PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: primate@armenian.com.au

7 August 2008

DIOCESE AND PRIMATE CELEBRATE 40 YEARS

Sydney, Australia – "1968 ~ A Year of Significance" headed the program for
the 40th Anniversary Celebration Evening held in Sydney on Saturday, 2
August. Unbeknown at the time of formation of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of Australia and New Zealand on January 15, 1968, the future Primate
of the Diocese was to be ordained a celibate priest in Jerusalem on 28 July
of the same year.

In fitting tribute to these two occasions, a community concert was organised
encompassing the theme of "Unity".

The evening showcased an array of young talent including musicians,
vocalists, choirs and dance groups from all spheres of the Armenian
Community of Sydney. The cultural performances were staged as interludes to
the evening’s main presentation which consisted of young speakers narrating
a chronicle on the history of the foundation of the Diocese concurrently
with the Primate’s story, of how His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian
came to join the seminary and enter the priesthood.

During the course of the program, messages of congratulation were conveyed
by the heads of major Armenian organisations and many more community groups
were represented amongst the guest list. The audience who filled up the
auditorium too represented the community mix that makes up the microcosm of
Sydney’s Armenian population. "Unity", the intended purpose of the evening
was truly reflected in the gathering that celebrated the two historical
milestones.

As the program concluded, the encyclicals of His Holiness Karekin II Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians were read as all remained
upstanding ~ the first on occasion of the Diocese’s foundation and the
second for the Primate’s anniversary celebration. Following, Chairman of the
Diocesan Council, Dr Peter Ansourian congratulated the Archbishop on behalf
of the community presenting him with a jewel-encrusted ring and more
congratulatory wishes ensued with Reverend Krikor Youmoushakian of the
Armenian Evangelical Church of Sydney.

In his closing address, Archbishop Baliozian thanked the community for
engaging together and embracing the celebration evening. He paid special
tribute to all who had contributed, served and partaken in building up the
Diocese over the past 40 years.

Among the list of distinguished guests were clergy, local government and
community representatives. The occasion also welcomed guests from the
Armenian Church of Kolkata, India ~ Very Reverend Father Oshagan Gulgulian
and Wardens Mrs Susan Reuben and Mrs Sunil Sobti with their spouses.