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ANCA: Archbishop Choloyan Urges Return of Churches; Genocide
Affirmation in Capitol Hill Meetings
29-04-2012 10:00:18 | USA | Press release
His Eminence offers Senate opening prayer; Completes day of meetings
with Senate and House Members
WASHINGTON, DC - His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of
the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern United States, called on
Members of Congress to urge Turkey to return confiscated Christian
churches and end U.S. complicity in Turkey's genocide denial, during a
full day Capitol Hill meetings, this week, which began with the
offering of the opening prayer at the U.S. Senate and ended with an
invocation at the annual Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide Observance,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The Archbishop's opening prayer at the Senate was held on April 25th,
at the request of Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed (D) and at the
invitation of the Senate Chaplain. `We thank you in the name of the
Armenian people for your divine mercy in providing them a safe refuge
in this blessed country, the United States of America, where they were
delivered from the depths of despair of genocide and welcomed with new
life,' said His Eminence. `Reveal your infinite spirit to the members
of this Senate that they may be inspired toward a greatness of purpose
and ennobled in their quest for good governance.'
Video of Archbishop Choloyan's Senate prayer may be viewed on the ANCA
Youtube page at:
http://youtu.be/_fahCphlScc
Sen. Reed welcomed Archbishop Choloyan in a moving Senate floor
statement, which commemorated the Armenian Genocide and called for
U.S. affirmation of that crime. `This year I once again join my
colleagues in encouraging the United States to officially recognize
the Armenian genocide,' explained Senator Reed. `Denial of this
history is not consistent with our country's sensitivity to human
rights and our dedication to the highest and noblest principles that
should govern the world. We must continue to educate our young people
against this type of hatred and oppression so we can seek to prevent
such crimes against humanity in the future. It was indeed an honor to
be here to listen to the wise words of the Archbishop, to hear his
prayer, his reflection, and to go forth knowing that he is a powerful
force in our country for tolerance and decency,' concluded Sen. Reed.
Later in the day, Sen. Reed tweeted about his meeting with the
Archbishop, stating, `Proud to host His Eminence Archbishop Choloyan
today for prayer observing anniversary of Armenian Genocide
#NEVERFORGET http://pic.twitter.com/GTaPWPjb `
Sen. Reed's floor statement can be viewed at:
http://youtu.be/lEowgpWm-Xw
Welcoming remarks were also offered by Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D-NV), who recounted a visit to a church during his first trip
to Armenia, in the early 1990's after `that very brutal winter when
the Turks had cut off the oil to Armenia.' He noted, `I have fond
memories of my visit to Armenia. I understand the resiliency of the
people of Armenia, and I remember visiting that church.'
Senate Majority Leader Reid's floor statement can be viewed at:
http://youtu.be/JPKr1tKfv-4
Throughout the day, Archbishop Choloyan met with a bipartisan group of
legislators, including: Senators Scott Brown (R-MA), Ben Cardin
(D-MD), Al Franken (D-MN), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI),
and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), as well as, Representatives David
Cicilline (D-RI), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Albio Sires (D-NJ), and Bob
Turner (R-NY). Archbishop Choloyan was joined in his Congressional
visits by Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Pastor of the Soorp Khatch
Armenian Apostolic Church in Bethesda, MD; ANCA Chairman Ken
Hachikian, ANCA Eastern Region Board Member Stephen Mesrobian, ANC
Rhode Island Chairman Steve Elmasian, as well as ANCA Legislative
Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian, and ANCA Capital Gateway Fellow
Kyle Movsessian.
In the evening, Archbishop Choloyan joined over 300 Armenian Americans
from across the U.S. at the annual Congressional Observance of the
Armenian Genocide, organized by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues, in conjunction with Armenian American groups as well as the
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia and Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the U.S. In his invocation, His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan
noted that, `Today, once again we gather in this historic room in our
nation's capital to honor the memory of our one-and-one-half million
martyrs whose faith and love in you never faltered, even unto death.
The first genocide of the 20th century was a prelude to more genocide.
The tragedy of genocide continued because the Ottoman Turkish
perpetrators of the Armenian genocide were neither confronted nor
punished.'
