Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Eastern Prelacy: Mid-Atlantic Area Prepares to Welcome Aram I

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Eastern Prelacy: Mid-Atlantic Area Prepares to Welcome Aram I

    PRESS RELEASE
    Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
    138 East 39th Street
    New York, NY 10016
    Tel: 212-689-7810
    Fax: 212-689-7168
    e-mail: [email protected]
    Website: http://www.armenianprelacy.org
    Contact: Iris Papazian

    September 19, 2005

    MID-ATLANTIC AREA PREPARES TO WELCOME ARAM I
    LARGE TURNOUT EXPECTED AT DIVINE LITURGY IN NEW YORK
    REV. DR. SAMUEL KOBIA WILL BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT BANQUET

    NEW YORK, NY-The Mid-Atlantic area states, including New York, New Jersey,
    Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, are preparing to welcome His Holiness Aram I,
    as he begins his visit to the Eastern Prelacy. His Holiness will arrive in
    New York on the evening of October 19 and will visit areas within the
    Eastern Prelacy until November 1, including New York, Washington, DC,
    Boston, and Chicago.
    His Holiness will be officially welcomed by the Mid Atlantic community
    at Hrashapar services at St. Illuminator's Cathedral, 221 E. 27th Street,
    New York City, on Thursday, October 20, beginning at 7:30 pm. A reception
    will follow the ceremony providing the faithful an opportunity to personally
    greet His Holiness.

    75TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEMINARY
    "His Holiness is honoring us with his presence as part of the worldwide
    celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Theological
    Seminary at Antelias," said Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the
    Eastern Prelacy. "The Seminary has served the Armenian Church worldwide with
    great distinction for 75 years, and it is appropriate for us to pause and
    reflect on this service and pay homage to the visionary leaders who overcame
    difficult obstacles and established the Seminary in Antelias."
    On Friday, October 21, this anniversary will be formally marked with a
    commemorative program at Sts. Vartanantz Church, 461 Bergen Boulevard,
    Ridgefield, NJ. The program will begin at 7:30 pm and will be followed with
    a reception.
    The program will feature two keynote addresses. Judge Sarkis Teshoian,
    an esteemed member of the Massachusetts judiciary, and a former chairman of
    the Prelacy's Executive Council, will speak in English, while V. Rev.
    Meghrig Parikian, a member of the Cilician Brotherhood and pastor of St.
    Asdvadzadzin Church in Toronto, Canada, will speak in Armenian.

    PONTIFICAL DIVINE LITURGY
    On Sunday, October 23, His Holiness will be the celebrant at the
    Pontifical Divine Liturgy at St. Bartholomew's Church, Park Avenue (between
    50th and 51st Streets). The Liturgy, which is expected to be attended by a
    large number of community members, dignitaries, and ecumenical guests, will
    begin at 1:30 with a procession. His Holiness will be assisted at the altar
    by members of the clergy and deacons serving in the Mid-Atlantic area. The
    choirs of the area churches will join forces and participate in the Liturgy.

    CELEBRATORY BANQUET WILL MARK DUAL ANNIVERSARIES
    Immediately after the Liturgy a banquet will take place at The Pierre,
    Fifth Avenue at 61st Street. Cocktail reception will begin at 5 pm, followed
    by dinner at 6 pm. The Keynote Address will be delivered by Rev. Dr. Samuel
    Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches.
    The banquet will focus on the 75th anniversary of the Seminary with a
    short video presentation, as well as the 10th anniversary of the election
    and enthronement of His Holiness. Dr. George Dermksian, chairman of the
    Steering Committee, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies during the
    Banquet. "I am honored to be taking part in welcoming Catholicos Aram I to
    the Eastern Prelacy," said Dr. Dermksian. "He has earned the respect and
    admiration of not only Armenians, but the world at large through his
    outstanding ecumenical leadership. We can all be proud of his
    accomplishments and be prepared to welcome him in the finest manner
    possible."

    ENCYCLICAL ISSUED
    On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Seminary, Catholicos Aram
    I issued an encyclical praising the rich history of the Seminary. He said,
    in part:
    "Take another look at the history of our people and church during the
    past 75 years. So many generations, ecclesiastics and laypersons alike,
    enlivened by the Bible, enriched by our intellectual and spiritual values,
    and imbued with national aspirations, emerged from the Seminary of the
    Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia, to go among our people
    scattered throughout the world. So many generations took the spirit and
    education received in the Seminary and applied it in uncompromising and
    self-devoted service, an abundance of which they provided to the Armenian
    people, from Armenia to the distant Diasporan communities.. Remembering the
    75th anniversary of the Seminary means looking toward the future with solid
    faith and bright vision, having rendered the past into just pride."
    To read the entire text of His Holiness' Encyclical in Armenian and
    English go to the Prelacy's web site (www.armenianprelacy.org).

    ECUMENICAL SYMPOSIUM
    During his visit a symposium and conference will take place in New York
    City and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
    The symposium in New York, sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy in
    conjunction with the World Council of Churches and National Council of
    Churches, will take place Saturday, October 22 at The Interchurch Center,
    475 Riverside Drive.
    Under the general topic of "Challenges Facing the Ecumenical Movement
    in the 21st Century," a number of well-known church leaders will participate
    including, The Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary, World Council of
    Churches; Rev. Dr. Robert W. Edgar, General Secretary, National Council of
    the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Very Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky,
    Moderator, U.S. Conference for the World Council of Churches and Ecumenical
    Officer, Orthodox Church of America; The Rev. Dr. Wesley
    Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary, Reformed Church in America; Bishop
    Thomas Hoyt, President, National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA;
    Fr. Arthur L. Kennedy, Executive Director, United States Conference of
    Catholic Bishops; The Rev. Dr. Diane Kessler, Executive Director,
    Massachusetts Council of Churches; The Rev. Deborah DeWinter, Program
    Executive for the United States, World Council of Churches.
    His Holiness will address the Symposium and offer the Closing
    Reflection.

    INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
    An International Conference dedicated to the 1600th anniversary of the
    founding of the Armenian alphabet will take place on Friday and Saturday,
    October 28 and 29, at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
    The Conference, sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy, Harvard University's
    Mashtots Chair, Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, and
    the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, will bring together top
    scholars in the field from Armenia, Europe and the United States. Some of
    the participating scholars are: Robert Thomson, Abraham Terian, James
    Russell, Michael Stone, Gohar Muradyan, John Huehnergard, Karen Yuzbashyan,
    and others. The Conference will begin Friday evening, October 28 and
    continue on Saturday, October 29.
    His Holiness will attend and address the Conference Friday evening.

    VISIT THE WEB SITE
    Up to date information about the entire visit is on the Prelacy's web
    site (www.armenianprelacy.org), or contact the Prelacy at 212-689-7810.
Working...
X