St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church » News

Armenian Spring Festival – May 12, 2012

St. Sarkis Church — Mon, 07 May 2012 03:23:22 +0000

May 12, 2012 – From 11 AM To 6 PM

7000 Park Road, Charlotte NC 28210

A GREAT FAMILY EVENT!!!

FREE Admission

Saint Sarkis Armenian Church invites you to come and enjoy authentic Armenian food, music, artifacts, history and a guided tour of the Church at our spring event.

The kids will enjoy romping in the Noah’s Ark “Air Castle”.

ARMENIAN SPRING FESTIVAL is a celebration of the diversity of Armenian communities around the world and the Christian Faith that binds them together. Armenia was the first Christian Nation on Earth (301 AD).

Come and enjoy many varieties of Armenian delicacies and see why the Food Channel came to Charlotte in April to film our community.

We will be featuring our Kebab Dinner Plate which includes: Chicken or Ground beef Kebab, Pilaf, Armenian Lavash Bread, Hummus (for $7.00). Other delicacies will be sold separately.

Also come and enjoy our Armenian music, artifacts and history.

There will be guided tours of our Sanctuary. It’s basic design has remained unchanged since the seventh century.

Primate’s Easter Message

St. Sarkis Church — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:51:31 +0000

Jesus said to her, “…Go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. (St. John 20:17-18)

IT WAS STILL DARK, EARLY IN THE MORNING of the first day of the week: a Sunday, close to 2,000 years ago. To most of the world, the sun would rise on a day no different from any other. Only a handful of people would later realize that something of importance had occurred. But those few people understood that overnight, the world had changed.

Three pious women rose early to bear spices and burial ointments to the grave of their departed teacher and friend. But approaching the tomb, they sensed that something was wrong. The grave was open: its sealing-stone pushed away. And inside the tomb they found, not a dead body, but a mysterious figure—an angel—who beckoned them to draw closer. Here is how St. Matthew tells the story:

The angel said to the women: “Do not be afraid. For I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen-just as he said! Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead…’” (Mt 28:5-7).

Some 2,000 years later, we use the very same words to remember the miracle of that Sunday morning: Krisdos haryav ee merelotz! Christ is risen from the dead! And as Christians we celebrate Easter to mark the most important, most joyous, most glorious day in all of human history.

But think again of what it must have been like on that first Easter Sunday. In the darkness before dawn, when the pious oil-bearing women set off on their journey to our Lord’s tomb, things must have looked very different.

Two nights earlier, the women had watched in horror as Jesus endured the torments of crucifixion. They had stood in silent witness, as his lifeless body was brought down from the cross, wrapped in a burial shroud, and placed in a tomb. All their hopes and dreams had come to ruin. Their Master was dead. His mission was over. The salvation of mankind had failed. The women approached the tomb that morning, fully expecting to find Jesus buried within.

But—he was not there.

Instead, the women discovered that their greatest hope had come to pass: “Christ is risen from the dead!”—just as he had promised.

Imagine the overwhelming joy, the incredible sense of hope, the feeling of limitless possibility that swept over the women at that moment. They must have been bursting with excitement—eager to share this news with others.

And indeed it was these women—the first witnesses to the resurrection—who brought the Good News to the disciples. Through them, the Gospel mission began: they were the first link in a great chain of evangelism that would eventually encompass the world, and transform our own homeland with its message of love, hope, and victory over sin and death.

A beautiful service of the Armenian Church shows how very close we still are to these events, despite the obvious gulfs of time and space. Taking place in the early hours of Easter Sunday, the service is dedicated to the oil-bearing women: the “Myrophores” in Greek, or “Yughaperitz Ganaykh” in our own tongue. The Yughaperitz service culminates in a reading from the Gospel of St. John (Jn 20:1-18), which begins “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark…” and ends with Mary Magdalene’s ecstatic announcement to the disciples: “I have seen the Lord!”

And here is the astonishing thing: History indicates that this service originated in the early centuries of the Christian movement, in Jerusalem itself—perhaps at the very site of Christ’s tomb!—where the celebrants would gather at dawn, just as the women had done, to re-enact their world-changing discovery. Through this beautiful ritual, preserved over many centuries by the Armenian Church, the voices from that original Easter Sunday echo down to us, as if for the first time.

