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.
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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.
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