PARISHIONERS SUPPORT ACCUSED PRIEST

WFSB, CT
May 15 2006

NEW BRITAIN — Parishioners in New Britain are standing behind their
priest even though he has been accused of molesting a 12-year-old girl.

The members of St. Stephen’s Armenian Church say they believe their
priest of 12 years, Grigoris Keshishian, was wrongly accused.

“I think the people who are giving the wrong accusation should be
punished themselves,” said parishioner Marinisa Sahakyam.

Keshishian led a prayer service on Sunday morning to a packed room
of parishioners. His supporters say the child who has accused him of
abuse was playing on a table during a church event when she slipped
and fell. They say Keshishian then attempted to catch her and that is
when the little girl says the touching happened. It is an accusation
no one at Sunday’s service seemed to believe.

“My daughter is 8 years old,” said Sahakyam. “Last year as a priest
he took her to Armenia and that was a 30-hour trip and I trusted him
to take my daughter with him.”

“I call him if I need a babysitter or if I’m not home I would call
him,” said another parishioner Sophia Hovhannisyan.

Ani Hovhannisyan, 15, also went to Armenia with Keshishian and knows
the victim.

“I was friends with her, but obviously not right now,” said Ani.

Keshishian thanked his supporters today from the pulpit and
parishioners admitted he looked distraught. They believe he will be
proven innocent, but fear by then it will be too late.