Western Diocese’s Public Lecture Series Explore Christian Faith and Armenian Heritage

BURBANK — The Continuing Education program of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church has launched its 2026 Public Lecture Series, opening with two well-attended presentations that explored faith, spirituality, and Armenian Christian heritage. The six-part monthly series is presented under the auspices of the Primate and held in person at the Western Diocese Headquarters in Burbank,

“Our continuing education programs are for all who seek thoughtful exploration of faith, identity, and meaning in the modern world,” said His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Primate, who has long championed educational initiatives.

Dr. Ani Shahinian delivered the opening lecture on February 26. She explored how Armenian Gospel illuminations used light, color, and rich symbolism to make Christ visually present on the pages of manuscripts. Her presentation highlighted how the Armenian manuscript tradition transformed the Gospel into a space where the divine was not only read about, but also seen and encountered, emphasizing the connection between biblical interpretation and visual theology.

Dr. Shahinian earned her doctorate in History and Theology at the University of Oxford. Her research addresses Christian martyrdom within the political, socio-economic, and ecclesiastical context of Late Medieval Armenia, and her broader scholarly interests include theological anthropology, virtue ethics, and questions of human freedom in a technological age.

The second lecture on March 26 featured Professor Abraham Terian, who guided the audience into the spiritual depth of the prayers of St. Gregory of Narek (ca. 945–1003). He provided a rich historical and theological background about one of the most eminent and beloved saints of the Armenian Church, who was declared a Doctor of the Universal Church by Pope Francis in 2015. Prof. Terian then unlocked the faith, beauty, and transformative insights contained in Narekatsi’s Book of Lamentations (Մատեան Ողբերգութեան), the penitentiary prayers composed in the closing years of St. Gregory’s life.

Abraham Terian is Professor Emeritus of Armenian Theology and Patristics at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, where he also served as Academic Dean for ten years. He previously taught Intertestamental and Early Christian Literatures at Andrews University for twenty years. He is recipient of the Fulbright Distinguished Chair in the Humanities award, and Robert F. and Margaret S. Goheen Fellow in Classical Philosophy at the National Humanities Center. He is an academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia and the Ambrosian Academy of Milan. He has widely published in Hellenistic, early Christian, and medieval studies.

“The lecture series are designed to engage both timeless questions of faith and urgent modern concerns,” explained Dr. Hratch Tchilingirian, Director of Institutional Innovation, adding that “the program accords the public meaningful conversations on Armenian Christian tradition, theology, spirituality, culture, and contemporary realities.”

The Western Diocese looks forward to continuing the series with four additional public lectures in April, May, and June.

For more information on the Western Diocese 2026 Public Lecture Series, please contact the Western Diocese Headquarters, info@wdacna.com.