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 24, 2004
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INVITATION OF CATHOLICOS YEILDS HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE TRIP

>>From November 4 to 11, 2004, member of the Eastern Diocesan Council,
headed by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, traveled to Armenia at
the invitation of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians.

The meetings started on the morning of the November 4, when the Diocesan
Council members knelt at the Altar of Descent in Holy Etchmiadzin and
prayed together, expressing their gratitude to God for their
opportunities. Following that was an audience with the Catholicos, who
welcomed the council members.

During a meeting with the Supreme Religious Council — presided over by
the Catholicos and chaired by Archbishop Barsamian — each member of the
Diocesan Council presented the strategy of the Diocesan Council and what
activities and efforts have been undertaken by the Eastern Diocese the
past five years. They also spoke about future plans to strengthen the
church in America.

“This was a memorable visit to Holy Etchmiadzin and the Republic of
Armenia, which strengthened my personal faith and gave me increased
optimism for the rapid spiritual and economic development of Armenia,”
said Oscar Tatosian, a member of the Diocesan Council.

There was a very good dialogue between the Diocesan Council members and
the Supreme Religious Council members. Each group asked and answered a
variety of questions during the discussions. The meeting continued on
November 5, when it covered a variety of items, including: the
preparation of clergy and how we can prepare effective pastors to
respond to needs of the Armenian faithful today, liturgical issues, the
Friends of the Holy Sea of Etchmiadzin endowment fund and fund-raising
activities by the Eastern Diocese, how to increase cooperation and
communication between Armenian Dioceses around the world, and the recent
official recognition of the Jehovah’s Witnesses by the Armenian
government. The discussions between the Council and the Supreme
Religious Council were good, open discussions.

“Our meetings with His Holiness and the members of the Supreme Religious
Council was a memorable experience,” said Council Member John Amboian.
“It provided me the honor and opportunity to become better acquainted
with His Holiness and the needs of the Holy See. The meetings also
provided me insight into the function and role of the Supreme Religious
Council.”

On the evening of November 5, the Catholicos lead the council members to
the youth center in Yerevan sponsored by the Holy Sea and the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU). The children there put on an exciting
program of dancing and singing.

SEEING THE REBIRTH

The following day the council traveled to the region of Shirak, where
they met with Bishop Mikayel Ajapahian, Primate, at the Diocesan Center
of the Diocese of Shirak. Bishop Ajapahian spoke of activities
organized by the Diocese of Shirak and took the group to the newly
consecrated Church of St. Hagop, whose benefactor is Sarkis Acopian.
The group then traveled to the His Holiness Catholicos Vasken I School
which was destroyed in the 1988 earthquake but renovated by the Fund for
Armenian Relief (FAR), the Diocesan-affiliated international aid
organization.

On Saturday the council also attended a concert in Yerevan at the
Symphonic Orchestra Hall commemorating the 130th anniversary of the
Kevorkian Seminary in Etchmiadzin.

On Sunday the council members were in Etchmiadzin for a special Divine
Liturgy, celebrated by Archbishop Barsamian on the occasion of the fifth
anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. After the badarak was a
luncheon and program. In celebration, the Council Members presented to
His Holiness the Catholicos on behalf of the Eastern Diocese a gift of
$50,000 to go towards renovating a church in Armenia.

On Monday the council members and the Catholicos traveled to the Diocese
of Geghakouniak, where they visited the newly constructed Vazkenian
seminary in Sevan. They also met with Fr. Terenik Davidian, locum
tenens of the Gegharkouniatz Diocese, who lead the group to the Diocesan
Center in Gavar. Fr. Davidian spoke about the support provided to
Armenian parishes from the Eastern Diocese through sister parish
programs.

“The results of the sister parish program were encouraging,” Tatosian
said. “It is an initiative which can be expanded to create more bonds
between Armenia and the faithful in our diocese.”