It is surely significant that the oil-bearing women held no exalted or privileged status in the world of their day. Indeed, even the disciples refused to believe them when they came to the upper room, breathless, to relate what they had witnessed. Yet it proved that these women, even from their humble station, were the ones who had seen the truth with clear eyes. Certainly it was their humility, their willingness to rise before dawn to perform a ministry of love and respect at a friend’s grave, that placed them in the right place to receive this truth. Perhaps it was the same attitude of humble ministry to our Lord which prepared their minds to believe in it, and prepared their hearts to share it.

Armenian history is filled with similar stories of people—often from the most powerless and marginalized stations of their surrounding societies—who saw and heard; who believed and shared; and ultimately who transformed their worlds from within. That is the power and the promise that genuine Christian ministry—the “Ministry of the Faithful,” as we have been calling it in our Diocese this year—can bring to our churches and communities, to our families and our individual lives. It starts with those simple announcements of joy and amazement: “He is not here; he has risen!” “I have seen the Lord!” Or in the words of our beautiful Easter greeting:

Krisdos haryav ee merelotz! Orhnyal eh harootiunun Krisdosee!
Christ is risen from the dead! Blessed is the resurrection of Christ!

This Easter, let us proclaim those words loudly, with conviction-to everyone we meet. Even “while it is still dark,” let us pierce the darkness with our song of joy. And through it, may our Risen Lord draw forth the transformative ministry that truly brings Light to the world.

With prayers,

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian
Primate

Easter 2012

Source: www.armenianchurch.net

SAINT SARKIS CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY

Diana Melkumyan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:59:27 +0000

Sunday, December 18th, St. Sarkis Armenian Church celebrated the Christmas Holiday with Divine Liturgy under the auspices of Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the children’s Pageant presentation, directed by Sylvie Yessayan, and then Luncheon in the Acopian Hall. Everyone enjoyed the meal while listening Christmas music and songs; the children had an excellent time with the arrival of Santa Claus and the distribution of the gifts.

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Pilgrims from the Eastern Diocese Take Part in Consecration in Dikranakert

St. Sarkis Church — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:29:01 +0000

Last week Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), led a group of Diocesan leaders on a pilgrimage to the city of Diarbekir (Dikranakert), in Turkey, where they took part in the October 22 re-consecration of the historic St. Giragos Armenian Church.

The group which included the Diocese’s Ecumenical Director, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, was scheduled to travel to the historic Armenian region of Van as well, but the earthquake in that region on Sunday afternoon caused a cancellation of those plans.

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As reported shortly after news of the disaster broke, the pilgrims from the Eastern Diocese are safe and were unaffected by the earthquake. But in a telephone interview Sunday, Archbishop Barsamian said, “After such a splendid [re-consecration] ceremony, our hearts were heavy when we learned of the earthquake, and our prayers go out to the victims and their families.”

The restoration and re-consecration of the St. Giragos Armenian Church was a major event in the region, with dignitaries and pilgrims from around the world participating. Constructed in the 16th century, St. Giragos is arguably one of the great sanctuaries of the worldwide Armenian Church. After years of abuse, the recent renovation project—to which a number of diaspora Armenians contributed—has restored it to its former glory.

The group of pilgrims from the Eastern Diocese arrived in Istanbul on Friday, October 21, and had dinner that evening with Archbishop Aram Ateshian, Patriarchal Vicar of the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul, who warmly welcomed the group. Archbishop Barsamian extended his thanks to Archbishop Ateshian.

On Saturday morning, the pilgrims travelled to Diarbekir (Dikranakert), and on their arrival at the local airport they were welcomed by members of the St. Giragos Armenian Church parish council. They proceeded to tour the Old City of Dikranakert—including the ancient St. Sarkis Armenian Church, located in the historic district.

Streets throughout Diarbekir were festooned with flags in Armenian, Turkish, and Kurdish reading “Welcome home.” The sentiment throughout the city was festive, warm, and welcoming.

