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: [email protected]
Website:
October 11, 2006
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PRIMATE MARKS 75 YEARS OF PARISH LIFE, HONORS PARISHIONERS
It’s been central to generations of Detroit-area Armenians — a pillar of
faith and culture in the heartland of America. This year, St. John Church
of Southfield, MI, marked its 75th anniversary.
The anniversary is being celebrated in a variety of ways by the parish this
fall. From art shows to dances, the St. John parishioners, led by parish
pastor Fr. Garabed Kochakian, are joyously commemorating the occasion.
The highpoint of the celebratory schedule was a visit by Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern). He traveled to the parish September 8 to 10, 2006.
While there, he met with parish and community leaders and celebrated the
Divine Liturgy, during which he ordained as deacons Steven Mangigian and
Shahin Uzunjian and ordained as sub-deacons were: Ghazar William Der
Ghazarian, Nicholas Mangigian, Jeffrey Movsesian, Jordan Norsigian, Aram
Sarkisian, and Stepan Terjimanian. Parish priest Fr. Garabed Kochakian and
Fr. Diran Papazian, pastor emeritus, assisted the Primate during the
service.
"How fitting that on this occasion, as we mark the past successes of this
parish, we also look to the future," the Primate said. "These new deacons
and subdeacons represent that future: Armenians today stepping forward to
take part in the life of the parish built by an earlier generation. They
are the living legacy of the founders of this parish."
The Primate said that having young Armenians step forward to serve the
church is an example of the importance past generations placed on the church
as the repository of Armenian culture and faith here in the new home of
America.
"The founders of this parish knew the importance of tying church and home
life together, and it strengthened their faith and their Armenian identity,"
he said. "This year, as the Diocese focuses on building a spiritual link
between church and home, it is heartening to see these new deacons and
sub-deacons, the product of homes where our unique Armenian faith was
embraced."
CELEBRATING HISTORY
On Friday night the Primate attended a reception dinner kicking off the
weekend of festivities. Attending were parish leadership, along with board
members of the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School and the Tacvor and
Tacoohe Manoogian Manor for the Armenian Aged.
"I give thanks to God for affording us the opportunity to come together at
this, the 75th anniversary celebration of St. John’s Armenian Church," the
Primate said. "What a wonderful and inspiring occasion this is.
Congratulations for all your efforts in preparing for this great occasion.
Appreciation to you Fr. Garabed, for your work and never-ending labor here
at St. John’s. I am inspired by your commitment to this church, this
community, and to our faith."
The weekend’s Honorary Co-Chairmen of the Celebration Committee Helen
Mardigian and Richard Manoogian, president of Masco Corporation and
president of St. John’s Apostolic Society, were also in attendance at the
reception.
Richard Manoogian told the 80 guests how his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs.
Alex and Marie Manoogian, loved their Armenian heritage and loved St. John
Church. He reflected on his remembrances of the joyful looks on their faces
when the community completed construction on the present St. John Church
building in 1964.
"I am truly honored to be with you here at St. John’s, to share with you
this joyous and sacred occasion, to reflect on the accomplishments of this
parish over the past 75 years and consider the possibilities for this body
75 years from now," the Primate added.
HONORING COMMUNITY LEADERS
Following the Divine Liturgy, the Primate joined 400 parishioners and the
mayor of Southfield, MI, at a brunch reception celebrating the parish’s
anniversary. During the banquet two honors were bestowed upon community
leaders.
The Primate presented Dennis Papazian, an historian specializing in Armenian
history at the University of Michigan at Dearborn, with a pontifical
encyclical and the St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Medal on behalf of His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
"God has blessed with success your scholarly and educational endeavors,"
wrote the Catholicos in his encyclical. "For centuries you have mined new
sources of knowledge and generously disseminated information to young
people, educating hundreds of students."
Dr. Papazian has served the church on both the parish and the Diocesan
levels and has also served in many other Armenian organizations. He
established the Armenian Research Center at the University of Michigan,
Dearborn.
"He has furthered the understanding of our people, given a voice to our
ancestors," the Primate said. "He is very well known in our Diocese through
his many dedicated services and contributions."
Also on behalf of the Catholicos, the Primate also presented Dn. Mihran
Hoplamazian with a pontifical encyclical and the St. Nersess Shnorhali
Medal. Dn. Hoplamazian, who has served the St. John Church for 77 years,
was one of the Godfathers of the present St. John Church building and served
on the board of the AGBU Alex and Marie Manoogian School for 30 years.
"We are pleased that for decades you have with unceasing zeal exerted great
effort so that liturgical services in the St. John Church of Detroit would
be regularly held in a befitting manner," wrote the Catholicos in his
encyclical.
Dn. Hoplamazian told the crowd that he became an altar boy at the age of
eight because his father said that he was needed. In his emotional remarks,
he spoke of his desire and efforts as a youngster to understand the Badarak
and to read and write Armenian.
"Dn. Mihran lives his life the way an Armenian Christian should," the
Primate said. "Not only does he faithfully serve on the altar each Sunday,
but he has raised his children to be active members of the church community.
He is a wonderful role model for our younger generation of Armenia-Americans
and the young altar servers."
With additional reporting by Elizabeth Aprahamian
— 10/11/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese, joined by Fr. Garabed Kochakian, ordains new sub-deacons at the St.
John Church of Southfield, MI.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Archbishop Barsamian, Fr. Kochakian, and Fr. Diran
Papazian take part in an ordination of new deacons during the anniversary
celebrations at the St. John Church of Southfield, MI.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Dr. Dennis Papazian speaks after being presented with
the St. Mesrob Medal.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): Dn. Mihran Hoplamazian speaks after being presented with
the St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
