It has been a week since I arrived back home from St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in New Rochelle, New York. There is so much to reflect on that the two page journal entrees I made each night there still does not justify the overall experience I had at the seminary for the Deacons' Training Program. I will try my best to give a breakdown of my experience on a day-to-day basis from June 24th-July 3rd. Please forgive me for the length and any grammatical errors, run on sentences, etc.

Tuesday June 24th: I left Burbank Airport at 7AM on Jet Blue to fly over to JFK in New York. Along the way, we had to make an emergency landing at a nearby airport (LaGuardia?) near JFK to refuel since we could not make our landing as planned due to weather. 

When we finally landed, nearly three hours later, Deacon Levon from St. Nersess came to pick me up along with Deacon Hayk, the only other participant from the west coast. I knew Hayk somewhat from seeing him at the Diocese, so I already felt comfortable in my new surroundings. A few quick stops to Dunkin' Donuts and CVS Pharmacy and we were on our way to the Seminary.

Upon arriving, Levon gave us a quick tour of St. Nersess, the library, chapel, living room, attic, etc. We then ate a little and proceeded to set up the beds for the rooms of all the students who were to arrive the following day. I was happy to get my own room, as everyone else had to share a room with at least five people. Before calling it a night, I went back to the library to pick up a copy of St. Nersess Shnorhali's classic, "Jesus, the Only-Begotten Son." Appropriate reading material for my first night I must say, although the material is beyond my scope of understanding.

Wednesday June 25th: I woke up and immediately hit the shower. I went downstairs wondering what kind of students would arrive. I went to the kitchen, got a few sandwiches and of course coffee. I met with Michelle, an administrative office worker, and had a pleasant conversation with her. She told me how her friends think she works at a Cemetery because they haven't heard of a Seminary and how surprised she was to discover that Armenian priests get married (she's Catholic).  It was great to see an otar appreciate our culture.

I spent most of the afternoon roaming the library (I'm sure Ludwig is not surprised). So many out-of-print books that I've only read about, it was almost criminal to see.  

Around three o'clock the first round of students arrived. When everyone had come (16 in total, excluding counselors) by evening time from Florida, Massachusetts, Illinois, Virginia, Texas, and New York, we went outside to the backyard to do a few fun exercises and to get to know each other. We then went to have dinner, followed by a fun activity of making a big ID card that had 10 facts/information about us which would eventually get posted on the walls of the living room for all to see/read.

We then went to the chapel for evening service which usually lasts about half an hour. These teenaged students were so attuned to the hymns we sang and chanted to that I only wished I knew about this program when I was in my teenage years. Maybe I just have to drink milk first before eating solid foods. The first night was done, and a full schedule of the week’s program would be revealed in the morning.

Thursday June 26th: Today was the first full day of activities. After 8 AM breakfast, we were given our folders which had our whole week’s program. The schedule went something like this: Breakfast (8 AM), Morning Worship (8:30 AM), followed by three different levels of deacons' training depending on your level (9:30 Am), lunch (12PM), then Armenian language (1:30PM), clean-up (2:15PM), free time (3 PM), bible study (5PM), dinner (6PM), cultural activities (7:30PM), visit from a clergyman or professor (8:15 PM), evening snack (9:30 PM), Evening Worship (10 PM), Quite Time (11:30 PM), and finally Lights Out (12 AM).  Only on Sunday did we deviate from the normal schedule, which I will get into later.

The deacons' training program had three levels as I have said. Level one was conducted by Father Daniel Karadjian, one of the funniest and most kind-heart priests I have ever met. I was in this class, and God only knows how patient he was with us teaching us the basic deacons' parts in the Liturgy. Level two was conducted by Deacon Sarkis Altunian from Dallas, (Yee-Ha!)TX. He was in charge of teaching the students the proper way of using the incense on the altar and the Church. Finally, level three was thought by Maestro Khoren Meikhanedjian, famous Armenian conductor, for the proper Burial Rites of the deceased. I was amazed that teenage boys were hungry to learn how to properly conduct a burial service.

Our Bible study topics included Stress, Anxiety, Pressure, Fear, Doubt, Temptation, Guilt, and Desires of the Flesh (by far the most popular topic for these confused and curious teenagers). I was in the group taught by the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, our St. Nersess Director and a giant among intellectuals in our Church or for that matter any church. I wish I could have had more time to pick out his brains about all types of questions I had.

The Cultural Activity was one of the best parts of the day. The  Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan would play the piano while we would all sing songs about Armenia, beautiful girls, battles we've lost, the only one we've won, Turks (not in a good light), and our alma mater song about New Rochelle and St. Nersess. My favorite song and the most popular by far was "Mer Kyoogheen Jampa," where some of us sang in a heavy guttural voice for the boys parts while the other half sang in a high pitched voice for the girls parts. It was pretty hilarious and a good way to wind down. Here's a little sample of what we sang from that song:

Boys: 

Mer kyoogheen jampan volor molor, aghcheeg muh desa gulor mulor.

