PRESS RELEASE
Date: June 23, 2009
Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church
461 Bergen Blvd., Ridgefield, NJ
Contact: Anahit Voskanian
Tel: 201-943-2950
CONGRESSMAN STEVE ROTHMAN OFFERS REMARKS ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY
OF STS. VARTANANTZ ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH
Ridgefield, NJ- Earlier this month, Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ-9)
offered remarks for the Congressional Record recognizing the 50th
Anniversary of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church.
"As Pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church and on
behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to express our sincere
gratitude to Rep. Rothman for recognizing the 50th Anniversary of
Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church of Ridgefield, New
Jersey," commented the church’s pastor, Rev. Fr. Hovnan Bozoian.
"We are very proud of our forefathers for envisioning the future
and thankful for their unwavering determination to build a church
and community center for the Armenian Americans of Bergen County."
Rep. Steven Rothman was born in Englewood, New Jersey. He received
his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Philosophy from Syracuse
University, and earned a JD at Washington University in St. Louis.
Before beginning his political career, Rothman practiced as a
private attorney.
In 1983, Rothman was elected Mayor of Englewood and served for two-
terms. From 1993 to 1996, he served as the Bergen County Surrogate
Court Judge. Currently in his seventh term, Rothman was first
elected to Congress in 1996. Since his election, he has championed
environmental causes, has been a strong voice for working families
and individuals, and has worked tirelessly to help ensure proper
rights and benefits for the nation’s seniors. His work on the
Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee has been essential
in advancing Armenian American foreign aid priorities.
Additionally, the Congressman serves in the House leadership as
Assistant Democratic Whip. He is also a member of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues.
New Jersey’s Ninth Congressional District consists of Bergen,
Hudson and Passaic Counties in the Northeast portion of the state.
#####
RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
OF STS. VARTANANTZ ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH
OF RIDGEFIELD, NEW JERSEY
HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN
OF NEW JERSEY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 50th anniversary of Sts.
Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church of Ridgefield, New Jersey.
On May 19, 1957, a community’s dream began to take shape. On
that day, ground was broken for what was then known as the Armenian
Apostolic Church of New Jersey. In two short years, the Armenian
American community of Bergen County came together and raised the
necessary funds to realize the dream of building a church.
On May 3, 1959, the church was consecrated by His Eminence
Archbishop Khoren Paroyian, Nuncio of His Holiness Zareh I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia.
Sts. Vartanantz today stands as a beacon of Armenian American
community life in Bergen County with its Sunday school, the Nareg
Saturday Armenian School, the ladies guild, the men’s club, the
seniors groups, and several cultural, youth, educational, and
fraternal organizations working to perpetuate the Armenian faith
and heritage.
I extend my congratulations to the pastor, Rev. Fr. Hovnan
Bozoian, the Board of Trustees, and all members and friends of Sts.
Vartanantz and wish them many more years of growth and service to
the Armenian American community.
I sincerely hope that my colleagues will join me in celebrating
the 50th anniversary of Sts. Vartanantz Church for its
contributions to the Armenian American residents of Bergen County,
as well the larger Armenian American community in the United
States.