ONLINE CONTINUOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR DEACONS AND CANDIDATES SPONSORED BY THE EASTERN PRELACY
The Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, is inaugurating a new, online continuous education program for our Deacons and Candidates for Holy Orders. The weekly courses are scheduled to commence as soon as January 20, 2021, and 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 historical development of “Diakonia,” which is the Call to Service, both during the liturgical celebrations and across the spiritual needs of the parish. Holy Scripture, prayers, hymns, and litanies are fundamental to the ongoing study program. Class sessions will be trilingual: in Classical Armenian (to explain the texts of Holy Scripture and the hymns); modern Armenian; and English.
The intended course of study includes a solid analysis of the Holy Orders in the Armenian Church (acolytes, deacons, and priests); the fundamentals of the Hours of Prayer (“Jhamerkootyoon”); preparation for Lent and for Holy Week; an introduction to the Book of Rituals (“Dzisaran-Mashdots”); and a complete study of the “Soorp Badarak.” 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 intention is to schedule a weekly session of approximately two hours (lecture and Q & A). The day and time of the lecture will be determined upon consultation with the participants, and it is likely that alternative times might be constructed to accommodate the family and work responsibilities of our honored deacons. The use of Skype or Zoom to facilitate online access will also be determined.
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.
We highly recommend our deacons and prospective candidates 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 and to update your contact information: armeniandiaconate@yahoo.com