The consecration of St. Giragos Armenian Church began at 5 p.m. Archbishop Ateshian, Archbishop Barsamian, Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Bishop Shahan Sarkisian (Primate of Aleppo), and Bishop Sahag Mashalian (from Istanbul) consecrated the five altars. Also present was the Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, formerly of the Eastern Diocese and currently the Pontifical Legate for Central Europe.

The number of participants in the service exceeded 2,000, with groups of Armenian pilgrims from Istanbul, the U.S., Armenia, Holland, Germany, Aleppo, and Lebanon present.

Among the dignitaries attending were the United States Consul General of Istanbul, Scott Kilner; the U.S. Consul of Adana, Daria Darnell; the mayor of greater Diarbekir Osman Baydemir; Abdullah Demirbas, mayor of the city’s Sur Ici section (the area “inside the walls” of the old fortified city); and Mayor Scott Avedisian of Warwick, Rhode Island (U.S.A.)—all of whom were very interested in the service and supportive of the historic event.

At the conclusion of the service, the mayor of greater Diarbekir, Osman Baydemir, offered his warm welcome to the visitors—speaking first in Armenian, then in Kurdish, Turkish, English, and Arabic. To the Armenian pilgrims he said, “Welcome to your home. You are not guests here; this is your home. Anytime you come here, you are coming to your home.”

“This is a happy and special day not only for you but also for us,” Mayor Baydemir continued. “We all know about past events, and our wish is that our children will celebrate together the coming achievements.” Mayor Baydemir’s remarks were frequently interrupted by applause, as those gathered were gratified to hear acknowledgement that the city is indeed an historic Armenian center.

“A day of hope”

Mayor Baydemir hosted a diner for the clergy and guests, where the U.S. Consul General and the U.S. Consul of Adana were also present.

Vartkes Ergun Ayik, chairman of the St. Giragos Church parish council, welcomed the visitors, thanked all those who had participated in the restoration project, and invited Archbishop Barsamian to offer some remarks.

The day’s achievement, said Archbishop Barsamian, “represents many things to all of us. But most of all, perhaps, it is the result of the mutual recognition and respect of everyone involved, which has animated this project from the very beginning. That is a great reason to be hopeful, and it makes today, above all, a day of hope—a day to look to the future with optimism.”

“As pilgrims from America who have been blessed to be a part of this day, we share in that sense of optimism and hope,” he added. He closed by making presentations of the “St. Vartan Award” to Mayor Osman Baydemir and Mayor Abdullah Demirbas.

Archbishop Aram Ateshian likewise expressed thanks to everyone, and presented silver awards to both mayors, and to the architect of the restoration project.

Greater Diarbekir Mayor Baydemir concluded the evening by characterizing the occasion as one not only for celebration, “but a day of expressing our apologies for the tragic events of the past. We want to see you come back here not only as tourists, but also as people coming back home.”

Sunday morning witnessed the celebration of the Armenian Divine Liturgy in the newly re-consecrated St. Giragos Church. Archbishop Ateshian was the celebrant and homilist, and members of the Sts. Vartanantz Church choir from Ferikoy, Istanbul, sang the Komitas setting of the badarak.

The service took place before another remarkably large gathering of the faithful, which included guest Armenian clergy, as well as the Syrian Orthodox bishop of Adiaben; the representative of His Holiness Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople; mayors Baydemir and Demirbas, and the two American consuls.

To conclude the liturgy, the Armenian hokehankisd (requiem) service was performed for the deceased primates, pastors, altar servers, and faithful of Dikranakert.

With the next day’s planned trip to Van (where the group of pilgrims was scheduled to visit the Holy Cross Church on Aghtamar Island) cancelled due to the earthquake, the Eastern Diocese group drove instead to visit the 17th-century St. Kevork Church in Derek, near Mardin. There they met the caretakers who faithfully care for the 300-year-old Bible and hymnal housed within the church. The pilgrims were welcomed by Eyyup Guven, author of a biography titled “Kohar”—the memoir of an Armenian Genocide survivor from the area. During their visit the pilgrims were trailed by a sizeable group of local residents, eager to say that they were of Armenian origin.

