EVANSTON FAMILY HOSTS ARMENIAN CHURCH LEADER
By Ravi Baichwal

ABC7Chicago.com, IL
amp;id=5724875
Oct 25 2007

October 24, 2007 – A very special honor was given to an Evanston
family. They are hosting the leader of the Armenian Church. His
holiness Catholicos Karekin II was in the Chicago area for several
events Wednesday.

For Armenians, having the Armenian leader come to the area is like
the pope from on high. He is their spiritual leader, and for them,
he brought a message that faith, family and the church will never
abandon them.

Karekin consecrated the new doors at the church at 6700 W. Diversey
and told the faithful the church is assuring they will survive. His
Holiness said the Armenian struggle is one of survival.

"The church is the house of God. The people we provide, when they are
in the house of God, with prayer and with the light with God," he said.

It is a message that resonates with these Americans, the descendants
of people who have been conquered and subjugated and survived.

"I’m thrilled, honored, even scared, and it’s very, very fortunate
something like this happened while we’re still living," said Mary
Ipjan.

"He is the head of the church of eight million people. Eight other
million people besides us. So we are quite honored," said John Ipjan.

To underscore the theme of this pontifical journey, he comes for a
traditional ceremony not done by someone at his station.

Four generations of a family and friends crowded in for the
once-in-a-lifetime event, the blessings of a pontiff brought to life
within suburban walls.

"I’m lucky. I’m happy," Mary Ipjan said.

Some 500 people came to the church to hear from the pontiff. He is
expected at 7 p.m. Wednesday for an ecumenical service that will
include services from other religious communities.

Karekin arrives in a controversial time. The House of Representatives
is debating a motion on whether Turkey committed genocide against
the Armenians when about 1.5 million Armenians died in the aftermath
of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The pontiff said he is happy
certain congressmen are willing to pursue truth and justice.