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I recently returned from a week-long visit to Lebanon, where I taught a seminar on pastoral theology to the seminarians at the Armenian Theological Seminary in Bikfaya, my alma mater, which I attended from 1993 to 2000. This was my second teaching visit; my first was in 2017 when I conducted a three-day seminar on the principles of pastoral counseling. Our Prelate, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan, commissioned and sponsored my trip. 

Fr. Barouyr Shernezian, the dean of the seminary, invited me to join the seminarians for lunch on the first day before the seminar began so I could meet them and address the group. The dining room felt smaller than I remembered, and the hallway seemed shorter. We were served Pasta Bolognese, a lenten pasta option, and salad. Since I had a late breakfast that morning, I only had some salad while observing the seminarians enjoying their meals at the ten tables spread evenly on each side of the dining room. I recognized my spot from the first night I became a seminarian. The chicken soup served that evening was horrible, and I haven't eaten chicken soup since that night in 1993.

After lunch, the dean wanted me to see the new gym seminarians had for the past few years. I was surprised that it was a well-equipped gym with barbells, weights, ellipticals, and treadmills. Next to the gym was the gaming room with large TVs and gaming consoles. These were additions that we couldn’t even dream of in the nineties. 

My teaching started in the afternoon, from 2 to 4:30 PM, for three consecutive days. The seminar's theme was “Equipping Leaders for Effective Ministry,” focusing on deepening spiritual formation, developing practical skills, and fostering fellowship. We reflected on the three main attributes of Christ’s ministry: preaching, teaching, and healing, and encouraged the seminarians to form their professional identity as future clergy replicating the works of Christ in the community. 

Our discussions on the first day began with "Foundations of Ministry," which focused on the biblical role of the pastor as a shepherd. We examined scriptural metaphors and the balance between teaching, spiritual care, and administration. The Seminarians reflected on spiritual disciplines and participated in team-building activities to foster trust. The day concluded with worship and reflection on the theme of "Renewing the Mind" (Romans 12:2).

On Day 2, we explored "Equipping for Ministry," which highlighted impactful preaching through hands-on exercises in sermon structure and storytelling. Workshops covered the sacramental life of the Armenian Apostolic Church and modern evangelization, including digital strategies, media, and relational outreach.

Day 3, titled "Commissioning and Sending," emphasized the importance of having a servant's heart. We discussed pastoral care in crisis situations and strategies for navigating ministry challenges. Role-playing exercises and workshops focused on relationship-building and conflict management to help attendees develop practical leadership skills. The seminar concluded with a visionary session, inspiring young leaders to embrace their calling with faith and confidence as they prepared to step into their ministry roles.

I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to spend time with our seminarians. The material I covered may seem like a small part of their formation experience, but it helped us build a friendship in which the young seminarians felt safe sharing their visions for the future, as well as their concerns and fears. I viewed my role as the leader of the seminar not just as someone who wanted to educate these young men through the material, but as a person dedicated to helping them expand their horizons and see themselves as future clergy, ready to better serve the needs of our communities.

This trip to Lebanon allowed me to reflect on my journey as a clergyman serving the Armenian Church for the past two decades. While I don’t remember much of the material I learned as a seminarian in the nineties, I vividly remember my educators who served as role models. These include clergy such as Catholicos Karekin II, Catholicos Aram I, Archbishop Ardavazt, Archbishop Zareh, and Fr. Shahan, as well as lay professors like Mr. Alikian, Hovhanessian, Kandaharian, Shahinian, and Zeytounian. They inspired me to become the person I am today. 

In essence, it’s not just what I learned, but who inspired me that has significantly influenced my journey. My seminary had a similar mission: to inspire young seminarians to see themselves as the future clergy of our church, dedicated to serving our people with love, dignity, and care.