Arpi Nakashian was an early Woman of the Week from February 2020. You see her here in Jerusalem and at her wedding to Deacon Daniel Bullock. She was working on a raft of projects for her Diocese back then:
“‘An ancient Church enlightening through digital media!’ That’s probably the motto I’d pick to portray my ministry. But, I’d rather say ‘our ministry,’ because a team of skilled and talented faithful servants of our Church brought this creative approach into our Diocese. Starting from the vision to building our own studio, having our own videography hardware and software, as well as weaving the videos, podcasts, online interactive activities, and apps. My part in all this is diving into and excavating our ancient manuscripts, studying our rituals, sacred traditions, liturgy, the teachings of our Church Fathers, and bringing the Scripture into the lives of our faithful through various media. As I write the scripts, I realize that faith and the mystery of our Church can’t be squeezed into short videos; but a few minutes of planting a seed of Christ’s teachings into someone from anywhere in this world who has clicked on our material online is an accomplishment. I get emails and social media Direct Messages from people across the world that I have never met, both Armenians and non-Armenians, who have mentioned that our material has changed how they view our Church and our Lord—and sometimes even how our digital education has changed their lives. The Armenian Orthodox Apostolic Church has always chosen to adapt to the evolution of technology no matter the century to teach the Truth and shepherd our people to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is my honor and truly a blessing that my Church has trusted me to teach our faithful using modern technology.”
Since then, Arpi has changed her job, her marital status, and well on the way to changing her degree status to PhD. We asked her to catch you up on her latest:
“To everything, there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.” I was born in the Holy Land, I studied in the Golden State, and today I work in the Empire State. My life has been unfolding in very unexpected ways, but surely by God’s will and time. I find myself in a better past, present, and tomorrow than I expected for myself. This comes with breaking down and building up, weeping and laughing, mourning and dancing.
“Today, I find myself working as the Director of Online Education at one of the most reputable seminaries in the world: St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. Every learning curve, all the stress, all the learning that I’ve experienced throughout my life has shaped me to minister to our faithful in the learning mode of the 21st century, also known as ed-tech. Taking this to another dimension, I started my company (Holy Land Lights LLC) with a mission to take pilgrims to the Holy Land in person or bring the Holy Land to them through virtual pilgrimages. I have done this all with the support and encouragement of my husband, Dn. Daniel, as well as my family! So, ‘that which is, already has been, and that which is to be, already has been.’”
Axia!