ACYOA Members Sharpen Faith Literacy

ACYOA members attending a leadership conference in upstate New York this month took an in-depth look at different aspects of the worship and practices of the Armenian Church.  The conference, held November 9-11, brought together 40 young people representing 16 parishes for a weekend of lectures, worship, and reflections.

Titled "Faith Literacy for Young Leaders," it planned by the ACYOA Central Council, and held at the Don Bosco Retreat Center in Stony Point, N.Y. Also joining the ACYOA members were young representatives from the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Participants arrived on Friday evening and got acquainted with one another. The group then prayed together during a Vespers service

Saturday began with a Matins service, followed by two presentations given by St. Nersess Armenian Seminary students Eric Vozzy and Saro Kalayjian.

Eric Vozzy's talk—titled "Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox ... Other?"—outlined the theological differences between the Armenian Church and other Christian denominations.

Saro Kalayjian's presentation, "Understanding Scripture," encouraged participants to become more familiar with the writings of church fathers and their interpretation of the Bible.

Later in the afternoon, the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan spoke on the rituals of the Divine Liturgy in a presentation titled "Beyond the Words of the Badarak."

He explained the significance of sanctuary architecture, deacon litanies, and sacred objects in the church, and conveyed the message that the badarak is a "love song" to Jesus Christ.

Dn. Ryan Tellalian spoke on "The Magnificent Seven: The Sacraments in Our Lives," which gave a close look at the importance of the sacraments and outlined ways in which the administration of these sacraments in the Armenian Church differs from other denominations.

"We were able to learn about the history and nuances of our faith," said Nathaniel Kadamian of St. Mesrob Church of Racine, Wis. "By growing in our faith we can help lead others in theirs, and grow our chapters by showing others our love for Christ and humanity."

On Saturday evening, participants worked in small groups to deepen their understanding of four parables of Jesus. The groups acted out their interpretations of the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the Parable of the Good Samaritan, and the Parable of the Talents.

The evening concluded with an open forum moderated by Fr. Findikyan, which gave participants an opportunity to ask questions about their faith. The young people then took part in a Vespers service.

On Sunday morning, Fr. Findikyan celebrated the Divine Liturgy, with ACYOA members assisting on the altar and singing in the choir.

"The weekend was a wonderful opportunity to enrich our faith and appreciation for our church's rich traditions in an atmosphere of fellowship and friendliness," said Christine Santourian of St. John Church of Southfield, Mich. "It was a blessing to take time away from my daily routine to worship and learn with everyone."

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Photos attached (by Adrienne Ashbahian).

Photo 1: ACYOA members prayed together during this month’s Leadership Conference in Stony Point, N.Y. 

Photo 2: Conference participants pose for a group photo.

Photo 3: Participants listen to a presentation during the conference.

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