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. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:

November 7, 2006
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ST. JAMES MARKS 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

By Jake Goshert

Fifty years ago, the founders of the St. James Church of Richmond, VA,
decided not to build an Armenian-style church. Instead, they built a
non-descript sanctuary.

"The reason was that the people were thinking in just 10 or 20 years there
wouldn’t be any Armenians living in Richmond," said the parish’s current
pastor, Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan. "But today we are celebrating our 50th
anniversary. And who knows, in 50 years maybe we’ll have more people here
and need a bigger church. It’s all in God’s hands. But I believe, and I
pray, that this church will continue to flourish and grow."

The parish marked its first 50 years with a banquet on Saturday, October 21,
2006, followed by a special Divine Liturgy on Sunday, celebrated by
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern).

HISTORY OF DEDICATION

The Armenian community in Richmond grew in the early 1900s as Armenian
immigrants found work in the region’s booming industrial sector. They had
church services in a rented Episcopal hall, but as the community grew they
hungered for a home of their own.

They began to raise the $45,000 needed to build a church, and by 1956 had
completed their dream. The St. James Church became the first Armenian
Church between Washington, D.C., and Florida.

During the banquet and badarak, which drew 160 people, some of the parish’s
historic leaders were honored. The parish honored the three living
godfathers of the parish, Gerry Sharigian, and brothers Henry and Robert
Magarian.

"The vision and efforts of these early men and women are what laid the
foundation for this church," said Dr. Michael Vranian in an anniversary DVD
produced by the parish. "This church is truly their living legacy."

One of the first parish council members, John Baronian, was presented with a
pontifical encyclical and the St. Nersess Shnorhali medal on behalf of His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

"You have ceaselessly undertaken many duties on parish and Diocesan levels,"
the Catholicos wrote in the encyclical. "Through the voluntary services of
faithful Armenians like you, our church becomes stronger, enlightening the
path of our people with life-giving faith."

Getting involved in the church was a family affair for Baronian, who says
seeing his parents involvement with the church at an early date made him
want to step forward and serve the community.

"I just never not think of not being involved. It’s not a question of why
I’m involved. It’s like getting up in the morning, just something that is
part of me," he said. "

The weekend also saw the dedication of a khatchkar for the parish, which was
donated by Baronian in memory of his late wife, Margie.

"In our lives we need examples," Fr. Karapetyan said. "We need heroes and I
pray that this older generation can serve as a great example for the younger
generation. We have younger people participating in our anniversary
activities and they saw how moving it was when these 85-year-old men came
forward to receive their awards. There were tears in his eyes and he was
filled with joy and pride. It is a great example for the younger generation
to see the dedication of this older generation."

CHANGING FUTURE

Though the focus of the weekend was the past, it was also a chance to think
about the future of the St. James Church.

"This joyous occasion, during which we reflect on the accomplishments of
this parish over the past 50 years, we also consider the possibilities for
this community 50 years from now," the Primate said in his sermon. "We have
accomplished much, but we have miles still to go."

"We have to reflect on and honor the toils of those before us, who built for
us this holy place," the Primate added. "We have to pause long enough to
reflect on our own lives and ask weather we have led accountable lives
before their memory, before our children, and before our God."

Fr. Karapetyan agrees that the celebratory weekend energized the community.
No longer is the parish made up of just first-generation immigrants from
historic Armenia. Today the community is made up of second- and
third-generation Armenians, as well as immigrants from throughout the
Diaspora.

And while he is not sure of the future of the parish, he knows the faith of
its parishioners is strong.

"The church stays the same," he said, noting the demographic changes in the
community. "In its essence the Armenian Church can never change, because it
is based on the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles."

"This 50th anniversary is a great opportunity for us to acknowledge and
recognize the past," he added. "It’s a very important legacy that was left
for us. But the anniversary is also an opportunity for us to acknowledge
the present and to look at the future and renew our commitment to the
church. Running away from the church is easy, anyone can do that. The
challenge for us today is to find ways to make the Armenian Church a very
important part of our lives and the lives of our families, to find time to
teach our children about our heritage, our faith, our history, our culture."

— 11/7/06

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, is joined by parishioners and guests of the St. James Church of
Richmond, VA, during the consecration of a new khatchkar as part of the
celebrations marking 50 years of the parish.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Archbishop Barsamian and Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, pastor
of the St. James Church of Richmond, VA, present parish leader John Baronian
with a pontifical encyclical and St. Nersess Shnorhali medal on behalf of
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
during the parish’s 50th anniversary celebration on October 21, 2006.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): The Primate delivers communion at the St. James Church
of Richmond, VA, during the Divine Liturgy on October 21, 2006, which marked
the parish’s 50th anniversary.