Prelacy’s summer youth program marks 25th Anniversary

Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church
By Tamar Haratunian, Esq
10/8/2011

NEW YORK – The St. Gregory of Datev Institute, a program presented by the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church to provide Christian education to youth ages 13-18, celebrated its 25th anniversary this summer.

The July 9 banquet took place at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, the Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America. Past and present Datev participants reunited to celebrate a program which has, over the course of its 25 years, enriched the lives of hundreds of young Armenians and prepared them to take on active roles in their churches and communities.

Following the invocation by Archbishop Oshagan, the national anthems were performed by 2009 Datev graduate Ms. Shoushig Tenguerian. Ms. Jeanette Nazarian (1993 Datev graduate), one of the first participants of the Datev program and one of its first female participants, welcomed the Datev participants, alumni, family, and friends. Master of Ceremonies Dr. George Berberian (1992 Datev graduate), who co-chaired the 25th Anniversary Steering Committee with Dr. Arsen Mekaelian (1993 Datev graduate), spoke of the Datev program’s history and role in the lives of the youth as an educational center and place of fellowship. An audiovisual presentation prepared by Katrina Selverian provided interviews with current and past program participants, scenes from various aspects of the Datev program and showing the program’s development and growth through the years, and memories from the pilgrimages to Armenia, Jerusalem, Lebanon and Syria by Datev participants. Ms. Tenguerian then delighted the audience with a beautiful vocal interlude.

His Grace Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar General and Dean of the Datev Institute, reflected on the program’s beginnings as a deacon training program and its evolution and growth into a youth program to provide Christian-based education to the Armenian youth in general. The program has been not only a source of education for the Armenian youth but also a place for fellowship, everlasting friendships, and spiritual growth. Bishop Anoushavan thanked the many instructors who have helped make such a program possible and encouraged past participants to continue their support of the Institute.

Archbishop Oshagan reminded past and present students of the need for them to use all they have learned at the Institute not only to enrich their own lives but those of their communities by serving in such activities as Sunday school teaching, choir membership, service on the altar, and board of trustee membership. Many individuals have graduated from the program over the years, and Archbishop Oshagan encouraged all of them to be active in the life and ministry of the Armenian Church and to support the Datev Institute so that it may continue its vital role in educating the Armenian youth to become today’s and tomorrow’s leaders of the Armenian Church.

Following the Prelate’s remarks, it was time to celebrate with the wonderful music of the Artsakh Band. Datev participants and alumni enjoyed reuniting in an evening filled with laughter and song.

Summer 2011 program

Fifty-six students (mostly 13-18 year old) and fifteen instructors and staff members gathered at the St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, for the 25th Annual St. Gregory of Datev Institute Summer Program, from Sunday, July 3 to Sunday, July 10, 2011, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan, the Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the directorship of His Grace Bishop Anoushavan, the Vicar General of the Eastern Prelacy.

Over thirty of the participants began the annual summer program with a retreat that started on June 30.

Sponsored by the Armenian Religious Education Council (AREC) of the Prelacy, the Institute provides an intensive weeklong program of Christian formation through Bible studies and discussions, prayer and worship services, communal activities and fellowship. Each day, the program began with Morning Service from 7:15 am to 7:45 am. Classes were held from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. In the afternoon, the students participated in recreational activities, such as volleyball, soccer, dodge ball, swimming, board games, and music. In the evening, panel discussions and general lectures were held from 7:30 pm to 8:20 pm, followed by three concurrent Bible studies from 8:30 pm to 9:20 pm for different age groups. Each day came to a close with the Compline Service (Husgoom) from 9:45 pm to 10:30 pm.

The Institute is a four-year program, consisting of one week each summer. Students who complete the program have the option to return for postgraduate classes. Classes for all five levels of study take place concurrently. During the weeklong program, one hundred 50-minute classes are held, twenty per level, along with evening panel discussions and Bible studies.

The curriculum for the first four levels is the same from one year to another, covering the traditional essentials of our faith, including the Bible, the sacraments with a particular emphasis on the Divine Liturgy (Soorp Badarak), feasts and worship, the Nicene Creed, church history, the Ten Commandments, and contemporary moral issues. The post-graduate curriculum changes every year, the classes providing further explanation on the elements of our faith.

The roster of instructors this year included: His Grace Bishop Anoushavan, Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Garabedian, Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, Rev. Fr. Nerses Manoogian, Rev. Fr. Gomidas Baghsarian, Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Rev. Fr. Nareg Terterian, Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian, Dn. Shant Kazanjian, Yn. Joanna Baghsarian and Ms. Jeanette Nazarian. The Institute enjoyed the presence of four guest instructors: Rev. Fr. Paul Tarazi, Professor of Biblical Studies and Biblical Languages at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York), Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian and Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian, and Dr. Michael Papazian, Professor of Philosophy at Berry College (Mount Berry, Georgia).

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