St. Nersess Armenian Seminary

Armonk, New York, United States · Est. 1961 · Private (non-profit)

About

Official

The only Armenian theological seminary in the Western Hemisphere, serving the Armenian Church of America.

  • Founded in 1961 in Evanston, Illinois; relocated to Armonk, New York in 2015
  • Private nonprofit seminary affiliated with the Armenian Apostolic Church
  • Offers Master of Divinity (joint with St. Vladimir's) and Master of Arts in Armenian Christian Studies
  • Publishes St. Nersess Theological Review, the only English-language academic journal on Armenian Christianity
  • Maintains close collaboration with St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary since 1967
  • Operates exchange programs with the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem's Sts. Tarkmanchatz School

Academics

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary offers two graduate degrees: a Master of Divinity developed in conjunction with St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, and a Master of Arts in Armenian Christian Studies. The seminary also operates a summer program for the training and education of deacons and regularly facilitates exchange programs with the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem's Sts. Tarkmanchatz School. Since 1996, the seminary has published the St. Nersess Theological Review, an Armenological publication and the only English-language academic journal dedicated to the study of Armenian Christianity.

History & Mission

Founded in 1961 by Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, the seminary was established to address the shortage of trained clergy in the Armenian Church of America. Originally located in Evanston, Illinois and affiliated with Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, it moved to New York in 1967 to strengthen ties with other Eastern churches. The seminary purchased its own building in New Rochelle in 1978 and relocated to a newly constructed campus in Armonk in 2015, which was formally dedicated in 2016.

Institutional Affiliation

St. Nersess Armenian Seminary operates under the auspices of the Armenian Church of America, the American branch of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It maintains a close collaborative relationship with St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, which has spanned over 50 years and includes joint academic programs and visits with church leadership.

Founded
1961
Type
Private (non-profit)
Courses
3
Total intake
Not yet verified
AffiliationArmenian Apostolic Church
HousingNot available
Some details are still being verified.

Quick stats

Courses offered
3
Avg career outcomes
Not yet verified
Total intake
Not yet verified
Housing
No
Data last verified June 2026 · compiled from official sources