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Primate honors two priests in one weekend

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  • Primate honors two priests in one weekend

    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

    June 6, 2004
    ___________________

    PRIESTLY ANNIVERSARIES MARKED IN CT AND NJ

    On Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23, 2004, Archbishop Khajag
    Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
    (Eastern), celebrated priestly anniversaries with two parish
    communities.

    On Saturday, the Primate was in Trumbull, CT, marking the 25th
    anniversary of the priestly ordination of Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, pastor
    of the Church of the Holy Ascension. On Sunday the Primate traveled to
    Livingston, NJ, where he attended a banquet honoring the 10th ordination
    anniversary of Fr. Shnork Souin.

    Also while in Livingston, the Primate ordained Matthew Dalakian as a
    sub-deacon and Matthew Krikorian, Alan Chaderjian, Erik Chamberjian, and
    Julie Hoplamazian as acolytes.

    FR. UNTZAG NALBANDIAN

    During the celebration marking his anniversary, Archbishop Barsamian
    presented Fr. Nalbandian with a pontifical encyclical from His Holiness
    Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, elevating
    Fr. Nalbandian to the rank of "arch-priest".

    "Der Hayr has been a spiritual leader to so many people," the Primate
    said during the celebration. "I'm sure that every person here could add
    their own story about how his presence made a difference at a critical
    time."

    Fr. Nalbandian was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to survivors of the Armenian
    Genocide. He studied at the Melkonian Educational Institute in Nicosia,
    Cyprus, before heading to the Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin.

    He served as a deacon to the Armenian community in Parish before moving
    to the United States in 1978. Once in America, Fr. Nalbandian served as
    deacon-in-charge of the St. Sarkis Church of Niagara Falls, NY, where he
    was ordained as a priest by Archbishop Torkom Manoogian. Before being
    assigned to Trumbull in 1984, Fr. Nalbandian served the St. John Church
    of Greenfield, WI.

    Since 1999, he has served as the director of youth and education for the
    Eastern Diocese, while continuing as pastor to the Church of the Holy
    Ascension.

    "Throughout my years as Primate, I've always been comforted to know that
    I could rely on Der Untzag to rise to every challenge," the Primate
    said. "And it was for that reason that I called on him to lead the
    various program ministries of the Diocese - which he has accomplished
    with great skill these past five years."

    Fr. Nalbandian and his wife, Yn. Setta, have three children.

    FR. SHNORK SOUIN

    A native of Toronto, Canada, Fr. Souin's first vocation was as a sales
    representative for a large Canadian company. He was called to the
    seminary in 1992, and was ordained as a priest in 1994 by Archbishop
    Hovnan Derderian, then Primate of the Canadian Diocese.

    His first pastoral assignment was with the St. Gregory Church in St.
    Catharine's, Canada. He was appointed as pastor at the St. Mary
    Armenian Church in Livingston, NJ, in September 2001.

    "He is a man whose whole life has been directed towards the heavenly
    Light. And when he accepted ordination 10 years ago, he chose to step
    more fully into Christ's light, because his heart was indeed true and
    pure," Archbishop Barsamian said during a banquet celebrating Fr.
    Souin's anniversary. "He had no apprehension about acting in the light,
    for his deeds were truly part of the greater work of God."

    Fr. Souin and his wife, Yn. Julie, have three children.

    -- 6/2/04

    E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable on the Eastern
    Diocese's website, www.armenianchurch.org.

    PHOTO CAPTION (1): The Primate joined Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, pastor of
    the Church of the Holy Ascension in Trumbull, CT, and his family during
    a celebration marking Fr. Nalbandian's 25th year as a priest on May 22,
    2004.

    PHOTO CAPTION (2): Archbishop Barsamian marks the 10th anniversary of
    the ordination of Fr. Shnork Souin, pastor of the St. Mary Church of
    Livingston, NJ, on May 23, 2004.

    # # #
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