PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate, Western United States
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
Email: prelacy@aol.com
For more information:
Zanku Armenian (818) 243-3557
Mercata Group
His Holiness Aram I to Preside Over USC Symposium
Important Conference Will Focus on Christian Response to Violence
(Los Angeles, CA – September 15, 2005) – The University of Southern
California will be the site of a major conference that His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, will preside over, focusing on the
Christian response to violence with a special emphasis on the Armenian
Genocide. Co-sponsored by the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic
Church, the USC Institute of Armenian Studies and the
USC Center for Religion & Civic Culture, the conference is one of several
public forums during which His Holiness will address such issues under the
theme of his visit “Towards the Light of Knowledge.”
Many notable scholars will speak on various related topics covering events
ranging from the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to the current impact of violence
on the daily lives of communities, families and youth today. His Holiness
Aram I is deeply involved in the World Council of Churches where he has
demonstrated leadership in confronting issues of violence throughout the
world and it is his desire to drive discussions on this issue within
Armenian communities as well. He will address the symposium with a
presentation entitled, “Christian Stewardship in Violent Times – The Quest
for Peace.”
“The church has been witness to the racial violence the Armenian people have
suffered throughout the course of history and especially with the Armenian
Genocide,” said Prelate, His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian.
“With this year marking the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the
church has an even more important role to play today in addressing many of
these violence issues facing our communities and families throughout the
world.”
Among the scholars presenting at the conference will be Professor Hrair
Dekmejian of the USC Department of Political Science and Director of the USC
Institute of Armenian Studies who will speak about “Christian Perspectives
on War and Political Violence;” Professor Donald Miller, Director, USC
School of Religion & Center for Religion & Civic Culture who will set the
parameters of the conference and moderate one of the panels; and Simon
Payaslian, Professor of Armenian Genocide Studies, Clark University on “The
Church Bearing Witness to the Genocide of 1915: Martyrdom, Resistance,
Remembrance.” There will also be two panel discussions during the symposium
including, “The Church’s Response to Political Violence in Today’s World”
with presenters Dr. Rubina Peroomian, UCLA and member of the World Affairs
Council central committee and Mrs. Lorna Tourian; and “The Church’s Role in
Combating Community Violence” with presenters Dr. Levon Jernazian; Dr. Viken
Yacoubian; and Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan. Following the symposium will be an
exhibit by Research on Armenian Architecture (RAA) on “Cultural Genocide –
The Destruction of Armenia’s Religious and Cultural Heritage.”
The USC Symposium will be held on October 15, 2005 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM at
USC’s Davidson Conference Center, in the Embassy Room, on the corner of
Jefferson and Figueroa Streets in Los Angeles. Space is limited, so those
interested in attending should call the Prelacy office at (818) 248-7737, or
e-mail: PRELACY@aol.com.
# # #