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PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
February 26, 2014
___________________
Charlotte Parish Observes Name Day
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), visited St. Sarkis Church of Charlotte, N.C., earlier
this month as the parish observed its name day and the anniversary of the
church's consecration.
On Saturday evening, February 15, the community welcomed Archbishop
Barsamian in the church's Acopian Hall. Members of various parish
organizations-including the Parish Council, ACYOA, Women's Guild, and
choir-had an opportunity to meet with the Primate, share recent
accomplishments and concerns, and to ask questions about parish life and
recent developments in the worldwide Armenian Church.
Later that evening, Dr. Sylvie Bastajian Yessayan, the parish's Diocesan
delegate, hosted a dinner for Archbishop Barsamian, the parish's
deacon-in-charge Benjamin Rith-Najarian, and members of the Acopian family
who generously supported the construction of St. Sarkis Church.
On Sunday, February 16, Archbishop Barsamian celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
He was assisted by Dn. Rith-Najarian and young altar servers. As has become
tradition on the Feast of St. Sarkis the Warrior (which fell on February 15
this year), the Charlotte church's patron saint, the Primate blessed madagh
and led a requiem service in memory of the deceased benefactor and
parishioners of St. Sarkis Church.
Later that afternoon, at a luncheon and program, the "St. Vartan" award was
presented to longtime parishioner and current parish council chair Hagop
Sarkissian. The parish also presented an award to the Acopian family in
recognition of the architectural significance of the sanctuary. A second
award was presented to the Touloukian family for the two beautiful stained
glass windows they donated to the church.
The parish's children's dance group, donning traditional Armenian costumes,
gave a colorful performance. Other parishioners performed on the piano and
duduk.
"It was a unique opportunity for the Armenian community in Charlotte to get
together to witness an episcopal Divine Liturgy," Mr. Sarkissian said, "and
our program after services allowed parishioners to enjoy the talent we have
here and to celebrate our faith and culture."
In his remarks, Dn. Rith-Najarian reflected on the historical St. Sarkis's
status in the Armenian Church as a "saint of love," noting that the
establishment of St. Sarkis Church "required hard work, time, money, but
most of all, it required a love of God, each other, and the Armenian
Church." Dn. Benjamin encouraged community members to continue supporting
one another and working toward a more vibrant parish.
Dn. Benjamin began his ministry in Charlotte six months ago, and already the
parish has noted exciting changes. Young people have benefitted from an
acolyte training program and bimonthly ACYOA Bible study sessions, which are
hosted in the homes of ACYOA members. The Sunday School was re-launched
earlier this academic year, and plans are underway to re-open the parish's
Armenian School. In addition, the new deacon-in-charge hosts regular Bible
studies for adults, which are followed by an evening service.
"It is always a joy for me to visit this community," Archbishop Barsamian
said. "I am so happy to see that under the guidance of Dn. Benjamin-a young
and energetic leader-this parish continues to grow and to carry forward the
mission of the Armenian Church of America."
The Armenian community of Charlotte began to form in the late 1980s and
early 1990s. In March 2000, the parish purchased a property in Charlotte and
began planning the construction of a new house of worship. The late Sarkis
Acopian of Easton, Pa., and his wife, Bobbye Acopian, generously pledged
more than $2 million to the building project in memory of Mr. Acopian's
mother, Dr. Arax Acopian.
Four years later, a cornerstone-blessing was held, and in July 2005
Archbishop Barsamian traveled to Charlotte to consecrate the newly-built St.
Sarkis Church.
Helen Acopian, who attended the weekend's events with members of her family,
said the weekend was uplifting. "I found it heartwarming to see the big
strides the community has taken since the construction of St. Sarkis
Church," she said. "It was nice to see that the church has become a
gathering place for the Armenians in Charlotte, and our family is glad and
proud for playing a role in making this happen."
###
Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Barsamian leads a procession during the Divine Liturgy
in Charlotte. Assisting him is the parish's deacon-in-charge Benjamin
Rith-Najarian, and other altar servers.
Photo 2: The parish's children's dance group performs at the luncheon
following services.
Photo 3: The parish presented an award to the Acopian family in recognition
of the architectural significance of the sanctuary.
Photo 4: The "St. Vartan" award was presented to longtime parishioner and
current parish council chair Hagop Sarkissian.
