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:

January 19, 2007
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DIOCESAN YOUTH MINISTRY PROGRAMS STRENGTHENED WITH NEW INTERN

Lydia Kurkjian, an active member of the St. Gregory the Enlightener Church
of White Plains, NY, has joined the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern), where she will serve as an intern in the Department of
Youth and Education.

Serving as office coordinator for St. Vartan Camp will be one of her more
significant roles in the department. She will also be leading one of the
Diocesan Alternative Spring Break trips this March during which
Armenian-American college students will build houses through Habitat for
Humanity. These and other projects spearheaded by the Diocese are designed
to encourage service in college students.

"Lydia is a committed and dedicated daughter of the Armenian Church, and I
am sure that her skills will help our youth ministry team reach our young
people with the light of Christ," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Eastern Diocese. "Our programs will be strengthened thanks to the
help and support she will be able to provide."

For many years, Kurkjian was a camper at St. Vartan Camp. In 2004, she
served as the camp’s assistant programming director.

Chairperson of the ACYOA Chapter at the St. Gregory the Enlightener Church,
Kurkjian is a graduate of Armenian and Sunday Schools. She also completed
the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum, a six-year program for Armenian School
graduates that aims to train the next generation of community leaders.

"I grew up in the Armenian Church, taking advantage of every opportunity it
provides for young people," she said on her first day at the Diocesan Center
in New York City, Tuesday, January 16, 2007. "I am really excited about
giving back to the same programs that nourished my own spiritual growth. I
feel lucky to be here and give credit to my parents and to the Armenians who
have been generous enough to make these programs available for young people
like myself."

Kurkjian graduated from Fordham University last May, where she double
majored in history and communication and minored in peace and justice
studies. She co-founded the school’s Armenian Club and served as its first
chairperson. Continuing at Fordham’s Graduate School of Education, she is
pursuing a master’s degree in adolescent social studies.

In addition to her academic work, she has professional experience working at
an international marketing firm and the news productions department at CBS.

She credits her family with encouraging her to accept the responsibility of
serving at the Diocese.

"The responsibility of both serving the church and keeping our Armenian
heritage alive has been ingrained in me by my family for as long as I can
remember," she said. "There is nothing else I can think of that would be
more rewarding or fulfilling than working at the Diocese."

— 1/19/07

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Lydia Kurkjian recently joined the Diocese of the
Armenian Church of America (Eastern) as an intern in the Department of Youth
and Education.