Datev 2022 graduates with Rev. Fr. Archpriest Antranig Baljian, pastor of St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church of Watertown, Massachusetts, and the director of the Institute, and Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian, Prelacy’s Director of Christian Education (Left to right: Sarineh Cunningham, Mary Ashbahian, Taleen Lakissian, and Anna Tekeyan.
The Eastern Prelacy’s St. Gregory of Datev Institute completed its week long Christian educational Summer Program for youth at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, on Sunday, July 3, with the participation of 35 students from 10 parishes and 16 clergy and lay instructors and counselors.
The curriculum of the Datev Program is designed to be completed in four years, one week each summer. Those who complete the program have the opportunity to return for post-graduate classes. The Institute holds all five levels of classes concurrently. Each year, the students receive about 20 hours of instruction. The curriculum includes the Bible, sacraments, Armenian Church feasts and saints, Armenian Church history and creeds, prayer and worship, as well as discussions on contemporary issues.
This year, exceptionally, due to the Covid hiatus, the Institute combined the 4th and 5th level classes and offered pre-Datev classes. The Institute registered 14 students in level one, eight in level two, five in level three, four in levels 4-5, and four in pre-Datev. The four graduates of the Datev Institute are: Mary Ashbahian and Sarineh Cunningham from St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church (Watertown, Massachusetts), Taleen Lakissian from St. Illuminator’s Cathedral (New York City), and Anna Tekeyan from Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey).
Datev Instructors and Staff
Datev Level One Students
Datev Level Two Students
Datev Level Three Students
Pre-Datev Students