PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
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Contact: Iris Papazian
July 02, 2007
Ecumenical Friends Join in Congratulating
Archbishop Oshagan on 40th Anniversary of
Ordination at Reception in New York
By Iris Papazian
NEW YORK, NY-Ecumenical friends gathered at the offices of the Eastern
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America in New York on Friday
afternoon, May 4, to offer congratulations to the Prelate, Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his ordination.
On the eve of the three celebratory banquets in various parts of the
northeast and Midwest, many of His Eminence’s ecumenical friends came to
personally convey their congratulations. The guests enjoyed a sumptuous
buffet of Armenian delicacies and the company of their brothers and sisters
in Christ.
Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, the Prelacy’s Vicar General, welcomed the
guests with brief remarks on behalf of the Religious and Executive Councils
of the Prelacy. "I would like to welcome you here this afternoon to honor a
humble servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, a servant who has faithfully
manifested the talents entrusted to him as a zealous priest, an inspiring
teacher, an insightful theologian, an active ecumenist, a self-educated
church musician, a skillful translator of the Holy scriptures, and most
importantly a shepherd mirroring the image of the one and true Good
Shepherd."
Noting that he did not want to take time away from personal interaction
of the guests, Bishop Anoushavan told one story which he said embodies the
personality and character of the honoree. "As some of you know, Archbishop
Oshagan was the Prelate of Kuwait and the Arab Emirates prior to his current
service in the United States. At the time when Iraq invaded Kuwait, he was
on vacation in New York. As soon as he heard the news, he was determined to
return to Kuwait immediately." The Vicar remembered how everyone tried to
convince him not to go back because of the danger, not to mention the
difficulty of traveling to Kuwait, but he had made up his mind. "I need to
be with my flock," was his only answer, and he flew to the Middle East and
found a way of entering Kuwait by land.
Archbishop Oshagan thanked the many guests who were in attendance.
"Thank you for taking the time out of your hectic schedules to come here
this afternoon and express your Christian love and unity." He noted that he
has come to know many of them through ecumenical services, meetings and
conferences. "Our friendship grows stronger and I look forward to the future
enrichment of our friendship and cooperation in our mutual service to our
Lord." His Eminence noted how much he has gained through his participation
in the worldwide ecumenical movement since the earliest days of his service.
He said that he continues to be guided by the words of St. Paul, "Therefore,
be steadfast, immoveable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because
you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."
Attendees included leaders of the Armenian Catholic Exarchate, Armenian
Missionary Association of America, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch,
Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the
World Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, General
Theological Seminary, Assyrian Church of the East, Catholic Near East
Welfare Association, The Episcopal Church, Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of
Antioch, Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn, Orthodox Church in America, ,
Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Salam Arabic Lutheran Church, St. Vladimir
Orthodox Seminary.
In addition many letters of congratulations were received from various
parts of the country congratulating Archbishop Oshagan on his milestone
anniversary.