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THE YOUTH, THE CHURCH AND CONTEMPORARY
CHALLENGES, THE THEME OF THE FORTHCOMING ATIME CONFERENCE
On 8 January 2012, the members of the Committee of the
Association of Theological Institution in the Middle East (ATIME) met at
the Orthodox Seminary in Balamand (North Lebanon).
Two deacons Kevork Sabounjian and Sarkis Garabedian
represented the Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The Committee
decided to organize a conference on 3 March 2012 at the University of
St. Esprit, and adopted the theme “The Youth, The Church and
Contemporary Challenges” as proposed by the Deacons of the Armenian
Church.
SENIOR
SEMINARIANS REPRESENT THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA AT THE MEETINGS OF
THE ASSOCIATION OF THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST (ATIME)
In November, the members of ATIME met to plan activities
for 2012. Deacon Kevork Saboundjian and a seminarian, Sarkis Garabedian,
represented the Catholicosate of Cilicia. The first activity of ATIME
will be a concert of spiritual music by the choirs of the member
institutions of ATIME. The concert will be held on 22 January 2012,
during the celebrations of the Week of Prayer of Christian Unity at St.
Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias.
THE
82nd SCHOLASTIC YEAR AT THE SEMINARY BEGINS
Celebrations marking the official beginning of the
scholastic year began with the Holy Liturgy at the St. Gregory the
Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias. The new Dean Archbishop Nareg
Alemezian celebrated the liturgy. The Archbishop based his sermon on
Luke 2:49, where Jesus said, “Why are you searching for me; didn’t you
know I had to be in my father’s house?” he concluded by stating that the
seminary is both the house of God and the Armenian people.
On Monday, the Dean and the Faculty welcomed the new
students and after the anthem of the Seminary, the students listened to
readings from the writing of mystical theologian and philosopher, St.
Gregory of Nareg.
In the end, Archbishop Komitas Ohanian, greeted the
students on behalf of His Holiness Aram I currently on a pastoral visit
in USA, blessed the faculty and the students and concluded the ceremony
with a prayer.
SEMINARIANS RETURN TO
BIKFAYA
FROM THEIR SUMMER HOLIDAYS
On Wednesday, 4 October 2011, the seminarians returned to
Zarehian Seminary in Bikfaya. After the dean, Archbishop Nareg Alemezian,
and the Faculty greeted the students, the students were invited to a
Bible study on the theme of the Gospel of Mark, 9:2-10. October 5-9 will
be Orientation Week.
AN EVENING OF
SPIRITUAL SONGS AT THE ANTELIAS SEMINARY
09/15/2011
On Thursday 15 September 2011, Kevork Hadjian a former
seminary student sang spiritual sons accompanied on the piano by Datevik
Artinian, winner of the scholarship for young talents competition
sponsored by the Catolicosate of Cilicia.
MEMBERS OF THE
ARMENIAN RED CROSS
VISIT THE ZAREHIAN SEMINARY
08/11/2011
Thursday 11 August 2011, Members of the ‘Arshalouys
Azirian’ branch of the Armenian Red Cross women’s organization visited
the Seminary of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in Bikfaya (Lebanon). The
visit coincided with the Feast of Transfiguration of the Mother of God
and the pilgrimage to the Monastery of Bikfaya.
After a tour of the Monastery, guided by Father
Stephannos, the group met with the Dean of the Sminary, Archbishop Nareg
Alemezian. The Archbishop welcomed them and said, “The Seminary prepares
our youth to serve our people either as clergy or as lay teachers. The
Seminary and the Blue Cross have a common purpose, which is serving our
people. On this special time of pilgrimage to our Monastery, we
encourage your to send your children and grandchildren to be formed at
the seminary and serve the people.”
CONVERSATION ON THE
ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT AT THE ZAREHIAN SEMINARY
08/08/2011
On Monday 8 August 2011, upon the invitation of the Dean
of the Seminary Archbishop Nareg Alemezian, Ms. Teny Pirri-Simonian
shared her experience in the ecumenical movement. Ms Simonian first
thanked the Archbishop for the invitation and then spoke of the World
Council of Churches (WCC). She described the WCC both as a fellowship of
churches seeking Christian Unity and as an organization called to
fulfill the command of Jesus Christ to serve the poor and the oppressed,
to work for justice and peace, and to protect the environment. She also
referred to the important contribution of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
to the Ecumenical Movement.
After a lively question and answer period, Ms. Simonian
concluded, “I am most grateful to my Church for giving me the
opportunity to serve the ecumenical movement. The WCC was a school that
helped me discover my Church, its theology and my people”.
THE ARMENIAN CHURCH
IN EUROPE TODAY
08/03/2011
On 3 August 2011, Deacon Heratch Chiliguirian lecturer at
Cambridge University, who is also serving the St. Sarkis Church in
London, visited the Seminary of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia
and spoke of the “Armenian Church in Europe Today” to the priests,
deacons and students.
Archbishop Nareg Alemezian welcomed the guest speaker and
said, “the presence of Deacon Heratch among us demonstrates that all
Armenian students whether in seminaries or theological faculties
converge around the same goal, namely, serving the Armenian Church
responsibly.”
In his response, the Deacon expressed his joy at being in
Bikfaya and meeting his colleagues at the seminary of the Catholicosate
of Cilicia. Deacon Heratch began his presentation by describing the
historical evolution of the Armenian Church in Europe and its current
crisis. He then spoke of St. Sarkis Church in London as the example
where clergy and laity work together closely. He then described the
issues Christians are facing in secular Europe and concluded that the
Armenian Church should nurture the spirituality of its people everywhere
in order to avoid major problems.
Archbishop Gorun Babian thanked Archbishop Nareg for
organizing the evening, and Deacon Heratch for encouraging the
seminarians to strengthen themselves with the faith of the Armenian
Church as they prepare to serve the Church.
“THE SEMINARY FORMS DISCIPLES TO SERVE THE PEOPLE”
SAID HIS HOLINESS
ARAM I
06/20/2011
On 20 June 2011, during the graduation ceremony at the Seminary, His
Holiness Aram I thanked the Dean, the Vice Dean and the faculty for
their dedication by preparing spiritually and intellectually mature
clergy, and addressed the graduates, newly ordained celibate priest and
married parish priests. He said, “The seminary prepares disciples not
only by teaching them the Bible, the Liturgy and the Tradition of our
Church and academic topics; it also gives the vision for evangelism and
diakonia of the church. We believe in the quality of our future clergy
and not in the number of graduates. I command our clergy serving on all
levels of our Church, because they are setting the example to the
younger generation; as you are leaving the seminary, I encourage you to
remain loyal to your vocation and faithful to our community”.
ORDINATION OF SUB-DEACONS AND DEACONS
AT THE ARMENIAN CATHOLICOSATE IN ANTELIAS
During the month of May, the members of the brotherhood of the Holy See
of Cilicia ordained seminarians as sub-deacons and deacons.
Students are ordained sub-deacons, which is the first rank of ordination
a year before their graduation from the seminary. Through this
ordination, they commit themselves to serve the church and the people.
The new deacons are former acolytes who receive the second degree in
ordination upon their graduation from the Seminary. This ordination
allows them to serve the Altar and read the Holy Bible during Liturgy.
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