PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
October 12, 2004
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LEGATE BRINGS HABITAT LEADER TO ARMENIA
Bishop Vicken Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), recently led a leader in the
Habitat for Humanity organization on a special tour of the Republic of
Armenia.
>>From August 12 to 22, 2004, Bishop Aykazian toured important sites in
Armenia with Ken Bensen, president of Habitat for Humanity of Michigan,
and his wife, Sandy, who is also involved in the housing organization.
“The purpose was to go and see the activities of Habitat in Armenia and
to see how we can work more closely between Habitat and the Armenian
Church,” Bishop Aykazian said.
In the past two years, Habitat’s international arm has helped build 82
houses in Armenia. Along with touring some of those sites, Bishop
Aykazian also took the Bensens to areas where future projects would be
beneficial.
During the trip to Armenia, the Bensens had an audience with His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
They invited him to travel to Michigan this summer to work on a Habitat
project alongside former-President Carter.
“The Catholicos thinks it is a good organization,” Bishop Aykazian said.
“They have been doing a good job and he’s looking forward to Habitat
volunteers helping build even better homes in Armenia.”
Each year, volunteers from around the globe work through Habitat for
Humanity’s international organization to build homes in a number of
countries. Many parishes have organized trips to Armenia for
parishioners to volunteer through Habitat for Humanity.
“That’s our social responsibility, to help our people in Armenia who
need our help,” Bishop Aykazian said. “I encourage every parish to take
groups to Armenia. And non-Armenians should go as well. By working
alongside fellow Armenians, by getting involved, you can better
understand Armenian culture and the Armenian people.”
One of the most recent groups to go work on Habitat for Humanity
projects in Armenia was a group of 17 Armenians, made up of parishioners
from St. Leon Church in Fair Lawn, NJ, and the St. Mesrob Church in
Racine, WI, and their friends. They were in Armenia from July 17 to 30,
2004. You can read about their trip by going to their website:
— 10/12/04
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): From left, Ken and Sandy Bensen, president of
Habitat for Humanity in Michigan and his wife; His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; Bishop Vicken
Aykazian, legate and ecumenical officer of the Eastern Diocese; and
Ashot Yeghiazaryan, executive director of Habitat Armenia.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Bishop Aykazian visits the type of home Habitat for
Humanity is working to replace in Armenia.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Bishop Aykazian meets with a group of volunteers
working in Armenia through Habitat for Humanity.
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