|
|
"Do
we have to attend the daily church services?" asked one brave
student during the orientation, a question that was on the minds
of most first year participants at the weeklong St. Gregory of
Datev Institute Summer Christian Studies Program. To their surprise,
the participants, ages 13 and older, were informed that, in addition
to the 30-minute morning and evening worship services, they will
be attending classes from 8:30am to 12:30pm and then from 7:00pm
to 9:30pm. By now they were probably thinking, "had I known
this, I would not have registered for the program." Well,
it's too late.
On
Saturday morning during evaluation, it is not uncommon to read
and hear those same students suggesting that the Institute should
be longer, possibly two weeks. Longer? Are they for real? Do
they know what they are asking for? That's more than 25 hours
of class time per week and more church time than most have participated
in their entire life (aside from Badarak), as one student put
it. Could it be that they merely tolerate class and church time
because of the time they will spend with their peers?
Over
300 individuals have attended the Summer Program during the
past 16 years. Of those, the majority have returned to continue
with the program. Over 80 have graduated - i.e., have completed
the four-year program. So it seems most students do well with
the three-fold objectives of the Institute: religious education,
worship, and fellowship.
Run
by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) of the Prelacy,
the St. Gregory of Datev Institute is a four-year faith-based
youth program, one week each year. Those who complete the Program
may return for postgraduate classes. Classes for the five levels
of study take place concurrently.
Through
worship, lectures, interactive presentations, Bible studies,
and group discussions, the curriculum exposes the students to
a range of important foundations of Armenian Christianity, from
Bible and creeds, sacraments and sacred chants, personal and
corporate prayer, language and history, to contemporary moral
and ethical issues.
This
year seventy-two students from 11 Prelacy parishes attended
the Program, with the participation of 10 clergymen under the
directorship of Very Rev. Anoushavan Tanielian, the Vicar General
and Chairman of the Religious Council of the Prelacy. Twenty-two
were first-year students, 18 second-year students, 8 third-year
students, 7 graduates (fourth-year students), and 19 postgraduate
students.
The
participants were graced with the presence of His Eminence Archbishop
Oshagan, the Prelate, who took time out of his very busy schedule
to be with the Datevatzies at the 4th of July picnic.
The
instructors of the Institute were: Very Rev. Fr. Anoushavan
Tanielian (Director), Very Rev. Fr. Yeghishe Manjikian, Very
Rev. Fr. Myron Aznikian, Rev. Fr. Dr. Mesrob Tashjian, Rev.
Fr. Khoren Habeshian, Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses
Manoogian, Rev. Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian, Rev. Fr. Dr. Khatchadour
Boghossian, and Dn. Shant Kazanjian. Mr. Haroutune Misserlian
was a guest lecturer.
To
empower the emerging generation to assume leadership roles in
the church community, the Institute invites postgraduates to
share in various responsibilities of the program. The Institute
is grateful to the following veteran and recent Datev postgraduates
for their contributions in teaching, supervision and counseling:
Dn. Haig Baklayan, Dn. Nishan Baljian, Dn. Joseph Garabedian,
Dn. Stepan Stepanian, Ms. Barbara Baljian, Ms. Nayiri Baljian,
Ms. Marie-Noel Givelekian, Gary Khatcherian, Dr. Arsen Mekaelian,
Mrs. Martha Mekaelian, and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian.
A
program of this caliber and scope requires the collaborative
efforts between AREC and parishes, parents, volunteer workers,
as well as a number of organizations and individuals who value
the ministry of the Institute. It is meet and right to acknowledge
their support and contributions. In the first place, the Prelacy
wishes to thank the faculty and the counselors of the Institute
for their invaluable services, and the parents who entrusted
their children to the Institute for a week of spiritual formation.
Many thanks to those parishes that subsidized a portion of the
expenses by providing scholarships. The Institute extends its
appreciation to the Pashalian Family Education Fund for their
donation of $2,500.00. A special word of thanks to Mrs. Asdghig
Kazanjian (the owner of Armenian Delight in Philadelphia) for
providing delicious Armenian food to the Datevatzies on various
occasions during the Program, including the 4th of July picnic.
The
Institute also thanks the following organizations and individuals
for their donations: The National Association of Ladies' Guild
(NALG), Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG), Mrs. Alice Haigazian-Berman,
Mr. and Mrs. Hrant Jilozian, Mr. and Mrs. Vartan Karakelian,
Mrs. Grace Keshgegian, Ms. Margaret Keshgegian, Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Khatcherian, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jehanian, Ms. Zarouhi
Mardikian, Mr. and Mrs. Noubar Megerian, Dr. and Mrs. Arsen
Mekaelian, Dr. and Mrs. Michael Nalbantian.
Participants:
The
72 participants at the 2002 St. Gregory of Datev Institute came
from the following communities:
17 from Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey;
14 from St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, New York;
9 from St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania;
7 from St. Stephen's Armenian Church, Watertown, Massachusetts;
6 from Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Worcester, Massachusetts;
6 from Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, Providence, Rhode Island;
5 from St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Cathedral, New York,
New York;
5 from St. Paul Armenian Church, Waukegan, Illinois;
1 from St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Dearborn, Michigan;
1 from St. Gregory Armenian Church, North Andover, Massachusetts;
1 from St. Asdvadzadzin Armenian Church, Toronto
|
