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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch-ed.net
May 22, 2012
_______________________________________________
New Khatchkar Unveiled at St. Mary Church
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), visited St. Mary Church of Washington,
D.C., on Sunday, May 13, where he ordained altar servers and blessed
the church's new khatchkar.
During the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, the Primate ordained
Alexander Calikyan as a sub-deacon. Armen Chubukian, Haik Hakobyan,
Virab Khachatryan, Aras Mermer, Ruben Turner, and Edwin Tilimian were
ordained acolytes. Parish pastor the Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
assisted the Primate during the ordinations.
Also during the service, Andre Alexandrian, Ashot Hovhannisyan, Jirair
Kalayjian, Ruben Karapetyan, and Hovsep Seferian received special
blessings from Archbishop Barsamian.
At the conclusion of badarak, Archbishop Barsamian presented the "St.
Sahag and St. Mesrob" medal and pontifical encyclical to parishioner
Arsen Sayan, founder and conductor of the church's Ani Armenian Choral
Group. The group sang the hymns of the Divine Liturgy that day, and
later took part in the afternoon program.
Archbishop Barsamian led a procession to the newly-installed khatchkar
on church grounds. The khatchkar was carved and donated by Armenian
artist Ruben Nalbandian. It is dedicated to the memory of the deceased
parishioners of the community.
Costs involved in transporting the khatchkar to St. Mary Church were
covered by donations made in memory of the late Vartkess Balian, a
longtime parishioner and benefactor of the church.
"Our new khatchkar is a witness to our heritage and faith," said Fr.
Karapetyan. "Having this beautiful memorial in our nation's capital
makes us very proud."
The artist, who is on a visit to St. Mary Church, received a
certificate of appreciation from Archbishop Barsamian on this
occasion.
An afternoon reception concluded the day's program. Some 400 people
took part in the events, including Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the
Diocese's Ecumenical Director; the Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, the
parish's former pastor; Robert Avetisyan, Permanent Representative of
Nagorno-Karabagh to the United States; Colonel Mesrop Nazarian,
Armenia's Defense Attaché in Washington; and other embassy officials.
###
Photos attached. Photo 1: Parishioners gather for the blessing of the
new khatchkar at St. Mary Church.
Photo 2: Archbishop Barsamian presents the "St. Sahag and St. Mesrob"
medal and pontifical encyclical to parishioner Arsen Sayan.
Photo 3: The Primate ordains Alexander Calikyan as a sub-deacon.
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.armenianchurch-ed.net
May 22, 2012
_______________________________________________
New Khatchkar Unveiled at St. Mary Church
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), visited St. Mary Church of Washington,
D.C., on Sunday, May 13, where he ordained altar servers and blessed
the church's new khatchkar.
During the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, the Primate ordained
Alexander Calikyan as a sub-deacon. Armen Chubukian, Haik Hakobyan,
Virab Khachatryan, Aras Mermer, Ruben Turner, and Edwin Tilimian were
ordained acolytes. Parish pastor the Rev. Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan
assisted the Primate during the ordinations.
Also during the service, Andre Alexandrian, Ashot Hovhannisyan, Jirair
Kalayjian, Ruben Karapetyan, and Hovsep Seferian received special
blessings from Archbishop Barsamian.
At the conclusion of badarak, Archbishop Barsamian presented the "St.
Sahag and St. Mesrob" medal and pontifical encyclical to parishioner
Arsen Sayan, founder and conductor of the church's Ani Armenian Choral
Group. The group sang the hymns of the Divine Liturgy that day, and
later took part in the afternoon program.
Archbishop Barsamian led a procession to the newly-installed khatchkar
on church grounds. The khatchkar was carved and donated by Armenian
artist Ruben Nalbandian. It is dedicated to the memory of the deceased
parishioners of the community.
Costs involved in transporting the khatchkar to St. Mary Church were
covered by donations made in memory of the late Vartkess Balian, a
longtime parishioner and benefactor of the church.
"Our new khatchkar is a witness to our heritage and faith," said Fr.
Karapetyan. "Having this beautiful memorial in our nation's capital
makes us very proud."
The artist, who is on a visit to St. Mary Church, received a
certificate of appreciation from Archbishop Barsamian on this
occasion.
An afternoon reception concluded the day's program. Some 400 people
took part in the events, including Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the
Diocese's Ecumenical Director; the Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, the
parish's former pastor; Robert Avetisyan, Permanent Representative of
Nagorno-Karabagh to the United States; Colonel Mesrop Nazarian,
Armenia's Defense Attaché in Washington; and other embassy officials.
###
Photos attached. Photo 1: Parishioners gather for the blessing of the
new khatchkar at St. Mary Church.
Photo 2: Archbishop Barsamian presents the "St. Sahag and St. Mesrob"
medal and pontifical encyclical to parishioner Arsen Sayan.
Photo 3: The Primate ordains Alexander Calikyan as a sub-deacon.