PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Karine Abalyan
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
February 1, 2010
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PRIMATE ORDAINS ACOLYTES AND SUB-DEACONS AT ST. HAGOP CHURCH OF ST.
PETERSBURG, FL
On Sunday, January 10, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese
of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), visited St. Hagop Armenian
Church of St. Petersburg, Fla., where he celebrated the Divine Liturgy and
ordained acolytes and sub-deacons.
Following services, the community gathered for a picnic in the church’s
outdoor pavilion, for the culmination of a series of weekend-long
fundraising events, which collected more than $24,000 for the parish. Billed
as "Kef Time Tampa Bay," the weekend featured a golf-tournament and two
dances on Friday and Saturday evening, each of which drew more than 200
people.
"This year’s weekend and visit of His Eminence was a milestone for the St.
Hagop Armenian Church community," said parish pastor the Rev. Fr. Hovnan
Demerjian. "After many years of prayer and hard work, we have been blessed
by God with a new sanctuary, a rejuvenated community, and a new sense of
purpose. The ordination of six altar servers reflects this rejuvenation, as
the Holy Spirit is at work in their hearts and minds."
On Sunday, following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, Archbishop
Barsamian officiated over the ordination ceremony. More than 200 people
gathered in the sanctuary as Bobby Maslar, Michael Sarafian, and Vasken
Serpekian were ordained as acolytes. Vasken Serpekian, along with Kegham
Vizoyan, Allan Tossoonian, and Jack Dikranian, were then elevated to the
rank of sub-deacon.
The Primate presented the altar servers with certificates at the conclusion
of the ceremony. "In this Diocesan Year of Vocations, seeing these young
souls answer God’s call fills us with hope for our church’s future,"
Archbishop Barsamian said.
The altar servers, who range in age from their teens to their 80s, worked
mostly with Fr. Demerjian to prepare for their new responsibilities. Some of
them also attend training sessions at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.
"It was a really beautiful service," said parish council member Alysia
Ekizian, who was on the committee organizing Kef Time Tampa Bay. "It was a
great representation of our community because it was our ACYOA youth to our
senior members."
At the picnic that followed services in the church’s Tanielian Pavilion, the
community raffled off a gingerbread replica of St. Hagop Church, which was
created by Bobby Maslar. Proceeds from that raffle will be sent to St.
Nersess Armenian Seminary, Fr. Demerjian said.
Even though temperatures dipped into the 30s during the picnic, the mood was
warm as parishioners celebrated the day’s ordinations and reflected on the
successful fundraisers held earlier that weekend. Greg Ekizian, Alysia
Ekizian’s husband, chaired the picnic committee.
The events began on Friday, January 8, with a golf tournament, followed on
Friday and Saturday evening by two dances held at the local Clearwater
Hilton resort. Saturday’s event was devoted to Armenian music, performed by
the Kef Time Band with Richard Hagopian and Hachig Kazarian. A silent
auction was held on Saturday, chaired by Debra Kamajian.
Consecrated in October 2007 by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme
Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, St. Hagop Armenian Church is the
first church His Holiness consecrated in the Eastern Diocese and the first
Armenian Church to be built on the west coast of Florida.
The current fundraising aims at paying off the church’s mortgage. David
Kazarian, a parish council member who led the efforts behind Friday and
Saturday’s program, said the goal was to "reach out of our community to
bring people in."
U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Florida’s ninth district was among the
guests, a number of whom traveled from out of state to attend the
festivities. Those who couldn’t come, Mr. Kazarian said, generously sent in
donations.
"I think it was successful.and it’s only the beginning," he said, adding
that he would like to co-host a similar weekend with other area churches in
the future.
"It got us started," added Alysia Ekizian of the weekend’s program. "We want
to make this an annual event."
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Photos attached.
Photo 1: Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, assisted by the Rev. Fr. Hovnan
Demerjian, ordains acolytes at St. Hagop Armenian Church of St. Petersburg,
Fla.
Photo 2: Altar servers pose for a group photo with Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian and the Rev. Fr. Hovnan Demerjian at St. Hagop Armenian Church of
St. Petersburg, Fla.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
