Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Meets with Religious Leaders in Jerusalem

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:

Contact: Danielle Saroyan

Telephone: (202) 393-3434

Web: www.aaainc.org

 

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY CO-CHAIR
MEETS WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN JERUSALEM

 

WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) Co-Chair and Massachusetts
Council of Churches President Anthony Barsamian travelled to Jerusalem this
month, where he met with religious leaders, including the Armenian Patriarch of
Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian.

 

“It was an honor meeting with the Armenian Patriarch
and Armenians in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and holding vibrant discussions with
the Armenian community in the Holy Land. The Patriarch made a point to welcome
us and encourage Armenian Americans to visit the Armenian Quarter and meet with
members of this important Armenian community. His Eminence made sure we had the
opportunity to pray with our Christian brothers and sisters at Saints James Cathedral
and participate in Divine Liturgy at the tomb of Christ, also known to
Armenians as the Holy Resurrection Church and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,
while having an opportunity to visit the numerous Armenian shops and enjoy
Western Armenian culture which continues to exist since the 4^th
Century,” Barsamian stated.

 

The participants visited Srpots Tarkmanchatz (Holy
Translators) Armenian School within the Armenian Quarter. They were led by Fr.
Mardiros Chevian, Dean of St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, and Fr. Krikor
Sabounjian, a member of the Eastern Diocese Council and Pastor of Holy
Translators Church in Framingham, Massachusetts. They had the pleasure of
meeting the Gulbenkian Library Director and Principal of the Tarkmanchatz
Armenian School, Very Rev. Norayr Kazazian, who reported the number of students
at the school has increased from 90 to 180 in recent years.

 

“This trip to the Holy Land was inspirational and eye-opening.
Jerusalem is one of the important centers for us and we should all make an
effort to visit the Holy Land and experience the richness of Armenian life
unbroken throughout the centuries,” Barsamian added.

 

During his visit, Barsamian also met with Rabbi
David Rosen of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and had the opportunity to
join Rabbi Rosen in prayer at the West Wall, where they both reflected upon the
need for peace and justice following the protests in Charlottesville.

 

AJC Chief Executive Officer David Harris wrote a
letter to President Donald Trump, and stated: “What we witnessed in
Charlottesville on Friday and Saturday was nothing short of horrifying. It was
sickening enough to see people drawn together by the siren songs of white
supremacy, the Ku Klux Klan, and neo-Nazism. But however repugnant their views
may be, so long as they conducted themselves peacefully, their freedom of
speech is protected in our blessed land. But it was abundantly clear that at
least some of these racists, anti-Semites, and homophobes came to Charlottesville
looking for trouble.”

 

The Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, recently held high
level meetings with the Israeli Government as relations continue to expand. During
his discussion with the Minister of Regional Cooperation of Israel, Tzachi
Hanegbi, Nalbandian highlighted the deep historical roots between Armenian and
Jewish people, “which create a good basis for the development of inter-state
cooperation.” They also discussed holding consultations between the foreign
ministries, enhancing their collaboration within international organizations,
and increasing inter-parliamentary exchanges, as well as developing mutually
beneficial cooperation in culture, science, and education.

“I welcome these encouraging trends in
Armenia-Israel relations and extend my appreciation to our friends in the American
Jewish community who support this development,” Barsamian said.

 

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of
America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting
public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

 

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2017-060

 

Photo Caption 1:
Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian with Armenian Patriarch of
Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian

 

Photo Caption 2:
Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian, St Nersess Armenian Seminary Dean
Fr. Mardiros Chevian, Gulbenkian Library Director and Principal Very Rev.
Norayr Kazazian, and Eastern Diocese Council Member Fr. Krikor Sabounjian

 

Photo Caption 3:
Armenian Assembly Co-Chair Anthony Barsamian and Rabbi David Rosen of the
American Jewish Committee

 

Available here: http://bit.ly/2wvYz4z