Take a pictorial tour of Archbishop Choloyan's efforts in support of
U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and legislation calling on
Turkey to return confiscated Christian Churches through pictures by
visiting the ANCA Facebook page:
http://on.fb.me/KhVfGK
News from Armenia and Diaspora - Noyan Tapan
Affirmation in Capitol Hill Meetings
29-04-2012 10:00:18 | USA | Press release
His Eminence offers Senate opening prayer; Completes day of meetings
with Senate and House Members
WASHINGTON, DC - His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of
the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Eastern United States, called on
Members of Congress to urge Turkey to return confiscated Christian
churches and end U.S. complicity in Turkey's genocide denial, during a
full day Capitol Hill meetings, this week, which began with the
offering of the opening prayer at the U.S. Senate and ended with an
invocation at the annual Capitol Hill Armenian Genocide Observance,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
The Archbishop's opening prayer at the Senate was held on April 25th,
at the request of Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed (D) and at the
invitation of the Senate Chaplain. `We thank you in the name of the
Armenian people for your divine mercy in providing them a safe refuge
in this blessed country, the United States of America, where they were
delivered from the depths of despair of genocide and welcomed with new
life,' said His Eminence. `Reveal your infinite spirit to the members
of this Senate that they may be inspired toward a greatness of purpose
and ennobled in their quest for good governance.'
Video of Archbishop Choloyan's Senate prayer may be viewed on the ANCA
Youtube page at:
http://youtu.be/_fahCphlScc
Sen. Reed welcomed Archbishop Choloyan in a moving Senate floor
statement, which commemorated the Armenian Genocide and called for
U.S. affirmation of that crime. `This year I once again join my
colleagues in encouraging the United States to officially recognize
the Armenian genocide,' explained Senator Reed. `Denial of this
history is not consistent with our country's sensitivity to human
rights and our dedication to the highest and noblest principles that
should govern the world. We must continue to educate our young people
against this type of hatred and oppression so we can seek to prevent
such crimes against humanity in the future. It was indeed an honor to
be here to listen to the wise words of the Archbishop, to hear his
prayer, his reflection, and to go forth knowing that he is a powerful
force in our country for tolerance and decency,' concluded Sen. Reed.
Later in the day, Sen. Reed tweeted about his meeting with the
Archbishop, stating, `Proud to host His Eminence Archbishop Choloyan
today for prayer observing anniversary of Armenian Genocide
#NEVERFORGET http://pic.twitter.com/GTaPWPjb `
Sen. Reed's floor statement can be viewed at:
http://youtu.be/lEowgpWm-Xw
Welcoming remarks were also offered by Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D-NV), who recounted a visit to a church during his first trip
to Armenia, in the early 1990's after `that very brutal winter when
the Turks had cut off the oil to Armenia.' He noted, `I have fond
memories of my visit to Armenia. I understand the resiliency of the
people of Armenia, and I remember visiting that church.'
Senate Majority Leader Reid's floor statement can be viewed at:
http://youtu.be/JPKr1tKfv-4
Throughout the day, Archbishop Choloyan met with a bipartisan group of
legislators, including: Senators Scott Brown (R-MA), Ben Cardin
(D-MD), Al Franken (D-MN), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI),
and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), as well as, Representatives David
Cicilline (D-RI), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Albio Sires (D-NJ), and Bob
Turner (R-NY). Archbishop Choloyan was joined in his Congressional
visits by Rev. Fr. Sarkis Aktavoukian, Pastor of the Soorp Khatch
Armenian Apostolic Church in Bethesda, MD; ANCA Chairman Ken
Hachikian, ANCA Eastern Region Board Member Stephen Mesrobian, ANC
Rhode Island Chairman Steve Elmasian, as well as ANCA Legislative
Affairs Director Raffi Karakashian, and ANCA Capital Gateway Fellow
Kyle Movsessian.
In the evening, Archbishop Choloyan joined over 300 Armenian Americans
from across the U.S. at the annual Congressional Observance of the
Armenian Genocide, organized by the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues, in conjunction with Armenian American groups as well as the
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia and Office of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic in the U.S. In his invocation, His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan
noted that, `Today, once again we gather in this historic room in our
nation's capital to honor the memory of our one-and-one-half million
martyrs whose faith and love in you never faltered, even unto death.
The first genocide of the 20th century was a prelude to more genocide.
The tragedy of genocide continued because the Ottoman Turkish
perpetrators of the Armenian genocide were neither confronted nor
punished.'
Take a pictorial tour of Archbishop Choloyan's efforts in support of
U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide and legislation calling on
Turkey to return confiscated Christian Churches through pictures by
visiting the ANCA Facebook page:
http://on.fb.me/KhVfGK
News from Armenia and Diaspora - Noyan Tapan