Eastern Prelacy's Datev Institute Will Celebrate 20th Anniversary With Special Events


EASTERN PRELACY’S DATEV INSTITUTE WILL CELEBRATE 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL EVENTS by Tamar Haroutunian
For the past twenty years, the St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Christian Studies Program, sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, Eastern Prelacy, has provided the Armenian youth with not only a stellar education in Christian faith, but also a friendly environment in which to grow and nurture relationships that last a lifetime. “The Christian faith is at the heart of the Armenian identity,” said His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate. “Our history and culture have been inextricably linked with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, making for a civilization celebrated for its creativity, constructiveness and humanism. More than ever it is important to instill a solid Christian consciousness in our youth, and I am proud to say that the Datev Institute has been doing exactly that for the past twenty years,” the Prelate said. On July 8 and 9, 2006, the Datev Institute will celebrate its twentieth anniversary in Pennsylvania, where the program takes place each year during the summer. The Institute is a one-week summer program focusing on three main objectives: education, worship, and fellowship. Students go through four levels (one each year they attend), upon the completion of which they may continue in postgraduate studies. The students participate in worship services, Bible study, group discussions, lectures, Armenian language classes, and recreational activities. Students travel to Elverson, Pennsylvania, from various parishes within the Eastern Prelacy. Clergy and non-clergy lecturers are assigned various tasks by the Institute’s founding director, Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian. Those participating in the program have walked away with a sense of belonging, fellowship, and deep-rooted faith that is so essential to today’s youth. In a world where there are many things competing for the attention of the younger generations, it is important for the youth to make a place where they can learn and grow spiritually and as human beings. Mikhail Mekaelian, who graduated in 2001, notes that the Institute has allowed many people to learn about the principles of “what makes great men great: the ability to love, learn, and prosper in the face of adversity.” Many are inspired to continue the program each year, such as Talene Taraksian, who last year said, “This is my first year at Datev and I am having a great time. The classes are very interesting and I’ve learned a great deal about the Armenian culture and about the Bible. The people are great and I’ve made many friends from all around the United States and even Canada. There’s no question that I am coming back next year!” What is equally important is that the participants return to their communities at the end of the program and have a new motivation to bring what they have learned to those communities, whether through participation in Sunday school, Bible study, the choir, or service on the altar. Recent law school graduate and alumnus of the Institute, Antranig Kzirian, remembers, “Datev, along with the AYF, was a great way for me to get involved with the community at a young age. I have such fond memories of going to Datev and meeting great kids from all over the east coast and having a chance to learn about the church and its history. Every parent should strongly consider sending their children.” The weeklong Institute will take place this year from July 2 to 9 at the St. Mary of Providence Conference Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania. The 20th anniversary of the Institute will be marked on the weekend of June 8 and 9 with appropriate events. On Saturday, July 8, a daylong seminar entitled, “Youth, Faith and Life,” will take place at the Conference Center beginning at 9 am. The seminar will be led by Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, pastor of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Watertown, MA, and V. Rev. Fr. Paul Nadim Tarazi, PhD, professor of Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. Registration fee for the seminar is $25, which includes lunch. A celebratory banquet will take place Saturday evening, beginning at 7 pm, at the nearby Holiday Inn in Morgantown, PA. A short program will highlight the twenty years of Datev and music will be provided by the Aravod Band, comprised of alumni of the Datev Institute. Donation for the banquet is $40 per person. The next day, Sunday, July 9, Datevatzis and guests will partake in the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia. His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan will officiate. Following the church service a farewell picnic will take place on the grounds of the Church. For additional information regarding the Datev Institute or any of the 20th anniversary events, please contact the Prelacy, 212-689-7810, or go to the web site, www.armenianprelacy.org. # # #

In 1991 the Datev Summer Institute took place at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, where it has continued to the present time.	2005 Datev participants.

Strong bonds of friendship are formed.