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Legate delivers tsunami relief aid

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  • Legate delivers tsunami relief aid

    PRESS OFFICE
    Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
    630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
    Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
    Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Website: www.armenianchurch.org

    March 31, 2005
    ___________________

    DIOCESE RAISES MORE THAN $60,000 FOR TSUNAMI

    On Wednesday, May 30, 2005, the Eastern Diocese presented a check to the
    National Council of Church's Church World Service (CWS) to fund tsunami
    relief efforts in Asia.

    More than $66,000 was raised by parishes and individual donations, and
    channeled to the CWS through the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR), which
    has a history of providing relief to victims of extraordinary natural
    disasters.

    "As the world stepped forward to help our fellow Armenians after the
    devastating earthquake, so too have Armenians shown time and time again
    our Christian spirit of helping our fellow man," said Archbishop Khajag
    Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
    (Eastern). "I thank all those who gave to help those in need so far
    away. It could have been easy to see the suffering on television and
    done nothing to help, but so many were moved to give generous gifts of
    support."

    Bishop Vicken Aykazian, diocesan legate and ecumenical officer is a
    leader in the National Council of Churches (NCC) and was involved in
    organizing the Diocesan-wide fund-raising efforts. On behalf of the
    Diocese, he delivered the check to Rev. John McCullough, executive
    director of CWS, the NCC's international relief organization.

    The funds raised by the Armenian community will be used by CWS for
    long-term, on-going relief work in the areas devastated by the December
    tsunami. CWS has been working in the area for several decades and has
    staff on the ground in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India.
    Assistance efforts include providing medical and psychological help,
    installing water systems, and delivering food.

    "Church World Service is an ecumenical organization, sponsored by the
    Armenian Church and other denominations -- Orthodox, Protestant, and
    Anglican. So it is truly doing the work of God," Bishop Aykazian said.
    "Our community came together to offer our support, and then we came
    together with our brothers and sisters in Christ to provide relief to
    the victims of that terrible tragedy."

    -- 3/31/05

    E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
    and Events section of the Eastern Diocese's website,
    www.armenianchurch.org.

    PHOTO CAPTION (1): Bishop Vicken Aykazian, diocesan legate and
    ecumenical officer, presents a check for $66,000 to Rev. John
    McCullough, executive director of Church World Service, the
    international aid organization of the National Council of Churches. The
    money, raised by parishes and through individual donations, will be used
    for long-term relief of victims of December's Asian tsunami.
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