Mastery of religion

The Paris based World Zoroastrian Council (WZC) is offering a course "Amoozgaar-e dini,” or mastery of religion under the directorship of Dr Koorosh Niknam, according to an email received by Parsiana. The course, taught in Persian aims to "to educate a new generation of experts and masters in religion, and to train them in various modules such as ancient texts, the Avestan alphabet (Din-dabireh), Gathas and their interpretation, interpretation of Zarathushtra’s vision, prayers from the Khordeh Avesta, the philosophy and doctrine of traditional ceremonies, celebrations and Zoroastrian ceremonies.”
In response to Parsiana’s follow-up questions, WZC that works in conjunction with l’Association d’Etude Mondiale du Zoroastrisme has stated that the course is being offered for the first time, though the Tehran Mobeds Council had offered a similar program in 2002 under the supervision of Niknam who has authored five books on various aspects of Zoroastrianism. As a result of that mentoring 15 new Hirbads or religious teachers were created. The email explains that a Hirbad or Arethrapaiti (in Avestan) is a religious teacher "fully skilled” to promote the religion and to conduct religious ceremonies.

Dr Koorosh Niknam: creating religious teachers

The first sessions for the year long WZC program will commence as a two-week course in September or October 2015 in Paris. The subsequent lessons will continue as distance learning and through the Internet, with on-going tests, followed by a final examination and certification for successful candidates. In addition to Niknam, who studied Zoroastrianism "at the Zoroastrian College in India, and is certified by the Tehran Mobed Council,” the email states that Dr Abtin Sassanfar, Dr Shahrokh Mirshahi, Mobed Kamran Jamshidi will be amongst the tutors and instructors for the sessions in Paris. The distance modules will be conducted by Dr Ali Jafarey and Dr Ardeshir Anoshiravani from the US and Mobed Mehraban Firouzgary from Iran.
They expect participation from "young people interested…in Iran’s ancient culture and Zoroastrian religion and philosophy...having a good voice (for the chant of the Zoroastrian hymns) and very skilled in communication…capable of teaching and discoursing,” states a WZC spokesperson in response to Parsiana’s questions. WZC has enrolled seven participants so far and hopes the number will rise to 15. "There is no cost to the candidates, no registration fees, or unanticipated charges,” states the email. Participants are expected to pay for their travel to and from Paris.
On successful completion of the course, candidates will be allowed to use the title of Hirbad and will be officially introduced and recommended to other Zoroastrian centers and communities. The communication cautions that "they won’t be called Mobed, but they will be permitted to lecture (on) Avesta, conduct ceremonies, manage religious courses and philosophical sessions, respond to the questions and demands of Zoroastrians around the world.” The communication further states that in case an attendant is required for a sacred fire in a country, the Hirbad could conduct the rituals as well as gavaah-giri (marriages), porrseh (memorials) and sedreh-poushi (initiation into the religion).
WZC is in contact with other Zoroastrian organizations across the globe and takes advantage of their activities and services, "and there is proficient exchange of ideas and dialog between us,” states the communication. The Council has undertaken this current teaching initiative independently as "it does not concern the traditional process of education of mobeds.”
Whilst most of Parsiana’s queries were answered, questions on the constitution and working of WZC were redirected from the central desk to the general director whose response is yet awaited. For more information, email info.aemz@w-z-c.com