PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:

September 30, 2004
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DIOCESE SHARES IDEAS, TIPS WITH SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

Each week, they give their time to share their love of Christ with our
youngest parishioners. But most parish Sunday School teachers are not
professional educators. So, to help them reach our children, the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) works to provide
on-going training, inspiration, and encouragement to local Sunday School
staffs across the Diocese.

One successful training program for educators is the Helen and Edward
Mardigian Institute, which this year took place from August 17 to 22,
2004, at the Diocesan Center in New York City and at St. Nersess
Armenian Seminary.

Organized by the staff of the Diocese’s Department of Youth and
Education, the Mardigian Institute has trained more than 350 Sunday
School educators since its founding 26 years ago. This year’s group of
10, like those before them, were strengthened by the week of hands-on
demonstrations, lectures, and discussions of Christian faith.

“I’m much more confident now in my ability to teach Sunday School,” said
participant Christine Bagetakos of the St. Mary Church of Washington,
D.C. “It’s not only all the helpful teaching tips I received, but also
the knowledge that there are teachers in other parishes to whom I can
turn when I have questions, and with whom I can share ideas.”

NEW SKILLS, NEW IDEAS

The sessions covered everything from classroom management and using the
Internet for educating, to the use of theater skills in education and a
discussion of the holy vessels found on the altar.

One unique day featured a detailed history of medieval Armenian
illuminated manuscripts by Dr. Sylvie Merian, of the Pierpont Morgan
Library; this was followed by a hands-on workshop in which the
participants did their own painting and gold-leafing of their own
illuminated manuscripts.

“The Mardigian Institute offers everything a Sunday School teacher needs
to educate a new and faithful generation,” said Anna Demerjian, a
teacher from the St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of White Plains, NY.

Since the 2003-2004 Sunday School year will focus on the idea of
Christian stewardship, several Mardigian institute sessions offered ways
to incorporate stewardship into Sunday School lessons for all ages.

Fr. Daniel Findikyan, dean of the St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and a
presenter at the 2004 Mardigian Institute, illustrated the ways
stewardship is expressed in worship.

The last two days of the institute were spent at St. Nersess Seminary.
The retreat was led by long-time Christian educator Valerie Goekjian
Zahirsky interwove concepts from a contemporary book, “The
Purpose-Driven Life,” with the words of Armenian saints and early church
fathers.

Mary Kazarian, a teacher from St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in
Chicago, IL, called the Mardigian Institute a “wonderful experience,”
adding that she was “really inspired to make the children’s Sunday
School experiences memorable.” Following her experience there, she
returned home to assume the vacant post of Sunday School superintendent.

Indeed, “inspiration” was a common theme of the week, cited both by the
Mardigian Institute participants, and by those who gratefully observed
their dedication to their service.

“You are doing the most important job of the Armenian Church,”
Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian told the participants during a graduation
ceremony at St. Vartan Cathedral in New York City. “We are so very
grateful to you.”

MEETING WITH PRIMATE

The attendees of the Mardigian Institute also had a luncheon meeting
with Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), who thanked them for their dedication to
our Christian education efforts.

The teachers and Primate had a long conversation about the importance of
their work, the need to reach all our children, and keeping our culture
and faith a part of today’s world.

“Each community needs dedicated, volunteer teachers like these to help
our next generation of Armenian faithful learn the beauty of their
Christian faith,” the Primate said of the Mardigian Institute
participants.

DEVOTION MAKES IT POSSIBLE

The week-long Mardigian Institute was funded by an endowment established
by Helen and the late Edward Mardigian, whose commitment to Sunday
School and youth programming has been a long standing tribute to their
love of their church. Their endowment allows teachers from all over the
Eastern Diocese to attend the summer session at no cost to the teachers
or their parishes. This allows smaller parishes to send representatives
to the bi-annual institute.

The Mardigian Institute’s programming was organized by Elise
Antreassian, coordinator of Christian education at the Diocesan Center,
along with Nancy Basmajian, executive secretary of the ACYOA.

GIVE OF YOURSELF

Sunday School programs across the Diocese are always in need of
dedicated educators. You don’t have to have classroom experience —
just a love of Christ that you want to share with young Armenians.

Talk to your parish priest or Sunday School superintendent about
volunteering. If your parish does not have a Sunday School program,
start one.

The Diocese has resources, expertise, and tools to help educators make
their Sunday School program successful. If you would like more
information on the next Mardigian Institute and other enriching
programs, e-mail Elise Antreasian at elisea@armeniandiocese.org or call
(212) 686-0710 ext. 57.

“The Mardigian Institute is a must for all Sunday School teachers,” said
Sunday School Superintendent Cheryl Arslanian from the St. Gregory of
Narek Church in Cleveland, OH. “The session leaders were top-notch, the
clergy were caring, and the friendships unique. Words cannot explain
how proud I am to be a Sunday School teacher and a member of the
Armenian Church. Our children will be the beneficiaries of this unique
experience.”

Participants in the 2004 Mardigian Institute: Cheryl Aslanian,
Cleveland, OH; Christine Bagetakos and Sona Krikorian, Washington, DC;
Anna Demerjian, White Plains, NY; Ara Esmerian, Hollywood, FL; Noushig
Hovhannesian, Cheltenham, PA; Mary Kazarian, Chicago, IL; Dickran
Mgrdechian, Bayside, NY; Lena Montgomery, Southfield, MI; Linda
Sahagian, Watertown, MA

— 9/30/04

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Participants in the 2004 Mardigian Institute for
local Sunday School educators, work on a hands-on project during the
week-long training retreat organized by the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern).

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Suzann Froundjian, an instructor at the 2004
Mardigian Institute, leads a workshop on Sunday School craft project
during the week-long session held in New York City from August 17 to 22,
2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Participants in the Mardigian Institute — a
week-long training camp for local Sunday School educators — discuss
their faith, stewardship, and educational techniques during a session
held at the St. Nersess Seminary in New Rochelle, NY.

PHOTO CAPTION (4): Participants in the 2004 Mardigian Institute — a
Sunday School educator training program hosted by the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern) from August 17 to 22 — meet with
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese.