St. Gregory of
Datev Institute Summer Program Concludes;
Institute’s 25th Anniversary will
be Celebrated Next Year
NEW YORK, NY—His Eminence Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of America, praised the conclusion of another successful St. Gregory of
Datev Institute Summer Program.
Speaking about this popular summer
program, His Eminence said, “Although memories of the 2010 Datev Institute are
still fresh in everyone’s mind, our thoughts are now focusing on next year and
Datev’s 25th anniversary. As the years go by we see the full impact of the Datev
Institute. Our graduates become participants and leaders in every aspect of the
life of our Church. Next year we will celebrate the 25th anniversary with great
joy as we look toward the future of the Datev program which must continue to
reach and teach our youngsters.”
This year 61 teenage students from
eleven Prelacy parishes and ten instructors gathered at the St. Mary of
Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, for the 24th Annual St. Gregory of
Datev Institute Summer Program, from Sunday, June 25 to Sunday, July 4, 2010,
under the auspices of the Prelate, and the directorship of His Grace Bishop
Anoushavan, the Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy. Approximately forty of the
participants began the annual summer program with the weekend retreat that
started on Friday, June 25.
Sponsored by the Prelacy’s Armenian
Religious Education Council (AREC), the Institute provides an intensive weeklong
program of Christian formation through Bible studies and discussions, prayer and
worship services, communal activities and fellowship. The day begins with
Morning Service from 7:15 am to 7:45 am. Classes are held from 8:30 am to 12:30
pm. In the afternoon, the students participate in recreational activities, such
as volleyball, soccer, canoeing, dodge ball, swimming, board games, and music.
In the evening, panel discussions and general lectures take place 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. The day comes to a close with the Compline Service
(Husgoom) from 9:45 pm to 10:30 pm.
“This was my first year going to Datev
and though I was a bit nervous and hesitant, I really enjoyed myself,” says Amir
Adelinia from Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Worcester,
Massachusetts. He continues, “Although I am only 50% Armenian and don't speak
the language except a few words, I was accepted by all.” A fellow first year
participant, Daniel Megerian of St. Sarkis Armenian Church in Douglaston, New
York says, “I learned a lot and I had a great time. I can't wait until next
year.”
The Institute is a four-year program,
consisting of one week each summer. Students who complete the program have the
option to return for fifth-year 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. This year, for the first time, instead of having Armenian
languages classes every day, students enjoyed Armenian History
classes.
The instructors of this year’s Datev
Institute were: His Grace Bishop Anoushavan, Rev. Fr. Khoren Habeshian, Rev. Fr.
Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, Rev.
Fr. Stephan Baljian, Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian and Ms.
Jeanette Nazarian. The Institute enjoyed the presence of two guest instructors:
Very Rev. Fr. Mesrob Sarkisian, the staff-bearer of His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, and Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Professor of
Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological
Seminary (New York).
Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, a much loved and
respected lecturer, presented four sessions on the Parables of Jesus Christ to
the postgraduate class. Fr. Tarazi also led a 2-hour session on the same topic
with the clergy-instructors of the Institute.
Guest speaker Dr. Vahan Kouyoumdjian, a
psychiatrist and a deacon at Sts. Vartanantz Church in Ridgefield, New Jersey,
spoke on various challenges that youth face in society today.
On Saturday, July 3, His Eminence
Archbishop Oshagan visited the Institute, as he does every year, and engaged the
students in an open discussion, entertaining their questions.
Over the years, the July 4th picnic has
become an important part of the Datev Summer Program, an event that all
participants await eagerly. This is a day full of copious delicious Armenian
food and table fellowship, coupled with games, music, and dancing, made possible
by the generosity of Mrs. Asdghig Kazanjian (owner of “Armenian Delight” in
Broomall, Pennsylvania).
The Datev Program came to a close
with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at St. Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Apostolic Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, followed by
a luncheon graciously hosted by the Artemis Chapter of the Armenian Relief
Society (ARS). The celebrant was Very Rev. Fr. Mesrob
Sarkisian.
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, Dn. James Haddad, Barbara Baljian, Harout
Kaprielian, Ari Nalbandian, Jeanette Nazarian, Arpi Shetilian, Ani Yaghmourian,
and Jasmine Yedigarian.
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. Anthony Harutunian, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jehanian, Mrs. Sirvart
Kaloustian, Mrs. Kanarik Karakelian, Mrs. Valantin Kazanjian, Mrs. Grace
Keshgegian, Mrs. Takouhi Mengouchian, Mr. Vartkes Mengouchian, Dr. and Mrs.
Michael Nalbantian, Mrs. Jannette Oundjian, Mr. and Mrs. Zaven Oranjian, Mr.
John Tourigian, Mrs. Virginia Tourigian, Mr. and Mrs. Noubar
Yeremian.
Special thanks are expressed to the
pastor and board of trustees of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of
Philadelphia for their hospitality.
Participants
The participants of the Institute came
from the following 11 parishes: 19 students from Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Ridgefield, New Jersey (8 church servers); 12 from Sts. Vartanantz Church,
Providence, Rhode Island (10 Church Servers); 7 from St. Sarkis Church,
Douglaston, New York (3 Church Server); 6 from All Saints’ Armenian Church,
Glenview, Illinois (6 Church Server); 4 from Holy Trinity Church, Worcester,
Massachusetts (2 Church Servers); 4 from St. Gregory the Illuminator Church,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2 Church Servers); 3 from Soorp Khach Armenian
Apostolic Church, Washington, DC; 2 from St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, New York,
New York; 2 from St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church, Watertown,
Massachusetts (1 Church Server); 1 from St. Gregory Church, Indian Orchard,
Massachusetts (1 Church Server); 1 from St. Stephen’s Church, New Britain,
Connecticut (1 Church Server).
For information about the Datev
Institute, please visit the Prelacy’s website (www.armenianprelacy.org) or
contact the AREC office at 212-689-7810.
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