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ANCA: Abp Choloyan Urges Return of Churches; Genocide Affirmation

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  • ANCA: Abp Choloyan Urges Return of Churches; Genocide Affirmation

    ANCA: Archbishop Choloyan Urges Return of Churches; Genocide
    Affirmation in Capitol Hill Meetings

    29-04-2012 10:00:18 | USA | Press release

    His Eminence offers Senate opening prayer; Completes day of meetings
    with Senate and House Members

    WASHINGTON, DC - His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate 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 Capitol Hill meetings, this week, 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).

    The Archbishop's opening prayer at the Senate was held on April 25th,
    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.'

    Video of Archbishop Choloyan's Senate prayer may be viewed on 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,' explained Senator Reed. `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,' concluded Sen. Reed.

    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 http://pic.twitter.com/GTaPWPjb `

    Sen. Reed's floor statement can be viewed at:
    http://youtu.be/lEowgpWm-Xw

    Welcoming remarks were also offered by Senate Majority Leader Harry
    Reid (D-NV), 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.'

    Senate Majority Leader Reid's floor statement can be viewed at:
    http://youtu.be/JPKr1tKfv-4

    Throughout the day, Archbishop Choloyan met with a bipartisan group of
    legislators, including: Senators Scott Brown (R-MA), Ben Cardin
    (D-MD), Al Franken (D-MN), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI),
    and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), as well as, Representatives David
    Cicilline (D-RI), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Albio Sires (D-NJ), and Bob
    Turner (R-NY). 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 Karabakh
    Republic in the U.S. In his invocation, His Eminence Oshagan Choloyan
    noted that, `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






    News from Armenia and Diaspora - Noyan Tapan

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