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:
June 6, 2004
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PRIESTLY ANNIVERSARIES MARKED IN CT AND NJ
On Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23, 2004, Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern), celebrated priestly anniversaries with two parish
communities.
On Saturday, the Primate was in Trumbull, CT, marking the 25th
anniversary of the priestly ordination of Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, pastor
of the Church of the Holy Ascension. On Sunday the Primate traveled to
Livingston, NJ, where he attended a banquet honoring the 10th ordination
anniversary of Fr. Shnork Souin.
Also while in Livingston, the Primate ordained Matthew Dalakian as a
sub-deacon and Matthew Krikorian, Alan Chaderjian, Erik Chamberjian, and
Julie Hoplamazian as acolytes.
FR. UNTZAG NALBANDIAN
During the celebration marking his anniversary, Archbishop Barsamian
presented Fr. Nalbandian with a pontifical encyclical from His Holiness
Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, elevating
Fr. Nalbandian to the rank of “arch-priest”.
“Der Hayr has been a spiritual leader to so many people,” the Primate
said during the celebration. “I’m sure that every person here could add
their own story about how his presence made a difference at a critical
time.”
Fr. Nalbandian was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to survivors of the Armenian
Genocide. He studied at the Melkonian Educational Institute in Nicosia,
Cyprus, before heading to the Seminary of Holy Etchmiadzin.
He served as a deacon to the Armenian community in Parish before moving
to the United States in 1978. Once in America, Fr. Nalbandian served as
deacon-in-charge of the St. Sarkis Church of Niagara Falls, NY, where he
was ordained as a priest by Archbishop Torkom Manoogian. Before being
assigned to Trumbull in 1984, Fr. Nalbandian served the St. John Church
of Greenfield, WI.
Since 1999, he has served as the director of youth and education for the
Eastern Diocese, while continuing as pastor to the Church of the Holy
Ascension.
“Throughout my years as Primate, I’ve always been comforted to know that
I could rely on Der Untzag to rise to every challenge,” the Primate
said. “And it was for that reason that I called on him to lead the
various program ministries of the Diocese – which he has accomplished
with great skill these past five years.”
Fr. Nalbandian and his wife, Yn. Setta, have three children.
FR. SHNORK SOUIN
A native of Toronto, Canada, Fr. Souin’s first vocation was as a sales
representative for a large Canadian company. He was called to the
seminary in 1992, and was ordained as a priest in 1994 by Archbishop
Hovnan Derderian, then Primate of the Canadian Diocese.
His first pastoral assignment was with the St. Gregory Church in St.
Catharine’s, Canada. He was appointed as pastor at the St. Mary
Armenian Church in Livingston, NJ, in September 2001.
“He is a man whose whole life has been directed towards the heavenly
Light. And when he accepted ordination 10 years ago, he chose to step
more fully into Christ’s light, because his heart was indeed true and
pure,” Archbishop Barsamian said during a banquet celebrating Fr.
Souin’s anniversary. “He had no apprehension about acting in the light,
for his deeds were truly part of the greater work of God.”
Fr. Souin and his wife, Yn. Julie, have three children.
— 6/2/04
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable on the Eastern
Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): The Primate joined Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, pastor of
the Church of the Holy Ascension in Trumbull, CT, and his family during
a celebration marking Fr. Nalbandian’s 25th year as a priest on May 22,
2004.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Archbishop Barsamian marks the 10th anniversary of
the ordination of Fr. Shnork Souin, pastor of the St. Mary Church of
Livingston, NJ, on May 23, 2004.
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