ARMENIAN CHURCH TO CELEBRATE 50TH
By C.J. Lin

The Post-Standard – Syracuse.com
Saturday, September 20, 2008
NY

Archbishop’s visit, golden anniversary put St. Paul "family" in
joyful mood.

For St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church, this weekend is one of
encouragement, triumph and inspiration.

It’s the 50th anniversary of the consecration of the church, at 310
N. Geddes St., in Syracuse, and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, the
primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, is going
to celebrate it with them.

"It’s a very big occasion to have him visit the church because he is
the representative for the total Armenian Church community for us in
the United States," said Stephen Kimatian, a St. Paul parish member for
10 years. "It’s a little bit analogous to the Vatican and the pope."

Barsamian presides over St. Vartan Cathedral in Manhattan and has
jurisdiction in all states except California, Washington, Nevada
and Arizona. He’s similar to a high-ranking cardinal in the Catholic
Church who reports to the pope, Kimatian said.

"It’s an important milestone for the Armenian community in Syracuse
and also for the entire diocese, celebrating the 50th anniversary
of St. Paul’s," Barsamian said. "It’s a big family. So if there’s
any joy for any member of the family, it’s the joy of the entire
family. There’s opportunity to be grateful for the achievements,
but also to be inspired and look forward to the coming years."

The celebration starts tonight with a sold-out dinner reception
with Barsamian at Justin’s Grill, near Carrier Circle, in DeWitt. He
will officiate the Divine Liturgy at St. Paul at 10:30 a.m. Sunday,
followed by a reception and banquet at Liverpool Golf & Country Club,
on Morgan Road, north of the village.

St. Paul’s history dates back to 1908, when the first parish council
was established in Syracuse. It was during the time when many Armenians
emigrated to the U.S. from 1895 to 1915 to escape genocide of the
Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire, now known as Turkey. Many
scholars regard the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians during World War
I as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey’s leaders maintain
the deaths occurred during interethnic conflict.

"Because of these pressures of survival, the religious history of the
church has always been central to the Armenian community no matter
where they settled," said Kimatian, whose grandparents immigrated
from Armenia.

For the first 50 years, the parish did not have its own church and
services were held at Grace Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Church
of Our Savior. The church on North Geddes Street was bought in 1956
and consecrated in 1958.

There are currently 35 dues-paying members of the church and about
45 people who attend Sunday services, according to Richard Roomian,
a member of 50 years and parish council chairman. The church is packed
during Easter and Christmas, and he estimates that there are about
400 Armenian families in the area.

For Barsamian, visiting parishes such as Syracuse, especially to
celebrate an anniversary, are events that inspire him.

"There is a diocese because of the parishes. Without Syracuse, without
the parishes, there is no diocese," he said. "That kind of remembrance
is special for me, too, as a clergyman, as a primate archbishop, to
be inspired so we continue with the same spirit making the Armenian
Church significant for every Armenian and their families."