by Fr. Vazken Movsesian
In New York State, very close to the Connecticut border, there is a small town of almost 3,500 residents called Armonk. It’s an interesting name indeed, considering there is an Armenian monastery in this town, that might have you believe the town was named as a tribute to Armenian monastics, as in, Armenian + monk, shortened to Armonk. But, like most New England settlements, there is a history to the town that predates the arrival of Armenians to the shores of the United States. The history that concerns us today is not the town but the Armenian Seminary, sprawled over 5.5 acres in this town. I had a chance to visit St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and meet with seminarians over the last weekend.
The St. Nersess Armenian Seminary was established in 1961 by the Eastern and Western Dioceses of the Armenian Church. It was the brainchild of Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, of blessed memory (1904-1989). Archbishop Tiran was a visionary who understood that the needs of the Armenian Church in America and its congregants are unique. Preparing clergy to meet those needs must come from within the community. St. Nersess was first opened in Evanston, Illinois and moved to New Rochelle, New York until the 2012 when the move was made to the Armonk campus. Here is a link to the Seminary’s website where you can read about its history and programs. https://stnersess.edu/about/our-history/
The Western Diocese currently has four seminarians enrolled at St. Nersess. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, as our Primate, accepts candidates for the priesthood and sets their course of study. After undergraduate studies, a candidate may earn his post graduate degree through the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and then further his studies at one of the hierarchical seas. The instruction they receive at St. Nersess augments their studies with specific lessons in Armenian Church theology, patristics, history, homiletics and liturgics. Most importantly, as I witnessed in my visit with the seminarians, St. Nersess offers an environment where young men can be with like-minded people, in an atmosphere of prayer, contemplation and comradery. In our secularized society, this in itself is enough to celebrate the importance of St. Nersess in the life of the Armenian Church in America. A priest’s life can be a lonely one, but God fills that loneliness with friendships that revolve around the Gospel of Love.
In the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 10) Jesus sends His Disciples “out like sheep among wolves.” And admonishes them to, “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. The priests of tomorrow will be coming from our midst. In a world that is filled with lies, deception and false narratives, today's generation is in search of the most basic element of life, namely Truth. The Armenian Church has offered that Truth for the last 2000 years in presenting Jesus Christ – “The Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6) – to its people. And today, there is an opportunity to proclaim it to the world.
During our meeting we had a chance to talk about issues of concern for the Armenian community, as well as for the crises that flares up in the world. These are young men who have put their personal lives on hold while they pursue the priesthood through education. Their devotion to the Gospel and the teachings of the Armenian Church keep them focused, giving us hope for our Church, especially in the Western Diocese. They deserve all of our support and prayers. “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)
