PRIMATE OF EASTERN DIOCESE OF AMERICA CONSECRATES SURB KARAPET CHURCH OF BATON ROUGE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Tapan
Jun 07 2006

NEW YORK, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. May 13 and 14 were
historic days for Armenian believers of the city of Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, U.S. and its surroundings: Surb Karapet Church opened its
doors in front of them.

Archbishop Khazhak Parsamian, the primate of the Eastern Diocese
of America of the Armenian Apostolic Church, accompanied by senior
priest Nerses Jebejian, the spiritual pastor of the church, monk
Aren Jebejian, the spiritual pastor of the Chicago Saint Gregory the
Illuminator Church and Supreme Archimandrite Ararat Galtakchian from
Canada fulfilled the opening ceremony of the Surb Karapet church and
entered the church with the official procession. Then His Holliness
primate implemented consecrating of the christening font. A reception
took place after the ceremony in the hall near the church.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Press Services of the Eastern
Diocese Primacy, on the same day, May 14, His Holiness Khazhak
consectrated the Surb Karapet church, celebrated the Surb Liturgy
and preached. Monks of the church sang during the ceremonies,
choir-master Khoren Meikhanejian was specially invited from New York
on that occasion.

60 Armenian families live particularly in the state of Louisiana who
are mainly from Syria and Lebanon. The community parish was founded
in 1980. The parish was formed during years by efforts and untiring
work of parishioners.

The main benefactor, godfather and parish council head of the church
is Vazgen Galtakchian.