Traditionally, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary hosts a Deacon’s Training Program every summer during which young members of the Armenian Church visit New Rochelle, NY for two weeks to increase their faith, bond with their brothers in Christ, and learn how to better serve the church community. Ultimately, members of this program hope to be ordained into the Deaconite of the Armenian Church.

This year’s program is slightly different in that it is taking place in Jerusalem. 15 pilgrims, including Der Daniel, Maurice Laham, and myself, are in the midst of a two-week journey in the Holy Land. I am currently writing to you from the Gulbenkian Library in the Armenian Quarter, where we are staying in the Convent of the Holy Archangels (Soorp Hreshdagabedats).

Part of our program has involved living and learning with the local seminarians of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. We are serving with our Jerusalem brothers, about 40 in total, every day, just as they do, participating in several services a day, including vespers, morning/evening services, and celebrating the Divine Liturgy. We share almost every meal together and have gotten to know each other through cultural activities, sporting events, and exploring the city. Last, we had an audience with the new Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, during which he shared his thoughts on our questions regarding faith and social and political issues.

In addition to experiencing life as a seminarian, we are also visiting the historical locations where Jesus is believed to have been born, raised, lived, and killed. Just to list a few we have gone to: the Holy Sepulcher (the Church of Christ’s Tomb and location of Golgotha), Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, Bethlehem, and the Garden of Gethsamane. Each visit is accompanied by Bible studies and lectures to explain both the spiritual and historical significance behind these events.

A few days remain in our trip – we ask that you pray for our safe return home. We hope not to have a repeat of the beginning of our voyage, when Maurice was detained three hours for questioning by the Israeli police at the Tel Aviv International Airport. Tensions between Palestine and Israel have been rekindled following the discovery of the three kidnapped Israeli children, now dead. Despite these events, praying at the holy sites and constant serving with the seminarians has strengthened our faith, and we look forward to returning and sharing what we have learned.