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PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website:  www.armenianchurch.org
October 7, 2006
Pontiff of All Armenians Awards
the Order of "St. Sahak and St. Mesrop" to Tom Samuelian
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
has decorated Tom Samuelian with the Order of "St. Sahak and St. Mesrop". 
The award is one of the highest honors bestowed by the head of the Armenian
Church on faithful sons and daughters who have greatly contributed to the
literary, scholastic and cultural life of the Armenian Nation.
The event took place on August 30 in the Pontifical Residence on the grounds
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and began with welcoming remarks by
Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian of the Catholicosate of All Armenians.  His Grace
Bishop Sion Adamian, Primate of the Diocese of Armavir, presented the
biography and works of Mr. Samuelian, noting that his creative efforts have
accompanied his life from a very early age.
His Excellency John Evans, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the United States of America to the Republic of Armenia, thanked His
Holiness for paying such a tribute and honoring an exemplary citizen of the
United States and a true son of Armenia.  The ambassador stated that "Tom is
a man within whom the worlds of knowledge and practical life are unified".
Academician Rafael Hambardzumian presented his thoughts, highly evaluating
the virtues and dedication of Mr. Samuelian, noting that "Our literature,
culture and science have always progressed due to individuals like Tom.  He
is one of the brightest and best representatives of our people."  Mr.
Hambardzumian also expressed his gratitude to His Holiness for recognizing
individuals within the spheres of science, culture and the arts in such a
high manner.
As the Hover Chamber Choir sang the church hymn "Etchmiadzin", the
Pontifical Encyclical of the Catholicos of All Armenians was brought into
the hall and read by Bishop Adamian.  In the encyclical, His Holiness
Karekin II highly commends the manifold and multifaceted works of Mr.
Samuelian, who for decades has willingly brought his service to the parishes
of the United States, taught Armenian language classes in Philadelphia,
Boston and New Jersey, and actively participated in the progress of national
and ecclesiastical life of the Armenian American communities.
The encyclical states in part, "...your readiness to contribute your
abilities to the strengthening and progress of our homeland, and your kind
motivation to always see the national and church life of our people bright
and prosperous, directed your paths to Armenia, where you continue to enrich
your nation-helping and church-building legacy under the blessings of our
Lord.  Happiness envelopes our Pontifical soul, that your fidelity to our
national values and traditions is manifested in your achievements and
accomplishments, in service to our Christ-loving people, homeland and Holy
Apostolic Mother Church.
"We reflect with pleasure on your academic, literary and creative labors. 
Due to your years of diligent work, your scholarly essays, books,
dictionaries, textbooks and translations are available for the reader. 
These have truly earned you the recognition and title of 'intellectual'. 
Through your translations, non-Armenians and English-speaking Armenians now
have the opportunity to know literary monuments such as the 'Book of
Lamentations' by St. Gregory of Narek, 'Refutation of the Sects' by Yeznik
of Kolb, and others..."
Following the reading of the Encyclical, His Holiness Karekin II decorated
Mr. Samuelian with the Medal of St. Sahak - St. Mesrop.  Mr. Samuelian, in
his remarks, expressed his deep gratitude to the Pontiff of All Armenians
for honoring him in this manner.
The event concluded with the message of His Holiness Karekin II.  Recalling
the words of Catholicos of All Armenians Vasken I of blessed memory, His
Holiness stated, " 'On the path of searching for God, I found Holy
Etchmiadzin and my Homeland...'  Searching for God has been the way of life
for our nation and people.  Our parents, holding the hands of their children
in their palms, have always led them to church, so that the child, from the
earliest of years, would learn to walk on the road that leads to God, to
search for God and to find God through His unending mercy.  For they
realized and recognized the great sacred mystery that the guarantor of
Armenian identity, existence and being is found within God."  His Holiness
noted that this was the same in Tom Samuelian's case as well, who on his
path of searching for God, found Armenia and became a worthy child of our
nation.
His Holiness extended his blessings to all assembled, thanked the Hover
Chamber Choir for their musical presentations throughout the evening and
once more commended the dedication, love and faithfulness of Tom Samuelian
to the Armenian Church and Nation.
