PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
May 31, 2005
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CATHOLICOS TO HELP BUILD HOMES WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, will travel to Michigan from June 21 to 22, 2005, to
participate in Habitat for Humanity’s annual Jimmy Carter Work Project.
The Catholicos will build homes alongside former U.S. President Jimmy
Carter.
The visit is the latest effort to encourage the work of Habitat for
Humanity by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern).
Two years ago Bishop Vicken Aykazian, diocesan legate and ecumenical
officer, took leaders of Habitat for Humanity to Armenia to see how
their organization could work with the Armenian Church.
Last year he traveled to Armenia with a delegation that included the
state leaders of Habitat for Humanity in Michigan, who invited the
Catholicos to travel to Michigan this summer for the construction blitz
with President Carter.
“While working alongside President Carter, the Catholicos will have a
chance to discuss the involvement of the Armenian Church in the efforts
of Habitat for Humanity in Armenia,” Bishop Aykazian said. “Hopefully
that will foster a closer relationship between the two organizations,
because there is a real need for housing in Armenia.”
Recent reports suggest that 40 percent of Armenia’s population lives in
substandard housing. Part of the donation made by volunteers this
summer in Michigan will go toward funding Habitat for Humanity projects
in Armenia.
Bishop Aykazian recently had the honor of blessing the 100th home
completed by Habitat for Humanity Armenia. And many parishes around the
Diocese have organized trips to Armenia during which they volunteer to
build homes for Habitat for Humanity.
While in Michigan, the Catholicos will also meet with community leaders
and faithful.
“We all know there is a need for quality homes in Armenia, and I think
the visit by the Catholicos and his work with President Carter will draw
attention to that, and help us work to combat that problem,” Bishop
Aykazian said. “It will draw the attention not only of the general
public, but of the Armenian community as well. We are the ones who need
to give our support first. It is up to us to begin addressing this
serious issue in our homeland.”
— 5/31/05
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