Girls: 

Yes chem yertar kezee, mamat choozer eendzee, charajeejee dugha, doon guh khapes endzee.

We really had a good time alternating the parts and changing our voices.  

Tonight's visiting instructor was Rev. Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, a recruiter for St. Nersess. His topic for tonight was Help Wanted: Armenian Priest. He passed out a sheet of paper that looked like something you might find in the Classified Ads of a newspaper describing the need to find candidates that would qualify to fit the description to become a priest. The information he gave us was informative and the need for well qualified priests in our Church was made apparent.

We ended the day with our Evening Service, which was a great way to finish our first night. 

Friday June 27th: I had been waiting for this day since looking over the program and realizing that Dr. Thomas Samuelian would be the visiting instructor for the day. Dr. Samuelian is a giant among intellectuals who has been a professor at Harvard and has done very important translations of Armenian classic literature to English, most important of all The Armenian Prayer Book of St. Gregory of Narek, a living book of mystical prayers so familiar to Armenians and non-Armenians the world over.

He taught us how to use the Internet to learn more about becoming a better deacon and learn to sharpen our Armenian reading and writing skills by going to websites such as www.arak29.am. He was very informative, but best of all I had the opportunity to speak with him on a one on one basis and actually had him sign my copy of Narekatsi. 

He was a super-cool and down to earth man who lead a most interesting life. He is currently living in Armenia and has his own law firm, and here is a man who didn't even speak Armenian until he took courses in college. He really encouraged me to get even deeper into my roots. I remember the night he conducted his course and we went up to sleep, I opened up my Narekatsi and read these words in Prayer 26 as Dr. Samuelian was in the room next to mine:

May he who copies these words be crowned among the blissful,

May he expecting your mercy join the ranks of the pure.

May he be granted life through your beneficence for his homage to God the Word.

I wondered what Dr. Samuelian was thinking as he was translating these words. Did he see himself in this prayer? Isn't this how Orthodoxy works? Having Dr. Samuelian in the room next to mine was as close as I was going to get to the spirit of St. Gregory of Narek.

Saturday June 28th: Today's instructor was Dr. Sergio LaPorta, and Armenianologist who is Italian by birth. A very interesting man who fell in love with grapar (Classical Armenian) while attending University, he decided the study of the Armenian language and culture was his calling in life. He is so into the Armenian culture that he has married one.

He came to teach us about the history of the Armenians in Jerusalem and how Armenians have been a part of the Christian community in Jerusalem from the earliest times of Christianity. He told us about St. Euthymius the Armenian monk who built many Armenian monasteries in the 5th Century and helped Armenian pilgrims to get through the Holy Land. We then saw what the current state of the Armenians is like in Jerusalem today. Dr. LaPorta is a professor of Hebrew University, so he knew everything there is to know about the Holy Land and Armenian. A simple question always turned into a ten minute session with way more information you can handle.

I was really amazed that a non-Armenian would dedicate his life to study my culture and religion. it once again encouraged me to look deeper into my roots. I find it interesting to know that most of the professors in the world dealing with the Armenian culture are not Armenian themselves, and we really have to turn this around.

Sunday June 29th: Today was our off day of sorts. It was our day to go to Elberon, New Jersey, to attend Divine Liturgy at St. Stepanos Church. The Church itself was really beautiful and very Armenian in its architecture. Once we all got in, we put on our shapigs and some of us participated on the altar, some of us with the choir, and two of us (myself included) did the Bible readings. I read from the Old Testament book of Zechariah during the Liturgy.

The celebrating priest was Very Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian, an imposing man that was quite funny and soft-spoken. The Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan gave the sermon for the day, which was about the Light of God and the Transfiguration of Christ (Vartavar). It was a beautiful sermon, and I let him know how much I appreciated his words. I was disappointed we didn't get soaked in water!

What was interesting about the day was as we were driving to Elberon, I was in conversation with  the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, who brought to my attention that today was the celebration of the Transfiguration of Christ. I have the habit of opening up my Bible in the mornings and reading random passages to whatever page opens up. I couldn't believe that I had opened up to the passage in Matthew about the Transfiguration that morning. Again, isn't this how Orthodoxy works?

After the service, we were invited to have lunch at the hall, where kebob was on the menu. I, along with four other students were asked to speak about our experience, and we did with loud applauses.

We then headed back to change into more comfortable clothes because we were going to be headed on our excursion to New Roc City, a place full of arcades, restaurants and theaters. After we arrived, most of went to eat at a Buffalo Wings restaurant, followed by an hour or so at the arcades. The best part was the bump-cars, which I hadn't been on in ages. To finish off the trip, we went to watch the movie "Get Smart," which the kids all found funny. I must be getting old because I didn't find it nearly as funny. Maybe it's because I've seen the Austin Powers series too many times to care anymore.

