PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
July 29, 2005
PRELACY SPONSORS 19TH ANNUAL
ST. GREGORY OF DATEV INSTITUTE SUMMER PROGRAM
NEW YORK, NY – “I think Datev is a great program, and I am definitely
coming back next year,” was one impression from a second year student
who attended the 19th annual week-long St. Gregory of Datev Institute
Armenian Christian Studies Program, sponsored by the Armenian Religious
Education Council of the Eastern Prelacy. Many similar positive
impressions were heard during the educational and fun-filled week that
spiritually rejuvenates all who attend and reunites old friends in a
healthy, safe, Armenian Christian environment. Most participants who
attend for the first time return the following years to complete the
full four-year program and many come back as post-graduate students.
This year, the Institute had 75 students (ages 13 and over), from
14 parishes, and seven clergymen under the directorship of Very
Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, the Vicar General, who gathered at
the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, for the
“Datev Program,” as popularly known, July 3-10, 2005.
The program began on Sunday, July 3, in the evening with prayer by
Hayr Anoushavan, after which Deacon Shant Kazanjian, the director of
AREC, began the orientation. To set the tone for the week, Dn. Shant
stressed the three key objectives of the program, namely, learning,
prayer, and fellowship. Then, students from each of the following
parishes were introduced: St. Illuminator’s Armenian Cathedral, New
York City, 6 students; St. Gregory Armenian Church, Philadelphia,
PA – 13 students; Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, Providence,
RI – 12 students; St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Douglaston, NY –
10 students; Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church, Ridgefield, NJ – 10
students; St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church, North Andover, MA –
7 students; St. Paul Armenian Church, Waukegan, IL – 5 students; St.
Asdvadzadzin Armenian Church, Toronto, Canada – 2 students; Sourp
Hagop Armenian Church, Montreal, Canada – 2 students; Holy Trinity
Armenian Church, Worcester, MA – 3 students; St. Stephen’s Armenian
Church, Watertown, MA – 2 students; Sourp Khatch Armenian Church,
Washington, DC – 1 student; Holy Cross Armenian Church, Union City,
NJ – 1 student; St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church, Pasadena,
CA – 1 student. There were 23 first-year students, 16 second-year
students, 10 third-year, and three fourth-year students (graduating
class), as well as 23 postgraduates. Each student received a folder
which included their schedule for the week, educational resources,
and guidelines to facilitate their stay at the Center.
Students attended classes Monday through Friday from 8:30am to
12:20pm. In all, there were 100 distinct 50-minute sessions for five
levels of study, which covered a variety of topics such as Bible
Study, Prayer and Life, Interpretation of Badarak, Youth and Values,
Interpretation of the Bible, The Sacraments, Armenian Language and
Culture, and other historical, religious and cultural classes.
During their free time, the students enjoyed sports activities
including swimming, soccer and volleyball. And on Friday evening the
highly anticipated talent show was held under the directorship of
Ms. Jeanette Nazarian, where “datevazies” showcased their many and
varied talents in and through Armenian song, dance, music, poetry
and acting.
THE EDUCATORS The Instructors of the Institute this year were Very
Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian, Very Rev. Fr. Shahe Panossian, Very
Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses
Manoogian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Dn. Arsen
Mekaelian, and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian.
A prominent biblical scholar, Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Professor of
Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox
Theological Seminary (NY) was a guest instructor who taught a 4-hour
mini-course to the college-age students on St. Paul’s first letter
to the Thessalonians and held a special two-hour session with the
clergy. The students were very impressed with the presentations. This
is what James Haddad, a postgraduate student, said about Fr. Tarazi,
“. his lecture was very intense and the two-hour period flew by.” The
lectures were informative and enlightening, and provided a fresh
viewpoint from which to see the Apostle’s Letter. In addition, there
were four guest lecturers: Rev. Fr. Bedros Shetilian, Rev. Fr. Nareg
Terterian, Dn. Carlo Bayrakdarian, M.D., and Mr. Haroutune Misserlian.
On Monday July 4, Datev held its annual Independence Day picnic,
catered by Mrs. Asdghig Kazanjian, owner of “Armenian Delight.”
The datevatzies were graced by the presence of His Eminence Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, the Prelate, who joined them in the fellowship.
The seven-day program came to a close on Sunday, July 10, with a
celebration of the Divine Liturgy (Soorp Badarak) at St. Gregory the
Illuminator Armenian Church in Philadelphia on Sunday, followed by
a luncheon, graciously provided and served by the Artemis Chapter of
the Armenian Relief Society.
THANK YOU A program of this scope was only made possible through the
collaboration of AREC, the parishes, parents, volunteers and many
organizations. They all deserve acknowledgement and thanks for their
efforts and time and support. The Institute would like to express its
deepest gratitude to the instructors for their labor of love, to the
parents for entrusting their children to the Institute for a week
of spiritual formation. The following Datev participants provided
invaluable services as supervisors and counselors: Dn. Dr. Arsen
Mekaelian, Mr. James Haddad, Mr. Arek Hamalian, Mr. Vicken Rachdouni,
Mrs. Siroon Kojakian, Ms. Taleen Kupelian, Mrs. Martha Mekaelian,
Ms. Martha Mekaelian Jr., Mr. Mikhail Mekaelian, and Jeannette
Nazarian. Thanks is due to those Datevatzies from the NY-NJ area who
volunteered many hours at the AREC office weeks prior the program
– Lousine Galoyan, Mary Gulmezian, James Haddad, Taleen Kupelian,
Mardo Piranian, and Mgo Pirnanian. Many thanks to those parishes that
subsidized a portion of the expense by providing scholarships.
The Institute extends its appreciation to the Pashalian Family
Education Fund for the donation of $2,000. The Institute thanks
the following generous supporters: The Prelacy Ladies Guild (PLG),
the Artemis Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society, Mrs. Asdghig
Kazanjian, Mr. and Mrs. Noubar Megerian and Dr. and Mrs. Vahan
Kouyoumdjian. Thanks also to the following donors: Mr. and Mrs. Gary
Garabedian, Mr. and Mrs. George Semerdjian, Mr. and Mrs. Garbis
Garboushian, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Jehanian, Mr. and Mrs. Zaven Oranjian.
Anticipation is already growing for next year’s 20th anniversary
celebration of the Datev Institute (July 2-9, 2006), for which plans
are under way.
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