Rev. Fr. Nersess Jebejian

In Memoriam: The Reverend Fr. Nersess Jebejian (1934-2022)

With deep sorrow, the Eastern Diocese grieves over the loss of the Reverend Fr. Nersess Jebejian: a longtime, stalwart clergyman of our Diocese, son of one of the Armenian Church’s pre-eminent priestly families, and father to the Very Reverend Fr. Aren Jebejian. Der Nersess passed away in the early hours of October 27, in Providence, RI. He was 87 years old.

Born in Aleppo, Syria, on December 17, 1934, he came to the United States as a young man to continue his education at Episcopal Theological Seminary, where he received bachelor's and graduate degrees.

He was ordained to the holy priesthood by Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan—the late Diocesan Primate and Patriarch of Jerusalem, and dear uncle to Der Nersess—in October 1969, at the historic Holy Cross Church in New York City.

From the 1960s through early 2000s, he served at parishes across the breadth of the Eastern Diocese, including those in Cleveland, OH; Southfield, MI; Springfield, MA; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Houston and Carrollton, TX; Pinellas Park, FL; and mission parishes in Florida, Texas, Missouri, and Lousianna. He was especially instrumental in organizing the Armenian communities in Texas, and in laying the groundwork for what would become Florida’s St. Hagop Church.

Der Hayr and his wife, Yn. Aurora, were blessed with two children, Rena and Aren—the latter of whom followed the calling of his family into the holy priesthood, and now serves as pastor of St. John Church in Southfield, MI. Der Nersess is survived by his beloved wife and children, his dear son-in-law Stephen Megrdichian, grandchildren Mari and Garen, and the extended Jebejian and Nersoyan family. Our prayers are with them all at this time.

Please click the following link (and scroll down) to read an extensive account of Der Nersess' remarkable life and ministry.

The funeral arrangements are as follows:

Family and friends are invited to Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church in Providence, RI (70 Jefferson St., Providence) to pay their respects and express their condolences on Wednesday, November 2, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. The wake service (dahn gark) will begin at 7 p.m.

The Divine Liturgy and final anointing for Der Nersess Avak Kahana Jebejian will also take place at Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church in Providence, presided over by Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Diocesan Legate and Ecumenical Director. The service will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 3. All are invited to attend the funeral as well as the burial service and hokejash to follow.

The family requests that in-lieu-of-flowers donations be made to Mer Doon Young Women’s Shelter, in Etchmiadzin, Armenia (make checks payable to St. John Armenian Church (Memo: Mer Doon), 22001 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield, MI 48075); or to the “Rev. Fr. Nersess and Diramayr Jebejian Endowment Fund” of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary (486 Bedford Rd., Armonk, NY 10504).

May our risen Lord remember Fr. Nersess Jebejian in his kingdom, and grant peace and consolation to his loved ones.

Prayerfully,

Fr. Mesrob Parsamyan

Primate

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