##
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Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  (374 10) 517 163
Fax:  (374 10) 517 301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website:  www.armenianchurch.org
October 7, 2006
Pontiff of All Armenians Awards
the Order of "St. Sahak and St. Mesrop" to Tom Samuelian
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
has decorated Tom Samuelian with the Order of "St. Sahak and St. Mesrop". 
The award is one of the highest honors bestowed by the head of the Armenian
Church on faithful sons and daughters who have greatly contributed to the
literary, scholastic and cultural life of the Armenian Nation.
The event took place on August 30 in the Pontifical Residence on the grounds
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, and began with welcoming remarks by
Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian of the Catholicosate of All Armenians.  His Grace
Bishop Sion Adamian, Primate of the Diocese of Armavir, presented the
biography and works of Mr. Samuelian, noting that his creative efforts have
accompanied his life from a very early age.
His Excellency John Evans, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the United States of America to the Republic of Armenia, thanked His
Holiness for paying such a tribute and honoring an exemplary citizen of the
United States and a true son of Armenia.  The ambassador stated that "Tom is
a man within whom the worlds of knowledge and practical life are unified".
Academician Rafael Hambardzumian presented his thoughts, highly evaluating
the virtues and dedication of Mr. Samuelian, noting that "Our literature,
culture and science have always progressed due to individuals like Tom.  He
is one of the brightest and best representatives of our people."  Mr.
Hambardzumian also expressed his gratitude to His Holiness for recognizing
individuals within the spheres of science, culture and the arts in such a
high manner.
As the Hover Chamber Choir sang the church hymn "Etchmiadzin", the
Pontifical Encyclical of the Catholicos of All Armenians was brought into
the hall and read by Bishop Adamian.  In the encyclical, His Holiness
Karekin II highly commends the manifold and multifaceted works of Mr.
Samuelian, who for decades has willingly brought his service to the parishes
of the United States, taught Armenian language classes in Philadelphia,
Boston and New Jersey, and actively participated in the progress of national
and ecclesiastical life of the Armenian American communities.
The encyclical states in part, "...your readiness to contribute your
abilities to the strengthening and progress of our homeland, and your kind
motivation to always see the national and church life of our people bright
and prosperous, directed your paths to Armenia, where you continue to enrich
your nation-helping and church-building legacy under the blessings of our
Lord.  Happiness envelopes our Pontifical soul, that your fidelity to our
national values and traditions is manifested in your achievements and
accomplishments, in service to our Christ-loving people, homeland and Holy
Apostolic Mother Church.
"We reflect with pleasure on your academic, literary and creative labors. 
Due to your years of diligent work, your scholarly essays, books,
dictionaries, textbooks and translations are available for the reader. 
These have truly earned you the recognition and title of 'intellectual'. 
Through your translations, non-Armenians and English-speaking Armenians now
have the opportunity to know literary monuments such as the 'Book of
Lamentations' by St. Gregory of Narek, 'Refutation of the Sects' by Yeznik
of Kolb, and others..."
Following the reading of the Encyclical, His Holiness Karekin II decorated
Mr. Samuelian with the Medal of St. Sahak - St. Mesrop.  Mr. Samuelian, in
his remarks, expressed his deep gratitude to the Pontiff of All Armenians
for honoring him in this manner.
The event concluded with the message of His Holiness Karekin II.  Recalling
the words of Catholicos of All Armenians Vasken I of blessed memory, His
Holiness stated, " 'On the path of searching for God, I found Holy
Etchmiadzin and my Homeland...'  Searching for God has been the way of life
for our nation and people.  Our parents, holding the hands of their children
in their palms, have always led them to church, so that the child, from the
earliest of years, would learn to walk on the road that leads to God, to
search for God and to find God through His unending mercy.  For they
realized and recognized the great sacred mystery that the guarantor of
Armenian identity, existence and being is found within God."  His Holiness
noted that this was the same in Tom Samuelian's case as well, who on his
path of searching for God, found Armenia and became a worthy child of our
nation.
His Holiness extended his blessings to all assembled, thanked the Hover
Chamber Choir for their musical presentations throughout the evening and
once more commended the dedication, love and faithfulness of Tom Samuelian
to the Armenian Church and Nation.
##
--Boundary_(ID_c36uvc8PGeqmYEQ6i7oN0g )--