PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: armenian@idx.com.au

9 August 2006

NOURISHMENT FOR THE THIRSTING SPIRIT

Sydney, Australia – Many of us fortunate to live in well-established
Armenian communities of the Diaspora often take for granted the sustenance
accorded our Armenian spirit by partaking in Holy Mass on a Sunday at the
Armenian Church or attending our children’s end of year Armenian School
concert.

But for small parish communities like the Armenian Community of Adelaide
which numbers around 30, it is an opportunity to ‘be’ and ‘feel’ Armenian
again when a special guest arrives bringing with him the manifestation of
the Armenian faith.

On Saturday, 5 August, His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian, Primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia and New Zealand made his way
to the capital city of South Australia for his annual pastoral weekend with
the Armenian Community of Adelaide. The Archbishop was met at the airport
by Mr Alec Balayance who is President of the Armenian Cultural Association
of South Australia and plays a pivotal role convening the Armenians of
Adelaide.

On Saturday evening, community members eagerly gathered in a suburban
community hall to be in the company of the Archbishop and enjoy the warm
hospitality that is created when compatriots come together to form their own
little hamlet. During discussions, Archbishop Baliozian shared his vast
knowledge of the Armenian language as well as giving direction on the
upcoming Australian census. Accurate numbers of Armenians have been near
impossible to identify in Australia from past census data by way of the
questions posed, particularly since ‘place of birth’ is a non-indicator of
Armenian ethnicity. However, the 2006 census will identify Armenians as a
minority ethnic group through the question of ancestry and faith if answered
correctly.

On Sunday morning community members and friends congregated in the Chapel of
the Christian Brothers College to partake in the Divine Liturgy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church offered by the Archbishop. The sermon of the day
focussed on living faith and the Armenian spirit, providing spiritual
comfort and nourishment to the Armenian congregation who have special
yearning to partake in the Holy Mass of their mother language. Following
the church service, Archbishop performed a baptism.

The same evening, a dinner was hosted at the residence of Garnik and
Vartouhi Kalamkarian when community members had their final opportunity to
enjoy the Archbishop’s company and discuss the possibility of conducting
their own worship services in the absence of a clergyman. Archbishop
Baliozian explained how in the 1940’s, the first Armenians in Sydney would
regularly congregate in a church to sing hymns and enjoy fellowship, an
example that could be theirs to follow. There was also much enthusiasm for
the Archbishop to make two pastoral visits to Adelaide each year which he
said he will endeavour to include in his annual schedule.

The Primate returned to his residence in Sydney on Monday, 7 August. He
will next visit the parish of Melbourne this weekend for the Feast of the
Assumption of the Holy Mother of God where he will conduct the Episcopal
Mass at St Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church.

For information on Armenians in Adelaide, contact can be made with Mr Alec
Balayance at albaphol@hotmail.com