PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
August 17, 2007
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CATHOLICOS TO CONSECRATE DIOCESE’S NEWEST CHURCH DURING OCTOBER’S PONTIFICAL
VISIT
It was a day celebrating progress towards completion, as well as a moment
marking a beginning of sorts.
More than 200 people gathered around the St. Hagop Church of St. Petersburg,
Florida, in June as a giant eight-foot Armenian-style cross was lifted by a
crane onto the dome of the under construction sanctuary.
"Just to see the cross raised on top of the Church, that made if feel
officially Armenian. It was a great feeling," said Arsen Bayandrian, parish
council chair of St. Hagop. "And now, there are a lot of people who were
not regular Church attendees or who would come occasionally, and now they’re
coming pretty regularly, even with the sanctuary under construction. They
finally see a church being built and they want to be part of it."
The Church community in St. Petersburg began to come together more than 30
years ago. Now, the parish is getting ready for October’s visit by His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. He
will consecrate the St. Hagop Church during his stop in St. Petersburg
October 13 and 14. It will be the first time His Holiness Karekin II,
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, has consecrated a church
in the Eastern Diocese.
"The Diocese is excited to see the progress and success being achieved by
the local leaders in St. Petersburg," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Eastern Diocese. "Indeed, they have built this community
family by family, brick by brick. Soon, I know, their parish will be
energized with its own sanctuary, a priest, and visit from His Holiness. It
is truly an exciting time for the Armenians in the St. Petersburg area, and
also for all of us in the Eastern Diocese."
SIGN OF SUCCESS
The day the cross was raised above the church was a joy filled celebration.
Fr. Mardiros Chevian, one of the visiting clergy who has been serving the
community, blessed the cross before it was lifted up into the sky.
As hushed parishioners stood trance-like watching the cross ascend into the
heavens, Fr. Chevian told them that the cross was rising as a symbol of
their prayers.
"As this cross is rising, with it will rise your prayers and anticipation
and hopes and dreams for this community, for the future," he told them.
"This cross will rise up, but it will not go out of view. It will always be
on the top of the dome as a constant reminder of what it took to get to this
point, of the sacrifice. It will be a physical reminder of the work that has
been done and the work that needs to be done to continue the ministry of our
Church."
After the ceremony, the awed parishioners stood still as if captivated by
the golden cross, Fr. Chevian said.
"This has been a project in this community for more than 15 years and this
sort of crowning of the church was a moment, a turning point," he said.
"They saw the walls going up, they saw the dome put up, but putting that
huge Armenian- style cross on there they began to realize that yes, this was
really happening."
NEW PRIEST COMING
Along with the powerful symbol now atop their sanctuary, the parish
community is also gaining momentum from the appointment of the Diocese’s
newest priest, Fr. Hovnan Demerjian. He and his wife, Yn. Anna, will head
down to St. Petersburg this month.
Fr. Demerjian will celebrate the badarak August 19 and 26, before officially
beginning as pastor at St. Hagop on September 1.
"I’m energized. There are people down there that have a great desire to see
their community come together and make their church a house of God," Fr.
Demerjian said. "We truly are excited to get started there."
Following the traditional 40 days of seclusion, Fr. Demerjian celebrated his
first badarak at the St. Gregory the Enlightener Church of White Plains, New
York, on July 22. There in the pews was the chair of St. Hagop’s Parish
Council.
"We’re excited to be welcoming Fr. Hovnan. We believe he can provide
leadership and bring people, especially younger people, to the church,"
Bayandrian said. "Since he is young himself, young people can relate to him
very well. I am sure he will bring the community together because of his
ability, his youth, and his concern for us and our future."
As the parish has grown, it has been served by several priests. Over the
past few years, the Diocesan leadership worked with the leaders of St. Hagop
to create a strategic plan for the community’s growth. Several priests with
different specialties and abilities were asked by the Primate to be involved
in the growth of the parish. Along with Fr. Chevian and Diocesan Vicar Fr.
Haigazoun Najarian, the St. Hagop community has been served by Fr. Karekin
Kasparian, Fr. Garabed Kochakian, and Fr. Vasken Kouzouian.
"The parish has a lot of work ahead of it, but I’m so excited that the
Diocese has sent their best to pave the way for me to continue their
efforts," Fr. Demerjian said. "We’re looking forward to building a Sunday
school and daily parish life and getting to know people and visit people in
their homes and form relationships with them."
— 8/17/07
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): The parishioners look at the cross soon to be hoisted on
top of the St. Hagop Church of St. Petersburg, Florida, on Sunday, June 24,
2007.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Fr. Mardiros Chevian blesses the cross before it is
lifted to the dome of the St. Hagop Church of St. Petersburg, Florida, on
Saturday, June 24, 2007.