CATHOLICOS OF ARMENIA TO BUILD WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY IN NEW ORLEANS
Religion News Service, DC
Oct 18 2007
AMERICUS, Ga. (Oct. 17, 2007) -The leader of the Armenian Church,
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, rolled up his sleeves in New Orleans October 17 to help
build a home in Habitat for Humanity’s Musicians’ Village.
His Holiness visited New Orleans, a place in the hearts and minds of
many in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, as a gesture of goodwill
from Armenia. The Catholicos is sympathetic to the suffering caused by
the hurricane because Armenia is still recovering from the devastating
1988 earthquake that left 500,000 people homeless and inspired his
work with Habitat for Humanity.
The relationship between the Catholicos and Habitat for Humanity now
spans across two nations. His Holiness has worked with Habitat for
Humanity in his native Armenia, planting trees, painting walls and
hammering nails while helping build more than 70 homes.
In April 2006, the Armenian Church and Habitat for Humanity signed
an agreement of long- term cooperation. The agreement allowed for
the creation of His Holiness Karekin II Work Project. His Holiness
Karekin II personally spearheaded efforts to construct 37 homes across
Armenia, giving witness to the ancient Armenian tradition of charity,
volunteerism and social concern as part of the His Holiness Karekin
II Work Project in 2007.
In September 2006, Habitat For Humanity Armenia hosted an inaugural
event where more than 300 volunteers from Europe, the United States,
Armenia and other countries came together to help build a 24-unit
condominium building. The events of 2006 took place with the personal
involvement of His Holiness Karekin II.
As Catholicos of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II presides
over the Supreme Spiritual Council (the Armenian Church’s governing
college of bishops and lay persons). He is the leader of the world’s
7 million Armenian Christians.
Here in America, the Armenian Church regularly takes part in Habitat
for Humanity projects. Each year, the College Ministry program at the
Armenian Church supports an Alternative Spring Break project where
Armenian Christian college students use their spring breaks to build
homes. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Armenian Church
(Eastern) helps support the project and actively encourages students
to participate.
Musicians’ Village was established as a community for New Orleans’
numerous generations of musicians and other families displaced by
Hurricane Katrina, many whom had lived in inadequate housing prior
to the catastrophe. Conceived by New Orleans natives Harry Connick, Jr.
and Branford Marsalis, Musicians’ Village is being constructed in
the Upper Ninth Ward, where an eight-acre parcel of land was selected
for the construction of 70 single-family homes built by volunteers,
donors, sponsors and low-income families.
Since groundbreaking began in March 2006, 40 homes have been
completed. Among the project’s innovative features are elder-friendly
duplexes for the senior members of the community and the Ellis Marsalis
Center for Music, a 150-seat performance space with state of the art
lighting and sound, a recording studio, classrooms and rehearsal
spaces. The facility will be available to residents of Musician’s
Village as well as to students and artists citywide.
About Habitat for Humanity International Habitat for Humanity
International is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to
its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty
housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built more than
225,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable
shelter for more than 1 million people. For more information, visit
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