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POPULAR ARMENIAN CLERGYMAN MAY BE EXILED FROM U.S. OVER VISA EXPIRATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
March 26, 2012 - 22:59 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Dozens of parishioners demonstrated outside
Glendale's St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church in the rain Sunday,
March 25 to express their anger over the transfer of a popular reverend
who was forced to leave the country because his visa expired, Glendale
News-Press reported.
His supporters said church officials did not work to extend Fr. Rev.
Barthev Gulumian's visa because of internal politics, sparking a
campaign on social media against the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church.
Gulumian was removed from his Glendale post, where he has worked for
the last six years, and transferred to Venezuela.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Western Prelacy said that while
it wanted Gulumian "to continue his valuable work in the Armenian
American community, the Western Prelacy is compelled to comply with
U.S. laws which in this case mandated that Father Barthev leave the
U.S. albeit for a temporary basis."
The statement added that his return "will be processed in compliance
with U.S. immigration laws and policies."
PanARMENIAN.Net
March 26, 2012 - 22:59 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Dozens of parishioners demonstrated outside
Glendale's St. Mary's Armenian Apostolic Church in the rain Sunday,
March 25 to express their anger over the transfer of a popular reverend
who was forced to leave the country because his visa expired, Glendale
News-Press reported.
His supporters said church officials did not work to extend Fr. Rev.
Barthev Gulumian's visa because of internal politics, sparking a
campaign on social media against the Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church.
Gulumian was removed from his Glendale post, where he has worked for
the last six years, and transferred to Venezuela.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Western Prelacy said that while
it wanted Gulumian "to continue his valuable work in the Armenian
American community, the Western Prelacy is compelled to comply with
U.S. laws which in this case mandated that Father Barthev leave the
U.S. albeit for a temporary basis."
The statement added that his return "will be processed in compliance
with U.S. immigration laws and policies."