PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
May 7, 2010
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C LERGY AND LAITY SPEAK OF THE REWARDS AND SATISFACTIONS FOUND IN THE
CHURCH’S VOCATIONS AT THE 2010 DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY
"The Fulfilling Life of an Armenian Priest" is Abp. Barsamian’s Message to
the Diocesan Assembly
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian struck a personal chord during his remarks to
the delegates of the 108th Diocesan Assembly on Friday, April 30.
Through his annual address, the Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern) launched the second year of "Vocations: The Call
to Serve"-a Diocesan-wide project to invigorate recruitment to the clerical
vocations of the Armenian Church.
But while increasing the number of priests would have a clear benefit to the
church as an organization, Archbishop Barsamian focused on the benefit that
comes to the individual when he chooses to answer the calling and enter the
clergy.
"What does the ‘call to serve’ mean to them-to our priests and pastors, our
deacons and seminarians? What is its meaning for their lives?" he asked. His
answer came in a single statement.
"Priesthood is a deeply fulfilling life," the Primate said.
He went on to mine modern social science as well as personal experience to
convey the spiritual and professional satisfaction to be found in the
priesthood.
These included an extensive University of Chicago survey on job satisfaction
and general happiness in America, which found that clergymen ranked highest
among all professions for reporting happiness in their occupations and
personal lives. (Fully 87 percent of clergymen reported being very happy in
their jobs, with firefighters and physical therapists rounding out the top
three positions in the survey.)
The admittedly surprising result validated the Primate’s personal
experiences in his four decades of ministry, he said.
"To be with families in their times of greatest joy, and also in their
moments of deepest need; to share the hopes and dreams of our people; to
welcome people into the life of our church, into the family of God’s
children, and to play a role in passing our heritage down to another
generation-all of these things are sources of profound fulfillment for me,
personally," he said.
Relating anecdotes from his ministry-one about praying with a family at the
sickbed of dying relative, and another about sharing life’s milestones in
church with a boyhood friend-Archbishop Barsamian told the delegates that
through such experiences the priest understands "that you have dedicated
your life to something greater than yourself: to a network of people whose
purpose in life is to serve others and to serve God. Knowing this magnifies
you-even as it makes you feel humble before the majesty of God and His
church."
The Primate’s reflections culminated in a recollection of the ordination
service he conducted in Armenia in July of 2009, during which he ordained 27
young men into the Armenian priesthood. The power and emotion of that
occasion were brought home to the delegates through a brief video
presentation.
"This is the way my life has been fulfilled, by service among the clergy of
the Armenian Church," Archbishop Barsamian said by way of conclusion. "It
was my own personal choice, supported by my family and other clergy, to
answer God’s call. And ever since then, it has been my pleasure and
privilege to share the fulfillment God has given me with others-like all of
you."
Testimonies from clergy
With the Primate’s formal address completed, the balance of the Friday
morning session was devoted to brief testimonies about how the priesthood
had affected the lives of clergymen and laymen alike. The delegates were
also drawn into a brain-storming session on ways to advance the Diocese’s
Vocations theme at the parish level.
The Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of New York’s St. Vartan Cathedral, and
a member of the Diocesan Council, explained to the delegates the
"ingredients" that usually guide young people to consider the priestly
vocation. The local parish pastor, the individual’s family, the parish lay
leadership, and the example of other clergy all have roles to play in the
process.
Fr. Chevian reminded the delegates that they, too, could play a critical
role in inspiring someone to choose the vocations. "Be part of the
solution," he urged. "Become part of a young man’s journey to the
priesthood."
Justin Ajemian, a seminarian at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New
Rochelle, N.Y., spoke about his childhood experiences at home and with his
family, at church and in the seminary, which guided him to consider the
priesthood as a life’s path. Of his decision to pursue to a vocation in the
church, Mr. Ajemian said, "There are many job opportunities out there; but
none of them was a calling."
The Very Rev. Fr. Aren Jebejian and the Rev. Fr. Vasken Kouzouian-pastors
respectively of the St. Gregory the Illuminator parish of Chicago, Ill. and
the Holy Trinity parish of Cambridge, Mass., both members of the Diocesan
Council, and both the sons of Armenian priests-offered personal insights
into the ways they felt called to serve the church.
As graduates of St. Nersess Seminary, they urged the delegates to find ways
to support that institution, and had the delegates split up into small
groups to discuss ways the seminary had affected their lives, and to offer
practical suggestions on how the local parishes and St. Nersess Seminary
could build mutually-reinforcing relationships with one another.
Finding a new life in the church
The Diocesan Vicar General, the Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, ushered in
the final act of the Vocations session by introducing three young women,
each of whom had a strong connection to a priest in the Eastern Diocese.
Maria Jebejian Stepanian, of the St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of White
Plains, N.Y., spoke about growing up among the three generations of
clergymen in her family. She recalled the venerable but down-to-earth wisdom
of her great-uncle, Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan; the fatherly warmth of her
uncle, the Rev. Fr. Nersess Jebejian; and her sense of joy and wonder when
her childhood playmate, now Fr. Aren Jebejian, took up the role of priest.
Yeretzgin Anna Demirjian, wife of the Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demirjian of the St.
Hagop parish of St. Petersburg, Fla., delivered a moving testimony of
finding a new life in the church after enduring a childhood in the Soviet
Union, where the Christian faith was marginalized and denigrated. She said
she felt that being a priest’s wife was her own sacred calling. Remarking on
the pastoral role that all her sister yeretzgins take on, she acknowledged
the challenges but also the deep rewards of the spirit inherent in that
role.
Finally, Maral Nalbandian, the daughter of the Rev. Fr. Untzag Nalbandian of
the Holy Ascension Church of Trumbull, Conn., gave her perspective on what
she had learned, and how she had grown, through the experience of being a
priest’s child. She said she had received a distinctive and robust sense of
identity, as well as a feeling of strength and confidence. Above all, she
felt a sense of responsibility to set an example for other young people.
Fr. Najarian wrapped up the session by asking the assembly delegates to
"heed these examples and testimonies, so that the Diocese will meet its
needs for priests in the future."
But what echoed most forcefully throughout the Diocesan Assembly’s Vocations
session was the "personal dimension" Archbishop Barsamian had mentioned in
his opening address.
"Out of this personal sense of being blessed and fulfilled, I encourage
other people to answer God’s call: to enter the priesthood, and discover for
themselves the sense of satisfaction that energizes my life as a clergyman,"
the Primate had said. "The priesthood is a beautiful way of life, and we
recommend it to those we love because we want the very best for their
lives."
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Photos attached.
Asmbly Vocations1
Delegates worked in small groups to brain-storm ways to advance the
Diocese’s Vocations theme at the parish level.
Asmbly Vocations2
Maral Nalbandian, Maria Jebejian Stepanian, and Yeretzgin Anna Demerjian
spoke about their connections to priests in the Eastern Diocese.
Asmbly Vocations3
In remarks to the delegates of the 108th Diocesan Assembly, Archbishop
Khajag Barsamian focused on the benefit that comes to the individual when he
chooses to answer the calling and enter the clergy.
Asmbly Vocations4
Seminarian Justin Ajemian spoke about his childhood experiences at home and
with his family, at church and in the seminary, which guided him to consider
the priesthood as a life’s path.