Monday June 30th: Today's special guest was His Eminence Abp. Khajag Barsamian - Primate of the Eastern Diocese. A lot of the students seemed to be star-struck when he came to the seminary. He was a warm and pleasant man, with a good sense of humor. 

He spent an hour or so in the living room talking about his life and answering any questions we had for him. I must have asked him four questions myself, but then again I was told to sit right next to him, so I had to participate as much as possible. He really has had an interesting life, being independent by age 16 and being ordained a priest at age 20. I think that's pretty incredible. He also told us a few anecdotal jokes where he wanted to refer to a groom's ushers as musketeers but called them mosquitoes instead. Overall, I was impressed by his presence and humility. 

Tuesday July 1st: Today our instructor was V. Rev. Fr. Vahan Hovanessian, who came in to talk to us about The Deacon in the Bible, based on Acts Chapter 6 and the life of St. Stephen the Proto-deacon. This man was full of knowledge and his love for God and the Church was apparent. His reverence for the Liturgy was beautiful, as he told us on many occasions he has been moved to tears during the Liturgy. He was also very upfront about how when we are on the Altar, we must be focused on Christ and not talk or joke around, but be focused on the Throne of Christ.

He taught us the role of the Deacon then and the role of the Deacon now. He was also adamant about the right qualifications for a deacon, and how he believes they must be tested with an exam before being ordained, which I fully support. I know that our deacons must be spiritually ready to be called deacons and not because they have a good voice or have been on the altar from a young age. If they cannot talk about, write about, or defend their faith, they need the proper training to be considered for the position.

V. Rev. Fr. Vahan Hovanessian also gave each of us a copy of his new book titled "In Remembrance of the Lord," a book about our Liturgy, which I will read soon enough. He was gracious to sign our copies as well.

Wednesday July 2nd: Our final day of training. We were not expecting any instructors today, but instead a Final Exam which would allow us to win an i-pod. Some of us had convinced the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan allow us to go the St. Vartan's Cathedral, even though it was not in the schedule. He allowed eight or so of us to be taken there by Deacon Levon to see what the Cathedral and the Diocese was like. 

The place was beautiful. The architecture, the art, the history, all the rooms, it was pretty incredible. We were given a tour of all four levels and all the offices. The best part the tour given to us by Rachel Goshgarian, Ph.D., the Director of the Zohrab Center. She showed the projects that they were working on, which included over 15,000 books that they need to catalog for the Library of Congress, and also many old books that need new binding for the library. They were also scanning a lot of material to be available on-line in the not so distant future.

My favorite part of the tour for sure was seeing and touching the very first printed Armenian Bible from 1666 printed in Amsterdam. The hardcover was made of wood with leather and metal sidings. Pretty incredible that a book nearly 350 years old was still in such great shape. The book itself pre-dates the American Revolution by 100+ years.

So the Final Exam time came, and most of us answered a random question that was thrown at us. I wasn't lucky enough to get the prize, but it didn't matter. This who trip was a prize in itself.

Thursday July 3rd: My last few hours at the seminary. What a great time I had in the past week. I had gotten my bags packed past midnight the night before, thinking that it would be my last time sleeping here. The first three nights I had had some wild and mystical dreams. I had seen dreams in colors I didn't know I could see. I don't know if it was the icons over my bed or the fact that I slept with my windows open to the forest ahead where the singing of birds greeted my every waking morning. I realized that these birds were not singing, but were praising God in a language only He can understand. 

I came down and had breakfast with everyone. I was to leave early to get to JFK with the Dallas group who were to be dropped off at LaGuardia. We all hugged and said our good-byes, and one kid even told me that he didn't want me to leave. That really touched me. Maybe I had made an impact. 

Along the ride, I could see Manhattan, and remember seeing Shea Stadium and the new Citi Field for the New York Mets and also the time we drove through the Bronx and seeing the Old Yankee Stadium along with the New one being built right next door. I never imagined I would ever be in New York to see these buildings in all the years I've been a baseball fan.

So, I thought, what is it most that I will miss about St. Nersess? Well, maybe I should say, Who is it that I will miss most? The presence of Rev. Fr. Daniel Karadjian, with whom I shared a few Armenian coffees and the training class, Deacon Sarkis Altunian, the Texas Rangers, Deacon Hayk Tigranyan, who will enter the Seminary to become a priest, or the kid I bonded most with, Armen Bandikian, who always appreciated the things I had to say and thought me a few things as well. Well, I would have to say that I most miss the presence and knowledge of V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, our Director, Leader, Spiritual Father, and resident Genius. Thank you for the talks and the encouragement and the Jedi Mind Tricks that you imparted on me.