PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
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 28, 2006
___________________

DIOCESE JOINS MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY IN ORGANIZING ARMENIAN ALPHABET EVENT

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) recently joined
Monmouth University in West Long Branch, NJ, to celebrate the beauty and
lasting power of the Armenian alphabet.

As part of the 1,600th anniversary of the creation of the alphabet by St.
Mesrob Mashdots, the Diocese and university joined together in organizing
"Armenian Alphabet in Word and Image: A 1,600th Anniversary Exhibition,"
featuring unique artifacts highlighting the importance of the alphabet in
the life of the Armenian people. It ran from November 6 to 9, 2006.

"Our alphabet is uniquely tied to all aspects of our heritage," said
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern Diocese. "Working with
our new friends at Monmouth University, we created a compelling exhibit that
highlighted the fact that our alphabet has been the keystone to the
continuance of our unique Armenian Christian heritage."

The exhibit included artifacts from the Diocesan collection dating from the
17th century, along with items loaned by Congressman Frank Pallone of New
Jersey. The items helped explain the origins of the alphabet, the inventor
of the alphabet, its importance in religious practices, and historical
examples of various styles and forms of script.

The exhibit came about by chance. The brother of Gilda Buchakjian-Kupelian,
Diocesan coordinator of Armenian studies, mentioned to an official at
Monmouth that his sister worked in education. He introduced the two, and
the week-long exhibit was the result, thanks to a dedicated committee of
Diocesan staff, Monmouth University leaders, and parishioners from the St.
Stepanos Church of Elberon, NJ.

"I am exhilarated about the whole exhibit," Buchakjian-Kupelian said. "The
fact that we have come out of our enclave to present one of the living
vestiges of our heritage to the general public makes this exhibit special."

Along with the public exhibition of artifacts, the week included a keynote
address by historian Aram Arkun on November 8, 2006. More than 100 people
joined the Primate at the lecture in the university’s Wilson Hall, including
Monmouth University President Paul Gaffney, Armenia’s Ambassador to the
United Nations Armen Martirosyan, and Kevork and Sirvart Hovnanian.

A doctoral candidate in Armenian history at the University of California in
Los Angeles, Arkun is a specialist in Armenian history. He is also editor
of the literary quarterly Ararat and secretary of the board of directors of
the Armenian Center at Columbia University. His main area of study is on
the Armenians of northern Cilicia after World War I.

He spoke of how the Armenian alphabet played an important role in the
development and maintenance of the Armenian identity for over 16 centuries.
"Perhaps no other people are as attached to their alphabet as the
Armenians," Arkun said. "What other background displays its alphabet in the
home, like a work of art, the way Armenians do?"

The link between Monmouth University and the Armenian community arose
through Dr. Tavit Najarian, a university trustee who has worked to establish
an Armenian institute at the institution. Congressman Pallone recently
requested $500,000 in federal funding for the project.

"This is a wonderful start of a journey between Monmouth University and the
Armenian community," said Dr. Saliba Salasar, the associate vice president
for academic program initiatives at Monmouth University whose introduction
to Gilda Buchakjian-Kupelian initiated planning for the exhibit. "What
better way than to celebrate the Armenian alphabet."

— 11/28/06

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, joined by Dr.
Tavit Najarian, a trustee of Monmouth University, left, the university’s
president, Paul Gaffney, and Armenia’s ambassador to the United Nations,
Armen Martirosyan, during a lecture at the school on November 8, 2006, which
was part of the exhibit organized by the school and the Diocese to celebrate
the Armenian alphabet.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): From left, Gilda Buchakjian-Kupelian, Diocesan
coordinator of Armenian studies, and Dr. Saliba Salasar, associate vice
president of Monmouth University, whose introduction spurred the recent
exhibit on the Armenian alphabet at the school are joined by Susan
Doctorian, counselor to the university’s president.