PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: info@armenianprelacy.org
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
June 2, 2005
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN IS IN CALIFORNIA
ATTENDING MEETING OF NEWLY FORMED
CHRISTIAN CHURCHES TOGETHER
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan is in California attending the
meeting of the steering committee for the newly-formed Christian Churches
Together, in the serene surroundings of the Jesuit retreat house in Los
Altos Hills. The meeting began yesterday, June 1, and will conclude
tomorrow.
Christian Churches Together in the USA had its initial meeting
in Baltimore on September 7-8, 2001, with the participation of church
leaders in the United States who explored the need for expanding fellowship,
unity, and witness among the diverse expressions of Christian faith today.
The concept was born from the need of having one place where representatives
of historic Protestant, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical, and
Orthodox Churches come together officially “to strengthen their unity in
Christ and empower their mission.” Since then several organizational
meetings have taken place in various locations in the United States. The
current meeting in Los Altos officially inaugurates the work of the group.
V. REV. FR. ANOUSHAVAN TANIELIAN BEGINS SERVICE
AS FULL-TIME VICAR TO THE PRELACY
V. Rev. Fr. Anoushavan Tanielian began his service as the
full-time Vicar of the Prelacy on May 23. Hayr Anoushavan has been serving
as the Vicar on a part-time basis since February 1995, when he was appointed
by the then Prelate, the late Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian. Since that time
Hayr Sourp has served the Prelacy while also serving as the pastor of St.
Sarkis Church, Douglaston, New York.
A profile of Hayr Anoushavan on the occasion of the conferring
of the Doctor of Philosophy degree from Columbia University, is in the
May/June 2003 issue of Outreach which can be accessed through the Prelacy
web page:
PRELATE AND VICAR ATTEND AYF JUNIOR SEMINAR
Archbishop Oshagan and Hayr Anoushavan attended the junior
seminar of the Armenian Youth Federation last weekend in the suburbs of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Prelate and Vicar participated in four
educational sessions for more than 400 young boys and girls, discussing the
challenges facing the Armenian Church. The AYF juniors had gathered to learn
about their church and nation while creating bonds of friendship with their
peers from different areas of the United States. The Prelate praised the
effort and noted that he was particularly impressed with the questions that
were posed by the youthful participants, showing maturity and knowledge far
beyond their actual ages.
CATHOLICOS ARAM AWARDS MESROB MASHDOTZ MEDAL
TO PROFESSOR PETER BALAKIAN
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia,
this week awarded the Catholicate’s Mesrob Mashdotz Medal to the well-know
educator and author, Professor Peter Balakian. The award was made on May 30,
in a moving ceremony at the Catholicate’s center in Antelias, Lebanon.
Professor Balakian is the author of the groundbreaking The
Burning Tigris: The Armenian Genocide and America’s Response, and Black Dog
of Fate, winner of the PEN/ Martha Albrand Prize for Memoir and a New York
Times Notable Book. He is the recipient of many awards, including a
Guggenheim Fellowship. He holds a Ph.D. in American Civilization from Brown
University and teaches at Colgate University.
CATHOLICOS ARAM DELIVERS LECTURE TO
VISITING SCHOLARS
Twenty-five professors and doctoral candidates from the United
States visited Antelias, Lebanon, on May 27, to meet with Catholicos Aram I.
The scholars are visiting Lebanon to conduct research about the coexistence
of religions and cultures. His Holiness, who was invited to present a
lecture on this topic to the visitors, spoke about the unique aspects of
Lebanese society, presenting Lebanon as a country of confessional and
religious coexistence and stressing the expression of this coexistence
through cultural, economic, religious and political means. He also spoke
about the positive challenges and sensitivities presented by coexistence.
BEAST ON THE MOON CONTINUES TO RECEIVE ATTENTION
The “Beast on the Moon” is continuing its off-Broadway
production with hopes of extending the performances into the summer months.
