DATEV INSTITUTE COMPLETES PROGRAM THANKS TO STAFF AND SUPPORTERS

Datev Institute clergy and lay instructors and staff

Sponsored and organized by the Department of Christian Education of the Eastern Prelacy, the St. Gregory of Datev Institute completed yet another successful Christian educational program for youth ages 13-18. The program was held at St. Mary of Providence Center in Elverson, Pennsylvania, from June 30 to July 7, with the participation of 43 students. The weeklong program was made possible through the collaborative efforts of many partners, including the instructors and staff, parishes and parents, and friends and supporters of the Datev Institute.

The daily schedule at Datev reflected its three main objectives: Christian instruction and formation, sports and recreational activities, and prayer and worship. Every morning, the students, in each of the five levels of study, attended three 50-minute classes. After dinner, they engaged in open discussions with the clergy and lay instructors, followed by a Bible study for three different age groups. In all, students received about 20 hours of instruction.

To balance the daily schedule, the Institute incorporated a healthy dose of recreational and sports activities in the afternoons, including volleyball, soccer, and basketball. Excursions to a bowling alley and canoeing and swimming at Marsh Creek State Park were also included.

The Institute’s daily schedule is framed by morning and evening prayer-worship services, 20-25 minutes each, providing our youth with a unique exposure to the treasury of the Armenian Church worship (Kisherayin–Aravodian, Arevakal, and Husgoom Services—Night-Morning, Sunrise, and Peace-Compline Services).

In the evenings, the students enjoyed copious snacks, including mamounia, zaatar bread, homemade cheese, choreg, lots of fruits, and much more, which made them feel very much at home away from home.

It is truly “meet and right” to thank the instructors and counselors of the Datev Summer Program for the services they rendered to our youth as a labor of love. They taught. They mentored. They counseled. They supervised. They nurtured. And they donated—time, energy, money, and talent.

The instructors and counselors of the Institute this year were: Very Rev. Fr. Sahag Yemishian, Very Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian (Director), Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Rev. Fr. Stephan Baljian, Rev. Fr. Vahan Kouyoumdjian, MD, Archdeacon Shant Kazanjian (Director of Christian Education), Dn. Harout Takvorian (counselor), Yn. Maggie Kouyoumdjian (instructor and counselor), Nayiri Baljian, Hagop Ketchedjian (counselor), Nishan Kouyoumdjian (counselor), Taleen Lakissian (counselor), Tamar Lakissian (counselor), and Anna Tekeyan (counselor).

The Institute extends its appreciation to those parishes that subsidized a portion of the expenses by providing scholarships to church-server participants and to the following for their generous support and donations: Ani Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society (Pennsylvania), Artemis Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society (Pennsylvania), ARF Armen Garo Gomideh (New York), ARS “Mayr” Chapter (New York), National Association of Ladies’ Guilds (NALG), St. Illuminator’s Ladies Guild, Rev. Fr. Sarkis and Yn. Maggie Aktavoukian, Rev. Fr. Vahan and Yn. Maggie Kouyoumdjian, Dn. Vartan and Mrs. Haigoush Karakelian, Dn. Hovig Chapanian, Mr. James and Mrs. Nayiri Bell, Mrs. Susan Alemian Bentley, Honorable David and Mrs. Susan Erickson, Mr. Michael and Mrs. Helen Husla, Mr. Andrew and Mrs. Madonna Kizirian, Ms. Taleen Lakissian, Ms. Tamar Lakissian, Dr. Alta Mekaelian, Mr. Mark and Mrs. Silva Santerian.

And a special thanks to Very Rev. Fr. Boghos Tinkjian, pastor, and the board of trustees of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Philadelphia for their hospitality on July 7.

We also acknowledge with gratitude that the Datev Fund helped defray program expenses. Those who wish to contribute to the Datev Fund can send their donations to Eastern Prelacy, 138 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016. Checks should be made payable to Datev Institute.

To read students’ impressions, please click here.

To read more about the program, please click here.

To view the Program photo album, please click here.