Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

New church in Charlotte opens

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

  • New church in Charlotte opens

    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

    August 4, 2005
    ___________________

    ST. SARKIS CHURCH OF CHARLOTTE CONSECRATED BY ARCHBISHOP BARSAMIAN

    By Jake Goshert

    It was the birth of a new community as more than 300 people gathered on
    Sunday, July 31, 2005, for the consecration of the newest Armenian
    Church in the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern): St.
    Sarkis Church of Charlotte, NC.

    The community has built itself up from just a handful of families, and a
    few years after buying its property was blessed by the generosity of a
    benefactor from Easton, PA: Mr. Sarkis Acopian.

    "I look around today and I see so many people from so many backgrounds
    and life experiences," said Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
    Diocese, during the consecration service. "And yet you have all come
    together -- in unity -- in the name of our Lord, under the shield of His
    church, in the cause of the Armenian Christian heritage. And you have
    done this, even though you are remote from the larger concentrations of
    our people in this country. Today you begin a new life together,
    united, as an Armenian Christian church."

    STARTED AS A DREAM

    As he consecrated the new St. Sarkis Church, the Primate reflected on
    the humble origins of the community. The Armenians in the Charlotte
    area first began to be called together when Lena Kupelian Neau arrived
    in the area in 1988. At that time there was no Armenian organization in
    the area.

    She pulled out the phone book and started making phone calls to all the
    Armenians she could find. Pulling others into an organization, she was
    joined by people like Roland Telfayan; Arthur, Puzant, and Paul
    Yessayan; and Zaven Touloukian.

    "My profound appreciation goes out to those who had the vision to
    establish a parish in this area," the Primate said. "And also to those
    who took up that vision, built upon it, and expanded it."

    Dozens of these local community leaders, who gave so much of their time,
    energy, and financial resources to enliven the community, served as
    "godfamilies" of the church during its consecration.

    The road to building the new church took some unexpected turns, causing
    the consecration to be postponed from two earlier dates. But now, at
    last, the community finally have a proper Armenian spiritual home of
    their own.

    "We feel finally have a home we can gather in. Since we've been using
    the sanctuary attendance has quadrupled," said Mrs. Kupelian Neau, the
    present parish council chair, who added that the parish now gets between
    60 and 120 people at services. "The feeling in our former location -- a
    rented church -- was different; people would be talking during the
    services. But here you can hear a pin drop. The new church is having a
    totally different effect on the parishioners. I think because we're
    going from an American church to a totally Armenian church."

    Standing on a main street in Charlotte, and being constructed in the
    style of traditional Armenian Church architecture, also means the parish
    is helping educate the locals about the Armenian people.

    "It has put the Armenians on the map of Charlotte. Nobody questions
    what an Armenian is anymore. Everybody knows now. Everybody in
    Charlotte is talking about it," Ms. Kupelian Neau said.

    HONORING A MOTHER'S LOVE

    The community was boosted last year when Mr. and Mrs. Sarkis and Bobbye
    Acopian, from Easton, PA, pledged $2.25 million to build the new church
    in honor of Sarkis' mother, Arax.

    Arax was born in Kars, Turkey, in 1898, and grew up in Georgia and Iran,
    where she was a respected dentist. With her husband Grigor, she shared
    her devotion to the Armenian church and Armenian people with three
    children.

    Mr. and Mrs. Acopian were on hand to attend the consecration and cut the
    ribbon on the adjoining church hall, named in their honor, where the
    celebratory banquet was held.

    Serving as "godfamilies" during the consecration of the St. Sarkis
    Church of Charlotte, NC, were:
    Pierre Arbajian
    Nely Avakyants
    Edward and Mary Anne Azarian
    Leon and Sonia Bagdasarian
    Olga Boloyan
    Raymond and Roberta Bozoian
    Charles and Betty Diman
    Paul, Dolores, and Donna Loutigian
    Sergey and Arevat Manucharova
    Gerard and Lena (Kupelian) Neau
    Hagop and Noelle Sarkissian
    Genrikh and Zhanna Shirazyan
    Roland and Marie Telfeyan
    Hagop and Zaven and Raye Touloukian
    Diane Gulkasian Tudor
    Ara Sylvie, Arthur and Lynn, and Paul and Sylva Yessayan

    -- 8/3/05

    E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News
    and Events section of the Eastern Diocese's website,
    www.armenianchurch.org.

    PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Eastern
    Diocese, flanked by Fr. Daniel Karadjian, left, and Fr. Daniel Findikyan
    and benefactor Sarkis Acopian enter the filled St. Sarkis Church of
    Charlotte, NC, on the day of its final consecration, July 31, 2005.

    PHOTO CAPTION (2): The Primate blesses the altar cross during the
    consecration of the St. Sarkis Church in Charlotte, NC, on July 31,
    2005.

    PHOTO CAPTION (3): Archbishop Barsamian blesses one of the crosses
    surrounding the St. Sarkis Church in Charlotte, NC.

    PHOTO CAPTION (4): The Primate, Fr. Daniel Karadjian, left, and Fr.
    Daniel Findikyan, fight, bless the altar at the new St. Sarkis Church of
    Charlotte, NC, on July 31, 2005.

    PHOTO CAPTION (5): The Primate and benefactors Sarkis and Bobbye
    Acopian prepare to release doves in celebration following the
    consecration of the St. Sarkis Church of Charlotte, NC, on July 31,
    2005.

    PHOTO CAPTION (6): Archbishop Barsamian is joined by the godparents,
    altar servers, choir, and leaders of the newly consecrated St. Sarkis
    Church of Charlotte, NC.

    PHOTO CAPTION (7): The newly consecrated St. Sarkis Church sits on a
    main intersection in Charlotte, NC.

    PHOTO CAPTION (8): Young parishioners of the St. Sarkis Church in
    Charlotte, NC, dance during the banquet in the adjoining Sarkis and
    Bobbye Acopian Cultural Hall following the consecration of the sanctuary
    on July 31, 2005.

    # # #
Working...
X