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Easter Prelacy Sponsors 19th Annual St. Gregory of Datev InstituteSu

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  • Easter Prelacy Sponsors 19th Annual St. Gregory of Datev InstituteSu

    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: http://www.armenianprelacy.org
    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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