VISITING WITH THE YOUTH

On Tuesday the group had meetings in Yerevan with the Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan and U.S. Ambassador John Evans. They also
attended a ceremony blessing the crosses for the roof of the newly
constructed Holy Trinity Church in Yerevan, whose benefactor is Louise
Manoogian Simone. The council then visited the FAR offices in Yerevan
and the Children’s Reception and Orientation Center.

The center is a safe haven for homeless young people that was opened in
2000 and has since cared for 700 troubled youth. It is a full-service
facility run by a professional staff of social workers, nurses,
psychologists, and doctors. The Center’s methodology combines
diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to assess the sociological
circumstances of each child. Based on in-depth analyses, the staff
develops personalized treatment plans and ultimately identify new
placements for the children unable to return home.

“The visit to that center was inspirational,” said Council Member Fr.
Yeprem Kelegian. “Seeing the FAR initiatives and the FAR people and the
work they’re doing, you definitely realized they are doing an awesome
job. You realize how they’re using money given to FAR to do so much in
Armenia, especially with this children’s reception project.”

“The loving talented and dedicated staff there is just taking children
off the street and literally recreating them and giving them their
childhood back,” he added. “I was just touched and their efforts really
stood out. All the Supreme Religious Council meetings and talking with
the Catholicos that was important, but I was just moved by that center.”

That same day, the Council members also met with the vicar of the
Araratian Diocese, Bishop Navasard Ktshoyan, and more than 100 young
people from his Diocese. They talked with the young people about how to
increase the connection and communication between the youth of Armenia
and the young Armenians in America.

“It was so good to see so many young people involved in the life of the
church,” said the Primate. “It is a sign that, even after a generation
of communism, we Armenians have a bright future ahead of us.”

HIGHLIGHTING EDUCATION

While in Yerevan, the group traveled to the National Academy of Sciences
where the Primate was honored with the Academy’s Gold Medal.

“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.”

On Wednesday the Diocesan Council members and the Catholicos visited the
Diocese of Gougark, where they met with Bishop Sebouh Chuljyan, Primate,
who showed them the new St. Greogry of Narek Church built by Council
Member Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian. They also visited the Diocesan Center
of the Diocese of Gougark, where Bishop Sebouh spoke about the summer
camp run by his Diocese with the help of the Eastern Diocese.

While in Vanadzor, the group also toured the Anoosh Mathevosian School,
which was rebuilt and opened in 2002 by FAR with the financial support
of Anoosh Mathevosian. The school was damaged during the 1988
earthquake.

The Council members, who traveled at their own expense, departed Armenia
with renewed spirit and deeper love for their homeland.

“It was inspiring to see the leadership and what they’re able to pull
off in Armenia with so little — the rebuilding, the gathering of the
people, they’re doing an inspiring job,” Fr. Kelegian said. “It was
inspirational.”

— 11/24/04

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, and members of
the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), meet with His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, who invited the group for a historic
meeting in Armenia from November 4 to 11, 2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Members of the Eastern Diocesan Council meet with
members of the Supreme Religious Council in Etchmiadzin during a
first-of-its kind meeting.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Barsamian celebrates the badarak at the
Mother Cathedral in Holy Etchmiadzin on Sunday, November 7, 2004,
commemorating the fifth anniversary of the enthronement of His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

PHOTO CAPTION (4): Archbishop Barsamian and His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, bless new crosses for
the roof of Yerevan’s new Holy Trinity Church during the trip of the
Eastern Diocesan Council members to Armenia the first week in November
2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (5): Members of the Diocesan Council and Garnik
Nanagoulian, executive director of the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR),
visit with young people at FAR’s Children’s Reception and Orientation
Center in Yerevan.

PHOTO CAPTION (6): Members of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) meet with the new U.S.
Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, during their week-long trip to
Armenia in the first week of November 2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (7): Members of the Eastern Diocesan Council meet with
the Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan on November 9, 2004.

PHOTO CAPTION (8): Members of Diocesan Council with the Primate and
Catholicos visit Vanadzor’s St. Gregory of Narek Church, which is under
construction with an anticipated date of completion October 2005.

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