On Friday, May 16, the seminary will hold its annual graduation ceremony for its 2025 graduates, Dn. Zareh Mirzayan, who will be earning his Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree from St. Nersess Seminary and St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and Dn. Arman Shirikyan, who has completed the St. Nersess the Great Program for the Late Vocations.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan, Primate of the Eastern Diocese and the President of the St. Nersess Board of Directors, will officiate. St. Vladimir's will be holding its commencement exercises the following day on May 17.

Dn. Zareh Mirzayan hails from the Western Diocese and grew up in Glendale, CA, where he attends multiple Armenian churches and St. Leon (Ghevontiants) Armenian Cathedral, where he was ordained a deacon. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor degree in Philosophy.

"In Armenian, the word for patience is "Համբերութիւն" "Hamberutyun" - 'Ham' means flavor, and 'berel' is to bring. So, if you have patience, it means that you are able to 'bring flavor' to any situation. If you are patient, you will never quit or give up! When people ask me how I completed my studies, I reply with one word - "Համբերութիւն" "Hamberutyun," shares Dn. Zareh.

Dn. Arman Shirikyan is originally from the historic town of Alaverdi, Armenia, nestled among the ancient monasteries of Odzun, Haghpat, and Sanahin. He earned a master’s degree in finance and credit from the National University of Economics in Yerevan. Prior to seminary, he worked extensively in the software industry as a Senior Quality Assurance Engineer, with nearly two decades of experience in technology, aviation operations, and financial services both in Armenia and the US.

For the last 15 years, Dn. Arman has been a devoted member of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church in Chelmsford, MA, where he was ordained a deacon.

"My time at St. Nersess has been a defining chapter of spiritual and intellectual formation—a sacred ground where faith deepened, calling was affirmed, and knowledge was forged into conviction. I didn’t just study theology; I was equipped to live it boldly, serve it faithfully, and proclaim it with clarity and compassion," shares Dn. Arman.

In the afternoon prior to the graduation, members of the St. Nersess Board of Directors will gather in the library for the end of the fiscal and academic year meeting.

Donations to honor the graduate and the occasion can be made online.