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PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website:  www.armenianchurch.org
July 11, 2008
Inaugural Assembly of the Pan-Armenian Church Youth Organization
in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
`Search into the mystery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, of our
Apostolic Holy Church and the homeland. See eternity within its domed halls
and in its soil, and remain faithful to this sacred mystery.' - His Holiness
Karekin II
On July 10, under the presidency and with the blessings of His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the inaugural
world assembly of the Armenian Church Youth Organization convened in Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin.  The venue for the meetings was the newly renovated
concert hall of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary.
More than 130 young men and women, representing 35 dioceses and pastorates
of the worldwide Armenian Church, participated in this first assembly aimed
at approving the new constitution for the Pan-Armenian Church Youth
Organization (Pan-ACYO).
The delegates greeted the entrance of the Armenian Pontiff as he entered the
hall and the assembly opened with the Lord's Prayer.  Welcoming remarks were
delivered by Karen Petrosian, Chairman of the Interim Central Council for
the Pan-ACYO.
Representatives from the dioceses of Armenia, Asia, Australia, South
America, North America and Europe, as well as the Armenian Patriarchate of
Constantinople, delivered introductory remarks expressing their love and
gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians and their commitment to their
efforts to unite Armenian youth from around the world with the goal of
serving our Lord Jesus Christ through the Armenian Church and enriching
their Armenian cultural and national values through their presence and
participation in the life of the homeland.
In his address to the delegates, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America and
coordinator of the inaugural assembly, stressed that the establishment today
of the Pan-ACYO is an imperative in our contemporary lives - one that was
identified by His Holiness Karekin II years ago when he initiated this
effort.  His Eminence stated that this assembly is the culmination of years
of thought and work, and is the reply of faithful sons and daughters of the
Armenian Church to the call made by the Catholicos of All Armenians for the
youth to unite in Holy Etchmiadzin.
Abp. Derderian stated,  `The inaugural assembly of delegates of the Armenian
Church Youth Organization opens a new page in the history of our Holy
Church.  The purpose of the Pan-ACYO is to lead Armenian young people to
God, to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to the homeland and to a life
filled with faith and Christian morals.  The purpose and the mission of the
youth organization is to help Armenian young people establish their life in
dialogue with God and on paths leading to our Savior.  The result of our
efforts will be the creation and prosperity of the Armenian family.  The
path will be to transform our homeland and Holy Etchmiadzin into the
starting point of our life and the Armenian family into the anchor of our
existence.'  His Eminence concluded his comments and thereafter invited the
Pontiff of All Armenians to address the delegates and offer his blessings.
His Holiness Karekin II blessed the gathered delegates and the creation of
the Pan-ACYO with these words of encouragement and challenge:  ``The
Armenian Church is the birthplace of our soul' says the author.  It is the
guarantor of Armenian identity.  It is the place where you learn to love God
and to love one another.  Our aim today is to unite our sons and daughters
under the protective dome and walls of our Church.  We wish for you to build
your lives - your blessed lives - within sight of her lofty dome ascending
to the heavens.  We want you place the Church at the axis - at the very
heart of your existence, since it is the center of our collective national
life.'
His Holiness continued, `...Our national identity, our culture, our spiritual
life are bound with Christianity and founded on the teachings, gospel and
love of our Lord Jesus Christ.  In fact, they are created by Christ.  If you
wish to be worthy citizens of your countries; if you wish to be the worthy
children of our nation, then you must live your life within the Church and
with Christ.'
His Holiness concluded his message by exhorting the delegates to, `Search
into the mystery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, of our Apostolic
Holy Church and the homeland. See eternity within its domed halls and in its
soil, and remain faithful to this sacred mystery. Live with this mystery and
reinforce it within you and among your friends.  With your hard work, with
your devoted endeavors, with your vibrant service, you shall pass on the
legacy of our ancestors to your successors and the generations which follow
them.' 
The Catholicos of All Armenians also expressed his appreciation and
commendation to Archbishop Hovnan Derderian for his efforts and dedication
in preparing and organizing this inaugural assembly, as well as to the
diocesan primates and pastors for contributing to the establishment of the
Pan-ACYO.
