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:
October 16, 2009
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ARMENIAN CHURCH AT HYE POINTE MOVES FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), visited the Armenian Church at "Hye Pointe" in
Bradford, Mass., last weekend, where the community is moving forward with
the building of a new church.
The Rev. Fr. Dajad Davidian celebrated the Divine Liturgy, with Archbishop
Barsamian presiding.
In his sermon, the Primate spoke about the Feast of the Holy Translators and
the contributions of St. Mesrob Mashdots and his students to the
preservation of the Armenian Christian faith. "The marriage between our
nation and the Christian religion was the first such union in history,"
Archbishop Barsamian said. "And its offspring is the Christian culture we
honor this month."
The message was particularly significant at Hye Pointe, where parishioners
are working to strengthen their community by merging the parishes of Holy
Cross Armenian Church in Lawrence, Mass., and St. Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Church in Haverhill, Mass.
Following services – which are currently held at the St. Gregory Church –
the Primate joined parishioners for a reception and an open forum to discuss
the project’s progress. Later, Archbishop Barsamian visited the construction
site of the new church in Bradford, Mass.
After establishing a joint parish, called the Armenian Church at Hye Pointe,
in 2002, the community sold Holy Cross Church and last year began
construction of the new house of worship. Organizers are now preparing to
sell the St. Gregory Church building and are working to strengthen the
fundraising effort.
On October 8, 2007, His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, blessed the cornerstones of the new church.
Building plans also include the erection of an adjoining cultural hall and
Sunday School facility.
Items from each of the older churches – including pews, paintings, stained
glass windows, and chandeliers – will be incorporated into the design of the
new church. By the spring of 2010, the community hopes to begin construction
of the cultural hall and Sunday School classrooms.
"We still have a lot of work ahead of us," said parish council chair Scott
Sahagian. He added that "things are looking very promising. People’s spirits
are uplifted."
Also at Hye Pointe last weekend, Archbishop Barsamian and James Kalustian,
treasurer of the Diocesan Council and the council’s liaison to the parish,
met with members of the parish council and parish delegates to discuss
fundraising strategies, options for pastoral support, and the prospective
sale of St. Gregory the Illuminator Church.
"It was a very engaging visit," Mr. Sahagian said.
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Photos attached.
Photo 1: The Blessing of Grapes ceremony was held last August at the
construction site of the Armenian Church at Hye Point in Bradford, Mass.