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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
December 16, 2014
__________________
Altar Servers Ordained in Fair Lawn
On Sunday, November 30, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), visited St. Leon Church of Fair
Lawn, NJ, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and ordained seminarians
and a local altar server.
He ordained recent St. Nersess Armenian Seminary graduate Saro Kalayjian to
the diaconate, and seminarians Levon Asdourian and Eric Vozzy to the
sub-diaconate. St. Leon parishioner Paul Chamesian also became a sub-deacon.
Following the service, Archbishop Barsamian led a procession to the parish
house, known as Holy Trinity House, for a blessing. The house was recently
renovated through the efforts of the entire parish.
The parish hosted a banquet in honor of the newly ordained altar servers.
The program opened with a prayer and words of welcome from the Rev. Fr.
Vertanes Kalayjian, a longtime pastor in the Eastern Diocese and the father
of Dn. Saro Kalayjian. Parish council vice chair Zareh Beylerian served as
master of ceremonies.
The Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Nersess Seminary, spoke about the
mission of the seminary in preparing young men and women to serve the
Armenian Church of America. He went on to speak about the importance of
hearing God's call and responding to it.
Dn. Saro Kalayjian, who has been interning at St. Leon Church following his
graduation from the seminary, said it has been inspiring and rewarding to
learn about parish life at first-hand in such a large and active community.
In addition to serving on the altar and singing in the choir, he has been
assisting in Sunday School, helping with ACYOA Seniors programming,
attending parish meetings, and taking part in other facets of parish life.
"Saro has been an asset to our community, and I've enjoyed working with
him," said the Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian, pastor of St. Leon Church.
Dn. Kalayjian expressed his gratitude to Fr. Bohajian for his guidance, and
to all his mentors at St. Nersess Seminary and the senior deacons at various
parishes who have helped him learn the worship service of the Armenian
Church. He also said he has been inspired by his family who planted the
seeds of the Armenian Christian faith in him at a young age.
"My parents have been beacons of faith throughout my life, and I'm
particularly thankful to have had them as role models for these many years,"
he said.
He went on to speak about the role of the deacon in the Armenian Church,
describing the need for deacons to take on responsibilities beyond altar
service, such as visiting the sick, spending time with the elderly, and
helping preach to their congregations.
"As our parishes grow and as our parishes shrink, what can we expect from
deacons moving forward in the coming years and decades?" he said. "We have
to look forward and adopt a model of growth."
Archbishop Barsamian congratulated the newly ordained altar servers. "It is
our prayer that these young men will be guided by the Holy Spirit in their
service to the Armenian Church and the Armenian people," he said. "I commend
their dedication, and I would like to express my gratitude to their families
and communities for nourishing their faith and inspiring them to answer
God's call."
Fr. Bohajian and the parish council of St. Leon Church presented the newly
ordained altar servers with books. A cake-cutting ceremony concluded the
celebration.
Other clergy taking part in Sunday's events included the Very Rev. Fr.
Daniel Findikyan and the Rev. Fr. Arnak Kasparian. Current St. Nersess
seminarians also participated.
###
Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordains Saro Kalayjian to the
diaconate.
Photo 2: Eric Vozzy, Levon Asdourian, and Paul Chamesian become sub-deacons.
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
December 16, 2014
__________________
Altar Servers Ordained in Fair Lawn
On Sunday, November 30, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), visited St. Leon Church of Fair
Lawn, NJ, where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and ordained seminarians
and a local altar server.
He ordained recent St. Nersess Armenian Seminary graduate Saro Kalayjian to
the diaconate, and seminarians Levon Asdourian and Eric Vozzy to the
sub-diaconate. St. Leon parishioner Paul Chamesian also became a sub-deacon.
Following the service, Archbishop Barsamian led a procession to the parish
house, known as Holy Trinity House, for a blessing. The house was recently
renovated through the efforts of the entire parish.
The parish hosted a banquet in honor of the newly ordained altar servers.
The program opened with a prayer and words of welcome from the Rev. Fr.
Vertanes Kalayjian, a longtime pastor in the Eastern Diocese and the father
of Dn. Saro Kalayjian. Parish council vice chair Zareh Beylerian served as
master of ceremonies.
The Rev. Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Nersess Seminary, spoke about the
mission of the seminary in preparing young men and women to serve the
Armenian Church of America. He went on to speak about the importance of
hearing God's call and responding to it.
Dn. Saro Kalayjian, who has been interning at St. Leon Church following his
graduation from the seminary, said it has been inspiring and rewarding to
learn about parish life at first-hand in such a large and active community.
In addition to serving on the altar and singing in the choir, he has been
assisting in Sunday School, helping with ACYOA Seniors programming,
attending parish meetings, and taking part in other facets of parish life.
"Saro has been an asset to our community, and I've enjoyed working with
him," said the Rev. Fr. Diran Bohajian, pastor of St. Leon Church.
Dn. Kalayjian expressed his gratitude to Fr. Bohajian for his guidance, and
to all his mentors at St. Nersess Seminary and the senior deacons at various
parishes who have helped him learn the worship service of the Armenian
Church. He also said he has been inspired by his family who planted the
seeds of the Armenian Christian faith in him at a young age.
"My parents have been beacons of faith throughout my life, and I'm
particularly thankful to have had them as role models for these many years,"
he said.
He went on to speak about the role of the deacon in the Armenian Church,
describing the need for deacons to take on responsibilities beyond altar
service, such as visiting the sick, spending time with the elderly, and
helping preach to their congregations.
"As our parishes grow and as our parishes shrink, what can we expect from
deacons moving forward in the coming years and decades?" he said. "We have
to look forward and adopt a model of growth."
Archbishop Barsamian congratulated the newly ordained altar servers. "It is
our prayer that these young men will be guided by the Holy Spirit in their
service to the Armenian Church and the Armenian people," he said. "I commend
their dedication, and I would like to express my gratitude to their families
and communities for nourishing their faith and inspiring them to answer
God's call."
Fr. Bohajian and the parish council of St. Leon Church presented the newly
ordained altar servers with books. A cake-cutting ceremony concluded the
celebration.
Other clergy taking part in Sunday's events included the Very Rev. Fr.
Daniel Findikyan and the Rev. Fr. Arnak Kasparian. Current St. Nersess
seminarians also participated.
###
Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian ordains Saro Kalayjian to the
diaconate.
Photo 2: Eric Vozzy, Levon Asdourian, and Paul Chamesian become sub-deacons.