EASTERN PRELACY RELIGIOUS COUNCIL HOSTS DEACONS’ SEMINAR IN WORCESTER
The Religious Council of the Eastern Prelacy organized a Deacons’ Seminar on May 2-3, hosted at the Holy Trinity Church in Worcester, Massachusetts.
More than 45 deacons took part in the seminar, representing parishes from across the Eastern Prelacy: St. Illuminator’s Cathedral (New York), Sts. Vartanantz Church (Ridgefield, New Jersey), Soorp Khatch Church (Bethesda, Maryland), Sts. Vartanantz Church (Providence, Rhode Island), Holy Trinity Church (Worcester, Massachusetts), St. Gregory the Illuminator Church (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), St. Gregory Church (North Andover, Massachusetts), Holy Cross Church (Troy, New York), All Saints Church (Glenview, Illinois), Saint Gregory Church (Indian Orchard, Massachusetts), Soorp Asdvadzadzin Church (Whitinsville, Massachusetts), Saint Stephen’s Church (Watertown, Massachusetts), St. Sarkis Church (Dearborn, Michigan), and St. Gregory the Illuminator Church (Granite City, Illinois).
The program featured a carefully curated series of lectures, workshops, and spiritual gatherings, providing both theoretical instruction and practical training. Prayer services and opportunities for fellowship enriched the experience, reinforcing the unity and mission of the deaconate across the Prelacy.
His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, offered both welcoming and closing remarks, highlighting the importance of the deacon’s role in the life of the Church.
The lectures were led by Very Rev. Fr. Vache Balekjian, whose presentation was on Practical Liturgics, Part A; Rev. Fr. Stepan Baljian, Practical Liturgics, Part B; Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian, who spoke about the The Deacon in History, and Rev. Fr. Kapriel Nazarian, who discussed The Role and Image of the Deacon in Church Life.
In addition, Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian participated in the Seminar and offered thoughtful spiritual reflections during the prayer hours.
Events such as this Deacons’ Seminar are of vital importance in nurturing the spiritual and liturgical life of the Armenian Church. They serve not only to deepen the deacons’ understanding of their sacred responsibilities but also to strengthen bonds of fellowship
among clergy across the Prelacy. By fostering a shared commitment to tradition, service, and theological reflection, the seminar contributes to the continuity and vitality of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the Diaspora, ensuring that its sacred rituals are preserved and faithfully transmitted to future generations.
Participants expressed their deep appreciation for the Armenian warmth and hospitality extended by the Holy Trinity Church community and its Board of Trustees, who ensured the smooth and gracious hosting of this meaningful event.