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Archbishop Choloyan Offers Senate Opening Prayer
by Armenian Weekly
May 5, 2012
WASHINGTON - His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the
Prelacy 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 of Capitol Hill meetings, 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).
Archbishop Choloyan thanked Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), who, along
with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), has spearheaded the `Return of
Churches' resolution in the Senate. (L-R) ANCA Legislative Affairs
Director Raffi Karakashian, ANC-RI Chairman Steve Elmasian, Rev. Fr.
Sarkis Aktavoukian, Archibishop Choloyan, Sen. Brown, ANCA Chairman
Ken Hachikian, ANCA Eastern Region Board Member Steve Mesrobian, and
ANCA Capital Gateway Fellow Kyle Movsessian.
The archbishop's opening prayer at the Senate was held on April 25, 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.'
To view a video of Archbishop Choloyan's Senate prayer, visit 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,' he said. `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.'
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.' To view Sen. Reed's floor statement, visit
http://youtu.be/lEowgpWm-Xw.
Welcoming remarks were also offered by Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D-Nev.), 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.' To view Sen.
Majority Leader Reid's floor statement, visit
http://youtu.be/JPKr1tKfv-4.
Throughout the day, Archbishop Choloyan met with a bipartisan group of
legislators, including: Senators Scott Brown (R-Mass.), Ben Cardin
(D-Md.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jack Reed
(D-R.I.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), as well as, Representatives
David Cicilline (D-RI), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Albio Sires (D-N.J.),
and Bob Turner (R-N.Y.). 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 Karabagh
Republic in the U.S. In his invocation, His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan
noted, `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.
by Armenian Weekly
May 5, 2012
WASHINGTON - His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the
Prelacy 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 of Capitol Hill meetings, 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).
Archbishop Choloyan thanked Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), who, along
with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), has spearheaded the `Return of
Churches' resolution in the Senate. (L-R) ANCA Legislative Affairs
Director Raffi Karakashian, ANC-RI Chairman Steve Elmasian, Rev. Fr.
Sarkis Aktavoukian, Archibishop Choloyan, Sen. Brown, ANCA Chairman
Ken Hachikian, ANCA Eastern Region Board Member Steve Mesrobian, and
ANCA Capital Gateway Fellow Kyle Movsessian.
The archbishop's opening prayer at the Senate was held on April 25, 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.'
To view a video of Archbishop Choloyan's Senate prayer, visit 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,' he said. `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.'
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.' To view Sen. Reed's floor statement, visit
http://youtu.be/lEowgpWm-Xw.
Welcoming remarks were also offered by Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D-Nev.), 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.' To view Sen.
Majority Leader Reid's floor statement, visit
http://youtu.be/JPKr1tKfv-4.
Throughout the day, Archbishop Choloyan met with a bipartisan group of
legislators, including: Senators Scott Brown (R-Mass.), Ben Cardin
(D-Md.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Jack Reed
(D-R.I.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), as well as, Representatives
David Cicilline (D-RI), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Albio Sires (D-N.J.),
and Bob Turner (R-N.Y.). 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 Karabagh
Republic in the U.S. In his invocation, His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan
noted, `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.