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:

October 17, 2005
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PARISHES TAKE UP SPECIAL OFFERING

In response to the devastation Hurricane Katrina caused in New
Orleans, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
asked its parishes to take up special offerings in September and
welcomed donations from all Armenians.

Recently, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the
Western Diocese, presented Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Eastern Diocese, with a check for $30,500 to be sent to the Armenian
families of New Orleans who are now being sheltered and helped by
the community in Baton Rouge.

“We heard about the Armenian communities there (in New Orleans).
We are thankful there were no personal losses, but we hear they have
needs,” wrote Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western
Diocese, in an Armenian letter accompanying his diocese’s donation.
“We appreciate that the Eastern Diocese immediately responded to
the needs of those Armenian families and acted to provide financial
support.”

The Western Diocese also raised thousands of dollars to fund recovery
efforts by the Red Cross.

Along with the money from the Western Diocese, the Eastern Diocese
has collected $44,050 for Katrina relief. Half of the money raised by
parishioners in the Eastern Diocese will be sent directly to Armenian
families who lost homes and businesses from the storm and the other
half will be sent to Church World Service (CWS), the humanitarian
aid arm of the National Council of Churches (NCC), to fund long-term
relief efforts.

“Our Armenian brothers and sisters in the New Orleans area are
thankful, I know, for all the support we have provided to them in
this time of crisis,” said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of
the Eastern Diocese. “And along with our financial help, our prayers
have also been felt down in Louisiana.”

— 10/17/05

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