Pontifical Visit Media Advisory
His Holiness Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
Pontifical Visit of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue New York, New York 10016
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
Pontifical Visit
Media Relations Office
Michael O’Hurley-Pitts, Ph.D.
Director
Telephone: 212.686.0710 ext. 154
[email protected]
Facsimile: 212.689.1934
Cellular: 212.533.0335
Sylvie Keshishian
Public Relations Director
Telephone: 212.686.0710 ext. 160
[email protected]
Facsimile: 212.689.1934
PRESS RELEASE
6 October 2007
Catholicos of All Armenians Meets with Over 300 Young Professionals in
Boston
Boston – His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, arrived in Boston to attend the first of 22 different events in
three days, including youth activities at St. James Armenian Church in
Watertown, a Pontifical Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in
Cambridge, a visit to the Armenian Library and Museum of America. His
Holiness Karekin II also paid his respects at the Holocaust Memorial, and
blessed four cornerstones for a new Armenian Church being built in Hye
Point, north of Boston.
Friday night, His Holiness Karekin II was received by more than 300 Armenian
men and women, primarily between the ages of 18 and 45, who gathered at One
Exchange Place to greet their Pontiff. The evening’s activities included
the singing of both the US and Armenian national anthems, remarks by young
Boston professionals Christhopher Tashjian and Ani Bagdasarian, a musical
performance of traditional Armenian music by David Gevorkian and Martin
Haroutunian, and a dramatic poetry recital in both English and Armenian by
Ani Nalbandian. Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston gave a command
performance for His Holiness Karekin II and His Eminence Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), the host Archbishop for the Pontifical Visit.
Pictured (L to R) Bishop Yesras Nersissian, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and
His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian at Young Professionals Event at one
Exchange Place, Boston, Massachusetts
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian introduced His Holiness Karekin II to the
audience. Recalling the three-day weekend, he praised the young
professionals who chose to pay their respects and receive the blessing of
the Catholicos of All Armenians. "You are truly demonstrating your faith by
making choices and showing your love and respect for your faith, your Church
and our beloved Catholicos by being here this evening," he said. "The theme
of His Holiness’ Pontifical Visit to our Eastern Diocese is A Pastoral
Journey – Bringing Faith Home. As you can see, he loves his sons and
daughters and wants to hear of your concerns, needs and hopes. You’re
welcome to him, and your being here this evening gives him the opportunity
to hear you, know you better and love you all the more."
Dancers for the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston perform for His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
In his remarks to the assembled crowds, His Holiness Karekin II expressed
his gratitude for the exceptional enthusiasm with which he was greeted,
saying, "If it were not for the presence of your wonderful Primate,
Archbishoip Khajag Barsamian sitting before me, I would have thought that I
was in Yerevan. Your enthusiasm and demonstration of spirit have inspired
me and given me great joy. You are a credit to your parents and your
priests who have helped form you as faithful sons and daughters of our
beloved Church." The Catholicos underlined the importance of practicing the
Armenian Christian faith by inviting all Armenians to celebrate their faith
regularly. "On Sunday, when we celebrate the Divine Liturgy with you, we
give testimony to the Christian heritage and faith our fathers and mothers
passed down to us for more than 1,700 years. Draw close to God, love your
Church, be faithful Americans and never forget your Armenian Christian
identity – bringing it home as part of your daily lives," he said.
The Primate of the Eastern Diocese, His Eminence Khajag Barsamian, invited
His Holiness Karekin II to pay a pastoral, Pontifical Visit to his Diocese
more than two years ago. This is the Catholicos’ second Pontifical Visit to
the Eastern Diocese, the first taking place upon the 1,700th anniversary of
Armenia’s conversion to Christianity in 2001. During this Pontifical Visit,
His Holiness Karekin II will be visiting 18 different cities in 13 states
over a 30-day period.
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians
is Greeted by Young Woman Who Recieved His Apostolic Blessing
The Diocesan Center for The Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) is in New York City at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral. It is the
largest Armenian Church diocese in the world. The diocese consists of 63
parishes and four mission communities, primarily located east of the
Mississippi River and Texas.
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<http://www.pontificalv isit.org/> to receive regular updates, including
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of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
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