Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin graduates 31 students

?Our nation and people wait for you with love and yearning. Be worthy of them and their love.? ? His Holiness Karekin II, addressing the graduates.

On June 14, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, presided during the combined closing ceremonies of the 2006-2007 academic year for the Gevorkian and Vaskenian Theological Seminaries. The event took place in the official reception hall of the pontifical residence of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

31 young men graduated this year from the Gevorkian Seminary on their journey to the priesthood. The current combined enrollment of the seminaries in Armenia totals 220.

The program began with an opening prayer and the presentation of the annual report of the seminary by Very Rev. Fr. Vasken Nanian, Dean of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary. In his remarks, Fr. Vasken noted that the seminary of the Mother See had acquired full accreditation and university status.

In 2007, 54 deacons defended their graduation theses and 71 graduates were ordained to the diaconate. In addition to their scholastic pursuits, the seminarians visited orphanages and schools for the mentally and physically challenged. They cooperated with youth and student organizations and organized pilgrimages to holy sites. Many of the students contributed articles and essays to religious and secular newspapers, periodicals and television and radio programs. Father Vasken concluded his report by expressing his gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians for his caring attention to the seminary and the students.

Very Rev. Fr. Mkrtich Proshian, Dean of the Vaskenian Theological Seminary of Lake Sevan, presented his annual report as well. The 80 seminarians under his care study at that campus for four years prior to transferring to Holy Etchmiadzin to complete their undergraduate degrees.

The students at Vaskenian are from Armenia, Germany, the Netherlands, Iraq, Russia and Syria. In the past year alone, five theological studies have been published at the seminary, and its students serve in parishes in the Diocese of Gegharkunik.

Deacon Gor Nazarian spoke on behalf of the students, stating in part, ?Our years in seminary are the yeast which will shape our entire life. Today, we stand before you, ready to dedicate our lives to the service of God, the strengthening of the Mother Church and devotion to our nation.?

Following both annual reports, His Holiness Karekin II awarded prizes to the best students of the seminaries, and addressed his message of blessing to them. The Armenian Pontiff expressed his joy at the growing number of students, graduates, ordinations and priests. He noted that the Mother See is now ordaining, on average, 25 new priests every year ? a number unimaginable even ten years ago.

In his remarks, His Holiness stated, ?Indeed, we owe our Church and our people intellectual and educated clergymen; qualified clergymen of a new generation for a new generation, which will result in a higher level of service and a deeper understanding of sacrifice?? The Catholicos of All Armenians also extended his appreciation to the deans, administrative staff and instructors of both institutions for their zealous work and conscientious efforts.

His Holiness closed the program, offering prayers to heaven and asking God to increase the productivity of the seminaries, noting the words of the Gospel, ?the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few??

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address: Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel: +374-10-517163
Fax: +374-10-517301
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch.org
June 14, 2007

Photo: 2007 Official Photo of the Students, Instructors and Administrative Staff of the Seminaries of Holy Etchmiadzin.