Support St. Nersess Armenian Seminary

Since this is the year of “Vocations”, I would like to draw attention to St. Nersess Seminary, and call all faithful Armenians to support this wonderful treasure of the Armenian Church.

St. Nersess, which falls under all three Dioceses in North America (Eastern, Western & Canadian), was established in 1961 through the vision of Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan. It is the only Armenian seminary in the Western hemisphere, and furthermore, it is the only Armenian seminary in the world that accepts female students.

The “mission” of St. Nersess Seminary, as stated on their website, is as follows:

“As a community devoted to theological inquiry in the service of the Church, the Seminary seeks to prepare leaders in ordained and lay ministries through graduate degree and continuing education programs. The Seminary is committed to assisting the Armenian Church in achieving her challenging mission in North America. In this endeavor the mission of St. Nersess is invariably related to the mission of the Armenian Church in edifying the faithful spiritually and intellectually, by explicating her distinctive witness and expression of the apostolic faith with relevance for the present.”

This means that St. Nersess Seminary is not only a source to prepare candidates for the priesthood, but also serves every level of the Armenian Church including youth, lay parishioners, and ordained clergy.

The following are some facts about St. Nersess Seminary:

• St. Nersess has more alumni working full-time for the Armenian community than any degree-granting center of Armenian Studies in North America.
• Out of 38 active clergy in the Eastern Diocese, 23 are St. Nersess graduates (60%). If we include eight others who have studied at St. Nersess for special courses or shorter periods of time, the total percentage approaches 80%.
• The largest Armenian Church parishes in the United States are pastored by St. Nersess alumni.
• Five St. Nersess alumni currently serve at the Armenian Diocese in New York.
• All of the Eastern Diocese’s youth programs are directed by St. Nersess alumni, and nearly 200 youth ages 12 thru 24 participate yearly in the St. Nersess Conferences in the summer and at Christmas.
• St. Nersess has more faculty members devoted to Armenian Studies than any university in the US.
• More Armenian language courses are offered at St. Nersess than at any other place in the Western hemisphere.
• The St. Nersess website offers resources such as liturgical sources (sacred music and chants, hymns, and church services), online courses, and audio/video lectures.

On a personal level, St. Nersess Seminary has served as a resource for me to learn more about the Armenian Church and her beliefs. During a time when I was making a journey back to the Armenian Church, both the students and staff at St. Nersess welcomed me, were patient to answer questions, and showed me genuine Christian love and service. I have also taken part in a parish mission trip to St. Peter Armenian Church in Watervliet, NY which was sponsored and hosted by St. Nersess. That mission trip not only gave me an opportunity to serve the greater Armenian Church, but it was also an opportunity for my faith to be exercised and formed.

I believe St. Nersess to be one of the most important and vital treasures of the Armenian Church, especially in North America. I hope, believe, and pray that God will continue to use St. Nersess Seminary to further the survival of the Armenian Church’s rich Christian heritage and faith.

Since the seminary relies on the generosity of friends and benefactors for more than 50% of the annual operating budget, this is a call to all faithful Armenians to support and pray for the mission of St. Nersess Seminary to be accomplished.

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
150 Stratton Road
New Rochelle, NY 10804

Phone: (914) 636-2003
E-Mail: info@stnersess.edu