Local Acolyte, Deacons and Organist Training to become Regional

From March 14-16, 2019, Very Rev. Fr. Mamigon Kiledjian and Rev. Fr. Daniel Karadjian held training sessions for Deacons, Acolytes, and Organists. Separate sessions were held based on skill level and knowledge of the Badarak (Divine Liturgy). Our very own Davit Avedisian, Vahn Mouradian, Scott Cascone, Dn. Maurice Lahham, Dn. Chris Kesici, and Dn. Ara Karakashian attended these sessions and were trained on chanting different versions of our liturgical chants. These components to our Divine Liturgy have long existed, but haven’t been regularly performed. They are being practiced by order of our Primate, Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan.

As the Instructor for the Sacred Music Council of the Diocese, Fr. Mamigon has been working closely will all Diocesan parishes in practicing with choirs and altar servers. Fr. Mamigon spent the middle of the month preparing the new and current altar servers and new organists of St. Stepanos in the proper pronunciation and harmony of all chants and melodies.

Dates have been selected for monthly training with clergy at St. Stepanos, which will be the regional workshop for Deacon, Acolyte, and Organist training for all New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania parishes. It is the hope of clergy to have parishioners from our region meet in Long Branch at St. Stepanos church to create stronger interaction with volunteers from other parishes.

The parish looks forward to preparing more volunteers who will give their time to serving God, their parish, and the greater community. The following dates are planned for training for the rest of the calendar year:

April 27; May 25; June 15; July 27; Aug 17; Sep 14; Oct 26; Nov 16; Dec 14

Refreshments and activities will be planned to coincide with the training sessions. Please call the church office at (732) 229-3661 for further information.

Dn. Ara Karakashian