St. Nersess Seminary Leads Altar Server Workshop in the Netherlands

From August 22–24, altar servers from Armenian Church parishes in the Netherlands and Belgium gathered at the Dominican Convent in Huissen for a three-day workshop led by Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, with the assistance of Dn. Alex Calikyan, a 2019 seminary graduate, and the support of Fr. Taron Tateosyan, pastor of Soorp Hoki Armenian Church in Amsterdam. The program was organized under the guidance of Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Pontifical Legate of Western Europe.

The workshop brought together 33 participants for prayer, fellowship, and intensive training. Instruction focused on liturgical practice, with particular emphasis on the Divine Liturgy, as well as practicums on the Blessing of the Grapes, the Blessing of Water, and the Blessing of the Four Corners. Sessions also included Bible study on the origins and vocation of the diaconate, along with daily morning and evening worship.

The gathering concluded with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, who praised the participants’ dedication and zeal for deepening their service at the Holy Altar. The weekend offered a valuable opportunity for altar servers to grow in their knowledge of the Armenian Church’s liturgical tradition and strengthen their commitment to service.