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

September 19, 2005

MID-ATLANTIC AREA PREPARES TO WELCOME ARAM I
LARGE TURNOUT EXPECTED AT DIVINE LITURGY IN NEW YORK
REV. DR. SAMUEL KOBIA WILL BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT BANQUET

NEW YORK, NY-The Mid-Atlantic area states, including New York, New Jersey,
Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, are preparing to welcome His Holiness Aram I,
as he begins his visit to the Eastern Prelacy. His Holiness will arrive in
New York on the evening of October 19 and will visit areas within the
Eastern Prelacy until November 1, including New York, Washington, DC,
Boston, and Chicago.
His Holiness will be officially welcomed by the Mid Atlantic community
at Hrashapar services at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street,
New York City, on Thursday, October 20, beginning at 7:30 pm. A reception
will follow the ceremony providing the faithful an opportunity to personally
greet His Holiness.

75TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEMINARY
“His Holiness is honoring us with his presence as part of the worldwide
celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Theological
Seminary at Antelias,” said Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the
Eastern Prelacy. “The Seminary has served the Armenian Church worldwide with
great distinction for 75 years, and it is appropriate for us to pause and
reflect on this service and pay homage to the visionary leaders who overcame
difficult obstacles and established the Seminary in Antelias.”
On Friday, October 21, this anniversary will be formally marked with a
commemorative program at Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard,
Ridgefield, NJ. The program will begin at 7:30 pm and will be followed with
a reception.
The program will feature two keynote addresses. Judge Sarkis Teshoian,
an esteemed member of the Massachusetts judiciary, and a former chairman of
the Prelacy’s Executive Council, will speak in English, while V. Rev.
Meghrig Parikian, a member of the Cilician Brotherhood and pastor of St.
Asdvadzadzin Church in Toronto, Canada, will speak in Armenian.

PONTIFICAL DIVINE LITURGY
On Sunday, October 23, His Holiness will be the celebrant at the
Pontifical Divine Liturgy at St. Bartholomew’s Church, Park Avenue (between
50th and 51st Streets). The Liturgy, which is expected to be attended by a
large number of community members, dignitaries, and ecumenical guests, will
begin at 1:30 with a procession. His Holiness will be assisted at the altar
by members of the clergy and deacons serving in the Mid-Atlantic area. The
choirs of the area churches will join forces and participate in the Liturgy.

CELEBRATORY BANQUET WILL MARK DUAL ANNIVERSARIES
Immediately after the Liturgy a banquet will take place at The Pierre,
Fifth Avenue at 61st Street. Cocktail reception will begin at 5 pm, followed
by dinner at 6 pm. The Keynote Address will be delivered by Rev. Dr. Samuel
Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.
The banquet will focus on the 75th anniversary of the Seminary with a
short video presentation, as well as the 10th anniversary of the election
and enthronement of His Holiness. Dr. George Dermksian, chairman of the
Steering Committee, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies during the
Banquet. “I am honored to be taking part in welcoming Catholicos Aram I to
the Eastern Prelacy,” said Dr. Dermksian. “He has earned the respect and
admiration of not only Armenians, but the world at large through his
outstanding ecumenical leadership. We can all be proud of his
accomplishments and be prepared to welcome him in the finest manner
possible.”

ENCYCLICAL ISSUED
On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Seminary, Catholicos Aram
I issued an encyclical praising the rich history of the Seminary. He said,
in part:
“Take another look at the history of our people and church during the
past 75 years. So many generations, ecclesiastics and laypersons alike,
enlivened by the Bible, enriched by our intellectual and spiritual values,
and imbued with national aspirations, emerged from the Seminary of the
Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, to go among our people
scattered throughout the world. So many generations took the spirit and
education received in the Seminary and applied it in uncompromising and
self-devoted service, an abundance of which they provided to the Armenian
people, from Armenia to the distant Diasporan communities.. Remembering the
75th anniversary of the Seminary means looking toward the future with solid
faith and bright vision, having rendered the past into just pride.”
To read the entire text of His Holiness’ Encyclical in Armenian and
English go to the Prelacy’s web site ().

ECUMENICAL SYMPOSIUM
During his visit a symposium and conference will take place in New York
City and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The symposium in New York, sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy in
conjunction with the World Council of Churches and National Council of
Churches, will take place Saturday, October 22 at The Interchurch Center,
475 Riverside Drive.
Under the general topic of “Challenges Facing the Ecumenical Movement
in the 21st Century,” a number of well-known church leaders will participate
including, The Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary, World Council of
Churches; Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky,
Moderator, U.S. Conference for the World Council of Churches and Ecumenical
Officer, Orthodox Church of America; The Rev. Dr. Wesley
Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America; Bishop
Thomas Hoyt, President, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA;
Fr. Arthur L. Kennedy, Executive Director, United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops; The Rev. Dr. Diane Kessler, Executive Director,
Massachusetts Council of Churches; The Rev. Deborah DeWinter, Program
Executive for the United States, World Council of Churches.
His Holiness will address the Symposium and offer the Closing
Reflection.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
An International Conference dedicated to the 1600th anniversary of the
founding of the Armenian alphabet will take place on Friday and Saturday,
October 28 and 29, at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The Conference, sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy, Harvard University’s
Mashtots Chair, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, and
the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, will bring together top
scholars in the field from Armenia, Europe and the United States. Some of
the participating scholars are: Robert Thomson, Abraham Terian, James
Russell, Michael Stone, Gohar Muradyan, John Huehnergard, Karen Yuzbashyan,
and others. The Conference will begin Friday evening, October 28 and
continue on Saturday, October 29.
His Holiness will attend and address the Conference Friday evening.

VISIT THE WEB SITE
Up to date information about the entire visit is on the Prelacy’s web
site (), or contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810.