Fr. Nareg Marks 10 Years with Primate Who Ordained Him

One decade ago, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian led Fr. Nareg Berberian into the priesthood, ordaining him during a ceremony in New York City's St. Vartan Cathedral. He was the first priest ordained by the Primate.

This year, at St. George Church in Hartford, CT, the parish he currently serves as pastor, Fr. Nareg marked his first decade in the priesthood. On Sunday, August 25, Fr. Nareg celebrated a special Divine Liturgy at St. George to mark Fr. Nareg's anniversary. Following was a banquet in honor of the pastor who has been at the church about 18 months.

"It is hard to believe that a full decade has elapsed since that wonderful day," the Primate said. "In the ensuing years, Fr. Nareg has advanced his education and proven himself a worthy pastor. But what makes me proudest of all is that Fr. Nareg has fulfilled the promise of his youth, by becoming a faithful, humble, and loving servant of God."

Fr. Nareg has worked to increase membership at the Hartford parish, bringing it up from 75 paid members to 87. Almost the entire community of St. George Church was at the banquet, with many of the parishioners giving speeches that described Fr. Nareg as an excellent teacher and mentor.

A video presentation shown during the banquet featured comments by Armenian Church leaders in Armenia about Fr. Nareg, who grew up in Beirut, Lebanon, before studying at the Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin in the 1980s, serving a year as the secretary to His Holiness Catholicos Vasken I of blessed memory.

After coming to America and being ordained, he served as a parish pastor in Houston, TX, and Richmond, VA, where he earned a doctorate degree in ministry from Union Theological Seminary in 1998.

"Each year, as I grow older, spiritually I get stronger and stronger in my ministry," Fr. Nareg said. "I gain more confidence and knowledge. I feel I need to offer more than what I have done thus far. Ministry is not a limited vocation. It includes so many duties and responsibilities that no other profession requires."

And he gave special thanks to one of the many men who led him down the path of priesthood.

"Srpazan is my spiritual father," Fr. Nareg said. "He has a special place in my ministry since he is the one who ordained me as a vartabed to serve God and His people. In my tough times, he uplifted my spirit. In times of great accomplishments, he acknowledged it and encouraged me to do the best."

In a message read to the gathered parishioners, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, praised Fr. Nareg for his academic success and his ability to bring younger people into the church.

"The result of your work has been consistently good and fruitful, thus providing our soul with a sincere sense of satisfaction," the Catholicos wrote. "Carrying in your heart the spirit of the seminary of the Mother See, you are tirelessly and with true dedication giving spiritual nourishment and consolation to our beloved children by contributing to the enhancement of their faith and to the improvement of their community's religious life."