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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 21, 2012
_______________________________________________
Member of the Year and Friend of the Armenians Honored AT DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY
Clergy, delegates, and community members gathered at the Basketball Hall of
Fame in Springfield, Mass., on Friday evening, May 4, to honor two
distinguished individuals for their support of the Armenian Church and
contributions to the greater Armenian community. The Grand Banquet of the
110th Diocesan Assembly was hosted by Springfield's St. Mark Church.
The award for "Armenian Church Member of the Year" was bestowed on Dr.
Gregory Adamian, the long-serving president of Bentley University and a
much-admired Armenian community leader, who has served on the boards of the
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research and the Armenian
General Benevolent Union, and as a Diocesan Assembly delegate from St. James
Church of Watertown, Mass.
"Anyone who meets Gregory Adamian immediately appreciates his grand spirit
and generous soul," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. "We are blessed to have a man
like Gregory Adamian among us, who is passionately committed to our church
and Diocese."
Dr. Adamian spoke about his involvement in the Armenian community and the
many friends with whom he has worked over the years. He recalled his trip to
Armenia in the early 1990s, and shared his memories of visiting Khor Virab
monastery and descending into the pit where St. Gregory the Illuminator was
held captive for 13 years.
"One of the greatest highlights of my life was receiving the 'St. Sahag and
St. Mesrob Medal,' presented to me personally by Catholicos Karekin I," said
Dr. Adamian, who attended the May 4 banquet with his wife Deborah.
He expressed his gratitude to the Eastern Diocese for the recognition as
"Armenian Church Member of the Year."
"I am proud of this honor that I've received tonight, and I am proud to be
Armenian," he said. "God bless the Armenian Church."
The Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of
Churches, was the recipient of the Diocese's 2012 "Friend of the Armenians
Award." Dr. Tveit traveled to Armenia last year, where he met with His
Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
and visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial at Dzidzernagapert in Yerevan.
"The World Council has been a great supporter of our church-sharing our
sorrow at the time of the earthquake, advancing the cause of Genocide
recognition, and celebrating the independence of our homeland and the great
milestones of our history," Archbishop Barsamian said. "In his leadership
role, on the world stage, Dr. Tveit has become an eloquent champion of
causes that are deeply important to us-not simply as Armenians, but as
Christians and as human beings."
Dr. Tveit spoke about the Armenian Church's ecumenical efforts and expressed
his appreciation to Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Diocese's Ecumenical
Director who serves on the World Council of Churches Central and Executive
committees. In addition to his remarks at the May 4 banquet, Dr. Tveit
addressed delegates during the Second General Session of the Diocesan
Assembly earlier that day.
Dr. Tveit said that his work on the ecumenical stage "has been a journey
into a deeper understanding of what the cross of Christ means, both as a
sign of solidarity with everybody who is suffering and also as a sign of a
future-a future of resurrection and life."
He added, "A church like yours, which knows very much what the longing for
peace and justice means, has much to offer the other churches who need the
WCC to support their efforts towards a just peace."
Friday's banquet also featured a performance by the local close-harmony
vocal ensemble, the September Girls.
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian delivered the invocation that began the banquet.
Assembly organizing committee chair David Jermakian offered a celebratory
toast; Diocesan Council chair Oscar Tatosian introduced the honorees, and
Hagop Boyajian served as master of ceremonies. Lynn Diefenderfer chaired the
banquet committee for the host parish.
###
Photos attached.
Photo 1: Clergy, delegates, and community members gathered at the Basketball
Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on May 4, to honor two distinguished
individuals for their support of the Armenian Church.
Photo 2: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents Dr. Gregory Adamian with the
"Armenian Church Member of the Year" award.
Photo 3: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents the Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit
with the "Friend of the Armenians" award.
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 21, 2012
_______________________________________________
Member of the Year and Friend of the Armenians Honored AT DIOCESAN ASSEMBLY
Clergy, delegates, and community members gathered at the Basketball Hall of
Fame in Springfield, Mass., on Friday evening, May 4, to honor two
distinguished individuals for their support of the Armenian Church and
contributions to the greater Armenian community. The Grand Banquet of the
110th Diocesan Assembly was hosted by Springfield's St. Mark Church.
The award for "Armenian Church Member of the Year" was bestowed on Dr.
Gregory Adamian, the long-serving president of Bentley University and a
much-admired Armenian community leader, who has served on the boards of the
National Association for Armenian Studies and Research and the Armenian
General Benevolent Union, and as a Diocesan Assembly delegate from St. James
Church of Watertown, Mass.
"Anyone who meets Gregory Adamian immediately appreciates his grand spirit
and generous soul," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America. "We are blessed to have a man
like Gregory Adamian among us, who is passionately committed to our church
and Diocese."
Dr. Adamian spoke about his involvement in the Armenian community and the
many friends with whom he has worked over the years. He recalled his trip to
Armenia in the early 1990s, and shared his memories of visiting Khor Virab
monastery and descending into the pit where St. Gregory the Illuminator was
held captive for 13 years.
"One of the greatest highlights of my life was receiving the 'St. Sahag and
St. Mesrob Medal,' presented to me personally by Catholicos Karekin I," said
Dr. Adamian, who attended the May 4 banquet with his wife Deborah.
He expressed his gratitude to the Eastern Diocese for the recognition as
"Armenian Church Member of the Year."
"I am proud of this honor that I've received tonight, and I am proud to be
Armenian," he said. "God bless the Armenian Church."
The Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of the World Council of
Churches, was the recipient of the Diocese's 2012 "Friend of the Armenians
Award." Dr. Tveit traveled to Armenia last year, where he met with His
Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
and visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial at Dzidzernagapert in Yerevan.
"The World Council has been a great supporter of our church-sharing our
sorrow at the time of the earthquake, advancing the cause of Genocide
recognition, and celebrating the independence of our homeland and the great
milestones of our history," Archbishop Barsamian said. "In his leadership
role, on the world stage, Dr. Tveit has become an eloquent champion of
causes that are deeply important to us-not simply as Armenians, but as
Christians and as human beings."
Dr. Tveit spoke about the Armenian Church's ecumenical efforts and expressed
his appreciation to Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, the Diocese's Ecumenical
Director who serves on the World Council of Churches Central and Executive
committees. In addition to his remarks at the May 4 banquet, Dr. Tveit
addressed delegates during the Second General Session of the Diocesan
Assembly earlier that day.
Dr. Tveit said that his work on the ecumenical stage "has been a journey
into a deeper understanding of what the cross of Christ means, both as a
sign of solidarity with everybody who is suffering and also as a sign of a
future-a future of resurrection and life."
He added, "A church like yours, which knows very much what the longing for
peace and justice means, has much to offer the other churches who need the
WCC to support their efforts towards a just peace."
Friday's banquet also featured a performance by the local close-harmony
vocal ensemble, the September Girls.
Archbishop Vicken Aykazian delivered the invocation that began the banquet.
Assembly organizing committee chair David Jermakian offered a celebratory
toast; Diocesan Council chair Oscar Tatosian introduced the honorees, and
Hagop Boyajian served as master of ceremonies. Lynn Diefenderfer chaired the
banquet committee for the host parish.
###
Photos attached.
Photo 1: Clergy, delegates, and community members gathered at the Basketball
Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., on May 4, to honor two distinguished
individuals for their support of the Armenian Church.
Photo 2: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents Dr. Gregory Adamian with the
"Armenian Church Member of the Year" award.
Photo 3: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents the Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit
with the "Friend of the Armenians" award.