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:

March 31, 2005
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DIOCESE RAISES MORE THAN $60,000 FOR TSUNAMI

On Wednesday, May 30, 2005, the Eastern Diocese presented a check to the
National Council of Church’s Church World Service (CWS) to fund tsunami
relief efforts in Asia.

More than $66,000 was raised by parishes and individual donations, and
channeled to the CWS through the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), which
has a history of providing relief to victims of extraordinary natural
disasters.

“As the world stepped forward to help our fellow Armenians after the
devastating earthquake, so too have Armenians shown time and time again
our Christian spirit of helping our fellow man,” said Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern). “I thank all those who gave to help those in need so far
away. It could have been easy to see the suffering on television and
done nothing to help, but so many were moved to give generous gifts of
support.”

Bishop Vicken Aykazian, diocesan legate and ecumenical officer is a
leader in the National Council of Churches (NCC) and was involved in
organizing the Diocesan-wide fund-raising efforts. On behalf of the
Diocese, he delivered the check to Rev. John McCullough, executive
director of CWS, the NCC’s international relief organization.

The funds raised by the Armenian community will be used by CWS for
long-term, on-going relief work in the areas devastated by the December
tsunami. CWS has been working in the area for several decades and has
staff on the ground in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India.
Assistance efforts include providing medical and psychological help,
installing water systems, and delivering food.

“Church World Service is an ecumenical organization, sponsored by the
Armenian Church and other denominations — Orthodox, Protestant, and
Anglican. So it is truly doing the work of God,” Bishop Aykazian said.
“Our community came together to offer our support, and then we came
together with our brothers and sisters in Christ to provide relief to
the victims of that terrible tragedy.”

— 3/31/05

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

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Bishop Vicken Aykazian, diocesan legate and
ecumenical officer, presents a check for $66,000 to Rev. John
McCullough, executive director of Church World Service, the
international aid organization of the National Council of Churches. The
money, raised by parishes and through individual donations, will be used
for long-term relief of victims of December’s Asian tsunami.