From: Baghdasarian
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.armenianchurch-ed.net
February 26, 2014
___________________
Charlotte Parish Observes Name Day
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America (Eastern), visited St. Sarkis Church of Charlotte, N.C., earlier
this month as the parish observed its name day and the anniversary of the
church's consecration.
On Saturday evening, February 15, the community welcomed Archbishop
Barsamian in the church's Acopian Hall. Members of various parish
organizations-including the Parish Council, ACYOA, Women's Guild, and
choir-had an opportunity to meet with the Primate, share recent
accomplishments and concerns, and to ask questions about parish life and
recent developments in the worldwide Armenian Church.
Later that evening, Dr. Sylvie Bastajian Yessayan, the parish's Diocesan
delegate, hosted a dinner for Archbishop Barsamian, the parish's
deacon-in-charge Benjamin Rith-Najarian, and members of the Acopian family
who generously supported the construction of St. Sarkis Church.
On Sunday, February 16, Archbishop Barsamian celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
He was assisted by Dn. Rith-Najarian and young altar servers. As has become
tradition on the Feast of St. Sarkis the Warrior (which fell on February 15
this year), the Charlotte church's patron saint, the Primate blessed madagh
and led a requiem service in memory of the deceased benefactor and
parishioners of St. Sarkis Church.
Later that afternoon, at a luncheon and program, the "St. Vartan" award was
presented to longtime parishioner and current parish council chair Hagop
Sarkissian. The parish also presented an award to the Acopian family in
recognition of the architectural significance of the sanctuary. A second
award was presented to the Touloukian family for the two beautiful stained
glass windows they donated to the church.
The parish's children's dance group, donning traditional Armenian costumes,
gave a colorful performance. Other parishioners performed on the piano and
duduk.
"It was a unique opportunity for the Armenian community in Charlotte to get
together to witness an episcopal Divine Liturgy," Mr. Sarkissian said, "and
our program after services allowed parishioners to enjoy the talent we have
here and to celebrate our faith and culture."
In his remarks, Dn. Rith-Najarian reflected on the historical St. Sarkis's
status in the Armenian Church as a "saint of love," noting that the
establishment of St. Sarkis Church "required hard work, time, money, but
most of all, it required a love of God, each other, and the Armenian
Church." Dn. Benjamin encouraged community members to continue supporting
one another and working toward a more vibrant parish.
Dn. Benjamin began his ministry in Charlotte six months ago, and already the
parish has noted exciting changes. Young people have benefitted from an
acolyte training program and bimonthly ACYOA Bible study sessions, which are
hosted in the homes of ACYOA members. The Sunday School was re-launched
earlier this academic year, and plans are underway to re-open the parish's
Armenian School. In addition, the new deacon-in-charge hosts regular Bible
studies for adults, which are followed by an evening service.
"It is always a joy for me to visit this community," Archbishop Barsamian
said. "I am so happy to see that under the guidance of Dn. Benjamin-a young
and energetic leader-this parish continues to grow and to carry forward the
mission of the Armenian Church of America."
The Armenian community of Charlotte began to form in the late 1980s and
early 1990s. In March 2000, the parish purchased a property in Charlotte and
began planning the construction of a new house of worship. The late Sarkis
Acopian of Easton, Pa., and his wife, Bobbye Acopian, generously pledged
more than $2 million to the building project in memory of Mr. Acopian's
mother, Dr. Arax Acopian.
Four years later, a cornerstone-blessing was held, and in July 2005
Archbishop Barsamian traveled to Charlotte to consecrate the newly-built St.
Sarkis Church.
Helen Acopian, who attended the weekend's events with members of her family,
said the weekend was uplifting. "I found it heartwarming to see the big
strides the community has taken since the construction of St. Sarkis
Church," she said. "It was nice to see that the church has become a
gathering place for the Armenians in Charlotte, and our family is glad and
proud for playing a role in making this happen."
###
Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Barsamian leads a procession during the Divine Liturgy
in Charlotte. Assisting him is the parish's deacon-in-charge Benjamin
Rith-Najarian, and other altar servers.
Photo 2: The parish's children's dance group performs at the luncheon
following services.
Photo 3: The parish presented an award to the Acopian family in recognition
of the architectural significance of the sanctuary.
Photo 4: The "St. Vartan" award was presented to longtime parishioner and
current parish council chair Hagop Sarkissian.
From: Baghdasarian