PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: info@armenianprelacy.org
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

PRELACY LADIES GUILD MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON
BRINGS TOGETHER GENERATIONS IN CELEBRATION OF WOMANHOOD

MRS. LALIG BAYRAKDARIAN IS 2007 MOTHER OF THE YEAR

"MUSICAL SOUNDS OF ARMENIA" WILL PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT

NEW YORK, NY-Each year the Prelacy Ladies Guild presents its annual Mothers
Day Luncheon bringing together generations of women in celebration of
motherhood and the contributions of women in general to society and
especially our Armenian American community.
The luncheon will take place on Monday, May 7, at the elegant St. Regis,
located on 55th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, with reception at
11:30 a.m., followed by luncheon.
"It is a pleasure to see generations of women coming together for the
Prelacy Ladies Guild Mothers’ Day luncheon," said Archbishop Oshagan
Choloyan, Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America. "It is
heartwarming to see mothers and daughters, grandmothers and even
great-grandmothers, and aunts and nieces coming together and all of them
equally enjoying the afternoon."

Mother of the Year
Honored as the Mother of the Year will be Mrs. Lalig Bayrakdarian, a
mother of six children-three sons and three daughters-all successful in
their respective fields. Perhaps, the one known most widely is the
Metropolitan Opera star, Isabel Bayrakdarian, whose beautiful and charmed
voice is recognized throughout the world.
As a close friend of the Bayrakdarian family, Archbishop Oshagan recalls
how Mrs. Bayrakdarian lost her husband at a young age and was left to raise
her six children-sons, Carlo, Kegham, Ishkhan and daughters Siroon, Marijan,
and Isabel. "In spite of her struggle to provide for her family, she
continued her service to the church and community in Zahle, Lebanon," said
the Prelate. "And she inspired the same kind of dedication toward the
Armenian Church in each of her children. All have grown up serving the
church in one capacity or another in various parts of the world: Siroon in
Abu Dhabi; Kegham in Canada; Ishkhan in Fresno; Carlo in New York; Marijan
in Toronto, and Isabel, whose distinguished career has literally made her a
citizen of the world."
By the example of her own life, she has instilled the love of the church
and community and the joy of service in her entire family. Even now, when
away from her home base Isabel seeks out the nearest Armenian Church and
sings with the choir. Isabel makes her contribution with her God-given
musical talent; the other children do the same through their respective
professions, said Archbishop Oshagan.
Mrs. Bayrakdarian remains very close to all of her children and their
families. At one time she used to design and make all of Isabel’s gowns for
her performances, and she still continues to design many of them. And Isabel’s
highly successful CD, "Joyous Light," which is a collection of Armenian
sacred music, features mother and daughter on one of the selections.
The PLG is honored to have Mrs. Lalig Bayrakdarian as its 2007 Mother of
the Year and invites the community to join in this well deserved tribute to
this extraordinary woman.

Musical Sounds of Armenia
Musical entertainment will be in two parts. A quartet will provide a
medley of Armenian favorites. Members of the quartet, all graduate or
current students at Juilliard are: Kinga Augustyn, violin; Alexandr
Dzyubinsky, violin, Anush Simonian, viola, and Lilit Kurdiyan, cello. Solo
dances, with accompaniment on kanon and piano, will be provided by the
talented Raele Sabounjian, a member of the Shushi dance group. Accompanying
on the kanon is Izabella Alexadrovsky and on the piano Vagharshak Ohanyan.

PLG at 33
The Prelacy Ladies Guild was established in 1974 by the then Prelate,
Archbishop Karekin Sarkissian. For the past thirty-three years the PLG has
been a dynamic force and attentive to the needs of the Eastern Prelacy.
During the year the PLG is the host of the many receptions at the Prelacy
for visiting dignitaries and also a major contributor to the Prelacy’s
educational and cultural programs such as the St. Gregory of Datev Summer
Institute, the Prelacy’s Lenten Lectures series, and Musical Armenia, to
mention just a few of the projects that benefit from PLG support.
"The Prelacy Ladies Guild has truly earned the respect and support that
is evident in our community," said Archbishop Oshagan. "They are dedicated
and gifted women who serve the Church with devotion. I am very grateful to
them."
Tickets for the luncheon are $120 per person. For information and/or
reservations contact the Prelacy office, 212-689-7810.