The group is scheduled to fly to Istanbul on October 25, and will return to the United States later this week.

Source: www.armenianchurch.net

New York Dinner Honoring 60th Birthday of Catholicos Karekin II

St. Sarkis Church — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 20:19:37 +0000

On Wednesday, October 12, a group of friends and benefactors of Holy Etchmiadzin gathered at a dinner hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Nazar and Artemis Nazarian in honor of His Holiness Karekin II’s 60th birthday.

The event was held at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Club and was attended by 60 people in an atmosphere of warm friendship and cordiality.

Berge Setrakian, President of AGBU, acting as the master of ceremonies, welcomed the guests and congratulated His Holiness on his birthday.

“You are surrounded tonight by great friends of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos of All Armenians” he said, and further noted that the AGBU has been a longstanding supporter of His Holiness’ initiatives to further strengthen the Armenian Church.

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), after thanking the hosts and congratulating the Catholicos, spoke on the need to develop strong spiritual leadership in the Armenian Church—a mission His Holiness has advanced throughout his pontificate. He then announced on that occasion the establishment of the Pontifical Endowment for Pastoral Development, which will be chaired by Mr. Setrakian.

“From my experience, I can testify that having a dedicated, well-prepared pastor is key to a flourishing parish life…Our parishes flourish, family spiritual life flourishes, and our church as a whole will flourish,” said the Primate.

Following the announcement of the establishment of the fund, Mr. Berge Setrakian stated that AGBU had decided to earmark $1 million of its scholarship programs for this purpose.

Mr. and Mrs. Nazarian then took the initiative of donating in lieu of Vehapar’s birthday gift $1 million to this fund and they were followed with similar amounts by Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian and Mr. and Mrs. Hratch and Suzanne Toufayan.

Mr. and Mrs. Setrakian then announced their contribution of $250,000 and they were followed by Mr. and Mrs. Yervant and Melissa Demirjian, Mr. and Mrs. Haig and Elsa Didizian, and Mr. and Mrs. Nishan and Margaret Atinizian with $100,000 each. Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Edna Keleshian, Oscar Tatosian, and Jerry Demirjian pledged $50,000 each. Mr. and Mrs. George and Alice Kevorkian, Mr. and Mrs. Zaven and Arlene Dadekian, Mr. and Mrs. Papken and Anahid Megerian, and Dr. and Mrs. Haroutune and Shakeh Mekhjian pledged $25,000 each. Further donations continued to follow.

Mr. Setrakian then announced that Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the Primate of the Diocese of Armenian Church of America (Western), had informed him that a pledge drive getting underway in that region had raised $1 million so far for the same purpose.

To conclude the evening, His Holiness Karekin II expressed his deep appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Nazarian for hosting the evening, and addressed the guests in his usual cordial tone. ”Coming here, I feel I am among family,” he said.

“I feel blessed and strengthened to know that you have been and continue to be so supportive of my ministry as Catholicos of All Armenians, and recognize the importance of advancing the clergy in our church,” His Holiness said.

Information on the “Pontifical Endowment for Pastoral Development” can be obtained by contacting Laura Gononian at .

Source: www. armenianchurch.net

9/11: Ten Years Later

St. Sarkis Church — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:45:38 +0000

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), has directed all Diocesan parishes to observe the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America with a special prayer service.

In a directive to parish leaders, the Primate asked to have a special prayer recited as part of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, September 11, 2011. The prayer, which accompanied the directive, was specially composed for the occasion, in English and Armenian.

The Primate advised parish leaders to inform their fellow parishioners in advance, so that communities can observe the solemn milestone together. He also encouraged participation in the memorials of the larger society, marking the passage of a decade since “that infamous, world-altering day.”

“Across our nation, people will be solemnly commemorating the occasion,” says the directive, “and I encourage you to take part in your local and municipal observances, joining with our fellow citizens of the United States of America.”

It is noteworthy that this year’s 10th anniversary coincides with a major feast day of the Armenian Church: the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The traditional church practice on major feasts is to refrain from performing the hokehankisd (requiem) service, and the Primate advised that this tradition should be observed on Sunday, September 11. However, the Primate has given special dispensation to hold the requiem service in several cases, for departed members of the community who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

The special prayer beseeches God to “have mercy on the souls of all the men and women who perished in the terrible calamities on September 11, 2001, in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Take them into the peace of your heavenly kingdom, and never cease to console their loved ones, who will always grieve for their losses.”

