PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 7, 2007
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DIOCESE RESTARTS INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IN COOPERATION WITH AGBU
On Tuesday, June 5, 2007, two interns joined the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern). The two — Haigouhi Vartanian and Natalia
Maraslioglu — are participating in the summer internship program in New
York City run by the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU).
During the program, they will join others in the AGBU program in various
educational events, fieldtrips, and social functions. They are living in
NYU dormitories with the rest of the AGBU group as well. These two
students, however, are also attending weekly Bible study sessions at the
Diocese led by Armenian clergy in the area.
"These are two impressive young people who have expressed a desire to know
more about their faith and community, to explore ways they can use their
skills and knowledge to give back," said Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of the
St. Vartan Cathedral, who, along with ACYOA Executive Secretary Nancy
Basmajian, is overseeing the interns. "We appreciate the AGBU has welcomed
these two interns into their program and allowed us to partner with them to
make the summer a success."
Haigouhi Vartanian was born in Yerevan, Armenia. Her parents, Anush and
Apet, moved their family to America 19 years ago. Now an active ACYOA
member from the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, Rhode Island,
Haigouhi grew up attending Sunday and Armenian School because it was
expected of her. As she got older, without such programs available for
young people her age, her visits to church became less frequent.
It was four years ago when her brother asked her to be a counselor at St.
Vartan Camp that she started reclaiming her heritage.
"Camp helped me grow as a person. I learned a lot about myself and my
culture, things I never realized and took for granted. Since I wasn’t born
here in America, I think I neglected my heritage to fit in," she said.
"Camp was the first time I met individuals my age who embraced our culture
and knew so much more than I did. They also had a strong, positive bond
with one another. This made me want to go out and do things for the
Armenian community. This internship was a way to do just that."
Working for the Diocese, she said, will give her a better understanding of
how the Church’s programs and ministries provide crucial development to the
next generation.
"I want to keep learning about what the Diocese does and how it functions,"
she said. "People who hold our Diocese together are getting older, and it
is important for young people to move up and take leadership. But we have
to learn from those people who have been bolding it together for this long.
Also, our generation has had more opportunities to advance and more
opportunities for education, so we have much to offer the Church."
A recent psychology graduate from Rhode Island College, Haigouhi will work
on special communications projects for this fall’s Pontifical Visit by His
Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians.
Natalia Maraslioglu grew up in Argentina, before her parents, Sahin and
Dikranuhi, moved the family to Dallas, Texas, in 2002. Back in Argentina,
Natalia had been involved in various Armenian Church youth organizations.
But in Texas, she found there was little youth activity.
"All my life I was part of the AGBU and other organizations, but in our
parish there was no youth unity or activities. So Fr. Mikael Devejian asked
me to get involved, and I did," said the chair of the St. Sarkis Church
ACYOA chapter.
The parish now has 30 ACYOA Seniors and 30 ACYOA Juniors. But they didn’t
just show up, Natalia had to phone them, e-mail them, text message them, and
basically stalk them to get them to attend.
"I eventually told them if they get involved in our activities then I’d take
them to Armenia for free," she said.
"I can raise the money, no problem," she said with confidence, when asked
about how she planned to take a group to Armenia next year. "Raising money
isn’t the hard part, getting them involved is. They just needed some
encouragement to get involved."
Natalia, a pre-law student studying literature at the University of Texas at
Dallas, will work in the Diocesan Zohrab Information Center. She plans to
continue being involved in the Armenian Church for her life.
"If I don’t do it, who will," she said, noting how important the Church has
been to her. "Having the Church community really helped me transition from
Argentina to America, and I want to keep that alive."
— 6/7/07
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Natalia Maraslioglu, left, and Haigouhi Vartanian are
interning at the Diocesan Center in New York through the AGBU summer
internship program.