PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: publicrelations@armeniandiocese.org
Website:

September 11, 2009

___________________________________

ABP. BARSAMIAN WELCOMES CATHOLIC ABP. DOLAN AND ORTHODOX METROPOLITAN JONAH
TO N.Y., DURING ECUMENICAL GATHERING AT DIOCESE

On Tuesday, September 8, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), hosted an ecumenical gathering
at the Diocesan Center to welcome two recently installed religious leaders:
Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, and
Metropolitan Jonah Pauffhausen, the Orthodox Church in America’s Archbishop
of Washington and New York, and Metropolitan of All America and Canada.

Leaders of the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox
churches came together at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral for a prayer
service, commemorating the Nativity of the Mother-of-God, which is observed
on September 8, followed by a reception to honor Archbishop Dolan and
Metropolitan Jonah.

Guests received a brief tour of the cathedral and had an opportunity to
engage in a discussion at the Diocesan Center and to share their visions for
the continuing mission of the ancient Christian traditions in today’s world.

"Whether we pray to her as Theotokos, Asdvadzadzin, Our Lady, Bogoroditsa-or
in any of her numerous names-all of us look to St. Mary as something more
than an object to be venerated: she is, most of all, a Mother to be loved,"
Archbishop Barsamian said. "Among the ancient, apostolic Christian churches,
this has been our profound feeling and witness for centuries. And indeed,
our common adoration of St. Mary is one of the things that makes us a
unified family."

Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America,
delivered the invocation. He thanked Archbishop Barsamian for organizing the
day’s program and congratulated Archbishop Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah on
their new positions.

Archbishop Dolan was installed as the 10th Roman Catholic Archbishop of New
York on April 15. Metropolitan Jonah was installed as the leader of the
Orthodox Church in America on December 28, 2008.

Archbishop Demetrios also emphasized Mary’s faith and endurance in the face
of many hardships, including the inhospitable conditions surrounding
Christ’s birth, the years she spent with her family in exile, and the
witness she bore to the afflictions of her son later in life.

"It’s an ordeal of tremendous magnitude, and she went through that," he
said, adding that Mary’s story is "the superb example of suffering and being
patient under all circumstances."

The lesson is an important one in today’s world, where Christian values
often come under attack, Archbishop Demetrios said.

Archbishop Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah spoke about the warm relationship
among the ancient Christian churches in New York City, and in America
generally.

"It just strikes me that this great New York community that all of us are
honored to serve pastorally is a reflection of the universal church," said
Archbishop Dolan. "We see people of every language and background so
beautifully represented in this room today."

"To me, it is so important that we be united in our proclamation of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ," Metropolitan Jonah said.

William Cardinal Keeler, a long-time friend of the Eastern Diocese who has
visited Armenia in the past decade, also addressed the gathering.

Archbishop Barsamian presented Archbishop Dolan and Metropolitan Jonah with
carvings of biblical scenes hand-crafted in Armenia. He also presented
Archbishop Dolan with a pectoral cross and Metropolitan Jonah with a panagia
on behalf of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians.

Bishop David, the General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch of the Coptic
Orthodox Archdiocese of North America, presented the two honorees with
icons.

At the conclusion of the afternoon meeting, Metropolitan Mor Cyril Aphrem
Karim, leader of the Syriac Orthodox Church of the Eastern United States,
delivered a benediction asking God to bless and guide Archbishop Dolan and
Metropolitan Jonah, and thanking Him for the opportunity to gather in a
spirit of brotherly love.

Also in attendance were Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Apostolic Nuncio
and the Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations; John Myers, the
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Newark, N.J.; Archbishop Zacharius, leader of
the Ethiopian Orthodox Church of America; Bishop Manuel Batakian, Apostolic
Exarch for Armenian Catholics in the United States; as well as
representatives of the Antioch Orthodox, the Russian Orthodox, the Bulgarian
Orthodox, and the Serbian Orthodox churches.

"It is a wonderful, hopeful sign that these brotherly gatherings have become
more frequent in recent years," Archbishop Barsamian said. "After all, we
hold the deepest things in common. We all come from ancient, apostolic
churches. We all represent ‘Old World’ traditions, transplanted in the New.
And we all strive to keep faith with the greater, timeless truths, while
trying to advance and renew our traditions for modern living."

Also representing the Eastern Diocese at Tuesday’s event were Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Diocese and President of the National Council
of Churches; Very Rev. Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, Diocesan Vicar; Very Rev. Fr.
Souren Chinchinian; Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Vartan Cathedral;
and Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian, director of the Mission Parish Program at the
Diocese.

###

Photos attached.

Photo 1: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Metropolitan Jonah Pauffhausen,
Archbishop Timothy Dolan, and Archbishop Demetrios at St. Vartan Armenian
Cathedral.

Photo 2: Religious leaders on the steps of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral,
where a prayer service was held Tuesday commemorating the Nativity of the
Mother-of-God

Photo 3: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents Archbishop Dolan with a
carving of a biblical scene hand-crafted in Armenia

Photo 4: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents Archbishop Dolan with a
pectoral cross on behalf of His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch
and Catholicos of All Armenians.

Photo 5: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents Metropolitan Jonah Pauffhausen
with a carving of a biblical scene hand-crafted in Armenia