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: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:

November 23, 2004
___________________

ARMENIA’S ACADEMY OF SCIENCES GREATFULLY RECOGNIZES ARCHBISHOP BARSAMIAN
WITH HIGHEST HONOR

Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern) and President of the Fund for Armenian
Relief (FAR) Board of Directors, was recently honored by the Armenian
National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

During a reception on November 8, 2004, the Primate was presented with
the Academy’s highest award, the Gold Medal by the president of the NAS,
Fadey Sargsyan.

“I thank the Academy for this honor, but truly it belongs to the members
of the Diocesan Council of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America, the members of the Board of Directors of the Fund for Armenian
Relief, and the faithful members of the Eastern Diocese,” the Primate
said in remarks during the ceremony.”

“It is truly the responsibility of the church to continue supporting
learning and education,” the Primate added. “The first words of the
Bible say that God told us to go forth and multiply and be masters —
and that is something we do with education. There’s so much potential
in humans; and through education and science we learn more each day.”

Also attending the ceremony were the academics who make up the NAS; the
heads of the different departments at the University of Yerevan and the
school’s rector; members of the Diocesan Council of the Eastern Diocese;
Garnik Nanagoulian, the executive director of FAR; and Krikor Tatoulian,
FAR’s country director in Armenia.

“We all know how important a strong education is, not just for the
scholar but for the larger community,” Archbishop Barsamian said. “The
Armenian Church will continue to ensure that Armenian scientists,
professors, scholars, and researchers have resources and support to do
the type of work that will allow Armenia to be active in the modern
world economy.”

During the award presentation ceremony, the president of the National
Academy of Sciences, Fadey Sargsyan, reflected on the enormous support
Archbishop Barsamian has been able to provide Armenian academics and
researchers. He said the Primate was one of the earliest supporters of
science and academics in Armenia, as the nation became independent. He
thanked the Primate and the Eastern Diocese for its work, especially the
Armenian National Science and Education Fund (ANSEF). ANSEF,
spearheaded by FAR, provides grants for research projects. Those grants
are awarded only after applications are peer-reviewed by American and
international experts.

“Our support to scientists and professors is helping halt a ‘brain
drain’ which would be disastrous for all Armenians,” the Primate said.
“We need brilliant thinkers to feel they can succeed on a global scale
while staying to work in Armenia. They serve as role models to the next
generation and provide a creative spark of ingenuity which can ripple
through the rest of Armenian society.”

ANSEF is not the only way FAR is working to promote education, science,
and academics in Armenia. Each year it awards a number of scholarships
to undergraduate students through its Mathevosian Scholarship program.
To promote study of the arts, FAR’s Maestro Arsen Sayan Scholarship
program aids students at Yerevan’s Komitas Conservatory of Music. The
FAR-run Ounjian School in Gyumri is an elementary through secondary
institution, which also offers college scholarships to its graduates.

“It is important for us to aid every level of study and research,” the
Primate said. “We need to support Armenians who are making strides to
better themselves, to improve the future of our homeland.”

— 11/23/04

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
and Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and President of the Fund
for Armenian Relief (FAR), is presented with the Gold Medal, the highest
award of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, on November 8, 2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): The Primate speaks to members of Armenia’s National
Academy of Sciences and other academics during a ceremony presenting him
with the Academy’s highest honor, the Gold Medal, on November 8, 2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Barsamian, members of the Diocesan
Council, and staff from the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), at Armenia’s
National Academy of Sciences.

# # #