Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email. [email protected]
Internet
PRESS RELEASE
April 21, 2010
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ARCHBISHOP CHOLOYAN OFFERS OPENING PRAYER FOR THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
— Invokes Armenian Genocide; Prays for an End to Barbarity upon
God’s Creatures
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives opened today
with a prayer by His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern United States, in
which he invoked the memory of the Armenian Genocide and prayed
that such barbarity never again be inflicted upon any of God’s
creatures, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).
Archbishop Choloyan service today as the guest chaplain of the
House of Representatives came at the request of New York
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), a long-time friend and
supporter of the Armenian American community. Following the
opening prayer, Representative Maloney offered brief remarks of her
own, praising the spiritual leadership of Archbishop Choloyan and
joining with him in marking the 95th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
Both Archbishop Choloyan’s opening prayer and Congresswoman
Maloney’s remarks can be viewed online at:
ses.php?prid=1859
The full text of Archbishop Choloyan’s prayer is provided below:
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Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America Eastern United
States of America
Prayer delivered to open the United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Almighty God, we seek your grace and wisdom in our lives and in our
leaders that they may serve your people with truth and justice.
Remember your faithful servants, the Armenian people, who for 95
Aprils have lived with the memory of the Genocide of one and a half
million of their nation. We pray that such barbarity never again be
inflicted upon any of your creatures.
We give thanks for the blessings that you have bestowed upon the
remnant of the Armenian people who were welcomed and given new life
in the United States of America. We thank you for delivering us
from the depths of despair into this land of liberty.
Bless America, the country of greatness and goodness. Renew the
values of our American heritage so that America will remain the
country of truth, freedom, justice and peace.
We stand before you and ask this in your name and for your glory.
Amen.
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