish later,” continued Arin.