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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 8, 2006
His Holiness Karekin II Blesses Foundation of New Church in the City of
Abovian
The city of Abovian with approximately 45,000 residents, near the capital of
Yerevan, is one of the largest settlements of Armenia without a house of
prayer.  Developed to a great extent during the Soviet years, the town grew
from a small village to become the fourth largest city in Armenia at the
time of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
On the eve of the 15th anniversary of Independence for the Republic of
Armenia, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians presided during the Service for Blessing the Foundation of the
first church to be built in Abovian in the past 100 years.
Construction on the church to be named St. Hovhannes began earlier this
spring and is scheduled to conclude in two years.  The benefactor of the
church is Mr. Gagik Tsarukian, a member of the National Assembly of
Armenia.  He is also the benefactor of the construction of the church of
Holy Astvatsatsin in Arinj.
Present during the service were His Grace Bishop Arakel Karamian, Primate of
the Diocese of Kotayk; Mr. Tsarukian and his family; K. Shahgaldian,
Governor of the Kotayk Region; K. Israelian, Mayor of Abovian; members of
the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin; clergy from the Diocese of Kotayk; and
more than 3,000 faithful.
Sixteen `Godfathers' placed consecrated stones, bearing the image of a cross
and washed with water and wine, in the foundation of the new church
underneath each of the sixteen columns, and dedicated to the twelve
apostles, evangelists and St. Gregory the Illuminator.
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 8, 2006
His Holiness Karekin II Blesses Foundation of New Church in the City of
Abovian
The city of Abovian with approximately 45,000 residents, near the capital of
Yerevan, is one of the largest settlements of Armenia without a house of
prayer.  Developed to a great extent during the Soviet years, the town grew
from a small village to become the fourth largest city in Armenia at the
time of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
On the eve of the 15th anniversary of Independence for the Republic of
Armenia, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians presided during the Service for Blessing the Foundation of the
first church to be built in Abovian in the past 100 years.
Construction on the church to be named St. Hovhannes began earlier this
spring and is scheduled to conclude in two years.  The benefactor of the
church is Mr. Gagik Tsarukian, a member of the National Assembly of
Armenia.  He is also the benefactor of the construction of the church of
Holy Astvatsatsin in Arinj.
Present during the service were His Grace Bishop Arakel Karamian, Primate of
the Diocese of Kotayk; Mr. Tsarukian and his family; K. Shahgaldian,
Governor of the Kotayk Region; K. Israelian, Mayor of Abovian; members of
the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin; clergy from the Diocese of Kotayk; and
more than 3,000 faithful.
Sixteen `Godfathers' placed consecrated stones, bearing the image of a cross
and washed with water and wine, in the foundation of the new church
underneath each of the sixteen columns, and dedicated to the twelve
apostles, evangelists and St. Gregory the Illuminator.