The Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, inaugurated the Autumn 2021 continuous education program for our Deacons and Candidates for Holy Orders. The weekly courses commenced on 21 September, and will be presented Tuesdays and Thursdays at various times to accommodate the time zones. All current and prospective members of the Prelacy Diaconate are warmly welcomed and spiritually encouraged to join.
The curriculum and coursework are designed to examine the theological basis and historical development of aspects of Armenian Apostolic Liturgy. Class sessions of 90 minutes will be offered using Zoom, and will be presented in a trilingual format: in Classical Armenian (to explain the texts of Holy Scripture and the hymns); modern Armenian; and English. Course materials will be sent in advance of each week’s discussions via email.
The intended course of study for the Autumn semester is an examination of the Seasons in the Armenian Church Liturgy. We will explore the development of Theophany (Armenian Christmas), Lent, Holy Week, Eastertide, Pentecost, Transfiguration, Mary the Birthgiver-of-God, and Holy Cross. Adjunct to our studies will be points of Theology, Christology, Pneumatology, and Ecclesiology.
There are no prerequisites to join the classes except to have a cheerful heart and a dedication to serve Almighty God through the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The Rev. Dr. George A. Leylegian is an Archdeacon in the Eastern Prelacy and is a retired lecturer in Liturgy and Liturgical Studies. He has authored books and articles on the details of the liturgical tradition of the Armenian Church, and is honored to share the details of his research with the Diaconate, scholars and Sunday School faculty, and candidates for the Priesthood.
We highly recommend our faithful to take advantage of this opportunity in order to deepen their knowledge in Armenian Church studies. Please e-mail Archdeacon George at your earliest convenience to confirm your attendance, to receive the course materials, and to update your contact information: armeniandiaconate@yahoo.com