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 the participants. Throughout the weekend, they interacted with area clergy in discussion sessions, prayer services, and meaningful personal conversations. “The ACYOA young adult retreats are some of the most effective faith-building events that the Eastern Diocese hosts, and this year’s Fall 2022 retreat was no exception,” shared Vardan Sargsyan. “We attended the weekend retreat and left feeling refreshed and motivated by the faith of the young adults we met. Weaved in throughout each day was a common thread of discovering our purpose within the Church as young adults who have varied spiritual gifts. Dn. Yervant Kutchukian, during his session, helped us all to identify some of those gifts, whether they were gifts of encouragement, teaching, prophesy, service, or other. As Christians, we are all called to be ministers of the Church, and I believe that this weekend helped a lot of people to discover their own ministry opportunities,” Vardan continued.

Seminarian Zareh Mirzayan shared, “We all had an impactful time in the beautiful woods of Connecticut. We met other young adults who have a great passion for and dedication to the Armenian Church, from organ players and Sunday school teachers to young professionals working in various industries. What we all had in common was our desire to learn and grow in faith.” The weekend culminated with Badarak with guest celebrant Fr. Nigoghos Aznavourian, a 2020 seminary graduate. Other seminary graduates in attendance throughout the weekend were Fr. Simeon Odabashian, Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, Fr. Voski Galstyan, Fr. Haroutiun Sabounjian, and Dn. Yervant Kutchukian.