St. Gregory of Datev Institute holds its 25th annual Summer ProgramFifty-six students (mostly 13-18 year old) and fifteen
instructors and staff members gathered at the St. Mary of Providence Center in
Elverson, Pennsylvania, for the 25th Annual St. Gregory of Datev
Institute Summer Program, from Sunday, July 3 to Sunday, July 10, 2011, under
the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, the Prelate of the Eastern
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the directorship of His Grace
Bishop Anoushavan, the Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy. Over thirty of the
participants began the annual summer program with a retreat that started on Thursday,
June 30. Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council
(AREC) of the Prelacy, the Institute provides an intensive weeklong program of
Christian formation through Bible studies and discussions, prayer and worship
services, communal activities and fellowship. Each day, the program began with
Morning Service from 7:15 am to 7:45 am. Classes were held from 8:30 am to
12:30 pm. In the afternoon, the students participated in recreational activities,
such as volleyball, soccer, dodge ball, swimming, board games, and music. In
the evening, panel discussions and general lectures were held from 7:30 pm to
8:20 pm, followed by three concurrent Bible studies from 8:30 pm to 9:20 pm for
different age groups. Each day came to a close with the Compline Service (Husgoom) from 9:45 pm to 10:30 pm. The Institute is a four-year program, consisting of
one week each summer. Students who complete the program have the option to
return for postgraduate classes. Classes for all five levels of study take
place concurrently. During the weeklong program, one hundred 50-minute classes
are held, twenty per level, along with evening panel discussions and Bible
studies. The curriculum for the first four levels is the same
from one year to another, covering the traditional essentials of our faith,
including the Bible, the sacraments with a particular emphasis on the Divine
Liturgy (Soorp Badarak), feasts and
worship, the Nicene Creed, church history, the Ten Commandments, and
contemporary moral issues. The post-graduate curriculum changes every year, the
classes providing further explanation on the elements of our faith. The roster of instructors this year included: His
Grace Bishop Anoushavan, Very
Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Rev.
Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian,
Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Yn. Joanna
Baghsarian and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian. The Institute enjoyed the presence of four
guest instructors: Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Professor of Biblical Studies and
Biblical Languages at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood,
New York), Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, and Dr.
Michael Papazian, Professor of Philosophy at Berry College (Mount Berry,
Georgia). The two-day retreat, preceding the weeklong program,
focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew and was led by
Dn. Shant. After a brief introduction to the Gospel, the entire book was read
by the students as a group, with some explanation here and there. The 4th of July picnic has become an
important part of the Datev Summer Program, a community-building event that all
participants await eagerly. It is a day full of copious delicious Armenian food
and table fellowship, coupled with games, music, and dancing, made possible through
the generosity of Mrs. Asdghig Kazanjian (owner of “Armenian Delight” in
Broomall, Pennsylvania). On Saturday, July
9, 2011, a gala banquet was held at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of
the Datev Institute, with the participation of past and present datevatsis,
along with friends and supporters of the Institute, under the auspices of His
Eminence Archbishop Oshagan. The Datev Program came to a close with the celebration
of the Divine Liturgy (Soorp Badarak)
at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, on Sunday, July 10, followed by a luncheon graciously hosted by
the Artemis Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS). The celebrant was
Bishop Anoushavan.
***
Words of Appreciation
A program of this scope is possible only through the
collaborative efforts of AREC and parishes, parents, volunteers, 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. Bedros Kalajian, Arman
Ayvazian, Barbara Baljian, Tamar Lakissian, Jeanette Nazarian, Nevair Oranjian, Aram Panosian, Jason Pjojian, Ani Yaghmourian, Sevan
Zobian. The Institute extends its appreciation to those
parishes that subsidized a portion of the expenses by providing scholarships to
church-server participants, to the Pashalian Family Education Fund, and to the
following for their generous support and donations: The Prelacy Ladies’ Guild
(PLG), the National Association of Ladies’ Guilds (NALG), Artemis Chapter of
the Armenian Relief Society (Pennsylvania), and Mrs. Asdghig Kazanjian. Thanks also to the following donors: Mr. and Mrs.
Ralph Jehanian, Mrs. Sirvart Kaloustian, Mrs. Valantin Kazanjian, Dr. and Mrs.
Vahan Kouyoumdjian, Takouhi and Vartkes Mengouchian, Dr. and Mrs. Michael
Nalbantian, Mrs. Jannette Oundjian, Mrs. Takouhi Orangian, Mr. and Mrs. Zaven
Oranjian, Mrs. Arsine Oshagan. A special thanks to the pastor and board of trustees
of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Philadelphia for their hospitality.
***
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