On Wednesday, March 12, the Eastern Prelacy concluded its six-part Lenten program, with “Armenian Christian Education” as its overall theme. The theme was in keeping with the mandate of His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, who designated 2008 as the “Year of Christian Education.”

Following the Husgoom Service (Peace-Compline) on six consecutive Wednesdays of the Great Lent, the speakers reflected on various aspects and dimensions of Armenian Christian Education. It included a general overview on Armenian Christian education, the Bible and Christian education, Christian Education and Moral Living, Saints and Christian Education, Prayer and Christian formation, and Family as Christian Educator. After each presentation, the 50-70 participants from the NY-NJ area enjoyed table fellowship with Lenten delicacies. Held at St. Illuminator’s Armenian Cathedral in New York City, the Lenten program was sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies Guild, St. Illuminator’s Cathedral Ladies Guild, and the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC).

The program began with a general overview on Armenian Christian education, presented by His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy. Anoushavan Srpazan gave an overall picture of Christian education in the Armenian Church. He highlighted that Christian education has always had a vital role in the life of the Armenian people and that, contrary to popular belief, it’s not a foreign concept for us Armenians. He substantiated this claim with ample examples from the history of the Armenian Church and people, starting with the catechetical instructions of our Holy Father St. Gregory the Illuminator, who preached the gospel and taught the basic tenets of Christianity for 66 days before their mass baptism into Christ the Lord. He then came to our recent times and underscored how the Catholicosate of Cilicia, in 1930, through an encyclical from His Holiness Catholicos Sahag, officially established the ministry of Sunday Schools in the Armenian Apostolic Church. He also discussed how the Armenian Church today is giving great importance to Christian education through its Sunday school programs, St. Gregory of Datev Institute and other youth oriented programs, as well as establishing Bible studies and adult education programs in parishes.

The following Wednesday, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Church in Douglaston, New York, spoke about “The Bible and Christian Education.” Der Hayr highlighted the centrality of the Bible in the Christian formation of the Armenian people, be it in their personal piety or communal spirituality and worship. And he challenged the participants to commit time and energy to reading and studying the Bible.

The lecture on “Christian Education and Moral Living” was presented by Rev. Fr. Aram Stepanian, pastor of St. Asdvadzadzin Church in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, and chairman of the Prelacy’s Religious Council. From the outset, Der Aram stressed that Christianity is not a religion; it is a way of life, a distinctive lifestyle that reflects the teachings of the scriptures. “Those who love me will keep my words, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23). During the Lenten season, He said, the Church invites us to examine ourselves and see if we are living in accordance to the Gospel teachings, to see if there are things in our lives that are not God-pleasing, and change. Der Hayr went on to say that it is only through God’s help that we can live a Christ-like life. And he invited the participants to submit themselves to God.

Next, Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of St. Illuminator’s Cathedral in New York City, spoke about “Saints and Christian Education.” The

saints are a living reality in the life of the Armenian Church and our people, said Der Hayr. They are present in our literature, art and history; we commemorate them and ask for their intercession in our liturgical celebrations through hymns, odes and prayers; Saints are our heroes of faith, who bore witness to Christ; as such they are living examples for us to emulate as we struggle to be better disciples of Christ. Der Hayr brought two significant books to the attention of the participants: Vark Surpots (Lives of Saints) and Soorpereh Yev Menk (The Saints and Us). The latter book was published by the Eastern Prelacy.

“Prayer and Christian Formation” was presented by Deacon Shant Kazanjian, director of the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC). Dn. Shant first defined Christian formation as total integration and incorporation into the life of the Church with its distinctive worldview and lifestyle. A disciplined prayer life plays an essential role in that process, he said. Prayer is spontaneous when we are at the mountain top or in the valley of life. But if we wait only at these two poles to pray we will pray very infrequently. Life is in the plain. Hence, the need for a disciplined prayer life. Following Scripture to remain steadfast in prayer, Christians from the earliest days have observed fixed hours of prayer both in private and with other believers.

Dn. Shant emphasized how the Lord’s Prayer is at the Center of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), indicating that prayer is at the heart of the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and thus it is central to our life and our faith in God. In fact, the Lord’s Prayer is the paradigm of Christian prayer. “If one prays and lives the Lord’s Prayer, he will certainly experience the reality of the Kingdom of God here and now, and he could anticipate sharing in it in the life to come,” said Dn. Shant.

The sixth and final lecture focused on “Family as Christian Educator” and was presented by Bishop Anoushavan. Rev. Fr. Vartan Kassabian, pastor of St. Gregory Church of Merrimack Valley, North Andover, Massachusetts, was scheduled to speak, but due to unforeseen pastoral duties, he was unable to participate.

Parents are the primary faith instructors of their children, said Bishop Anoushavan. The single most important factor in passing faith on to the children is the faith of the parents, faith lived out and expressed in its various dimensions and manifestations. He went on to say that adults too need Christian education, which many dismiss or minimize. That’s why, he said, His Holiness Catholicos Aram designated this year as the “Year of Christian Education” and not simply as the year of Sunday School. Christian education is not only for children but especially for adults. Srpazan Hayr also spoke about the role of the extended family — the church community, Armenian centers and various organizations — in the shaping of the Armenian Christian character of our children and youth.

During this final Lenten program, the participants were blessed to hear Archbishop Oshagan reflect on the theme of “Christian education.” Family, Church, and School — these are the contexts for Christian education and formation, he said. All three are essential and go hand in hand. But family has a central role. It is at home that family members experience, exhibit and demonstrate love, obedience and faithfulness. His Eminence emphasized that Christian education is not merely learning about the Bible; it is living the teachings of the Bible. He said Christ expects us not only to hear his words but also practice them (Matthew 7:24-27).

In conclusion, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the Cathedral, thanked the Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC), the speakers, the Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG), the St. Illuminator’s Ladies Guild, the participants, and all those individuals who contributed to the Prelacy Lenten program.