A recent column by the well-known New York Post columnist Liz
Smith noted the following: “Where might one see Leonardo Di Caprio with
Gisele Bundchen, Helen Hunt, Olympia Dukakis, Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe,
Donna Murphy and Mariska Hargitay? Well, you had to be at the new off-B’way
hit play “Beast on the Moon” on the right occasion. These starts have all
applauded Omar Metwally and Louis Zorich. Don’t miss it?”
For ticket information go to:
ST. NERSES THE GREAT IS REMEMBERED
This Saturday, June 4, the Armenian Church commemorates the life
of St. Nerses the Great, one of the most memorable Armenian Church fathers.
A great grandson of St. Gregory the Illuminator, Nerses became catholicos in
353. He served until his death in 373. He was responsible for the first
council of bishops in Armenia-the Council of Ashdishad-which began the
development of church laws. Catholicos Nerses was dedicated to the common
people and cared deeply about their well-being. At a time when social
programs were nearly non-existent, he initiated programs to care for the
elderly, orphans, widows, and the poor. He built numerous hospitals and
established many schools. Because of his many benevolent works he is
remembered and honored as the patron of charity.
It is no wonder that when the Eastern Prelacy began its
charitable work in Armenia following the earthquake, Archbishop Mesrob
Ashjian, of blessed memory, chose to name the organization, “St. Nerses the
Great Charitable Fund,” which to this day continues its vital charitable
work in Armenia and Karabagh, primarily through programs to aid orphans, the
elderly, the needy, as well as hospitals, orphanages, and other institutions
serving the people.
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN WILL BE IN NEW JERSEY SUNDAY
Archbishop Oshagan will attend the Divine Liturgy at Sts.
Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, this Sunday, June 5. His Eminence
is expected to return from California tomorrow evening.
SIAMANTO AND DATEV ALUMNUS RECEIVES HONORS
In recognition of the outstanding achievements of our youth, we
congratulate Siamanto Academy and St. Gregory of Datev Institute alumnus,
Taleen Kupelian, who graduated from Fort Lee High School with honors. Taleen
received the following awards: University’s Dean’s scholarship, the Fort Lee
High School prestigious Scott Vasel Memorial Scholarship, and the Armenian
General Athletic Union award. Taleen has served as a teacher’s aide at Sts.
Vartanantz Sunday School in New Jersey, and occasionally serves as a
volunteer at the Prelacy ANEC office. She was a charter member of the Teen
Prevention Education Program at her high school, and was invited to be part
of the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law in Washington, DC. Taleen
continues to attend the Datev Summer Institute as a post-graduate. Taleen is
the daughter of Gilda B. Kupelian, the director of the Armenian National
Education Committee (ANEC).
CHRYSLER BUILDING IS 75 YEARS OLD
Last Friday, May 27, was the 75th birthday of the Chrysler
Building in New York City. Seventy-five years later it is still the most
beautiful and unmistakable sight on the New York skyline. It was the tallest
building in the world for less than one year, when the Empire State Building
surpassed it. Of course, since then, other buildings around the world have
overtaken that honor; however, the Chrysler building remains to be the most
distinctive and loved building for New Yorkers. Just a short walk from the
Prelacy office, the Chrysler building is a favorite destination for some of
us at Crossroads.
SPRING IN OUR GARDEN-FINALLY!
Spring arrived in our garden last weekend-finally. It has been
unusually cold and very unspring-like here in the northeast, with even a
scattering of frost. But, at last, it smells like spring. This year,
reluctantly, we are going to forego the early crops like radishes, lettuce,
peas, and concentrate on what we think of as the “basics”-tomatoes,
cucumbers, squash, beans, peppers in multi colors, okra (especially because
we love the beautiful flowers it produces), and of course the herbs that
refresh and enrich our food and table.
And go along with you ere you lose sight
Of what you came for and become like me,
Slave to a springtime passion for the earth.
How Love burns through the Putting in the Seed
On through the watching for that early birth
When, just as the soil tarnishes with weed,
The sturdy seedling with arched body comes
Shouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs.
>>From “Putting in the Seed,” by Robert Frost (1874-1963)
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