##
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website:  www.armenianchurch.org
July 11, 2008
Inaugural Assembly of the Pan-Armenian Church Youth Organization
in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
`Search into the mystery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, of our
Apostolic Holy Church and the homeland. See eternity within its domed halls
and in its soil, and remain faithful to this sacred mystery.' - His Holiness
Karekin II
On July 10, under the presidency and with the blessings of His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, the inaugural
world assembly of the Armenian Church Youth Organization convened in Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin.  The venue for the meetings was the newly renovated
concert hall of the Gevorkian Theological Seminary.
More than 130 young men and women, representing 35 dioceses and pastorates
of the worldwide Armenian Church, participated in this first assembly aimed
at approving the new constitution for the Pan-Armenian Church Youth
Organization (Pan-ACYO).
The delegates greeted the entrance of the Armenian Pontiff as he entered the
hall and the assembly opened with the Lord's Prayer.  Welcoming remarks were
delivered by Karen Petrosian, Chairman of the Interim Central Council for
the Pan-ACYO.
Representatives from the dioceses of Armenia, Asia, Australia, South
America, North America and Europe, as well as the Armenian Patriarchate of
Constantinople, delivered introductory remarks expressing their love and
gratitude to the Catholicos of All Armenians and their commitment to their
efforts to unite Armenian youth from around the world with the goal of
serving our Lord Jesus Christ through the Armenian Church and enriching
their Armenian cultural and national values through their presence and
participation in the life of the homeland.
In his address to the delegates, His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America and
coordinator of the inaugural assembly, stressed that the establishment today
of the Pan-ACYO is an imperative in our contemporary lives - one that was
identified by His Holiness Karekin II years ago when he initiated this
effort.  His Eminence stated that this assembly is the culmination of years
of thought and work, and is the reply of faithful sons and daughters of the
Armenian Church to the call made by the Catholicos of All Armenians for the
youth to unite in Holy Etchmiadzin.
Abp. Derderian stated,  `The inaugural assembly of delegates of the Armenian
Church Youth Organization opens a new page in the history of our Holy
Church.  The purpose of the Pan-ACYO is to lead Armenian young people to
God, to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, to the homeland and to a life
filled with faith and Christian morals.  The purpose and the mission of the
youth organization is to help Armenian young people establish their life in
dialogue with God and on paths leading to our Savior.  The result of our
efforts will be the creation and prosperity of the Armenian family.  The
path will be to transform our homeland and Holy Etchmiadzin into the
starting point of our life and the Armenian family into the anchor of our
existence.'  His Eminence concluded his comments and thereafter invited the
Pontiff of All Armenians to address the delegates and offer his blessings.
His Holiness Karekin II blessed the gathered delegates and the creation of
the Pan-ACYO with these words of encouragement and challenge:  ``The
Armenian Church is the birthplace of our soul' says the author.  It is the
guarantor of Armenian identity.  It is the place where you learn to love God
and to love one another.  Our aim today is to unite our sons and daughters
under the protective dome and walls of our Church.  We wish for you to build
your lives - your blessed lives - within sight of her lofty dome ascending
to the heavens.  We want you place the Church at the axis - at the very
heart of your existence, since it is the center of our collective national
life.'
His Holiness continued, `...Our national identity, our culture, our spiritual
life are bound with Christianity and founded on the teachings, gospel and
love of our Lord Jesus Christ.  In fact, they are created by Christ.  If you
wish to be worthy citizens of your countries; if you wish to be the worthy
children of our nation, then you must live your life within the Church and
with Christ.'
His Holiness concluded his message by exhorting the delegates to, `Search
into the mystery of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, of our Apostolic
Holy Church and the homeland. See eternity within its domed halls and in its
soil, and remain faithful to this sacred mystery. Live with this mystery and
reinforce it within you and among your friends.  With your hard work, with
your devoted endeavors, with your vibrant service, you shall pass on the
legacy of our ancestors to your successors and the generations which follow
them.' 
The Catholicos of All Armenians also expressed his appreciation and
commendation to Archbishop Hovnan Derderian for his efforts and dedication
in preparing and organizing this inaugural assembly, as well as to the
diocesan primates and pastors for contributing to the establishment of the
Pan-ACYO.
##