Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Eastern Prelacy: The Life and Work of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian Will

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

  • Eastern Prelacy: The Life and Work of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian Will

    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 27, 2004

    The Life and Work of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian
    Will be Memorialized on Friday, October 15

    NEW YORK, NY - In just two months the first anniversary of the
    passing of His Eminence Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian will be marked with
    appropriate requiem services in all Prelacy churches. Here in New York,
    where he served as the leader of the Eastern Prelacy for twenty years,
    his life and work will be remembered in a Memorial Tribute on Friday
    evening, October 15. The commemorative program will take place at
    St. Peter's Church, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th Street), at 7:30 p.m.

    Organized by the Hamazkayin of New York, the tribute is under the
    auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of
    the Eastern Prelacy. The gathering will hear addresses by Dr. Ashot
    Melkonian, Director of the Institute of History of the Academy of
    Sciences in Armenia, and the Honorable Judge Sarkis Teshoian, who
    served as chairman of the Prelacy's Executive Council during the
    Archbishop's tenure in New York.

    The cultural portion of the evening will feature the well-known singer
    Hasmik Mekhanedjian and Janet Marcarian on the organ. The opening
    words of welcome will be delivered by Mrs. Arevig Caprielian and
    Dr. Herand Markarian will serve as the evening's master of ceremonies.

    Perhaps the most poignant portion of the program will be a video
    presentation of the "Life and Work of Archbishop Mesrob Ashjian." The
    video presentation was prepared with the use of archival still
    photographs and videos. It is narrated in the Archbishop's own words,
    in his own voice.

    The late Archbishop, who died unexpectedly on December 2, 2003, during
    a visit to the New York area, served the Armenian Church for decades
    with passion and fervor. His service in the United States was preceded
    by his service as Prelate of New Julfa/Isfahan in Iran. He assumed
    the office of Prelate in the United States in January 1978 and for
    twenty years he served the community in the United States and Canada,
    with great distinction. His tenure was marked with a period of great
    growth for the Eastern Prelacy, both in scope and numbers.

    As Executive Director of the 1700th commemorative events of Christian
    Armenia, he once again manifested his great talent and vision for
    events that brought the faithful together and offered educational
    benefits not only for Armenians, but also for everyone. He continued to
    serve in Armenia after the death of Catholicos Karekin I. He worked
    tirelessly to spread Christianity throughout Armenia, supported
    countless ways to help the struggling population, and helped publish
    dozens of books.

    Archbishop Mesrob often spoke and wrote about the importance of
    respecting the dead. In one essay he wrote, "Throughout history, it
    has been observed that only the great nations of the world have known
    how to respect their dead. In contrast, those nations who have severed
    ties with their ancestors, have been doomed to extinction." He often
    quoted the late Catholicos Zareh I, who used to enjoy repeating the
    words of a famous historian who upon analyzing the reasons for the fall
    of Rome said, "Rome fell because Romans lost respect for their dead."

    Archbishop Mesrob will be remembered for time immemorial because of
    his extraordinary life and work. New York's Hamazkayin is honored to
    present this memorial tribute in remembrance of a great humanitarian
    and clergyman whose greatest joy was working for the benefit and
    strength of the Armenian church and nation.

    Archbishop Oshagan, a fellow member of the Cilician Brotherhood and
    lifelong friend of the late Archbishop, will deliver the evening's
    concluding words and benediction.

    Admission is free. Further information is available at 718-459-2757.
Working...
X