The entire prayer, in English and Armenian, is available here.

Source: armenianchurch.net

Ten Years After Sept. 11, 2001 – A Message From the Primate

St. Sarkis Church — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:42:54 +0000

What follows is a message from Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Ten Years After Sept. 11, 2001

On Sunday, September 11, 2011, the faithful of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America are joining our voices with millions of our fellow Americans—and with people around the world—to offer prayers on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America.

Like so many others, with the approach of this milestone I have tried to recollect what it was like on that day a full decade ago. Americans of our generation have taken to greeting every 11th of September in the same way—and I imagine we will continue doing so for the remainder of our lives.

I vividly recall the spontaneous gathering in the sanctuary of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York City, on the afternoon of September 11, 2001. I recall looking out from the altar, and seeing all manner of people: familiar faces alongside new ones from off the street. A number of people had narrowly escaped the disaster zone, and bore traces of dust and debris from the collapsing Twin Towers. They had instinctively come to a place of peace and prayer, like so many others in that great march northward through the city, which choked the streets around us with the refugees from southern Manhattan.

Although we did not know it at the time, three hours earlier, in the very midst of the terrorist attacks, others had followed the same instinct. On Flight 93, a young man facing what he knew to be the final minutes of his life, spoke on a cell-phone to a telephone operator he had never met. He asked her to pray with him, and together they recited the 23rd Psalm. Having uttered these words, Todd Beamer and the brave passengers on the doomed Flight 93 proceeded to take the plane back from the hijackers, de-railing the terrorists’ plan, at the cost of their own lives.

This was only one of the many stories—heart-breaking and inspiring at the same time—which we learned in the aftermath of 9/11. Ten years later, those stories have become a part of our national culture: a part of America’s own story. Perhaps for that reason, the personal, human toll of that day has receded into the background: a part of history we all share, but take for granted.

But on this solemn, milestone anniversary let us promise never to forget these stories, or the people who lived them. Let us never forget the families of those who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks—among them, people from our own community. Our thoughts are with them, as with all who have suffered and sacrificed in the long aftermath of that day.

Let us vow that their examples, their sacrifices, have not been made in vain; that each of us, to the best of our ability, will continue the struggle to preserve freedom, justice, and true peace against those who do not hold life sacred. And we pray too that—should we ever face our own fateful hour—God will summon from us the same courage He drew from our lost countrymen, on that terrible day ten years ago.

Above all, as I search these ten-year-old memories, the words of the 23rd Psalm impress themselves upon me, as they did so powerfully on that day:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
He leads me in the path of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil; for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23)

May we all likewise dwell in our Lord’s house, now and always. May He keep watch over the souls He drew to His kingdom on 9/11, and bestow His peace on their loved ones. May He grant guidance to our leaders, and strengthen the resolve of those who stand in defense of our country. And may He always shed His shining grace on the United States of America.

Source: www.armenianchurch.net

Primate Responds on Status of Churches in Turkey

St. Sarkis Church — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 02:19:33 +0000

What follows is the text of a letter sent by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), to United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, regarding assertions made by Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, President Barack Obama’s recess appointment to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey.

In an official written statement addressing an inquiry from New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, regarding the present operational status of “the more than 2,000 Christian churches functioning prior to 1915 on the territory of present-day Turkey,” Amb. Ricciardone asserted: “Most of the Christian churches functioning prior to 1915 are still operating as churches. Some churches of significance operate as museums. The remaining have fallen into disrepair or were converted to mosques for lack of use.”

The full text of Archbishop Barsamian’s letter to Secretary Clinton, in response to the above assertion, appears below.

Dear Madame Secretary:

My kind greetings and blessings you, as you continue your service to our nation.

As Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, I write regarding the statements made by Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, President Obama’s appointment as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, during his confirmation hearing.

