Young Mobeds n Training – News Release
Institute of Zoroastrian Studies
(Affiliated with The Association of Theological Schools)
News Release – July 2025
The NAMC Institute of Zoroastrian Studies holds Young Mobeds Training in New York at ZAGNY.
Young Mobeds from all over North America gathered in person at the Arbab Rustam Guiv Dar-E-Meher of Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York (ZAGNY) on July 12th and 13th, 2025, for the Young Mobed Training course.
The NAMC Institute of Zoroastrian Studies (NAMC-IZS) periodically offers training to Young Mobeds to help them serve the religious and spiritual needs of their communities. This was the fourth such course in the last few years, and to date, NAMC-IZS has trained more than 30 young Mobeds in these courses.
Following the benediction, Senior Mobeds Ervad Behram Panthaki and Ervad Tehemton Mirza instructed the students on various topics, including:
– Meaning of basic prayers, significance of Jashan, Satum and Afargan rituals, and Obsequies prayers & ceremonies.
– Mobed history beginning from the time of King Jamshed, when the society was divided into four parts, one being the Athornan (Mobeds), till the present.
– Role of Mobeds in ancient Iran during the Zoroastrian dynasties and their role in preserving Zoroastrianism after the fall of the Sassanian empire.
– Challenges faced by Mobeds in North America
– Overview of Gathas and meaning of some of the key Gatha verses by Keki Dadachanji.
The Young Mobeds were instructed on performing outer liturgical ceremonies.
The Young Mobeds discussed the role of Mobeds in North America and their plans to serve their communities in their role as Mobeds.
The Young Mobeds seized the opportunity to form new friendships and bonds over a game of basketball, connecting with the local community while being treated to an evening of socializing and a fabulous dinner by the members of ZAGNY.
The event ended with a vote of thanks to the management of Arbab Rustam Geiv Dar-E-Meher, the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York, and Khursheed Navder, the President of ZAGNY, who hosted the out-of-town Mobeds and instructors.
The NAMC Institute of Zoroastrian Studies is the educational arm of the North American Mobeds Council, dedicated to training Mobeds and educating the general public about Zoroastrianism.
For free online courses and tax-deductible donations, please visit www.namcmobeds.org
