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Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian Honored on 25th Anniv. Of His Ordination

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  • Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian Honored on 25th Anniv. Of His Ordination

    PRESS OFFICE
    Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
    630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
    Contact: Karine Abalyan
    Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Website: www.armenianchurch.net

    September 1, 2009

    ___________________________________

    THE REV. FR. TATEOS ABDALIAN HONORED ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS
    ORDINATION

    On Sunday, August 23, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of
    the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), presided over the celebration of
    the 25th anniversary of the Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian's ordination to the
    priesthood.

    The event took place at Holy Trinity Armenian Church in Cambridge, Mass.,
    where Fr. Abdalian was ordained in June 1984.

    Fr. Abdalian celebrated the Divine Liturgy and was presented with a
    Pontifical Encyclical congratulating him on his 25 years of service to the
    Armenian Church.

    "The feeling of love that Der Tateos brings to his ministry has grown
    stronger with each passing year," the Primate said. "We have all felt, and
    benefited from, his love. And today, as we observe this milestone in his
    ministry, it is our chance to let Der Hayr know just how much we love him,
    in return."

    Following services, 150 people gathered for a reception in Fr. Abdalian's
    honor.

    "It was wonderful and humbling," said Fr. Abdalian. "It was a family affair
    and that's what I wanted."

    The celebration was organized by a committee from the Holy Trinity parish
    led by its pastor, the Rev. Fr. Vasken Kouzouian. Also serving on the
    committee were members of the St. James parish of Watertown-where Fr.
    Abdalian was born and raised.

    "The beautiful part was that the funds that were collected [during the
    event] will benefit young people at the mission parishes, to send them on
    scholarships to St. Nersess summer conferences. Two historical parishes came
    together, and then the mission parishes directly benefited from it," Fr.
    Kouzouian said.

    He added that the day was preceded by acolyte ordinations held on Saturday
    evening. "It was an overall beautiful picture," Fr. Kouzouian said.

    Fr. Abdalian enrolled at St. Nersess and St. Vladimir's seminaries in 1977
    after working in the bank sector and as the administrative director of St.
    James Armenian Church of Watertown, Mass. He continued his studies at the
    Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary
    in Boston, Mass.

    He says that serving the Armenian people and helping them become closer to
    God is what drew him to the priesthood.

    "My reflections on the past have always centered on the people I had been
    entrusted to minister, for as a priest, ministry is nothing unless it is
    connected with people," Fr. Abdalian said.

    When Fr. Abdalian was ordained in 1984, Fr. Kouzouian's father, the Rev. Fr.
    Mampre Kouzouian, served as the sponsor.

    Fr. Abdalian says his ordination is particularly memorable because his
    father, who was under hospice care at the time, was able to witness this
    milestone in his son's life.

    "When I ask myself, 'What inspired Der Tateos to dedicate his life to the
    ministry of God's flock?'" Archbishop Barsamian said, "the answer is clear:
    It is a feeling of love, which issues from a pure heart, a good conscience,
    and deep faith in the presence of Christ in his life."

    Following his ordination, Fr. Abdalian was assigned to serve as the pastor
    of the St. John the Baptist Church in Greenfield, Wis., where he worked with
    the community to build a new sanctuary for the church.

    After the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, Fr. Abdalian worked with the office of
    the Wisconsin National Guard to organize relief efforts.

    Fr. Abdalian has also served as pastor of the St. Peter Armenian Church in
    Watervliet, N.Y., and the St. George Armenian Church in Hartford, Conn.

    While in Hartford, Fr. Abdalian was an on-call chaplain at Hartford Hospital
    and a member of the hospital's Pastor Services Advisory Committee. He was
    also police chaplain with the Hartford Police Department and a member of the
    department's Crisis Intervention Team.

    His other involvement with the police force includes the establishment of
    the police chaplain program at the Cheltenham Police Department, as well as
    membership of their SWAT Intervention Team and the International Conference
    of Police Chaplains.

    In 1999, Fr. Abdalian became pastor of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian
    Church in Providence, R.I., and later served as pastor at the Holy Trinity
    Armenian Church in Cheltenham, Pa.

    Currently, Fr. Abdalian is the director of Mission Parishes at the Eastern
    Diocese, where he oversees about 15 mission parish communities. He visits
    each parish on a regular basis to celebrate the Divine Liturgy and organizes
    programming for parishioners. He also produces a weekly electronic
    publication for mission parishes titled "e-Tsayn."

    In addition, Fr. Abdalian is involved in ecumenical activities. In 2006, he
    spoke at a gathering in Washington, D.C., organized to raise awareness of
    the genocide in Darfur. He is a member of the Oriental Orthodox/Roman
    Catholic Dialogue and the Standing Committee of Oriental Orthodox Churches
    in America.

    Fr. Abdalian said his family has been very supportive during his years of
    service to the Armenian Church. He is married to Yeretzgin Margaret
    Meranian. They have a son, David, and a daughter, Alicia, and two
    grandchildren.

    Reflecting on his ministry, Fr. Abdalian said, "I could ask: was I able to
    bring someone closer to God; strengthen a faith; have one see the value and
    joy of life measured by a word of thanks, a smile of appreciation, a humble
    gesture? This is what a pastor has to do, and I certainly hope that in some
    measure I've been able to do this."

    ###



    Photos attached.



    Photo 1: The Rev. Fr. Vasken Kouzouian reads the Pontifical Encyclical
    presented to the Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian by the Primate, on the occasion of
    the 25th anniversary of Fr. Abdalian's ordination.

    Photo 2: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian presents the Rev. Fr. Tateos Abdalian
    with the Pontifical Encyclical, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of
    Fr. Abdalian's ordination.
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