Please know that we have been generally supportive of the efforts of the U.S. government to promote a more normal relationship between the republics of Turkey and Armenia. Likewise, we greatly respect and appreciate the productive role you personally have played in such initiatives.

With those efforts in mind, it is difficult to understand Ambassador Ricciardone’s assertions about the status of historic Armenian churches, and other Christian churches, in Turkey. The loss of these many hundreds of churches, their neglect and outright destruction, and the conversion of many of our sanctuaries into mosques, is a matter of intense pain to Armenians: an ongoing reminder of the loss of life and the destruction that we suffered as a result of the 1915 Genocide.

Ambassador Ricciardone deeply offended Armenian-Americans with his remarks, opening sensitive wounds and potentially setting back the gradual process of healing. In all charity, perhaps the Ambassador is simply unaware of certain facts. But mastery of the history of a country, its dark as well as bright chapters, is essential to serving the United States effectively and diplomatically in this important and complex region.

Again, it is our general support for your efforts, Madame Secretary, as well as our desire to see genuine progress made to benefit the entire region, that prompts this letter to you. I am confident that you will give these thoughts all due consideration, as you make decisions about the vital role America plays in Turkey, in Armenia, and throughout the world.

Madame Secretary, you have our great respect and support in all your undertakings. May our Lord strengthen and guide you in your service to our beloved country.

With prayers,

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian
Primate

Source: www.armenianchurch.net

Government of the Republic of Armenia Honors Archbishop Barsamian

St. Sarkis Church — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:32:54 +0000

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and President of the Fund for Armenian Relief, was recognized earlier this month by the government of the Republic of Armenia on the occasion of his 40th anniversary of ordination into the holy priesthood and his 60th birthday.

Armenia’s Prime Minister, His Excellency Tigran Sargsyan, personally presented the award and proclamation to Archbishop Barsamian on July 13, during the Primate’s visit to Armenia.

Prime Minister Sargsyan expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Barsamian for his efforts to help the Armenian people. The Prime Minister’s proclamation noted Archbishop Barsamian’s “work to strengthen state and church relations” and “his contributions to the education of Armenian youth.”

Under the leadership of Archbishop Barsamian, the Eastern Diocese and its parishes have extended spiritual and material outreach to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabagh. In the past two decades, the Diocese has spearheaded a number of service and exchange programs, pilgrimages, publications, and other initiatives to build connections between the Armenians in the United States and their brothers and sisters in the homeland.

In addition, the Fund for Armenian Relief-which was established by Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Kevork Hovnanian, and Dr. Edgar Housepian in the aftermath of the 1988 earthquake in Spitak and Gyumri-has grown under Archbishop Barsamian’s guidance to become the homeland’s leading humanitarian organization, offering programs in education, health care, child protection, and economic development.

Archbishop Barsamian also has been a great supporter of Holy Etchmiadzin, and with the blessings of the Mother See, has represented the Armenian Church on various ecumenical and interreligious boards worldwide, helping to raise the profile of the Armenian Church on the national and international levels.

Source: www.armenianchurch.net

Ecumenical Director Meets with Lawmakers on Capitol Hill Regarding Debt Ceiling

St. Sarkis Church — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:29:36 +0000

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Eastern Diocese’s Director of Ecumenical Relations, joined religious leaders yesterday in urging lawmakers on Capitol Hill to resolve the question of the debt ceiling before the August 2 deadline, and to arrive at a solution that takes into account the needs of struggling people.

The day-long meeting on Tuesday, July 26, included sessions with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Assistant Leader James Clyburn, and staff members of House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

“To ensure a fair budget, it is very important that we remember the most vulnerable: the elderly and children, as well as those who are poor, sick, hungry, or disabled,” Archbishop Aykazian said. “It is our moral responsibility to take care of these people.”

Archbishop Aykazian said the religious leaders expressed disappointment at the protracted negotiations, and called for a fair and just approach to reducing the nation’s deficit.

Christian, Jewish, and Muslim leaders took part in the day’s program.

Archbishop Aykazian delivered a prayer during an afternoon press conference organized by the group, asking God “to give strength and courage to our leaders to come to a peaceful solution.”

Source: www.armenianchurch.net