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PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
New York Dinner Honors 60th Birthday of Catholicos Karekin II
On Wednesday, October 12, 2011, a group of friends and benefactors of
Holy Etchmiadzin gathered at a dinner hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Nazar and
Artemis Nazarian in honor of His Holiness Karekin II’s 60th birthday.
The event was held at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Club and was attended by
60 people in an atmosphere of warm friendship and cordiality.
Berge Setrakian, president of AGBU, acting as the master of ceremonies,
welcomed the guests and congratulated His Holiness on his birthday. “You
are surrounded tonight by great friends of the Mother See of Holy
Etchmiadzin and the Catholicos of All Armenians” he said, and further
noted that the AGBU has been a longstanding supporter of His Holiness’
initiatives to further strengthen the Armenian Church.
Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian
Church of America (Eastern), after thanking the hosts and congratulating
the Catholicos, spoke on the need to develop strong spiritual leadership
in the Armenian Church — a mission His Holiness has advanced throughout
his pontificate. He then announced on that occasion the establishment of
the Pontifical Endowment for Pastoral Development, which will be chaired
by Mr. Setrakian.
“From my experience, I can testify that having a dedicated,
well-prepared pastor is key to a flourishing parish life…Our parishes
flourish, family spiritual life flourishes, and our church as a whole
will flourish,” said the Primate.
Following the announcement of the establishment of the fund, Mr.
Setrakian stated that AGBU had decided to earmark $1 million of its
scholarship programs for this purpose. Mr. and Mrs. Nazarian took the
initiative of donating $1 million to this fund in lieu of Vehapar’s
birthday gift and they were followed with similar amounts by Mr. and
Mrs. Sarkis and Ruth Bedevian and Mr. and Mrs. Hratch and Suzanne
Toufayan.
Mr. and Mrs. Setrakian then announced their contribution of $250,000 and
they were followed by Mr. and Mrs. Yervant and Melissa Demirjian, Mr.
and Mrs. Haig and Elsa Didizian, and Mr. and Mrs. Nishan and Margaret
Atinizian with $100,000 each. Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Edna Keleshian,
Oscar Tatosian, and Jerry Demirjian pledged $50,000 each. Mr. and Mrs.
George and Alice Kevorkian, Mr. and Mrs. Zaven and Arlene Dadekian, Mr.
and Mrs. Papken and Anahid Megerian, and Dr. and Mrs. Haroutune and
Shakeh Mekhjian pledged $25,000 each. Further donations continued to
follow.
Mr. Setrakian then announced that Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, the
Primate of the Diocese of Armenian Church of North America (Western),
had informed him that a pledge drive getting underway in that region had
raised $1 million so far for the same purpose.
To conclude the evening, His Holiness Karekin II expressed his deep
appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Nazarian for hosting the evening, and
addressed the guests in his usual cordial tone. “Coming here, I feel I
am among family,” he said. “I feel blessed and strengthened to know that
you have been and continue to be so supportive of my ministry as
Catholicos of All Armenians, and recognize the importance of advancing
the clergy in our church.”
Information on the “Pontifical Endowment for Pastoral Development” can
be obtained by contacting Laura Gononian at [email protected].
To view a video from the event, please visit
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian programs, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit