DEACONS DISCUSS ROLE IN LITURGY, SOCIALIZE IN SEMINAR

The Religious Council of the Eastern Prelacy organized a very successful Deacons՛ Seminar, which took place on April 14-15 at Saints Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, NJ. 

The seminar was attended by 40 deacons from Saint Illuminator’s Cathedral (2) and Saint Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York; Saints Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey; Soorp Khatch Church, Bethesda, Maryland; Saints Vartanantz Church, Providence, Rhode Island; Holy Trinity Church, Worcester, Massachusetts; Saint Gregory Church, Springfield, Massachusetts; Saint Asdvadzadzin Church, Whitinsville, Massachusetts; Saint Stephen’s Church, Watertown, Massachusetts; Saint Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan, and Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church, Granite City, Illinois. The deacons enjoyed a carefully designed program of theoretical and practical sessions, as well as prayer hours and fellowship.

His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, Prelate, offered welcoming and closing remarks. The lectures were presented by Very Reverend Fr. Sahag Yemishian (“Deacons’ Role in the Liturgy Today”), Very Rev. Fr. Ardag Arabian (“Deacons in the Bible and Armenian Church History”), Rev. Fr. Hrant Kevorkian (“Deacons and the Sacraments”), and Rev. Fr. Torkom Chorbajian (“Antasdan, Blessing of Water, Grapes, and Basils”). Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian coordinated the Q&A session. Rev. Fr. Mesrob Lakissian joined the Seminar and Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian and Deacon Stephen Sherokey offered reflections during the prayer hours.

The attendees enjoyed the Armenian style hospitality of the Sts. Vartanantz Church’s Ladies Guild. They also attended the Armenian Flag raising ceremony at Fort Lee City Hall, organized by the AYF, honoring the 108th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.