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: [email protected]
Website:
September 21, 2009
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HOLY CROSS CHURCH OF ARMENIA IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY, CELEBRATES 80TH
ANNIVERSARY
On Sunday, September 13, Holy Cross Church of Armenia marked the 80th
anniversary of its establishment in the uptown Washington Heights
neighborhood of New York City. The celebration coincided with the parish
name-day, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), celebrated the Divine Liturgy, with assistance from
St. Nersess seminarians; their dean, the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan; and
the Gomidas and Zvartnotz choirs.
"Over the centuries, we have borne Christ’s cross with faith, hope, and
love. What was once an instrument of torture and death, has become for us
the symbol of salvation, and victory over death," the Primate said.
Archbishop Barsamian added that Holy Cross Church has expressed the message
of the cross throughout its history.
"In profound ways, the Holy Cross Church symbolizes the entire story of our
people in America," he said. "This sanctuary has been a place of deep
sorrow, but also great rejoicing. It has known hardship, but has also become
a genuine place of pilgrimage for our people."
Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian read the pontifical encyclical issued to the
church on the occasion of its anniversary.
"For eight decades this holy shrine has had its doors open to our faithful,
nourishing them with God’s word," His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, wrote in the encyclical. "Its 80
years of history attest to the strong faith and commitment of those who have
gathered in this house of worship for so many years."
A luncheon followed services. Program highlights included a musical
performance by Ani Kalayjian and Sophya Melikyan, and remarks by the Very
Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, who spoke about the church’s rich heritage and
the warm welcome it has extended to many deacons and young priests over the
years.
"May God inspire many more young people to come forward to serve our Holy
Cross Church as priests, as deacons, as choir members, as leaders in every
way," Fr. Findikyan said.
The parish also presented the "Mabel Fenner Scholarships" to five students
and eight St. Nersess seminarians.
Haik Hovnanian and family donated Sunday’s meal.
A Focal Point of the Armenian Community
Holy Cross Church opened its doors on January 6, 1929. The original building
– a small edifice on West 187th Street, formerly a Lutheran church – served
the congregation for 23 years.
In those years, the young parish faced its share of hardships, including the
financial burdens of the Great Depression and the aftermath of the 1933
murder of then-Primate Archbishop Ghevont Tourian, who was stabbed to death
during a procession to the altar.
But despite setbacks, the community persevered, establishing vibrant
Armenian and Sunday Schools, a renowned choir, a Women’s Guild, and other
organizations.
By the 1950s, the parish had outgrown its facilities, and leaders began to
make plans for building a new church. That dream was realized on October 17,
1954, when Archbishop Mampre Calfayan, Primate, consecrated the church
building still in use today. The community also enjoyed a new parish house,
complete with a church office, classrooms, and living quarters for the
parish priest.
"Armenians would travel from Long Island, from New Jersey, from upstate New
York – all to come to this parish," said Leo Manuelian, 80th anniversary
committee member and a former Holy Cross Church parishioner. "It was the
focal point of the Armenian community in New York City."
In 1960, Holy Cross Church welcomed His Holiness Vasken I, who became the
first Armenian Catholicos to visit the United States. His Holiness
celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Holy Cross in July of that year – making it
the only church in America where he celebrated badarak during his visit.
During that decade, many parishioners at Holy Cross were involved in the
building of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral. They also welcomed former
Primate, Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan, who moved into the parish house and
offered his guidance and support to the community.
Through the 1970s, the parish marked a number of milestones, including the
100th birthday of longtime parishioner and benefactor Haik Kavookjian, and
the parish’s golden anniversary in 1979, when the auditorium was dedicated
in honor of Simon and Lusaper Kachajian.
Even as many parishioners moved to the suburbs, they continued to visit Holy
Cross Church regularly. In fact, it was their experience at Holy Cross
Church that gave root to the new parishes established in Long Island and
Westchester, N.Y., and New Jersey – parishes which today comprise the
Armenian community of the New York-metro area. These newly-built churches
"benefited from the expertise of the parish councils that matured and
developed through" Holy Cross Church, Mr. Manuelian said.
In 1986, Archbishop Shnork Kaloustian, then-Patriarch of Constantinople,
visited Holy Cross Church to consecrate the icon of Charkapan Soorp
Asdvadzadzin – a reproduction of a 15th-century icon located in Istanbul,
Turkey. The shrine of Charkapan Soorp Asdvadzadzin remains an important site
at Holy Cross Church.
In 1995, thanks to the generosity of Dolores Zohrab Liebeman, a fund was
established for Holy Cross Church, making it possible for the church to
continue its mission of spreading Christ’s message.
"Every Sunday, we celebrate the Divine Liturgy, we pray together, and then
we come together and enjoy fellowship and being part of one another’s
lives," said parish council chair Charlene Simonian. "That’s a big part of
the mission here at Holy Cross Church – to provide that sense of community
for all Armenians."
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Photos attached.
Photo 1: The faithful father for services at the original Holy Cross Church
of Armenia sanctuary, which was established in 1929.
Photo 2: The icon of Charkapan Soorp Asdvadzadzin at Holy Cross Church of
Armenia.
Photo 3: Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian reads the pontifical encyclical issued
to Holy Cross Church on the occasion of its 80th anniversary.
Photo 4: The "Blessing of the Fields" service at Holy Cross Church of
Armenia. The church marked its 80th anniversary on the Feast of the
Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Photo 5: The present-day building of the Holy Cross Church of Armenia.
Photo 6: Parish Council chair Charlene Simonian and Virginia Carbone cut the
anniversary cake at Holy Cross Church of Armenia. The cake was donated by
Virginia Carbone.
Photo 7: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian blesses the congregation during the
Divine Liturgy celebrated at Holy Cross Church on Sunday, September 13.
Photo 8: The Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan and seminarians of St. Nersess
Seminary assisted Archbishop Khajag Barsamian in the celebration of the
Divine Liturgy at Holy Cross Church on Sunday, September 13.
Photo 9: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Findikyan, and
altar servers process to the altar at Holy Cross Church of Armenia on
Sunday, September 13.
Photo 10: Altar servers raise up the cross during a procession to the altar
at Holy Cross Church of Armenia on Sunday, September 13.