NEW
YORK, NY — “Datev is one of the most fun and educational
programs which I have ever attended,” remarked Mgo Piranian,
a proud member of the 2007 graduating class of the Datev Institute
and a newly ordained acolyte in the Armenian Church. He continued
by saying, “this year was also the best because we had
so many new kids and I made a lot of new friends.” Mgo’s
impression is hardly unique; his words are more a reflection
of what is felt by all of the proud Datevatsis who have attended
the program over the years.
Sponsored
by the Eastern Prelacy’s Armenian Religious Education
Council (AREC), the St. Gregory of Datev Institute is a four-year
program (one week every summer) dedicated to familiarizing Armenian
youth with the essentials of Armenian Christianity. Datev also
offers post-graduate classes for those students who have successfully
completed the
four-year program.
This summer,
the Datev Institute welcomed 77 students (from 14 parishes across
the United States and Canada) the most in its 21 year existence.
These enthusiastic and dedicated students, ages 13-18, gathered
at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania,
to participate in a week long program (July 1-8) that included
Christian educational activities, workshops, lectures, worship,
and a healthy dose of fun! Eight clergymen, all of whom served
the dual role of instructor and mentor, were also in attendance.
The program was under the directorship of His Grace Bishop Anoushavan
Tanielian, Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy.
The program
began on Sunday evening, July 1, with a prayer by His Grace
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, followed by an orientation session
conducted by Deacon Shant Kazanjian, Director of AREC. During
the orientation, Dn. Shant stressed the three-pronged purpose
of Datev: Education, Worship, and Fellowship.
Students
began each day by attending morning services at 7:20, followed
by breakfast and then classes, Monday through Friday, from 8:30am
to 12:20pm. Classes resumed in the evening from 7:30 to 9:30pm
with a general lecture or a panel discussion followed by a Bible
study, and the day came to a close with the traditional Husgoom
service. Among the many topics covered were the Bible, Prayer,
Interpretation of Badarak, the Sacraments, Feasts and Saints,
and Armenian Church History and Language classes.
Following
lunch, students were given free time, during which they enjoyed
swimming, soccer, volleyball and other such sports activities.
Two off-site activities were also arranged for the participants:
bowling and canoeing at French Creek.
On Wednesday,
July 4, the Institute held its annual Independence Day picnic,
sponsored and hosted by Mrs. Asdghig Kazanjian, owner of “Armenian
Delight” in Philadelphia.
On Friday
evening the highly anticipated talent show was held, under the
guidance of Ms. Jeanette Nazarian, during which many of the
students showcased their talents through Armenian song, dance,
music, poetry and acting.
On Saturday,
July 7, the participants were graced with the presence of His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, who took time out of his busy schedule
to be with the datevaties. Srpazan spoke to the students and
answered their questions. He commended them for taking advantage
of this faith-building and identity-shaping program, and encouraged
them to continue their involvement in the life of the Armenian
Church.
The seven-day
program concluded on Sunday, July 8, with a celebration of the
Divine Liturgy (Soorp Badarak) at St. Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Church in Philadelphia presided by His Eminence Archbishop
Oshagan. His Grace Bishop Anoushavan was the celebrant and delivered
the sermon. His Grace exhorted the students to go back to their
respective communities and become active participants there
and to bear witness to all that they had learned and experienced
at Datev about Armenian Christianity. Church services were immediately
followed by a luncheon, graciously provided and served by the
Artemis Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society (PA), during
which the students entertained the guests with Armenian songs
they had learned at Datev, and the graduating class received
their diplomas and awards.
The
Instructors
The faculty this year included Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian,
V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Khoren Habeshian, Rev.
Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis
Aktavoukian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Dn. Nishan Baljian, Dn. Arsen
Mekaelian, Ms. Nayiri Baljian and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian.
This year
the Institute was privileged to have two guest lecturers. Rev.
Dr. George Leylegian spoke to the 4th and 5th level students
about the notion of sacrifice in our daily life, sort of the
liturgy after the liturgy, as well as a general lecture to the
entire student body. Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Ph.D., Professor
of Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages at St. Vladimir’s
Orthodox Theological Seminary (NY), taught the upper level students
a 4-hour mini course on Paul’s letter to the Colossians.
“Father Tarazi has the ability to easily relate to his
students. By using examples and parables to convey his message,
he didn’t just talk to our class, he helped us garner
some measure of understanding because he was relating the material
to our everyday lives,” commented a very impressed post-graduate
student, Martha Mekaelian. Fr. Tarazi also led a two-hour session
with the clergy-instructors of the Institute discussing the
symbolism, the structure and the message of the Book of Revelation.
***
Words
of Appreciation
A program of this scope is possible only through the collaborative
efforts of AREC and parishes, parents, volunteer workers, and
a number of organizations and individuals. The Institute thanks
the instructors for their labor of love and the parents for
entrusting their children to the Institute for a week of spiritual
formation. The Institute expresses its gratitude to the following
for their invaluable services as supervisors and counselors:
Dn. Dr. Arsen Mekaelian, Dn. Bedros Kalajian, Mrs. Alice Baljian,
Ms. Nayiri Baljian, Mr. James Haddad, Mr. Arek Hamalian, Ms.
Taleen Kupelian, Mr. Nazareth Markarian, Mr. Khoogas Mekaelian,
Mrs. Martha Mekaelian, Ms. Martha Mekaelian, Jr., Mr. Mikhail
Mekaelian, Ms. Jeanette Nazarian, Ani Yaghmourian, Hovsep Yaghmourian.
The Institute
extends its appreciation to those parishes that subsidized a
portion of the expenses by providing scholarships, to the Pashalian
Family Education Fund and to the following for their generous
support and donations: The Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG) and the
National Association of Ladies’ Guilds (NALG), Artemis
Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society (PA), Mr. and Mrs. Hagop
Baghdadlian, Mrs. Asdghig Kazanjian, George Leylegian, Mr. and
Mrs. Noubar Megerian, Dr. and Mrs. Michael Nalbantian. Thanks
also to the following donors: Mr. and Mrs. Antranig Bedrossian,
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Garabedian, Mr. and Mrs. Garbis Garboushian,
Mr. and Mrs. Antranig Harutunian, Ms. Karen Jehanian, Mr. and
Mrs. Ralph Jehanian, Mr. David Kizirian, Mrs. Takouhi Oranjian,
Mr. And Mrs. Zaven Oranjian, and Antranig Vartanian.
*** |
 |
