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 28, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
HIS EMINENCE OSHAGAN CHOLOYAN URGES VIGILANCE
AGAINST GENOCIDE IN CAPITOL HILL MEETINGS
— Visits with 21 Legislators, Talks with Speaker Pelosi,
Offers Moving Invocation at Genocide Observance during
Marathon Day of Meetings on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, DC – His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern United States, urged
Members of Congress to speak with moral clarity about the Armenian
Genocide and to work to end the ongoing genocide in Darfur, during
a full day of more than 20 Capitol Hill meetings leading up to the
April 23rd Congressional Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The Archbishop’s meetings included discussions with Senators and
Representatives from traditional Armenian American communities in
Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as well as
those from growing communities in Kentucky, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Georgia. Among the legislators he met with were:
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden (D-DE), Small
Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA),
Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Sen. Robert
Menendez (D-NJ), House Homeland Security Committee Ranking
Republican Peter King (R-NY), Congressional Human Rights Caucus Co-
Chair Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Rep.
Howard Coble (R-NC), Rep. Phil English (R-PA), Rep. Wayne Gilchrest
(R-MD), Rep. Bob Inglis (R-SC), Rep. James Jordan (R-OH), Rep.
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Michael
McNulty (D-NY), Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD),
Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Rep. John Tierney (D-MA).
Archbishop Choloyan was joined in his Congressional visits by Rev.
Father Sarkis Aktavoukian, Pastor of the Soorp Khatch Armenian
Apostolic Church in Bethesda, MD; ANCA National Board Member Onnik
Petrossian; ANCA Legislative Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian,
ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian, and ANCA Eastern
Region Executive Director Karine Birazian.
After a full day of meetings, Archbishop Choloyan joined with
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and
over 15 Members of Congress at the Capitol Hill commemoration of
the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, organized by the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian issues. During his moving
invocation, Archbishop Choloyan offered a special prayer for the
"safety of all of the men and women of our armed forces serving
around the world." He went on to praise the efforts of Amb. Henry
Morgenthau and the diplomatic corps of the time of the Genocide who
"shared in the responsibility of publicizing the Genocide of the
Armenians and administering relief."
The full text of the Archbishop’s speech follows.
A photo gallery is posted on the ANCA website at:
ses.php?prid=1475
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Invocation delivered by
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
Prelate, Armenian Apostolic Church of America
93rd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
Capitol Hill
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Almighty God, once again we come before you in the month of April
to thank you for your blessings, especially your deliverance from
the valley of death 93 years ago. We continue to seek your guidance
in every aspect of our lives. We especially ask that you give
wisdom to the leaders of this great country, because strong and
wise leadership is essential for the continuation of our great
society.
Bless those gathered here today. Spread the mantle of your amazing
grace upon them, your servants. We especially pray for the safety
of all of the men and women of our armed forces serving around the
world. Grant all of your children the peace of justice and
righteousness.
Holy Father, ninety-three years ago your faithful servants, the
men, women and children of the Armenian nation, were subjected to
the greatest cruelty. Uprooted from their ancestral homeland of
thousands of years, they witnessed the murder of one and a half
million of their compatriots. During those dark years, four
American presidents – Wilson, Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover – took
direct and bold action to help the Armenians. Furthermore, overseas
the entire diplomatic corps – ambassadors, ministers, consuls – shared
in the responsibility of publicizing the Genocide of the Armenians
and administering relief. Foremost among them was the United States
Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Henry Morgenthau, Sr. This was
one of America’s finest hours, when commitment became action.
Without this, the number of Armenian survivors would have been
reduced significantly.
Many of the survivors entered the United States and became faithful
and participating citizens. They came filled with the hope and
promise of America, not so much for themselves, but for their
children and their children’s children. Their hope resulted not
only in economic rewards, but a flourishing of cultural activity
that resulted in the creation of literature, music, dance,
sculpture, painting, composition, and other forms of art. Thus, it
can be said that the Armenians having survived death, moved into
the light of resurrection, and have been contributing their share
as a people to the cultural treasure chest of civilization.
The hope planted by the survivors sustains us today. We know, as
they did, that without hope there can be no meaningful life or
progress. It is through the eyes of this hope that we seek your
grace. It is with this hope that we look to our leaders in
Washington to have the courage to recognize genocide and act to
bring it to an end.
Grant us your divine wisdom and courage to serve humanity in
accordance with the highest ideals and values of our Christian
heritage. Bring peace to all those who have been martyred in your
name, and help us to continue the hope that shall never die.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and
always and forever and ever. Amen
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