CULTURAL AND YOUTH CENTER UNVEILED AT WATERTOWN’S ST. JAMES ARMENIAN CHURCH.
Watertown TAB & Press
Dec 23 2009
MA
WATERTOWN — .St. James Armenian Church formally unveiled the new
exterior sign of the St. James’ Charles Mosesian Cultural and Youth
Center, on Nov. 29. The center is at 465 Mount Auburn St., at the
corner of Mount Auburn and School streets.
After the formal unveiling, a reception in honor of Mosesian was
hosted in Keljik Hall of the cultural center now bearing his name.
Charles Mosesian, a dedicated philanthropist and lifelong parishioner
of St. James, committed a gift of $1 million to the St. James Armenian
Church of Watertown, and its 75th Anniversary Capital Campaign,
already having fulfilled more than half of this pledge. In honor of
Mosesian’s contribution, the St. James Cultural and Youth Center was
named the St. James’ Charles Mosesian Youth and Cultural Center.
In spring 2009, His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, primate
of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), presented Mosesian
with an Encyclical and the Medal of St. Gregory the Illuminator from
His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians. In presenting the award, Barsamian said, "We know you to
be a man of strong character and an extremely hard-working individual.
You have worked hard, loved your family and have always helped others,
including the Armenian Church and the community. In recognition of
your generosity, it is my honor to present to you this Encyclical
and the Medal of St. Gregory the Illuminator, which is the highest
honor that is bestowed in the Armenian Church."
Mosesian’s contribution will help St. James realize many of its goals,
which were identified in the parish’s 75th Anniversary Strategic Plan.
This includes the renovation of the cultural center, where the children
and youth of St. James gather, play sports and attend classes, and
where St. James parishioners come together in fellowship.
Mosesian has been involved with St. James throughout its history, and
was one of the original godfathers of the Cultural Center. Mosesian
always shares his belief "that after the Genocide, it was the Armenian
Church that kept Armenians together." His daughter, Charleen Onanian,
explained the inspiration for his gift to St. James: "He wanted to
make sure that the children, who are our future, grow up to be caring
and compassionate, and involved and dedicated to Armenian causes."
Mosesian is best known as a real estate developer. He began developing
buildings in the 1960s, and he built the first high-rise condominium
in the Watertown area in 1972. In the 1980s, he built two luxury condo
buildings along the Charles River, Charles River Towers and Horizon
East. Throughout his career as a developer, he built more than 700
housing units.
Philanthropy has always been a large part of Mosesian’s life. He
started the Charles Mosesian Family Foundation in order to give back to
his community, and has supported numerous schools and organizations. In
2000, Mosesian gave $1 million to the Arsenal Center for the Arts
in Watertown, the center’s largest single gift. In recognition of
this gift, the 380-seat venue has been named the Charles Mosesian
Theatre. He has also funded the Charles Mosesian Family Foundation
Fund for Armenian Studies at UConn and The Charles Mosesian Boston
University Medical Center and Republic of Armenian Medical Partnership
Program.
Mosesian is also a major supporter of the Armenian Assembly of America
as a life member.